Question: When is the deadline for application ?
Answer:
If you want your application to be considered in the main round of admission exercise, the applications should be submitted no later than 1 December 2020. However, applicants are advised to apply as early as possible, preferably by 9 November 2020.
Early applications, particularly by 9 November 2020, are likely to be under our first-tier consideration. Late application will be considered on a case-by-case basis, subject to availability of new positions offered by the potential supervisor.
For PhD candidates who are deemed outstanding, exceptional early or late offers would be possible. Such candidate may also apply for Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme, which provides prestigious stipends and travel supports. Check http://www.rgc.edu.hk/hkphd/
Question: Where can I obtain the application form ?
Answer:
You are highly encouraged to use online application.
Online application for PhD study can be done at http://www.gs.cuhk.edu.hk/admissions/admissions/how-to-apply any time. As for MPhil application, online application will be available from around September to 1st of December each year.
Question: What materials need to be included in my application ?
Answer:
First, please visit the URL http://www.gs.cuhk.edu.hk/ and read carefully the university's general guidelines. For all applicants of PhD and MPhil in Electronic Engineering, a valid application should normally contain the following items:
Mandatory:
- Complete online application
- Application fee
- One photocopy of your HKID card or other identity document as given in the Application Form
- Original official transcripts of all tertiary level studies (with a complete record of courses attended and examination results)
- Original certification letter of GPA or average score and explanation notes of the grading schemes (成績等級與績點換算關係表) issued by the University (if not attached to the official transcript)
- Original official ranking certificate issued by the University (if available)
- Copies of Degree Certificate (學士學位証書) (for degree holder only)
- Copies of Academic Credential (畢業証書) (for holders of academic qualifications from Mainland China)
- Copies of certificates of academic/professional qualifications (if available), may include university certificates of graduation, examination certificates and proof of other qualifications.
- Online Verification Report of Higher Education Qualification Certificate (教育部學歷證書電子註冊備案表) issued by the CHESICC (學信網) (for applicants who obtained degrees from universities in Mainland China)
- Assessment report from the HKCAAVQ (if necessary)
- Original valid official score report of TOEFL (University’s institution code: 0812)/IELTS (Academic)/GMAT (Verbal) sent directly from the test organization to the University (HKPFS only accepts score report of TOEFL or IELTS (Academic))
- Invite TWO referees to complete the Confidential Recommendations Report
- Brief Curriculum Vitae
- Research / purpose statement (about 600 - 800 words in English, compulsory for PhD application)
- An information sheet to be filled in. It is a standard format specified by our department which essentially summarizes the personal information and academic qualification. It can be downloaded from here (doc format).
Optional materials:
- Personal statement
- Copies or abstracts of published papers or research project reports
- Copies of certificates of awards or prizes
Remarks
CUHK qualifications (Bachelor’s or higher degrees):
- Photocopies of transcripts issued by CUHK are accepted (not applicable to CUHK (Shenzhen) qualifications). However, the University reserves the right to require applicants to submit original transcripts.
- Applicants should first download the Transcript Submission Covering Sheet and attach it to the transcript copy. Please send the transcript copy to the relevant Graduate Division directly.
Other qualifications:
- Photocopies will NOT be accepted. Applicants should download the Transcript Submission Covering Sheet and send it to the issuing universities to apply for official transcripts. Official transcripts should be sent directly to relevant Graduate Division in a sealed envelope from the issuing university.
- Certificates and transcripts, which are not in English or Chinese, should be accompanied by an official certified translation in English.
- Some universities may only issue electronic official transcripts to other institutions. In that event, official electronic transcripts should be sent to relevant Graduate Division directly from the issuing university.
- Applicants who obtained degrees from universities in Mainland China are required to provide an Online Verification Report of Higher Education Qualification Certificate (教育部學歷證書電子註冊備案表) issued by the CHESICC (學信網) together with other supporting documents. Please refer to the information on the official website of the CHESICC at https://www.chsi.com.cn/xlcx/en/brief.jsp (English) and https://www.chsi.com.cn/xlcx/bgys.jsp (Chinese). Certificates and transcripts, which are not in English or Chinese, should be accompanied by an official certified translation in English.
- Applicants with degrees awarded by overseas universities by distance learning or by completing a curriculum of short duration may be required to provide assessment report from the Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic & Vocational Qualifications (HKCAAVQ) on the level of qualification obtained. Applicants will be notified by the Graduate Division concerned separately.
- The certified true copy must be issued by the official organization or relevant test organization. The University may require applicants to provide the original documents for verification.
- The University may require applicants to provide verification reports of the qualification obtained (e.g., verification report issued by the China Academic Degrees and Graduate Education Development Center). Applicants will be notified by the Graduate Division concerned/Graduate School separately.
Proof of English Language proficiency
- A copy of graduation certificate issued by a university in Hong Kong; or
- A certifying letter issued by the Registry of the university confirming the medium of instruction of your degree programme was English; or
- TOEFL and IELTS are considered valid for two years from the test date. GMAT is considered valid for five years from the test date. (The official score report should be sent directly from the test organization to the University)
- Applicants for the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS) are required to submit score reports of TOEFL / IELTS (Academic). GMAT result is not accepted.
Applicants are required to send in the hardcopy of supporting documents to the Division by the application deadline. Otherwise, the applications may not be further processed.
Question: How can I pay the application fee ?
Answer:
The application fee is 300 Hong Kong dollars for both MPhil and PhD streams. You can pay by credit card.
Question: How can I apply for the financial assistance ?
Answer:
Postgraduate Studentship (PGS) is a form of financial assistance provided to full-time PhD and MPhil students. All students, once admitted, will automatically be awarded PGS. Students do NOT need to make a separate application. The monthly stipend for Postgraduate Studentship is around HK$18,025 ~ $18,525 for 2020-21. This amount is sufficient enough to cover the tuition fee and basic living expenses during the study.
Question: What are the requirements on English proficiency?
Answer:
All students should fulfil the English Language Proficiency Requirement prescribed by Graduate School before they are admitted.
(Reference: https://www.gs.cuhk.edu.hk/admissions/admissions/requirements)
Question: Should I have a GRE?
Answer:
GRE is highly recommended, but not compulsory. It may be used as a good reference.
Question: How will my application be processed?
Answer:
First of all, we will check whether your application is complete and valid. That is, it must contain all required materials.
An incomplete application will normally not be considered.
A valid application will go through a preliminary assessment by all academic staff in our department, based on which we will decide whether the applicant should be invited for an interview.
Question: Will there be an interview for every candidate?
Answer:
Only some of the candidates will be selected for interview.
Question: How will the interview be arranged for applicants outside Hong Kong?
Answer:
In principle interview is a necessary process for each admitted applicant. For applicants in Mainland China, we will arrange interviews in Shenzhen. You need to make your own travel arrangement to attend the interview. For overseas applicants, sometimes there is special arrangement, e.g. video conference interview. But whenever possible, we require the applicant to attend face-to-face interview.
Question: When will the interviews be held?
Answer:
The schedule may be different from year to year. Usually, the interview will be arranged in December. Only selected candidates will be invited to attend the interview.
Question: What if I can't attend the interview?
Answer:
Normally if you are invited to an interview but fail to attend, you must give very good reasons. Otherwise, your application will be given lower priority than those we know better via the interview.
Question: When and how will I be informed of the result of my application?
Answer:
We will try to let you know the result as soon as possible. Normally it will be within 3 to 4 weeks after the interview. However, in some cases, the decision may be made at a fairly late stage, for example, in April or May. Please note that an official admission offer must be issued only by the department or the graduate school.
- For applicants who apply for PhD programmes through HKPFS, Research Grants Council will announce results by late March.
- For applicants who apply for MPhil/PhD or taught postgraduate programmes directly with the University (i.e. non-HKPFS applicants), you may login the Application for Admission to Postgraduate Programmes and check your application results in the section of "View Application Result". (link: https://www.gradsch.cuhk.edu.hk/OnlineApp/login.aspx)
- Applicants who do not receive notification by early September can assume their applications have been unsuccessful. No written notification will be sent to unsuccessful applicants.
Question: What are the most important considerations for admission?
Answer:
We emphasize on the capability and potential of the candidates in doing high-quality and independent research work. While this can be seen from your previous academic records (i.e. transcripts), your performance during the interview is also important. To demonstrate your research capability, you may wish to provide us with research papers or reports authored by you. Your skill in technical presentation is another important factor.
Question: Can I have any advice on how to prepare a good application?
Answer:
- Focus on aspects that are related to your academic performance at university level or above. It may not be wise to spend a lot of time describing how good you were in the primary and secondary school.
- Avoid writing lengthy description about yourself. Highlight a few important points that can impress people.
- If you have many award certificates to show us, select only the most important ones. Otherwise, they may be confusing
- You are highly recommended to contact the teaching staff whose research area is most interesting to you. This may help you to acquire more useful information and to form a decent study plan.
Question: What should be included in the Research/purpose statement?
Answer:
In the research/purpose statement, please state your true feeling in your own words why you need to have this graduate study opportunity in relation to your life and career objectives, why the research area and topic that you have chosen, and why in the Department of Electronic Engineering at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. If you have formal research experience or if you have some very good ideas about your future research project, please also provide a concise research proposal to present your ideas on this intended research project. Copying from templates or samples downloaded from the Internet is very negative to your application portfolio and is therefore strongly recommended against.
Question: What if I still have questions after reading the above?
Answer:
Please mail to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information.
