MPhil-PhD

• Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Application
• Regular Postgraduate Application
• Application Procedure

Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme [ Application Deadline - 1 December 2021 ]

General background

1. Established by the Research Grants Council (RGC) of Hong Kong in 2009.
2. Aim at attracting the best and brightest students in the world to pursue their PhD programmes in Hong Kong's universities.
3. Applicants must demonstrate outstanding qualities of academic performance, research ability/potential, communication and interpersonal skills, and leadership abilities.
4. Benefits
   • Monthly stipend of HK$26,600 (~US$3,450) for a period up to 3 years for Bachelor/Master degree applicants.
   • Travel allowance (for conference or research related) of HK$13,500 (~US$1,730) per year to awardees for a maximum period of three years.
   • Only 2 course duties during normative study period.
5. The CUHK Vice-Chancellor HKPFS Scholarship offers awardees a tuition fee waiver for their whole normative study period.
6. Provides an award of HK$40,000 (approx. US$5,130) for lodging in the first year of study and HK$20,000 in the subsequent years within the normative study period.
7. The on-campus hostel fee will be waived in the first year of study.
8. Guaranteed on-campus accommodation during the normative period of study to HKPFS awardees who submit timely applications.
9. For awardees with a normative study period of four years, CUHK provides stipend and conference travel allowance at HKPFS level for the fourth year.

Official Application deadline for HKPF: 1 December 2021.

Internal review of HKPF applications (for our department) starting from: 15 November 2021.

Important notice to HKPF applicants:

• Applicants must first submit an HKPF application at the UGC website and obtain a HKPFS reference number.
• Then submit online application at the CUHK Graduate School with the HKPFS reference number quoted in your application.
• Applicants must be careful not to select the wrong department during the UGC application in order to avoid disqualification in application.
• It is preferred to mail a copy of your application materials to the department directly no later than the official deadline (1 December 2021).

For instructions on the documents needed by the department and where to send them, please CLICK HERE.

For CUHK Graduate School website, please CLICK HERE.

For UGC official website for HKPF, please CLICK HERE.

Note: HKPF applicants will be automatically considered for a CUHK Postgraduate Studentship (PGS) should the HKPF application be unsuccessful.

MPhil-PhD Programmes [Application Deadline for PGS - 1 December 2021]

Admission requirements:

1. Bachelor's degree in Computer / Information / Electronic or related engineering or science fields
   • from a recognized university with honors not lower than Second Class; or
   • from an honors programme of a recognized university, with an average grade not lower than B; or
   • from a programme of study in a tertiary educational institution and obtained professional or similar qualifications equivalent to an honors degree;
   • conditional offer will be given to applicants who are expected to receive the Bachelor's degree in the current academic year.
2. Fulfill the English Language Proficiency Requirement:

• obtained a degree from a university in Hong Kong¹ or taken a degree programme of which the medium of instruction was English; or
• achieved scores in the following English Language tests² as indicated:
  1. TOEFL: 550 (Paper-based)/79 (Internet-based);
  2. IELTS (Academic): 6.5;
  3. GMAT (Verbal): Band 21; or
• obtained a pass grade in English in one of the following examinations:
  1. Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination (AS Level);
  2. Hong Kong Higher Level Examination;
  3. CUHK Matriculation Examination;
  4. General Certificate of Education Examination (GCE) Advanced Level (A-Level)/Advanced Subsidiary Level (AS-Level); or
• achieved Level 4 or above in the English Language subject of the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) Examination; or
• obtained a recognized professional qualification, provided that the examination was conducted in English.

Note:

1. This is based on the understanding that English is the medium of instruction of degree programmes offered by universities in Hong Kong. Moreover, graduates from universities in Hong Kong should have fulfilled the English language requirements of the institution concerned when they were admitted to the degree programmes. The CUHK Graduate School may request applicants to provide additional supporting documents to prove their English proficiency.
2. TOEFL and IELTS are considered valid for two years from the test date. GMAT is considered valid for five years from the test date.

Postgraduate Studentships (PGS)

1. Available for most full-time students:
   • Adequate to cover the tuition and basic living expenses.
   • PGS holders must assist in the teaching and research work of the Department.
2. Two types:
   • Department funded PGS - student can choose any professor in the Department as supervisor, subject to mutual agreement.
   • Research grants funded PGS - the grant owner would serve as the supervisor.

Application deadline: 

• Main Round: 1 December, 2021
• For Clearing Round: 31 March, 2022
• Applications in Clearing Round will only be considered subject to availability of places.
• For non-Postgraduate Studentship (i.e. Self-funded) PhD applicants: Applications are accepted throughout the year.

For instructions on the documents needed by the department and where to send them, please CLICK HERE.

For CUHK Graduate School website, please CLICK HERE.

Application Procedure

1. Create an account at the Online Application System for Postgraduate Programmes, fill out online application and settle the application fee by credit payment.
2. Upload scanned copies of supporting documents to the CUHK Online Application System by the working deadline.
   Note: Please make sure the scanned copies are clear and readable, otherwise it may delay your application process.
3. The following additional supporting documents should also be submitted to the Division of Information Engineering by the deadline:
   1. Copy of Hong Kong Identity Card or other identity document
   2. Curriculum vitae (including the area of interest and a list of publications if available)
   3. Research proposal
   4. Original English score report (TOEFL or IELTS) - Please apply for an institution copy of TOEFL test report and send it to CUHK (Institution Code: 0812; Department Code: 99)
      Note: CUHK does not accept TOEFL report sent by an individual. The report MUST be sent by the TOEFL agency (ETS) directly to CUHK.

   Mailing Address:

   Division of Information Engineering
   Room 834, Ho Sin Hang Engineering Building
   The Chinese University of Hong Kong
   Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong

4. To streamline the processing, it is preferred to mail a copy of your application materials to the department directly no later than the official deadline (1 December 2021).

For further enquiries about the programme and admission, please CLICK HERE.