Research Postgraduate Studies

Supervisors and Co-supervisors

Learning Activities

Research Seminars

CUHK Research Postgraduate Student Grants for Overseas Academic Activities

Students are highly encouraged to participate in international conferences and exchange activities. Students are supported financially to present papers at academic conferences and conduct academic activities abroad within their normative study period. Upon approval by the Graduate Division Head and the School Director, MPhil students can apply for support of up to HK$10,000 while PhD students can apply for up to HK$30,000 during their normative study period.

Another resource to support research exchange activities can come from the PhD student mobility scheme administered by the Office of Academic Links or from their research supervisors. Resourceful students can also compete for travelship offered by scientific associations to attend their international annual meetings.

Some examples of overseas conferences attended by our research postgraduate students:

• Annual Meeting and Exposition of the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS)
• International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR) Annual International Meeting
• National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI) Cancer Conference
• The Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) / The International Society of Oral Oncology (ISOO) Annual Meeting on Supportive Care in Cancer
• The Asian Young Investigator Symposium Pharmaceutical Science and Technology (AYISPST)

Research Activities in Overseas Institutions

On the recommendation of the research supervisors, research students could travel overseas to conduct research in overseas institutions:

Some examples of overseas institutions which our research postgraduate students have conducted researches in:  

• University of Toronto
• University of Southern California
• Fudan University
• Nanchang University
• Sun Yat-sen University
• University of Macau

Students’ Association and Exchange Visits

Postgraduate Studentships

• For full-time research postgraduate students.
• Annual studentships: HK$216,300 (approx. US$27,730).
• Payable monthly during normative study period.
• The award of the studentship will be made known to students when receiving their admission offers.
• Click here for more details

Application: No separate Application required 

Note 1: Local students refer to students who have Hong Kong Permanent residency and has a right of abode in Hong Kong

Hong Kong PhD Fellowship (HKPFS) Scheme

Hong Kong PhD Fellowship (HKPFS) Scheme

• Established by the Hong Kong Research Grants Council (RGC) in 2009.
• Aims to attract the best and brightest students in the world to pursue their PhD programmes in Hong Kong’s universities.
• Provides a monthly stipend of HK$27,100 (approx. US$3,500) and a conference travel allowance of HK$13,600 (approx. US$1,740) per year during the normative study period for up to three years..
• Click here for more details 

Application: By Competition (Apply online through HKPFS Website)
Applicants who are NOT nominated by CUHK will be considered again in the normal round admission.

CUHK Vice-Chancellor HKPFS Scholarship

• Offers HKPFS awardees a tuition fee waiver for their whole normative study period.^{Note 2 & 3}
• 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.^{Note 4}
• The on-campus hostel fee will be waived in the first year of study.^{Note 2}
• Guaranteed on-campus accommodation during the normative study period to HKPFS awardees who submit timely applications.  
• For HKPFS awardees with a normative study period of four years, CUHK provides stipend and conference travel allowance at HKPFS level for the fourth year.
• Click here for more details

Note 2: Applicable from 2019-20 intake.

Note 3: In lieu of the CUHK Vice-Chancellor HKPFS Scholarship, a tuition waiver will be provided to local HKPFS awardees within their normative study period under the Tuition Waiver Scheme for Local Research Postgraduate (RPg) Students administered by University Grants Committee.

Note 4: Applicable from 2021-22 intake.

CUHK Vice-Chancellor’s PhD Scholarship Scheme

• PhD candidates who are nominated to the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS) by CUHK but not being selected for HKPFS will be offered this Scholarship ^{Note 4} 
• An annual postgraduate studentship of HK$216,300 (approx. US$27,730) during the normative period of study.
• An award of HK$80,000 (approx. US$10,260) in three installments (i.e. HK$40,000 in the first year and HK$20,000 in each of the second and third year of study, subject to satisfactory study progress). 

Note 4: Applicable from 2021-22 intake.

Tuition Waiver for Local Research Postgraduate (RPg) Students

The Research Grants Council (RGC) under the University Grants Committee (UGC) has announced on 29 June 2018 a non-means-tested tuition waver to all eligible local students enrolled in UGC-funded RPg programmes, to incentivize more local students to join RPg programmes and build up a pool of local research talents. The tuition waiver scheme will commence from the 2018/19 academic year, i.e. with effect from 1st July 2018. Please visit the UGC website and the CUHK Graduate School website for details.

Application: No separate Application required

Scholarships by Competition during Studies

• The University offers a number of scholarships, prizes and awards to recognize  students’ outstanding academic and non-academic performance.
• For more details, please visit the website of the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid.
• Click here for more details

Application: By Competition
Graduate Division will inform students of scholarships information from time to time.

Master of Philosophy in Pharmacy (MPhil)

Application Requirements

• Meet the general admission requirements of the Graduate School, including the English Language Proficiency Requirement; and
• Graduated from a recognized university and obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy or related discipline (e.g. biochemistry, chemistry, chemical engineering, pharmacology, etc.), preferably with honours at Second Upper Division or above, or equivalent.

Please refer to Graduate School and Flyer for additional information.

Application Method

Applicants should complete both Step 1 and 2.

• Step 1
  Apply online through the Graduate School Website
• Step 2
  Mail the hardcopies of the supporting documents to the School of Pharmacy. Please quote “Application to MPhil” and your online application number on the envelope. Supporting documents required for the application are listed on the Graduate School Website.

Application Deadline

• Main Round: 1 December 2022
  Clearing Round: 31 March 2023
  (Applications in Clearing Round will only be considered subject to availability of places.)

Remark

• Applicants should identify a potential supervisor/ indicate your research interest area during your application. If you have identified any Professor you are interested to study under his/her supervision, you may contact them via the emails listed on our website. Then, on the application form “Field of study” column, please indicate the name of the supervisor/ your research interest area for our reference.

Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmacy (PhD)

Direct Entry

• Meet the general admission requirements of the Graduate School, including the English Language Proficiency Requirement; and
• Either:
  • Master’s degree in Pharmacy or related discipline (e.g. biochemistry, chemistry, chemical engineering, pharmacology, etc.). Postgraduate students with a taught master degree are encouraged to apply via the MPhil Programme initially; or
  • Bachelor’s degree, with honours at second upper division or above, or equivalent, and have been registered in a course of study for an MPhil degree at this University for at least one year and have demonstrated research ability.

Please refer to Graduate School and Flyer for additional information.

Transfer from MPhil in Pharmacy

• Candidates enrolled in the MPhil programme in Pharmacy at our school, on the recommendation of their supervisor(s) and the Graduate Division, may be permitted to transfer to the PhD programme provided that they have obtained a Bachelor degree with second class honours upper division or above, or equivalent, and have successfully completed one year of full time study (or part time equivalent). They should also have demonstrated research ability and completed the required courses with the establishment of a research programme of sufficient rigor and originality.

Application Method

• Step 1
  For applicants of Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS) only.
  Apply online through the HKPFS Website and obtain a HKPFS reference number.
  Non-HKPFS applicants can skip step 1.
• Step 2
  Apply online through the Graduate School Website
• Step 3
  Mail the hardcopies of the supporting documents to the School of Pharmacy. Please quote “Application to PhD” and your online application number on the envelope. Supporting documents required for the application are listed on the Graduate School Website.

Application Deadline

• For applications who apply for the PhD programme through the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS):
  • 1 December of each year at 12:00 noon Hong Kong Time (GMT +8 hours) 
• For applicants who apply for PhD programmes directly with the CUHK (i.e. non-HKPFS applicants):
  • Main Round: 1 December 2022
    Clearing Round: 31 March 2023
    (Applications in Clearing Round will only be considered subject to availability of places.)

Remark

• Applicants should identify a potential supervisor/ indicate your research interest area during your application. If you have identified any Professor you are interested to study under his/her supervision, you may contact them via the emails listed on our website. Then, on the application form “Field of study” column, please indicate the name of the supervisor/ your research interest area for our reference.

Fees 

Tuition Fee

Tuition Fee: HK$42,100 per annum (for both MPhil & PhD)

For local full-time RPg students, please refer to the Tuition Waiver Scheme for Local Research Postgraduate Students for details.

Application Fee

Application Fee: HK$300

Other Information

CUHK SUMMER WORKSHOP for Introducing Pharmacy Research Postgraduate Programmes & HKPFS Scheme

Details of Summer Workshop

Final year undergraduates or postgraduates, who are interested in applying for the admission of the MPhil and PhD programmes in Pharmacy, are cordially invited to the captioned workshop* offered by the School of Pharmacy, CUHK. This interactive summer workshop is designed for prospective applicants (final year undergraduates or postgraduates) to learn about the MPhil and PhD programmes of the School of Pharmacy, CUHK and the prestigious Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS). Graduate training is a highly personalized experience; therefore, it is critically important that you meet the professors and their graduate students before making one of the most important decisions in your life. We believe this workshop is an invaluable opportunity for you to launch a successful career as a researcher at the forefront of drug discovery, development, and use in a setting of your choice.  *The annual summer workshop will be held in early July every year.  Please stay tuned for further updates!

Useful Links

* Faculty of Medicine, CUHK (Programme and Admission Section):
https://www.med.cuhk.edu.hk/study/prospective-students/postgraduate-study/programme-and-admission

* On-Campus and Off-campus Accommodation:
https://www.med.cuhk.edu.hk/study/prospective-students/postgraduate-study/accomodation