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 Postgraduate (MPhil-PhD in Materials Science & Engineering)


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Introduction


The Department of Physics is a vibrant team consisting of 234 undergraduate students, 166 postgraduate students, 23 regular faculty staff, 4 research assistant professors, 7 lecturers, and 17 technical/supporting staff. Every year, the department hosts a large number of visiting scholars, from postdoctoral fellows to Nobel laureates, who may stay a day and give a seminar, stay a term and teach a course, or stay several months and conduct research. The department has a strong commitment to curiosity-driven research but also recognizes its responsibility in helping industry conduct market-driven research and development. More importantly, the department has established a reputation in taking teaching and supervising students very conscientiously.
If you join the department as a new postgraduate student, you are expected to become an active member of the team. From the diverse research topics covered by the team, there must be one which matches your interest and career goals. Similarly, from our comprehensive postgraduate curriculum, there must be courses which will satisfy your needs in building up your background knowledge. In addition, you will learn from and argue with our staff and visitors on scientific matters. You will receive training in basic laboratory safety and teaching skills. You will present your research results in conferences overseas. You may even conduct some of your research work overseas...... All in all, you will find that the department is a great facilitator in helping a postgraduate student to become an independent researcher.


Admission Requirements:


Master of Philosophy and Doctor of Philosophy (MPhil-PhD) programme

The MPhil-PhD programme consists of MPhil and PhD streams.

MPhil Stream:

Applicants for the MPhil stream should hold, or expect to hold by the time of admission, a Bachelor's degree in Materials Science and Engineering or related disciplines, with a good major GPA (typically 3.2 out of 4.0 or above) OR a good honors degree (typically Second Class Upper Division or above).
Interview will be arranged for shortlisted applicants by individual professors in due course.

PhD Stream:

Applicants for the PhD stream should hold, or expect to hold by the time of admission, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Materials Science and Engineering or related disciplines, with a good major GPA (typically 3.2 out of 4.0 or above) OR a good honors degree (typically Second Class Upper Division or above).
[Optional] Provide Graduate Record Examination (GRE) Subject Test Score (in either "Physics", "Chemistry", "Mathematics", or "Biology").


English Language Proficiency Requirement (for 2023-24 intake):


Applicants should have either

  1. obtained a degree from a university in Hong Kong or taken a degree programme of which the medium of instruction was English, OR
  2. achieved scores in one of the following English Language tests as indicated:
    • TOEFL: Overall 550 (Paper-based) / Overall 79 (Internet-based/Home Edition)
    • IELTS Academic/Indicator/Online: Overall 6.5
    • GMAT/GMAT Online: Band 21 (Verbal), OR
  3. obtained a pass grade in English in one of the following examinations:
    • Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination (AS Level)
    • Hong Kong High Level Examination
    • CUHK Matriculation Examination
    • General Certificate of Education Examination (GCE) Advanced Level (A-Level)/Advanced Subsidiary Level (AS-Level), OR
  4. achieved Level 4 or above in the English Language subject of the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) Examination, OR
  5. obtained a recognized professional qualification, provided that the examination was conducted in English.
Applicants, if admitted, should provide proof of fulfillment of the English language proficiency requirement before 30 April 2023.


Regular Application Procedures:


  • Completion of application form on Internet via CUHK's online application system.
  • Projects Offered in 2023-24 (Last updated 15/04/2022)

  • Applicants should write down at most three project numbers (see list of projects above) in order of preference in the field "Field of study" under Part I of the application form. Before making selections, potential applicants are encouraged to contact the individual professors to find out more about their research, their group and what kind of students they are looking for.
  • Email will be sent to applicants within one week after submission of application. Follow instructions in the email and submit following supporting documents to our Division as early as possible. For Items 2 to 7, please send their electronic files (in PDF/JPEG/doc/docx) by email to pgadm-mse@phy.cuhk.edu.hk. The subject line of the email should include the application number. The total size of all files should not exceed 5 MB.
    1. Recommendation form from two referees, to be completed online or sent directly by the referees by postal mail* or by email to pgadm-mse@phy.cuhk.edu.hk;
    2. Copy of official transcripts (of all tertiary level studies) and official explanatory notes indicating the grading scheme of the University;
    3. Copy of certificate of academic qualifications (e.g., degree certificate and graduation certificate, if any);
    4. Curriculum vitae;
    5. Personal/Research statement, indicating clearly the particular study field the applicant is interested in;
    6. Copy of TOEFL, IELTS or GMAT test paper report for preview purpose (if the applicant does not have a degree from a university in Hong Kong or an English-speaking country);
    7. Copy of certificate of professional qualifications, prizes and awards (optional); and
    8. Bank draft/cheque (in HKD) or bank-in slip for the application fee (if the applicant did not pay by VISA/Master Card), to be sent by postal mail.

    *Recommendation forms, sealed in envelope by the referees, can also be sent via the applicants to our Division. Postal address: "Division of Materials Science and Engineering, Room 108, Science Centre North Block, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong".

  • MPhil Stream: Interview will be arranged for shortlisted applicants by individual professors. Applicants should check email frequently.
  • PhD Stream: Panel interview is scheduled for early December 2022 and early April 2023. Invitation will be sent to shortlisted applicants via email. Applicants should check email frequently.
  • Admission offer will be sent to successful applicants via e-mail.

Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS)


The Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme, established by the Hong Kong Research Grants Council (RGC) in 2009, aims at attracting the best and brightest students from all over the world to pursue their PhD studies in Hong Kong. The Fellowship provides a monthly stipend of HK$27,100 (starting from 2022-23) and a conference and research-related travel allowance of HK$13,600 per year for the awardees for a maximum period of three years. The CUHK will provide top-up funding to offer the same level of stipend and travel allowance to awardees with 4 years of normative study period. The CUHK further provides a tuition fee waiver for awardees' whole normative study period and an award of HK$40,000 for lodging in the 1st year of study and HK$20,000 in the subsequent years within the normative study period (applicable from the 2021-22 intake). Please refer to RGC's website for further details of the Scheme.
Applicants applying for admission to PhD programmes of the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) through the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme are required to comply with the admission requirements of the CUHK. Applicants applying to HKPFS should submit initial application through the HKPFS online application system (will be open for applications in early September). Each applicant will be allocated a HKPFS Reference Number. Applicants should then submit the full application through CUHK's online application system and quote the HKPFS Reference Number. Applicants who are not selected for the Fellowship Scheme will be considered as regular PhD applicants and if admitted, be offered a postgraduate studentship during their normative study period.


Application Periods:

  • Regular applications can be made starting from 1 September, 9:00 a.m. HKT
  • HKPFS Application Deadline (For PhD programme only):
    • 1 December 2022, 12:00 noon HKT (To submit an initial application to RGC) and
    • 1 December 2022, 5:00 p.m. HKT (To submit full application to CUHK)
  • CUHK Application Deadline:
    • 31 March 2023
  • Applicants are advised to submit their applications as soon as possible. All supporting documents should reach our Division before the application deadline.

Fees and Financial Support:


Application fee: HKD300
Annual tuition fee (2022-23): HKD42,100 (Full-time MPhil-PhD) [Tuition waiver for local students]
Hostel fee (2022-23): HKD1,835-3,675 per month
Postgraduate studentship for
MPhil-PhD students (2022-23):
HKD18,025 per month (separate application is not required) or
HKD27,100* per month (HKPFS awardees)
Scholarship opportunities:
  • HKSAR Government Scholarship Fund
  • CN Yang Scholarship
  • Science Faculty Scholarships
  • Scholarships and prizes offered by the University

* Outstanding PhD applicants will be recommended to compete for Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme. Awardees will be provided a monthly stipend of HK$27,100 and a conference and research-related travel allowance of HK$13,600 per year. The CUHK will offer tuition wavier to awardees.


Programmes:


Degree Normative Study Period Course Work Thesis Research
Full-time Part-time
MPhil 24 months N/A 12 units 6 units each term
PhD (student with a research master's degree)36 months N/A 12 units 6 units each term during pre-candidacy period and 12 units each term during post-candidacy period
PhD (student without a research master's degree) 48 months N/A 12 units 6 units each term during pre-candidacy period and 12 units each term during post-candidacy period


Enquiries:


For general enquiries, please call (852) 39436302 or e-mail to pgadm-mse@phy.cuhk.edu.hk.
For enquiries about the online application system, please send e-mail to the Graduate School Office: Gradschool@cuhk.edu.hk