Why Cuhk?
Study Options
Research Programmes

Leading to the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Master of Philosophy (MPhil), Doctor of Music (DMus), Master of Music (MMus) or Master of Fine Arts (MFA), our research programmes consist of coursework and research components. Students need to submit a written research thesis and pass an oral examination for graduation.

 

Degree

Mode of Study

Normative Study Period

Maximum Study Period

Master of Music

Full-time

Part-time

1 year

2 years

3 years

4 years

Master of Fine Arts

Full-time

2 years

4 years

Master of Philosophy

Full-time

Part-time

2 years

3 years

4 years

5 years

Doctor of Philosophy, Doctor of Music
(entering with a research master’s degree1)

Full-time

Part-time

36 months

48 months

84 months

96 months

Doctor of Philosophy, Doctor of Music
(entering without a research master’s degree1

Full-time

Part-time

48 months

64 months

84 months

96 months

 

 

MPhil-PhD articulated programmes

Articulated MPhil-PhD programmes offer the option to enter a PhD programme with a Bachelor’s degree.  Students will be offered admission as either MPhil students or as PhD students (pre-candidacy).  Upon satisfying all the candidacy requirements (including course requirements, candidacy examination, thesis proposal submission and defence) within the candidacy period, PhD students (pre-candidacy) may be promoted to the post-candidacy stage preparing to work towards completion of their research thesis and oral defence for graduation.

 

Degree Mode of Study

Maximum Period to fulfill Candidacy

Normative Study Period Maximum Study Period
Master of Philosophy

Full-time

Part-time

/

/

2 years

3 years

4 years

5 years

Doctor of Philosophy
(entering with a research master’s degree1)

Full-time

Part-time

24 months

32 months

36 months

48 months

72 months

84 months

Doctor of Philosophy
(entering without a research master’s degree1

Full-time

Part-time

36 months

48 months

48 months

64 months

84 months

100 months

 

 1 The University reserves absolute discretion to decide whether the degree possessed by a student is a research master’s degree or not, such decision to be communicated through the admission notification.

 

Taught Programmes

In response to academic and societal needs, taught postgraduate programmes cover a broad range of academic subject areas with different periods and modes of study. Students need to fulfill coursework and project/thesis requirements (if any) for graduation.

Periods of study for each programme are as follows:

 

Degree/Diploma

Mode of Study

Normative Study Period

Maximum Study Period

Doctor of Education, Doctor of Social Science in Applied Social Science

Full-time

Part-time

3 years

4 years

7 years

8 years

Juris Doctor

Full-time

Part-time

2 years

42 months

4 years

7 years

Juris Doctor/MBA

Full-time

Part-time

3 years

5 years

5 years

90 months

Doctor of Nursing, Doctor of Business Administration (Chinese)

Part-time

4 years

6 years

Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology

Part-time

3 years

7 years

Master of Laws, Postgraduate Certificate in Laws

Full-time

Part-time

1 year

2 years

2 years

3 years

Master of Social Science in Social Work

Full-time

Part-time

2 years

3 years

4 years

5 years

Master of Arts, Master of Accountancy, Master of Education, Master of Public Health, Master of Science, Master of Social Science, Master of Social Work, Postgraduate Diploma in Education

Full-time

Part-time

1 year

2 years

3 years

4 years

Master of Architecture, Master of Social Science in Clinical Psychology, Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology 

Full-time

2 years

4 years

MBA

Full-time

Part-time

2 years

25 months

4 years

4 years

Executive MBA, Executive MBA (Chinese), MBA (Finance), Master of Clinical Pharmacy, Master of Nursing, Executive Master of Professional Accountancy

Part-time

2 years

4 years

Master of Chinese Medicine

Full-time

4 years

6 years

Master of Divinity

Full-time

2 years

4 years2

Master of Nursing Science (Pre-registration)

Full-time

3 years

5 years

Master of Science in Actuarial Science and Insurance Analytics

Full-time

1 year

3 years

Master of Science in Applied Economics

Full-time

17 months

3 years

Master of Science in Information & Technology Management

Full-time

Part-time

1 year

18 months

3 years

4 years

Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering

Full-time

Part-time

1 year

3 years

3 years

4 years

Master of Science in Financial Technology

Full-time

Part-time

1 year

2 years

2 years

4 years

Postgraduate Diploma in Prehospital & Emergency Care

Full-time

Part-time

1 year

1 year

3 years

4 years

Postgraduate Diploma in Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health, Postgraduate Diploma in Mental Health

Part-time

1 year

3 years

Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Technology

Part-time

1 year

2 years

 

2 In special circumstances, the maximum study period may be 5 years if so recommended by the Head of the Graduate Division concerned.

 

Mode of Study

The mode of study of a postgraduate programme may be full-time or part-time. Unless otherwise specified, classes of part-time programmes may be scheduled in day time as for full-time programmes. Part-time students have to make their own arrangements to attend day-time classes.


A student registered for a full‑time programme of studies shall not take up any full‑time employment, paid or unpaid, during term time except with prior permission of the Graduate Council.  Recipient of a Postgraduate Studentship shall not take up full-time or part-time employment, except with prior permission of the Graduate Council.


 

Concurrent Registration

A student shall not be registered simultaneously for another programme of studies leading to the award of a degree, diploma or certificate at this University or at any other tertiary institution unless an application has been submitted in advance to the Graduate Division concerned, endorsed by the Faculty concerned and approved by the Graduate Council.  A student in breach of this regulation shall be required to discontinue studies at the University.