Postgraduate Student Life @ CUHK

I Marie Joy Santillana Gallemit arrived at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) already knowing what it meant to sit with people in their most difficult moments. As a psychometrician and counselor in the Philippines, she had worked closely with left-behind children, emerging adults, and university teachers struggling through the upheaval of COVID-19. That experience became the engine for her research.

Now a PhD student in Education within the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, I Marie is building a research agenda at the intersection of mindset research, teacher education, and teacher well-being, driven by a conviction that rigorous academic work should ultimately shape real public policy.

Choosing the Right Place to Grow

Choosing CUHK for her doctoral studies was, by I Marie's own account, a deliberate decision to pursue research training at one of the world’s leading institutions in education. In the 2026-2027 Best Global Universities Rankings by U.S. News & World Report, CUHK’s Faculty of Education was ranked first globally in the field of Education and Educational Research. Besides its international reputation, it was the University’s strong interdisciplinary research environment that ultimately convinced her.

“I do think CUHK has those resources, particularly in terms of experts and professors who can really hone skills in research and academia in general,” she explains. “They have experts both in education and in psychology --- actually an interdisciplinary team of experts who can help you widen your horizons, not just to lock you in a single path, but by helping you expand your skills and perspectives.”

In her doctoral journey thus far, she has benefitted from the guidance of faculty members alongside her supervisory team. During her research seminar, for example, Professors CS Chai and Nathalie Chen provided thoughtful feedback that has helped strengthen her work and refine her research ideas. For I Marie, these opportunities to learn from internationally recognised scholars have been among the defining features of her doctoral experience at CUHK.

Geography played a role too. For a researcher whose data collection and family ties remain rooted in the Philippines, Hong Kong's geographic proximity offered a practical advantage that institutions in the US or Europe simply couldn't match.

“It's much nearer to the Philippines,” she notes. “So, I can just go back just in case of emergencies, and if I need to collect data, I can readily draw on the support from my network in the Philippines.” For international students in Hong Kong from Southeast Asia in particular, that kind of closeness to home is easy to underestimate - until it matters.

Mentorship and the Power of Proactivity

At the heart of I Marie's development as a scholar is her student-mentor relationship with Professor Ronnel B. King, a globally prolific researcher in educational psychology. Under his guidance, she has come to understand that a successful Hong Kong postgraduate journey requires the deliberate construction of a professional identity.

She values her supervisor’s mentorship, noting that his leadership of the Center for Well-being Research in Education has provided an intellectually stimulating environment that closely aligns with her research interests in well-being, motivation, and mindset.

“He has been incredibly supportive in helping me build my research portfolio,” she says. “Not just in terms of theoretical alignment, but also in ensuring statistical methods used fit the study’s objectives. He's very good at Stats. So, he has been helpful in this journey.”

What distinguishes Professor King's mentorship, she says, is his proactive investment in her network as well as her work. He connected her directly with established scholars in the field, creating collaborations that would not have materialized without those introductions.

“My supervisor connected me to relevant people in the field,” she explains. “So it's like you also have to be proactive in seeking help and guidance from people to improve your writing and research skills in general.” The lesson has stuck: in research, as in counselling, a good academic alliance is everything.

A Scholarship Built for Global Reach

Financial support has been a genuine enabler of I Marie's goals. As a recipient of a CUHK scholarship, she has found that the funding covers not just her basic needs but also her aspirations. Crucially, CUHK's support extends beyond financial assistance to opportunities for international engagement.

“They're also generous in providing funds for international collaborations and for attending academic conferences both within and outside of Hong Kong,” she says. “Just like last time, I was able to attend academic conferences in Singapore and Los Angeles.” The financial support they offer enables students to build international collaborations with researchers from across the globe.

For prospective students exploring CUHK scholarships and funding opportunities, I Marie's experience offers a clear signal: the University treats international collaboration not as a luxury, but as a core part of doctoral training.

A Community That Carries You

The social transition to Hong Kong was considerably smooth due to the quality of the people I Marie found around her. Her peers within and outside of the department, many from the Chinese Mainland and already well-versed in navigating Hong Kong's cultural landscape, became an informal but invaluable support network.

“My classmates have been incredibly supportive throughout this journey,” she explains. “When I ask for help, I can easily reach out to them. They helped me connect with local resources and adjust to life in Hong Kong. Their support made my adjustment much easier.” At CUHK, she says, the PhD experience is emphatically not a solitary one: knowledge sharing, resource sourcing, and emotional support are woven into the fabric of daily academic life.

Advice for Filipino Scholars Considering the Leap

When asked what she would tell Filipino students considering a PhD abroad, I Marie's answer cuts straight to what matters most. “A good supervisor is really one of the key elements that will help you not just survive, but thrive in the process,” she says. “What matters most is having a good supervisor who can challenge you and help you grow into the best version of yourself --- not only as a scholar, but also as a person.”

She is equally candid about the difficulty of the journey itself. “The PhD journey is not a straight path. It will never be a straight path. But I think that with the perseverance to continue amidst the setbacks and challenges, the humility to learn, relearn, and unlearn things, and a quality support system, one can thrive in this kind of academic ecosystem.”

As she moves toward completing her degree, I Marie remains a vocal advocate for the proactive mindset that has defined her time at CUHK. “CUHK has provided a lot of support, not only academically but also through opportunities to build meaningful connections,” she says. At the same time, she emphasizes that while the university opens many doors, students must also take the initiative to engage, learn from others, and make the most of those opportunities available to them.

For a researcher whose work focuses on understanding what enables people to flourish, she has found, in Hong Kong, an institution that embodies the principles she studies.