Research Programmes
Research programmes encompass both coursework and research components. To fulfil the graduation requirements, students must submit a written research thesis and successfully pass an oral examination.
| Degree | Mode of Study | Normative Study Period | Maximum Study Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master of Music | Full-time | 1 year | 3 years |
| Master of Fine Arts | Full-time | 2 years | 4 years |
| Master of Philosophy | Full-time | 2 year | 4 years |
| Doctor of Philosophy, Doctor of Music (entering with a research master’s degree)1 | Full-time | 36 months | 84 months |
| Doctor of Philosophy, Doctor of Music (entering without a research master’s degree)1 | Full-time | 48 months | 84 months |
MPhil-PhD Articulated Programmes
Articulated MPhil-PhD programmes provide a pathway for students with a Bachelor's degree to pursue a PhD. Initially, students are admitted as either MPhil students or pre-candidacy PhD students. For pre-candidacy PhD students to advance to post-candidacy status, they must:
- Complete all required coursework;
- Pass a comprehensive candidacy examination;
- Successfully defend their thesis proposal within the designated candidacy period.
Upon promotion to post-candidacy status, students focus on completing their research thesis and preparing for the oral defense to graduate.
| Degree | Mode of Study | Maximum Period to fulfill Candidacy | Normative Study Period | Maximum Study Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Master of Philosophy | Full-time | / | 2 years | 4 years |
| Doctor of Philosophy (entering with a research master’s degree)1 | Full-time | 24 months | 36 months | 72 months |
| Doctor of Philosophy (entering without a research master’s degree)1 | Full-time | 36 months | 48 months | 84 months |
1The 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
To address evolving academic and societal needs, taught postgraduate programmes cover a diverse range of academic disciplines with varying study periods and modes. For graduation, students must fulfil all coursework requirements and complete any mandatory project or thesis components.
The study periods for each programme type are as follows:
| Degree | Mode of Study | Normative Study Period | Maximum Study Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Doctor of Education, Doctor of Social Science in Applied Social Science | Full-time | 3 years | 7 years |
| Juris Doctor | Full-time | 2 years | 4 years |
| Juris Doctor/MBA | Full-time | 3 years | 5 years |
| Bachelor of Business Administration – Juris Doctor | Full-time | 5 years | 7 years |
| 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 | 1 year | 2 years |
| Master of Social Science in Social Work | Full-time | 2 years | 4 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 | 1 year | 3 years |
| Master of Architecture, Master of Arts in Professional Educational Psychology, Master of Education (Teaching in Key Subject Areas (National Excellent Teacher Training Initiative), Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology, Master of Social Science in Clinical Psychology | Full-time | 2 years | 4 years |
| MBA | Full-time | 2 years | 4 years |
| Executive MBA, Executive MBA (Chinese), Executive Master of Professional Accountancy, MBA (Finance), Master of Clinical Pharmacy, Master of Nursing, Master of Science in Information & Technology Management | 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, Master of Science in Information Science and Technology Management | Full-time | 1 year | 3 years |
| Master of Science in Applied Economics | Full-time | 2 years | 3 years |
| Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering | Full-time | 1 year | 3 years |
| Master of Science in Financial Technology | Full-time | 1 year | 2 years |
| Master of Science in Information and Technology Management | Full-time Part-time | 1 year 2 years | 3 years 4 years |
| Master of Science in Urban Design | Full-time | 17 months | 32 months |
| Postgraduate Diploma in Prehospital & Emergency Care | Part-time | 1 year | 4 years |
| Postgraduate Diploma in Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health | Part-time | 1 year | 3 years |
| Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Technology | Part-time | 1 year | 2 years |
2In 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.