An Overview of CityUHK's Undergraduate and Taught Postgraduate Programmes, the Graduate School, and the Doctoral Training System

# Overview of CityUHK’s Undergraduate and Taught Postgraduate Programmes, the Graduate School, and the PhD Training Framework

Module: 01 Academics · Sub-document: Programme Overview / Graduate School & Doctoral Training A PhD student at City University of Hong Kong who secures the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship receives a monthly stipend of HK$28,400. Behind that figure lies a full degree spectrum of over 150^※ undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, together with a dedicated central body for research training: the Chow Yei Ching School of Graduate Studies. This article first outlines the degree types, undergraduate admissions pathways, and signature programmes, then delves into the structure, funding, and application process for research degrees (PhD / MPhil). For academic structure, credits, and general education, see academic-system.md; for in-depth profiles of individual Colleges and Schools, consult the relevant programme deep-dives.

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# I. Scale and Degree Types

CityUHK offers over 150^※ undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, of which approximately 104^※ are at the undergraduate level. Degree types include:

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# II. Undergraduate Admissions Pathways (Brief Overview)

Admissions details (scores, scholarship schemes, graduate destinations) belong to the docs/02 Admissions module; this article provides only a structural overview of programmes.

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# III. Signature and Flagship Programmes

# 1. Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine (BVM)

The only undergraduate veterinary programme in Hong Kong, a six-year curriculum of approximately 242–243 credits^※, offered by the Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences in partnership with the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. For details, see veterinary-college-academics.md.

# 2. Law: LLB / JD / PCLL / LLM

CityUHK was the first law school in Hong Kong to offer a Juris Doctor (JD) programme^※. The LLB is the School of Law’s flagship undergraduate programme; the JD is a professional degree for postgraduate entrants, completed in 2–3 years^※ (full-time); the PCLL is the professional qualification course; and a range of LLM specialisms are also available. For details, see school-of-law.md.

# 3. Business: BBA / MBA / EMBA

The College of Business offers BBA programmes and a suite of specialist master’s degrees; the MBA and EMBA programmes both hold international accreditations. CityUHK also operates a separately administered Global EMBA programme. For details, see business-school-triple-crown.md.

# 4. Joint Bachelor’s Degree Programme with Columbia University (JBDP)

CityUHK and Columbia University^※ in the United States jointly offer a Joint Bachelor’s Degree Programme: students complete their first two years at CityUHK and their final two years at Columbia, receiving degrees from both institutions upon graduation.

# 5. Creative Media: Art–Technology Hybrid Degrees

The School of Creative Media offers three majors — BA Creative Media, BSc Creative Media, and BAS New Media — that span the arts and computer science. For details, see creative-media.md.

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# IV. Who Coordinates Postgraduate Programmes?

CityUHK’s postgraduate programmes are centrally developed and coordinated by the Chow Yei Ching School of Graduate Studies (established 1994)^※, covering taught master’s degrees (MA, MSc, MBA, EMBA, LLM, JD, MPH, MFA, etc.), research degrees (MPhil, PhD), and professional doctorates. Individual Colleges and Schools also offer interdisciplinary PhDs (e.g. the interdisciplinary veterinary PhD within the Jockey Club College). The sections that follow dive into the Graduate School’s origins, along with the concrete structure and funding of its research degree programmes.

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# V. Why Is the Graduate School Named “Chow Yei Ching”?

CityUHK established the School of Graduate Studies in 1994^※ with the aim of providing dedicated focus for the further development of postgraduate education across the University. In 2006, following a generous donation from Hong Kong business philanthropist Chow Yei-ching (周亦卿, 1935–2018), the School was formally named the “Chow Yei Ching School of Graduate Studies”.

Chow was a native of Ningbo and the chairman and managing director of Chevalier International Holdings^※, a conglomerate with operations spanning property management, construction, insurance, finance, IT, food and beverage, and automobile distribution across six countries, employing over 4,500 people. He was a long-standing supporter of Hong Kong higher education, donating to CityUHK, HKU, and PolyU. He was awarded the Gold Bauhinia Star in 2004 and held honorary doctorates from several Hong Kong universities.

The School’s stated mission is: “To promote excellence in postgraduate education and ensure consistency and high standards across all postgraduate programmes of the University.”^※

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# VI. Which Degree Types Fall Under the Graduate School’s Purview?

The Chow Yei Ching School of Graduate Studies oversees three broad postgraduate pathways at CityUHK, covering the full doctoral spectrum from academic research to professional advancement.

The remainder of this article focuses on research degrees (PhD and MPhil) and their funding ecosystem.

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# VII. How Do CityUHK’s PhD and MPhil Programmes Differ in Structure?

CityUHK’s MPhil requires a minimum of 7 credits of coursework (including at least 2 credits in research methodology and academic integrity)^※, while the PhD requires a minimum of 14 credits of coursework (including at least 9 credits of core courses and at least 2 credits in research methodology and academic integrity)^※. Both degrees mandate the 1-credit compulsory course “Teaching Students: First Steps” (SG8001), the CITI academic integrity training module, and the final submission and oral defence of a thesis.

PhD students must also pass a Qualifying Examination within 10–24 months of admission^※, which assesses knowledge of the major field and readiness to undertake doctoral research. Two attempts are permitted; upon passing, the student is elevated to the Advanced Rate stipend. MPhil students may also apply to transfer to the PhD programme.

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# VIII. Which Colleges, Schools, and Research Areas Are Available for RPg Study?

Research degrees at CityUHK span a broad range of strategic research areas across all Colleges and Schools^※. The principal research platforms are summarised below:

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# IX. What Are the Basic Academic Entry Requirements for PhD or MPhil Applicants?

CityUHK sets clear minimum entry requirements for research degrees, while allowing multiple pathways to meet them.

MPhil Entry Requirements: Applicants must hold a first-class or upper-second-class honours bachelor’s degree (or equivalent qualification) in a relevant discipline^※ from a recognised university.

PhD Entry Requirements (meet one of four pathways):

• Currently enrolled CityUHK MPhil student seeking transfer
• Hold a research postgraduate degree (or equivalent) from a recognised university
• Hold a taught master’s degree from a recognised university
• Hold a first-class honours bachelor’s degree (or equivalent qualification) in a relevant discipline^※ from a recognised university

English Language Requirements (illustrated by the University’s general minimum thresholds):

Scores must be from tests taken within two years of the application date. Applicants who have achieved a score of 490 or above on the College English Test Band 6 (CET-6) from mainland China (520 for the School of Law) may also be exempted from submitting IELTS or TOEFL. Individual Colleges and Schools may impose higher thresholds above the University minimum.

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# X. How Are Postgraduate Studentships and Basic Funding Calculated?

CityUHK provides a Studentship to admitted full-time research postgraduate students. The standard rates for the 2025/26 academic year are as follows.

The maximum funding period is four years for PhD and two years for MPhil^※. Studentship holders are required to undertake teaching- or research-related duties for up to 10 hours per week. In addition, the University offers a Conference Grant of up to HK$10,000^※ per conference to support attendance at academic meetings, and a Research Activities Fund that subsidises research-related travel at HK$5,000 per trip, up to a cumulative lifetime cap of HK$60,000^※.

Tuition Fee Reference (2026/27):

Since the 2018/19 academic year, all local students enrolled in UGC-funded full-time research programmes have been covered by a Tuition Waiver Scheme.

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# XI. What Is the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS), and How Does CityUHK Participate?

The Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS) was established by the Research Grants Council (RGC) in 2009^※ to attract the world’s top talent to pursue doctoral studies in Hong Kong. The scheme is open to applicants for admission to the eight UGC-funded universities — including CityUHK — and competition is for a common territory-wide pool of awards.

For the 2026/27 academic year, 400 HKPFS awards will be allocated^※ across the eight institutions.

HKPFS Funding Summary (2026/27 Academic Year):

CityUHK also provides supplementary support for HKPFS awardees: for those enrolled in a four-year doctoral programme, the University self-funds the fourth-year stipend at a level matching the RGC’s, ensuring uninterrupted financial cover across the entire study period.

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# XII. What Are the Selection Criteria and Application Process for the HKPFS?

HKPFS selection is led by a review panel established by the RGC, but applicants must apply simultaneously to both the RGC and the target university — a “dual-track parallel” procedure.

The review panel assesses six dimensions:

1. Academic excellence — undergraduate and postgraduate results, awards
2. Research ability and potential — publication record, quality of the research proposal
3. Multicultural exposure
4. Communication and interpersonal skills
5. Leadership potential
6. University support assessment

Applicants must select up to two PhD programmes^※ in the RGC online system and indicate their priority, then complete a full separate application through CityUHK’s own online admissions system; both must be submitted by the same deadline. Shortlisted candidates are interviewed (in person or by phone). For the 2026/27 academic year, for example, applications opened in September 2025; both the RGC registration and the full CityUHK application were due by 1 December 2025, with results announced around May 2026 for a September 2026 intake.

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# XIII. What Other Internal Awards and Scholarships Does the Graduate School Offer?

In addition to the HKPFS, the Graduate School administers several internal academic honours bearing the Chow Yei Ching name that recognise outstanding achievement during the course of study.

• Chow Yei Ching School of Graduate Studies Entrance Scholarships — for outstanding non-local new entrants; covers first-year tuition and accommodation (approx. HK$95,496^※), designed to attract top international students to CityUHK for MPhil or PhD study.
• Chow Yei Ching School Scholarships — one-off cash awards during the study period, in recognition of excellent academic results.
• Outstanding Academic Performance Award — acknowledges superior academic attainment in postgraduate programmes.
• Outstanding Research Thesis Award — recognises high-quality graduation theses.
• Outstanding Doctoral Research Award — presented to the most distinguished graduate among all doctoral research across the University; comes with a cash prize.

CityUHK also maintains Research Tuition Scholarships, which waive one year’s tuition fees for high-performing current research students.

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# XIV. How Is the Graduate School’s Governance Structured?

The Chow Yei Ching School of Graduate Studies operates through a multi-tiered committee structure to ensure consistent governance and uniform standards across all University postgraduate education.

• Dean of Graduate Studies — provides overall direction for postgraduate education and chairs the relevant governance committees
• Associate Deans (SGS) — assist with quality assurance
• Director (SGS) — leads day-to-day administration, including admissions, records, examinations, and student support
• Board of Graduate Studies — deliberates on academic regulations and makes policy recommendations to the University
• Committee on Master’s Programmes (CMP) and Committee on Research Degree Candidature (CRDC) — respectively handle specific matters for taught master’s programmes and research degrees

CityUHK’s current Graduate School management team includes Prof. Yew Kee HO as Associate Dean (SGS), with Prof. Sylvia KWOK LAI and Prof. Chi Kong Terrence LAU serving as Co-Associate Deans.

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# XV. Relationship to CityUHK’s Broader International Positioning

Approximately 80%^※ of CityUHK’s research postgraduates are non-local students from over 50 countries, making it one of the most internationally diverse postgraduate cohorts in Hong Kong. In parallel, around 78%^※ of the University’s professoriate hail from overseas. CityUHK currently houses 41 laboratories and research centres^※, providing postgraduate students with cross-disciplinary experimental platforms and research infrastructure support.

CityUHK’s participation in the HKPFS — as part of Hong Kong’s broader strategy to attract research talent — not only creates a channel for recruiting the very best international doctoral candidates, but also constructs a systematic “safety net” through the University’s own complementary scholarships (such as the fourth-year bridging stipend and first-year accommodation cover), reducing the financial concerns of top-tier applicants. This aligns with CityUHK’s broader upward trajectory: ranked 63rd^※ in the QS World University Rankings 2026 and 73rd^※ in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026.

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