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PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS

MPhil/PhD in Materials Science & Engineering

MPhil/PhD in Materials Science & Engineering

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).

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”).

Application Procedures (CUHK’s Online Application System)

  • Completion of application form on Internet via CUHK’s online application system.
    Projects Offered in 2025-26 (Last updated 12/08/2024)
    Applicants should write down at most three project numbers (see list of projects above) in order of preference in “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.
  • Required supporting documents:
    • Recommendation form from two (MPhil stream) / three (PhD stream) referees, to be completed online (if you choose submission by “online”) or sent directly by the referees by email to pgadm@phy.cuhk.edu.hk (if you choose submission by “hardcopy”);
    • Copy of official transcripts (of all tertiary level studies) and official explanatory notes indicating the grading scheme of the University (e.g. A = 90-100 = 4.0, B = 80-89 = 3.0, etc);
    • Copy of certificates of academic qualifications (if graduated). Applicants who obtained degrees from Mainland China should provide Chinese version of both degree certificate (學位證書) and graduation certificate (畢業證書), and Chinese version of Online Verification Report of Higher Education Qualification Certificate (教育部學歷証書電子注册備案表) and Online Verification Report of Higher Education Degree Certificate (中國高等教育學位在線驗證報告) issued by the CHESICC (學信網);
    • Curriculum vitae;
    • Personal statement or Research statement, indicating clearly the particular study field the applicants are interested in;
    • Copy of TOEFL, IELTS or GMAT test score report for preview purpose (if available) (if the applicant does not have a degree from a university in Hong Kong or an English-speaking country); and
    • Copy of identity document as input on your online application.
  • MPhil Stream: Interview will be arranged for shortlisted applicants by individual professors. Applicants should check email frequently.
  • PhD Stream: Entrance exam will be scheduled for December 2024 and February 2025. 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$28,100 (starting from 2024-25) and a conference and research-related travel allowance of HK$14,000 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 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 (open 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 (open in September) 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 application can be made starting from 1 September, 9:00 a.m. HKT
  • HKPFS Application Deadline (For PhD programme only):
    • 1 December, 12:00 noon HKT (To submit an initial application to RGC) and
    • 1 December, 11:59 p.m. HKT (To submit full application to CUHK)
  • CUHK Application Deadline: 1 December 2024 (Main round) and 31 March 2025 (Clearing round)
  • Applicants are advised to submit their applications as soon as possible. All supporting documents should reach our Division before the application deadline.

Fee and Financial Support

Application fee: HKD300
Annual tuition fee (2024-25): HKD42,100 (Full-time MPhil-PhD) [Tuition waiver for local students]
Hostel fee (2024-25): HKD1,945-3,900 per month
Postgraduate studentship for
MPhil-PhD students (2024-25):
HKD18,725 per month (separate application is not required) or
HKD28,100* 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$28,100 and a conference and research-related travel allowance of HK$14,000 per year. The CUHK will offer tuition wavier to awardees.

Programmes Information

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