PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS
MPhil/PhD in Physics
Admission Requirements
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 Physics 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 Physics 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
- Submit Online Application Form
Experimental Projects Offered in 2025-26 (Last updated 02/04/2024)
Theoretical Projects Offered in 2025-26 (Last updated 02/04/2024)
Applicants should write down at most five project numbers in order of preference in “Choice of Project Number(s)” 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 to be uploaded to the online application system:
- Copy of official transcripts (of all tertiary level studies) and official explanatory notes indicating the grading scheme of the University;
- Curriculum vitae; and
- Personal statement or Research statement, indicating clearly the particular study field the applicants are interested in.
Recommendation letter from two referees, should be sent directly by the referees by email to pgadm@phy.cuhk.edu.hk.
- Shortlisted applicants will be invited to the Physics Summer Camp and the entrance examination between 2-5 July 2024. Invitation will be sent to shortlisted applicants via email. Admission offer will be sent to successful applicants by end of July 2024.
- Outstanding students (if admitted) will be recommended to compete for Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS). The HKPFS provides a monthly stipend of HK$27,600 and a conference and research-related travel allowance of HK$13,800 per year for the awardees.
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$27,600 (starting from 2024-25) and a conference and research-related travel allowance of HK$13,800 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
- Early application deadline: 10 June 2024
- 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, 5:00 p.m. HKT (To submit full application to CUHK)
- CUHK Application Deadlines: 1 December 2024 (regular 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): | HKD1,890-3,785 per month |
| Postgraduate studentship for MPhil-PhD students (2024-25): |
HKD18,725 per month (separate application is not required) or HKD27,600* per month (HKPFS awardees) |
| Scholarship opportunities: |
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* Outstanding PhD applicants will be recommended to compete for Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme. Awardees will be provided a monthly stipend of HK$27,600 and a conference and research-related travel allowance of HK$13,800 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 |
- Study Scheme of MPhil-PhD Programme in Physics (2023-24)
- In the final year of study, MPhil-PhD student must submit a thesis to Division and pass an oral examination defending his/her thesis.
- PhD students must fulfill the candidacy requirement within 24 months from first entry to advance to PhD post-candidacy.