Postgraduate Study in Hong Kong: Taught Master's and Research Degrees Explained
Key takeaways
- Taught master's programmes (usually one year full-time) are applied for directly to each university, mostly for September intake.
- Research degrees (MPhil/PhD) require a research proposal and a supervisor match; funding often comes with the place.
- The Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme offers enhanced stipends for top research applicants.
- Apply early — popular taught programmes fill on a rolling basis from autumn onward.
Hong Kong's universities run deep postgraduate portfolios, and the city has become a serious graduate-study destination: English-medium instruction, degrees recognised worldwide, and research funding that has grown with the region's ambitions. Postgraduate admission is entirely direct — there is no JUPAS equivalent — so each application is between you and one department.
Taught master's degrees
Taught programmes — MA, MSc, LLM, MBA, MEd, MEng and the rest — are usually one year full-time (some run 1.5–2 years, and part-time options are common for working students). Admission generally requires a relevant bachelor's degree with good grades and English proficiency; some programmes add tests (GMAT for some business programmes), interviews or portfolios.
Most programmes admit for September entry, with a smaller number offering January intake. Applications typically open a year ahead and are assessed rolling: applying between September and December for the next academic year puts you in the strongest position, especially for business and data-focused programmes where places fill early.
Research degrees: MPhil and PhD
Research postgraduate (RPg) study — the MPhil and the PhD — works differently: you are joining a research group, so fit matters more than grades alone. Applications usually need a research proposal, academic references, and ideally contact with a prospective supervisor; each university's graduate school pages explain how supervision matching works. Postgraduate studentships (monthly stipends) typically accompany funded RPg places, making research study in Hong Kong financially viable.
Outstanding research applicants should look at the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS), which provides an enhanced stipend and conference allowance for top candidates across all universities; the annual application window runs early, with a December deadline — check the Research Grants Council site for the current cycle.
Choosing a programme
- Read the curriculum: which modules, which projects, which faculty supervise your area
- Check the career outcomes the department publishes, and talk to alumni where you can
- For taught degrees, compare total cost — tuition plus a year of Hong Kong living
- For research degrees, look at the department's publication record in your niche, not just university-wide rankings
Start from the universities directory for official graduate-school links, and read our fees guide for how postgraduate funding differs from undergraduate routes.