RESEARCH POSTGRADUATE PROGRAMME
We have a vibrant and innovative research postgraduate culture in our department, uniting academic staff and RPG students. Our postgraduate students have a proven track record of success, in terms of completion rates, research outputs, grant applications and career progression.
HOW TO APPLY
The History Department offers two research postgraduate degrees: the Master of Philosophy (MPhil) and the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). The MPhil and PhD degrees may be pursued on a full-time or part-time basis. The University provides financial assistance to many of these students in the form of studentships. The Departmental Research Postgraduate Committee (DRPC) of the School of Humanities organizes and coordinates the administrative details and all other aspects of postgraduate studies for research students.
Applicants interested in applying for admission to the MPhil and PhD programmes should contact the Graduate School for a detailed summary of the application procedures and admission deadlines.
In addition to the Graduate School requirements the Department also requires candidates to submit information, including a detailed research proposal, to be considered by the relevant committees involved in the admissions process. Successful applicants are admitted on the basis of their academic accomplishment and potential, as well as on the strength of their research proposal, which should include the following:
Title: which is tentative and may change later
Overview of existing scholarship on the chosen field: indicating the relevant literature in the field, and why the topic proposed would constitute a new contribution to knowledge and would be worthy of funding
Research methodology: highlighting the feasibility of the project and explaining how the necessary archival materials will be located and used, given that the student will be resident in Hong Kong for most of his or her candidature
Outline of chapters: if possible, giving some indication of the areas to be covered
Bibliography: indicating the most important published works and archives or other primary sources to be consulted
For further information relating to the Departmental requirements for admission, please contact the Postgraduate Coordinator, Prof. Li Ji. Applicants are also encouraged to consult our Departmental website for potential supervisors.
RPG COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Full-time MPhil and PhD candidates are required to take the four compulsory Departmental courses, in addition to the required courses of the Graduate School, within their first year of study (or equivalent for part-time candidates).
Notes:
(i) Depending on the individual student’s needs, the supervisor may recommend that a student replace one of the compulsory courses with a course either in a cognate discipline or one offered by the Graduate School, on the condition that the choice of courses should be confined to those available within the MPhil and 4-year PhD curricula.
(ii) HIST6011 may be taken in lieu of the compulsory Graduate School Course “GRSC6120 Introduction to Thesis Writing (Humanities)”. Neither course is counted towards fulfilling the departmental coursework requirement of 4 compulsory courses.
(iii) HIST6002 can be taken in lieu of the compulsory Graduate School Course “GRSC6104 Introduction to Quantitative Research Methods (Humanities)” or “GRSC6106 Introduction to Qualitative Research Methods (Humanities)”.
| Departmental Courses | ||
|---|---|---|
| HIST6001 | Philosophy of History | Compulsory |
| HIST6002 | Historical Documents | Compulsory |
| HIST6003 | Historical Research Seminar | Compulsory |
| HIST6004 | Advanced Readings in History | Compulsory |
| HIST6011 | Introduction to History Thesis Writing | Elective |
Scholarship
POSTGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIPS
- The University provides financial assistance (“Postgraduate Scholarships”) to full-time MPhil and PhD students. For more detail about research postgraduate scholarships and how to apply, please refer to the Graduate School Office.
OTHER INTERNAL HKU FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
- Research Services, HKU
RGC Postgraduate Students Seminar/Conference Grants
URC Conference Grants for Research Students
URC Travel Grants
Conference/Travel Grants for HK PhD Fellowship Holders
Subject fields: all
Disciplines: all
Requirement: applicants must be HKU postgraduate students - Research Services, HKU
Doris Zimmern HKU-Cambridge Hughes Hall Scholarships
Edwin S H Leong Hughes Hall Scholarships
Subject fields: all
Disciplines: all
Requirement: for students who have been admitted to the 4-year PhD programme at HKU to pursue Master’s studies for one year at Hughes Hall leading to a Cambridge MPhil degree.
