Programme Description
Since we first offered a Doctor of Philosophy programme in 1990, graduates have filled key positions as educational researchers and professional educators in the school and tertiary education sectors both in Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland. Graduates also serve in national research institutes, government research units, and education-related institutions and services. Our Ph.D programme’s emphasis on conceptual originality, academic rigor, and critical inquiry is widely recognized throughout the education profession.
The Ph.D is a research doctorate that is pursued mainly through individual guided study with some supplementary coursework. Ph.D students pursue their scholarly interests under the guidance of scholars who are appointed to enlighten, direct, and evaluate in accordance with international standards and the Ph.D programme provide opportunity for promising individuals to pursue intensive specialization in a specified area of educational studies. Their efforts in critical review of literature, formulation of ideas, research construction, and theory building will benefit from a variety of activities that include research seminars, coursework, comprehensive examination, and guided research for thesis.
Areas of Study
- Curriculum Studies
- Educational Technology
- Instructional Design & Evaluation
- Language Education
- Educational Administration
- Studies in Education Policy
-
- Comparative Education
- Economics of Education
- Philosophy of Education
- Sociology of Education
- Cognitive and Intellectual Development
- Counselling
- Exceptional Children / Gifted Education
- Measurement, Evaluation and Research Methodology
- Motivation
- Psychosocial and Personality Development
- Sports Biomechanics
- Pedagogy in Sports and Physical Education
- Sports and Exercise Psychology/Motor Behaviour
- Sociology of Sports and Physical Education
- Sports Physiology
- Physical Activity, Health and Fitness
- Measurement in Physical Education and Sports
Study Scheme
The Ph.D Programme in Education is research-oriented. A student normally combines seminars with guided independent research in an individually designed course of study under the guidance of the supervisor and academic advisers. In addition, s/he may be required to enroll in formal courses of lectures within the Graduate Division of Education and in other divisions of the University as deemed necessary.
(a) Research-related courses
| 1 course to be chosen from the following: | PEDU7303*, 7304* | 3 units |
| 1-2 courses to be chosen from the following: |
PEDU6003, 6004, 6401-6406, 7303, 7304, SSPA6101 |
3 units |
(There are pre-requisites for PEDU6404, 6405, 7304. The pre-requisite of PEUD7304 is PEDU6402. Students are expected to have acquired fundamental research knowledge before enrolling PEDU7303, otherwise, students are encouraged to complete PEDU6401 before taking PEDU7303. Please refer to Faculty Handbook – Course Descriptions for details.)
(*Students who receive failure grades in PEDU7303 or 7304 will be allowed to have make-up examinations for 1 time only within 2 month’s time. The grade for make-up examination will not be higher than grade “C”.)
(b) PEDU8000 is a thesis monitoring course. Students are required to take PEDU8000 every term from the time of admission, throughout the preparation of thesis, until its completion. A student normally combines seminars with guided independent research in an individually designed course of study under the guidance of the supervisor and academic advisers. In addition, s/he may be required to enroll in formal courses of lectures within the Graduate Division of Education and in other divisions of the University as deemed necessary.
(a) Research-related courses
| 1 course to be chosen from the following: | PEDU7301*, 7302*, 7303*, 7304* | 1.5 – 3 units |
| 2-3 courses to be chosen from the following: |
PEDU6003, 6004, 6401-6406, SSPA6101 |
3 – 4.5 units |
(There are pre-requisites for PEDU6404, 6405, 7301, 7302 and 7304. The pre-requisite of PEUD7304 is PEDU6402. Students are expected to have acquired fundamental research knowledge before enrolling PEDU7303, otherwise, students are encouraged to complete PEDU6401 before taking PEDU7303. Please refer to Faculty Handbook – Course Descriptions for details.)
(*Students who receive failure grades in PEDU7301, 7302, 7303, 7304 will be allowed to have make-up examinations for 1 time only within 2 month’s time. The grade for make-up examination will not be higher than grade “C”.)
(b) PEDU8000 is a thesis monitoring course. Students are required to take PEDU8000 every term from the time of admission, throughout the preparation of thesis, until its completion. A student normally combines seminars with guided independent research in an individually designed course of study under the guidance of the supervisor and academic advisers. In addition, s/he may be required to enroll in formal courses of lectures within the Graduate Division of Education and in other divisions of the University as deemed necessary.
(a) Research-related courses
| 1 course to be chosen from the following: | PEDU7301*, 7302* | 1.5 unit |
| 2-3 courses to be chosen from the following: |
PEDU6003, 6004, 6401-6406, EXSC6101@ (SSPA6101#) |
4.5 units |
(There are pre-requisites for PEDU6404, 6405, 7301 & 7302.)
(*Students who receive failure grades in PEDU7301 or 7302 will be allowed to have make-up examinations for 1 time only within 2 months’ time. The grade for make-up examination will not be higher than grade “C”.)
(b) PEDU8000 is a thesis monitoring course. Students are required to take PEDU8000 every term from the time of admission, throughout the preparation of thesis, until its completion. A student normally combines seminars with guided independent research in an individually designed course of study under the guidance of the supervisor and academic advisers. In addition, s/he may be required to enroll in formal courses of lectures within the Graduate Division of Education and in other divisions of the University as deemed necessary.
@ Previous Course Code used before 2020-21
# New Course Code adopted for use starting from 2020-21
The qualifying examination will consist of two parts: the student’s field of specialization and one related field or a more narrowly defined sub-field within the student’s field of specialization. Examinations could be conducted in sit-in or take-home format, or other format. All applications will be subject to the approval of the Graduate Panel.
Students will be granted Ph.D Candidature upon successful completion of the following:
a. completion of coursework requirements, with an average grade “B” for Research-related courses;
b. submission of a manuscript to any of the SCI, SSCI, AHCI or journal that are exceptionally approved by the Supervisor and the Division Head during the PhD study period in CUHK. Students can be the first /sole/co-author of the manuscript ; and
c. passing of the qualifying examination.
Students are required to pass the qualifying examination and fulfil the above requirements within the maximum period stipulated below.
| With research Master’s | Full-time | 30 months |
| Part-time | 42 months | |
| Without research Master’s | Full-time | 42 months |
| Part-time | 58 months |
Students will be granted Ph.D Candidature upon completion of Coursework Requirements, with an average grade “B” for Research-related courses, and passing of the Qualifying Examination.
Students are required to pass the qualifying examination and complete the research-related courses within the maximum period stipulated below:
| With research Master’s | Full-time | 30 months |
| Part-time | 42 months | |
| Without research Master’s | Full-time | 42 months |
| Part-time | 58 months |
| Full-time Programme | Attend not less than 15 sessions of PhD Programme annual seminar / doctoral thesis proposal presentation during normative study period |
| Part-time Programme | Attend 6 sessions of PhD Programme annual seminar / doctoral thesis proposal presentation during normative study period |
- Students must fulfill the Term Assessment Requirement of the Graduate School. For details, please refer to Clause 13.0 “Unsatisfactory Performance and Discontinuation of Studies” of the General Regulations Governing Postgraduate Studies which can be accessed from the Graduate School Homepage: http://www.gs.cuhk.edu.hk.
- A student must achieve a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.0 in order to fulfill the graduation requirement.
- Students are required to submit a research thesis and pass an oral examination for graduation.
- Each Ph.D student is required to present a research seminar at least once a year before the advancement to Ph.D candidature, and to submit an annual progress report to her / his supervisor. The supervisor, in consultation with the Graduate Panel, will review annually the progress of the student.
- Within twelve months after advancement to Ph.D candidature, the candidate must submit a thesis proposal. After the thesis proposal has been approved, the candidate should, under the supervision of her / his supervisor, submit a thesis and pass the oral examination within a prescribed period of time for graduation.
- Complete an Improving Postgraduate Learning (IPL) module “Observing Intellectual Property and Copyright Law during Research”. This is an online module and relevant information can be accessed from the website: http://www.cuhk.edu.hk/clear/prodev/ipl.html.
- Complete an online Research Ethics Training (RET) module on “Publication Ethics” offered by the Office of Research and Knowledge Transfer Services (ORKTS) and obtain a valid Publication Ethics Certificate for graduation. Relevant information can be accessed from the RET website at https://www.research-ethics.cuhk.edu.hk/web/.
- Complete and pass an IPL module on “Basics of Research Data Management” in the first year of study for partial fulfilment of candidacy requirements and completion of the University-specified requirement. This is an online module and relevant information can be accessed from the website: www.cuhk.edu.hk/clear/download/IPL-Researchskills.pdf (Applicable to students admitted in 2022-23 and thereafter).
Note: Courses will be mainly taught in English. The medium of instruction will be subject to the availability of teachers. The Programme reserves the right of final decision on the medium of instruction. Students should observe the medium of instruction of each course in the system for course selection and registration.