Department of English

‘I feel so fortunate to have the opportunity of doing a PhD at CUHK and so grateful for all the very kind and generous help from my supervisor as well as other staff members and PhD students at the Department of English. The four years here transformed my life and prepared me to be both a serious scholar and a passionate teacher. What I have gained, intellectually and spiritually, is beyond language; my supervisor’s guidance and the warm and supportive environment in this big family will always inspire me to move on with courage and enthusiasm.’

From my undergraduate years to my PhD journey, the department served as my home for a decade. I developed a deep passion for literature during my freshman year in the department and gradually evolved into a scholar within its supportive and nurturing environment. I was fortunate to be guided by professors who were not only experts in their respective fields but also kind and supportive in their teaching and supervision.

The past four years in the English Department at CUHK have provided a strong foundation for my early career as a researcher. I have enjoyed an exciting and fruitful journey, supported by a friendly, diverse, and academically rigorous environment. I have met many wonderful people, read a great variety of literature, and found great fulfilment in my studies. I am deeply grateful to all of the professors and faculty members for their support and kindness.

My years as a PhD student were overshadowed by the pandemic. However, it is under these circumstances that I came to understand the caring and supportive nature of the department. I witnessed a sense of unity developing within our community, and I also gained an unparalleled sense of intimacy with the undergraduate students in my tutorials. The department fosters an inclusive and liberal atmosphere, encouraging not only academic research but also a wide range of student initiatives and projects. Personally, organizing a postgraduate roundtable in May 2023 with my fellow postgraduates was an incredibly rewarding experience. Additionally, I deeply appreciate the dedicated and pioneering attitude of our professors towards English literary studies, and I will always cherish the picturesque campus and the wonderful people I encountered there.

My five years in the AEL programs proved to be a very fruitful and enjoyable journey. The department provided me with invaluable opportunities for personal growth and development as a novice researcher. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my supervisors and other faculty members, for their continued support and generously sharing their own thoughts and resources with me.