Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to find a supervisor before I apply?
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Applicants are not required to seek for a supervisor before the application, we will assign a suitable supervisor to you if we consider admitting you into our Programmes. You are welcome to contact our teaching member(s) before the application if you wish to do so.
Can I change the programme I have applied for after an application is submitted online?
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No. An application cannot be changed once it is submitted online. Please submit another application if you wish to apply for more than one programme.
Separate applications and materials have to be submitted for different programmes. Please also note that multiple application fees should be paid.
What makes my application a strong case?
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Admission to our research programmes is highly competitive. You need to have a strong academic qualification and meet the English proficiency requirement in order to be successful. Reference letters will also be considered. A well-written research proposal is also essential.
What is a research proposal? How long should I write?
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A research proposal outlining areas of interest, goals and plans has to be submitted. It should demonstrate a good understanding of relevant theories and a feasible research plan with methodological appropriateness.
The guiding principal for a good Research Proposal is that you must have a serious question in mind that is worthy of thorough research. The proposal should be written in English and include:
- Topic of research proposal
- Project objectives
- An outline of the research background of the topic, giving an overview of some current findings in the area, with references
- Research methodology
- Project significance and value
- A list of works cited in your proposal
Will there be any interview?
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Yes, applicants may be invited for interview. The interview will a face-to-face meeting or by video conferencing.
When will the application results be announced?
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Application results will be announced in several rounds from March to June. Successful applicants will receive a verbal notification as soon as the selection process is completed. Applicants can login the Graduate School’s “Online Application System for Postgraduate Programme” to check their status (via “view application result”). Applicants may consider their applications unsuccessful if they do not hear from us thereafter.
When will I need to pay the deposit?
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Successful applicants will have to pay the deposit two to three weeks after the admission offer is sent to you by the Graduate School. Applicants are required to indicate acceptance of admission offer online and pay the deposit by the payment due date. The offer acceptance and payment due date CANNOT be delayed under any circumstances.
Can I apply for a refund of deposit?
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According to the University’s policy, the deposit paid CANNOT be refunded.
Can I change to another programme after accepting an offer?
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No. Each applicant will receive only ONE offer from a postgraduate programme from the Graduate School.
What do I need to do after receiving an offer?
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Please follow the instruction as per the Application Result and Registration Guide provided to you by the Graduate School via the Online System to do an online registration and send in your visa application materials as soon as possible after you have paid your tuition fee/deposit. Delay in online registration and visa application will disallow you to register for courses and to attend classes on time.
My referee(s) did not receive any invitation emails, what should I do?
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Invitation emails are sent automatically by the system, therefore, please ensure that all details are correctly input into the Online Application System for Postgraduate Programmes. Otherwise, your referee(s) might not receive the invitation on time.
Please remind your referee(s) to check their junk email folder too. If he/she has not received an invitation email, please send an email to english@cuhk.edu.hk, and indicate your application number and the name of the referee(s) concerned.
If you have input incorrect/missing contact information or need to update your referee(s) details, please submit a request for a change of information with the abovementioned information to english@cuhk.edu.hk.
After the application deadline, referees can only submit recommendation forms/letters by email. The form is available at the Online Application System for Postgraduate Programmes. The recommendation form/letter must be sent by the referees’ email accounts.
If I want to apply to the HKPFS, what should I do?
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First, submit an application on the HKPFS website by selecting our programme as your first choice to obtain an HKPFS application number. Next, submit an application through the CUHK online application system with the quotation of your HKPFS application number.
Please make sure that all your information (especially the choice of the programme) is the same in both the HKPFS and the CUHK systems, and the correct HKPFS application number is input in the CUHK online application system.
I have applied to the HKPFS but my application materials will not reach your office on or before the said application deadline. Will this affect my application?
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Yes. Therefore, applicants are strongly advised to submit all application materials to our office on or before the said application deadline.
Otherwise, your application will be regarded as incomplete and will NOT proceed as part of the HKPFS. Instead, it will be treated as a regular application.
Please refer to Admissions for details. Applicants are advised to send all application materials as early as possible to avoid any delays/unexpected circumstances.