Program Overview

MPhil / PhD Sociology

The MPhil / PhD programme in Sociology provides expert guidance, resources, and space for students to undertake carefully planned, extensive, and original social research into a specific topic of their own choosing. Students work under the supervision of a dedicated member of the faculty to complete their research. The academic staff includes leading international scholars in the fields of sociology, anthropology, criminology, gender, migration, labour, media, and cultural studies, among other fields.

Programme Overview

The MPhil / PhD programme is ideal for those pursuing a career in academia or seeking to gain an expert understanding of a particular social issue for use within their own profession. The research programmes are highly regarded, and graduates are currently working in leading universities, government departments, and private industry throughout the world.

While this is a highly individualised programme, requiring students to manage their own independent study and research, they will also regularly collaborate with other research students and staff throughout their degree. Students will take a range of specialist courses offered by the Department of Sociology, the Faculty of Social Sciences, and the HKU Graduate School, designed to assist the research process.

Funding and Fees

A number of generous scholarships exist to support students in undertaking their MPhil / PhD degree, including:

• HKU Presidential PhD Scholar Programme
• Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme
• Postgraduate Scholarships
• Tuition Waiver Scheme for Local Students

Updated information on tuition fees for MPhil / PhD study is available from the HKU Graduate School.

Programme Admission Requirements

Students should meet the full requirements laid out by the HKU Graduate School.

• For the PhD programme: Students will normally hold a relevant Master’s degree.
• For the MPhil programme: Students will normally hold a relevant Bachelor’s degree.

Courses

Compulsory courses include:

• SOCI6003: Research seminars for postgraduate students (1st semester)
• SOCI6003-B: Research seminars for postgraduate students (2nd semester)
• SOCI6008: Modern Theory and Sociological Analysis (2nd semester)
• SOCI6011: Ethnographic research methods (2nd semester)
• SOCI6012: Classical social theory (2nd semester)
• SOCI7010-1A: Quantitative research methods (1st semester)
• SOCI7010-2A: Quantitative Research Methods (2nd semester)
• SOCI7011: Introduction to methods for computational social science (Unavailable this year)
• SOCI7012: Special Topics in Contemporary Theory (Unavailable this year)

Not all courses will necessarily be offered each year. Current students can find definitive course requirements from the HKU Graduate School.

Important Dates

Applicants are strongly advised to apply during the main round of the application cycle, which typically runs from early September to early December each year. Prospective applicants are advised to discuss their proposed research proposal with a potential supervisor before submitting their application.