Master of Social Sciences in the Field of Clinical Psychology

Overview

The Master of Social Sciences in the field of Clinical Psychology is a scientific discipline that aims to understand, prevent, and relieve psychological distress and dysfunctions, as well as promote well-being and personal development. Clinical Psychologists are mostly employed in hospitals, government sectors, counseling services units, and voluntary organisations. Common duties of clinical psychologists include conducting psychological assessment, psychological intervention and counseling, giving public educational talks and workshops, providing staff training and consultation, as well as conducting scientific research.

Structure & Syllabus

The curriculum of the Master of Social Sciences in the field of Clinical Psychology is a two-year (i.e., 24-month) full-time programme. The curriculum consists of a total of 162 credits. Candidates are required to complete 21 compulsory courses, including 15 taught courses (6 credits each) (a total of 90 credits), 5 practicum courses, Practicum I to V with a total of 60 credits, and a dissertation research course given 12 credits (PSYC8006 Dissertation). Each credit-unit is roughly equivalent to 20 hours of student learning activities (including both contact hours and all other forms of student learning activities) for the taught courses and the dissertation, or 30 hours of work for practicum, under supervision of a clinical supervisor.

The courses are as follows:

• First year
  • PSYC7024 – Induction Programme
  • PSYC7029 – Practicum I
  • PSYC7030 – Practicum II
  • PSYC7002 – Assessment of personality and psychopathology
  • PSYC7003 – Individual psychotherapy I
  • PSYC7004 – Individual psychotherapy II
  • PSYC7005 – Psychopathology I
  • PSYC7006 – Psychopathology II
  • PSYC7018 – Cognitive assessment
  • PSYC7019 – Research methods and statistics I
  • PSYC7020 – Research methods and statistics II
  • PSYC7009 – Clinical seminar I
• Second year
  • PSYC8011 – Practicum III
  • PSYC8012 – Practicum IV
  • PSYC8013 – Practicum V
  • PSYC8001 – Clinical seminar II
  • PSYC8003 – Family and group therapy
  • PSYC8004 – Clinical neuropsychology
• First and/or Second year
  • PSYC8002 – Community and health psychology
  • PSYC8005 – Ethics and professional issues
• Capstone Experience Course
  • PSYC8006 – Dissertation
  • PSYC8014 – Psychological Services Unit In-House Practicum

Entry Requirements

To be eligible for admission to the Master of Social Sciences in the field of Clinical Psychology Programme, a candidate shall satisfy both the University admission requirements and the programme specific requirements as listed below:

• shall comply with the General Regulations;
• shall hold a Bachelor’s degree with a major in Psychology of this University or a qualification of equivalent standard from this University or another comparable institution accepted for this purpose;
• shall have demonstrated empirical research experience in the form of a dissertation completed in the Bachelor’s degree programme or another equivalent programme in psychology, or first-authorship in published journal article;
• shall be eligible for the Graduate Membership of the Hong Kong Psychological Society;
• for a candidate who is seeking admission on the basis of a qualification from a university or comparable institution outside Hong Kong of which the language of teaching and/or examination is not English shall satisfy the following English language requirement applicable to higher degrees;
• shall preferably have relevant working experience; and
• shall satisfy the examiners in a qualifying examination if required.

Study Mode and Schedule

The curriculum of the Master of Social Sciences in the field of Clinical Psychology is a two-year (i.e., 24-month) full-time programme. Candidates will spend a considerable amount of time during and between school terms in clinical practice.

Tuition Fee

The Master of Social Sciences in the field of Clinical Psychology Programme is offered on a government-funded basis. Tuition fee for the academic year 2026/27 cohort is:

• Local students: HK$47,000 per annum
• Non-local students: HK$224,000 per annum

Admissions

The Master of Social Sciences in the field of Clinical Psychology Programme is offered every year. The next class will commence in September 2026.

Careers

Clinical Psychologists enjoy a high level of professional prestige in Hong Kong. Most of our graduates are employed as clinical psychologists in hospitals, clinics, government departments, and voluntary agencies. Significant professional growth of clinical psychology in Hong Kong is expected to continue in the foreseeable future. The typical activities of clinical psychologists include:

• Psychological assessment
• Psychotherapy and counseling (individual, family, and group)
• Health and competence promotion
• Scientific research
• Consulting in programme development and evaluation

Staff for CP Programme

The staff for the Clinical Psychology programme includes:

• Chair Professor: Prof. Tatia Mei-chun LEE
• Associate Professor: Prof. Shirley X. LI
• Assistant Professor: Prof. Wai Sze CHAN
• Assistant Professor: Prof. Frances Jingwen JIN
• Assistant Professor: Prof. Charlene Lok-man LAM
• Assistant Professor: Prof. Vanessa See Heng YIM
• Research Assistant Professor: Dr. Amanda Kingsze CHEUNG
• Principal Lecturer: Dr. Diane Hai-yen HUANG
• Lecturer: Mr. Erich Kai See CHAN

MSocSc (CP) Advisory Panel

The MSocSc (CP) Advisory Panel includes:

• Dr. Amanda Kin Yin MAK (Chairperson)
• Ms. Christine Hak Man CHAN
• Dr. Amos CHEUNG
• Dr. Lorinda L LAM
• Dr. Jeffrey Chak Chun LIU
• Dr. Alison Lai Ping MAK
• Dr. Vivian Wai Ming MAK

Adjunct Professors

The programme has several adjunct professors, including:

• Dr. Chan, Becky Mei Yin (Adjunct Associate Professor)
• Dr. Chan, Chung Ming Anthony (Adjunct Associate Professor)
• Dr. Cheung, Chuen Yih Amos (Adjunct Assistant Professor)
• Dr. Hui, Shuk Han (Adjunct Associate Professor)
• Dr. Kwok, Alice Wai Yee (Adjunct Associate Professor)
• Dr. Lau, Edmond Kam Lun (Adjunct Associate Professor)
• Dr. Liu, Chak Chun Jeffrey (Adjunct Associate Professor)
• Dr. Mak, Lai Ping Alison (Adjunct Associate Professor)
• Dr. Mak, Wai Ming Vivian (Adjunct Associate Professor)
• Dr. Tsang, Lucia Yee Ha (Adjunct Associate Professor)
• Dr. Tsui, Pui Wang Ephraem (Adjunct Associate Professor)
• Dr. Wong, Chee Wing (Adjunct Associate Professor)

Frequently Asked Questions

1. If I do not have a Bachelor’s degree with a major in Psychology, can I apply for the Master of Social Sciences in the field of Clinical Psychology Programme?
   • No. This is a basic requirement. Applicants who do not have a Bachelor’s degree with a major in Psychology may consider taking a conversion programme to fulfill such requirement.
2. When and how can I apply for this programme, does the application open every year?
   • The Programme is offered in September every year. Online applications can be submitted during the application period from November/December each year.
3. Do I need to take IELTS or TOFEL?
   • A candidate who is seeking admission on the basis of a qualification from a university or comparable institution outside Hong Kong of which the language of teaching and/or examination is not English shall satisfy the English language requirement applicable to higher degrees.
4. Is Cantonese a must prior to admission? How do I prove my Cantonese skills?
   • Being able to communicate in Cantonese and knowledge of written Chinese are preferred because students in this programme are expected to complete clinical placements in the local services in Hong Kong as part of their training and most of the clients in Hong Kong speak Cantonese. The language ability of the candidates will be tested during the selection interviews.
5. Will the Department provide feedback to individual applicants?
   • Due to the large number of applications received, unfortunately, we are unable to provide individual application status updates or feedback to unsuccessful applicants.

University of Hong Kong Summary

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Overview:

The University of Hong Kong (HKU) is a prestigious public research university located in Hong Kong. It is renowned for its academic excellence and global standing, consistently ranking among the top universities worldwide.

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HKU offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs across ten faculties, covering various disciplines and fields of study.

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HKU is a leading research institution, providing students with opportunities to engage in research projects and contribute to groundbreaking discoveries.

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HKU offers a comprehensive range of academic programs across ten faculties:

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