Program Overview

Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology

This programme, offered in the full-time and part-time mode, will provide advanced research and clinical training to master-level clinical psychologists to raise their standards of professional practice and academic/research competence. The aim of the programme is to train future leaders in the clinical psychology profession, preparing graduates of this programme for senior posts in either tertiary educational institutions or practice settings. In other words, these doctoral graduates are expected in the future to play the roles of resourceful teachers of psychology who nurture young budding psychologists, pioneering researchers who expand the frontier of knowledge, or senior practitioners who monitor and raise the level of professional practices.

Admission Requirement

• General qualifications required by the Graduate School
• Fulfil the "English Language Proficiency Requirement" as stipulated by the Graduate School
• Possess a Master's degree in Clinical Psychology
• Have eligibility for membership in the Division of Clinical Psychology, Hong Kong Psychological Society.
• Knowledge of spoken Cantonese and written Chinese are required (Courses are taught in Cantonese and English).

Additional Application Information

In addition to the general application materials, all applicants should submit a thesis proposal in English (2,500 words or above).

Programme of Study

Course List

Coursework Requirements

Students are required to complete a minimum of 17 units of courses (excluding PSYC8100) for graduation.

• Required Courses: PSYC6010, 6300, 7100, 7300, 7400, 7500, 7910, 7920 (17 units)
• PSYC8100: After passing a candidacy assessment, students are required to take PSYC8100 every term, throughout the preparation of dissertation, until its completion. Students will gain the units each time they pass PSYC8100.

Qualifying Examination

Students are required to fulfill the Ph.D. candidature by passing one of the following two candidacy assessment procedures:

• Pass a written examination which consists of a written review paper and an oral examination; or
• Obtain a “B” grade or above in the courses of PSYC6010 (Seminar in Research Methods II) and PSYC7500 (Independent Study on Clinical Research).

Thesis Proposal and Defense Meeting

Upon the passing of the candidacy assessment, a student is required to submit a thesis proposal and pass a thesis proposal defense meeting no later than 30 January of the third year of studies.

Other Requirements

1. Students must fulfill the Term Assessment Requirement of the Graduate School.
2. Students must also fulfill the additional Term Assessment Requirements of the Programme. A student who receives two or more grades of D or below will be required to discontinue studies, unless special approval is granted by the Faculty Board.
3. Students are required to submit a research thesis and pass an oral examination for graduation.
4. Students are required to complete the following Improving Postgraduate Learning (IPL) in their first year of study for partial fulfillment of candidacy requirements:

• Students are required to complete and pass an IPL module on “Basics of Research Data Management” in the first year of study.
• Students are required to submit a Data Management Plan (DMP).

5. In addition to completing the IPL modules stipulated for partial fulfillment of candidacy requirements, students are also required to complete the following IPL modules for graduation:

• Complete an IPL module on “Observing Intellectual Property and Copyright Law during Research”.
• Complete an online Research Ethics Training (RET) module on “Publication Ethics” and obtain a valid Publication Ethics Certificate for graduation.

Career Prospects

Graduate students of this programme have been employed as clinical psychologists in:

• Department of Health
• Hospital Authority
• Correctional Services Department
• Hong Kong Police
• Social Welfare Department
• Other non-government organizations.