Program Overview

M.Phil.-Ph.D. in Psychology

The objective of this programme is to provide advanced academic and research training in a field of specialization in psychology. Students, under close supervision by a faculty member, are required to write a thesis that will contribute to psychological knowledge.

Course List

Fields of Specialization

• Cognition
• Educational Psychology
• Gender Studies
• Health and Community Psychology
• Industrial-Organizational Psychology
• Life Span Developmental Psychology
• Neuropsychology
• Perception
• Personality
• Quantitative Psychology
• Social Psychology

Computational Social Science (CSS) Concentration

Applicants who would like to study in the Computational Social Science (CSS) Concentration under the PhD Stream should apply before commencing their studies. For details, please note the specific requirements and deadlines.

M.Phil. Stream

Admission Requirements

• General qualifications required by the Graduate School
• Fulfil the "English Language Proficiency Requirement" as stipulated by the Graduate School
• Possess a Bachelor's degree in Psychology or in a related field
• Obtain an overall GPA of 3.0 or above

Important Application Information

• A full statement of research interest in specific topic(s) or issue(s) in psychology and justifications (750 words in English)
• A statement to indicate career goals and plans

Study Scheme

1. Coursework Requirements
   • Students are required to complete a minimum of 17 units of courses (excluding thesis research courses)
   • Required Courses: 14 units
     • (a) Courses to be taken in the first year of attendance
       • PSYC5010
       • PSYC6000
       • PSYC6300
       • 1 from the following 2 courses: PSYC6010, PSYC7012
     • (b) Elective Course: 3 units
       • At least 3 units of undergraduate and postgraduate courses in psychology or courses offered by related departments
     • (c) Thesis Research Courses
       • Full-time students: PSYC8006
       • Part-time and continuing students: PSYC8003
     • (d) Gender Studies Programme: Students admitted to the Gender Studies (Psychology) programme will be exempted from one elective course of 3 units
2. Other Requirements
   • Students are required to submit a research thesis and pass an oral examination for graduation
   • Complete an Improving Postgraduate Learning (IPL) module on "Observing Intellectual Property and Copyright Law during Research"
   • A student who receives two (or more) grades F or below will be asked to discontinue studies

Qualifications for Transfer from M.Phil. to Ph.D. Pre-Candidacy

• Obtain an overall GPA of 3.5 or above in their first year of studies
• Submit an M.Phil. thesis proposal and pass an oral thesis proposal defense by the end of February during the second term of their first year of studies
• Satisfy members of their Thesis Committee that their proposals have the potential to be expandable to become a proper Ph.D. thesis

Ph.D. Stream

Admission Requirements

• General qualifications required by the Graduate School
• Fulfil the "English Language Proficiency Requirement" as stipulated by the Graduate School
• Possess a Bachelor's degree in Psychology or in a related field
• Obtain an overall GPA of 3.5 or above or honours not lower than Second Class Upper
• Have completed an individually supervised research thesis

Important Application Information

• A full research proposal in English (2500 words or above)
• A statement to indicate career goals and plans

Study Scheme (Pre-Candidacy)

1. Coursework Requirement
   • Students are required to complete a minimum of 14 units of courses (excluding thesis research courses)
   • Required Courses: 14 units
     • First Year of Attendance
       • PSYC5010
       • PSYC6000
       • PSYC6300
       • 1 from the following 2 courses: PSYC6010, PSYC7012
       • 1 from the following 5 courses: PSYC6010, 7010, 7012, 7020, 7021
2. Candidacy Examination
   • The candidacy examination is a Major Qualifying Assessment which consists of a written paper and an oral examination
   • Prior to the thesis proposal oral defense, students will need to do a Psych Review-type paper (literature review or meta-analysis) of approximately 6,000 words in main text
   • Students are also required to pass an oral examination on this review
3. Thesis Proposal and Oral Defense
   • After passing the Candidacy Examination, the candidate must submit a thesis proposal of approximately 20 pages and pass a thesis proposal oral defense by a Thesis Committee

Study Scheme (Post-Candidacy)

1. Coursework Requirement
   • Students are required to complete a minimum of 3 units of course (excluding thesis research courses)
   • Required Courses: 3 units
     • Students are required to take one of the following courses and obtain a minimum grade of B-
       • PSYC6010, 7010, 7012, 7020, 7021 which has not been selected as required course(s)
2. Other Requirements
   • Students are required to submit a research thesis and pass an oral examination for graduation
   • Complete an Improving Postgraduate Learning (IPL) module on "Observing Intellectual Property and Copyright Law during Research"
   • A student who receives two (or more) grades F or below will be asked to discontinue studies

Career Prospects

Most of the graduates entered scientific and research work. Others joined the fields of teaching in secondary and primary schools, marketing, administration and management, and human resources and training.