The department offers supervision for MPhil/PhD candidates in the following sub-fields within the discipline: comparative politics, international relations, political theory, and public administration. The MPhil and PhD degrees are research degrees and require the submission and oral defence of a substantial piece of original scholarship. Candidates are expected to demonstrate that they have made a new contribution to their area of study and that they have a strong command of its literature. Candidates are required to complete a coursework curriculum as part of their research training. They will be required to take courses organised by the Graduate School and the department. Applicants in the fields of public administration or of international relations should note that the department also offers a Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree and a Master of International and Public Affairs (MIPA) degree for applicants interested in non-academic career pathways post-graduation (For more information, please contact the departmental office.)
Applicants should satisfy the minimum requirements for admission and have a strong background in their sub-field of interest and be proficient in English (speaking, reading, writing etc.) the language of instruction at HKU. Every applicant is expected to have in advance of admission a clear idea of the nature of the research he or she wishes to pursue and identify the professor(s) best suited as supervisor. A research proposal must be enclosed in the application. The following items must be addressed in the research proposal:
- A statement of the aim and scope of research;
- An explanation of the research methods to be employed (e.g. theoretical approaches, methods of data collection, and/or methods of philosophical analysis, etc);
- A statement on the significance of the research study and its possible contribution to the field of study; and
- A reference/reading list.
All applications should be submitted to the Online Application system. If you have enquiries regarding how to use the Online Application System, please contact the Graduate School by email at gradsch@hku.hk or telephone: (852) 2857 3470.
The Faculty reserves the right not to admit applicants who meet the minimum qualifications. In some cases, it will not be possible to provide supervision in the specific area of the applicant's interest; in others, the member of staff with expertise in the area may already be fully committed or we received in that application cycle more good applicants than we have an ability to admit.
Information for RPG admissions: https://gradsch.hku.hk/prospective_students/application/how_to_apply
FAQ regarding RPG admissions: https://gradsch.hku.hk/prospective_students/application/faq_on_application
The department will allocate a supervisor or, in some cases, joint supervisors for all accepted applicants. Candidates should ensure that they keep their supervisors informed of their progress and their written work. Supervisors are required to report regularly to the department and the Faculty on each candidate's progress in research and writing. A candidate must pass an oral defense of his or her revised research proposal before the candidature can be confirmed at the end of the probationary period. In the second year of study, every MPhil/PhD candidate is expected to present a seminar paper on his or her research work to the department.
Students are required to participate in departmental seminars, make seminar presentations, lead tutorials and assist in activities organised by the department.
The university awards post-graduate studentships, on a competitive basis, to full-time post-graduate students. The award requires some teaching assistance at the undergraduate level or research assistance for the department.
The department has an international post-graduate student body. Our current and past non-local students come from a wide range of countries including Canada, Colombia, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Japan, mainland China, Morocco, Myanmar, Nepal, New Zealand, Norway, Philippines, Poland, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Taiwan, Thailand, United Kingdom and United States.
PhD/MPhil Graduates
The department takes pride in its diverse and international alumni body. Our alumni come from a wide range of countries and regions around the world: Canada, Chinese mainland, Colombia, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Morocco, Myanmar, Nepal, New Zealand, Norway, the Philippines, Poland, Russia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Taiwan (China), United Kingdom, United States, Saudi Arabia and Thailand.
Our recent MPhil graduates have continued their PhD studies at the following universities:
- Columbia University (US)
- National University of Singapore (Singapore)
- Pennsylvania State University (US)
- University of California, Berkeley (US)
- University of Hong Kong (Hong Kong SAR, China)
- Yale University (US)
Additionally, our recent PhD graduates have been appointed as assistant professors or equivalents at universities worldwide, including:
- Australian National University (Australia)
- Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen (China)
- Fudan University (China)
- Hang Seng University of Hong Kong (Hong Kong SAR, China)
- Hong Kong Baptist University (Hong Kong SAR, China)
- King’s College London (United Kingdom)
- Shanghai University (China)
- Shanghai Jiaotong University (China)
- South China Normal University (China)
- Thammasat University (Thailand)
- University of Hong Kong Business School (Hong Kong SAR, China)
- University of International Business and Economics (China)
- University of Macau (Macau SAR, China)
- University of Sharjah (United Arab Emirates)
- Yonsei University (South Korea)
With the encouragement and support of their supervisors, our RPG students have received numerous prestigious academic awards or positions in recent years, including the Li Ka Shing Prize for Outstanding Research Postgraduate Students at HKU, Pi Sigma Alpha Best Paper by a Graduate Student Award at the Midwest Political Science Association, and the Don Lavoie Fellowship of the Mercatus Center at George Mason University.
| Name | Qualifications | Academic Interests |
|---|---|---|
Professor CHEN Haohan | B.Soc.Sc., HKU; | Computational social science, |
Professor CHAN Kwan Nok | BA., MPhil., HKU; | Institutional analysis, |
Professor DING Fangda | B.A., & B.S., Wuhan | Social equity, diversity |
Professor HAN Enze | B.A., BFSU | International relations of East Asia, |
Professor JIN Yutang | L.L. B. Peking U.; | Confucian and Chinese political thought, |
Professor LAM Wai Fung | B.Soc.Sc., CUHK; | Public policy analysis, |
Professor LEVIN Dov H. e-mail: dovlvn@hku.hk | B.A. & M.A., The University of Haifa; | Military and non-military foreign interventions, U.S. foreign policy, public diplomacy, international relations theory, international security |
Professor LI Hui | B.A. & M.A., Renmin U; | Public/nonprofit management, |
Professor LI Zhengyan | B.A., Remin U; | Environmental policy, |
Professor PARK Joohyung | B.A. & M.P.A., | Bureaucratic politics, |
Professor QUEK Kai | B.A., Cornell U; | Experimental political science, |
Professor STEINHOFF Uwe | M.A., Johann-Wolfgang-Goethe U; | Contemporary western political philosophy and applied ethics, in particular: the ethics of violence (self-defense, war, terrorism, torture, assassination, punishment, etc.), global justice, political obligation, collective responsibility, egalitarianism vs. anti-egalitarianism |
Professor STRANGE Austin | B.A., William & Mary | Chinese foreign policy, international political economy, international development, trade, diplomacy |
Professor THOMSON Robert Tel : 3917 2399 | B.A., University of | International comparisons of democratic representation, International governance |
Professor WU Nicole | B.S.Sc., CUHK; | International/comparative political economy (I/CPE), technology and automation, public opinion in IPE |
Professor YAN Xiaojun | LLB, LLM, Peking U.; | Chinese politics, comparative political development, political regime, government reform, institutional innovation, authoritarianism, democratization, contentious politics and comparative historical study of reform and revolution. |
Professor ZHU Jiangnan | B.A., Peking U.; | Chinese politics, corruption and government integrity, methodology. |
Please send to pparpg@hku.hk
