Master of Philosophy (MPhil) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
CityUHK School of Law offers two research degrees: Master of Philosophy (MPhil) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). Each degree consists of a substantial research project and a limited coursework component. A PhD thesis, in particular, must make a substantial original contribution to knowledge in the relevant subject area. Research postgraduate students are encouraged to be active members of the Law School's research community. Supervision is available under regional and international experts in a diverse array of subject areas, including public law, human rights, criminal law, private law, comparative law, international law and maritime law. The University also offers excellent financial assistance to eligible students.
CityUHK School of Law is a boutique institution with an outstanding reputation as a leading law school. We foster a culture of integrated research and teaching, drawing on the expertise of our faculty and a diverse student body. Our research contributes to the betterment of society in Hong Kong, Greater China and beyond. We encourage both theoretical and applied research with local, regional or international significance. If you wish to join the Law School’s research community and benefit from our established research culture, our MPhil/ PhD programme is a good choice for you!
Prof ZHU Guobin Research Degree Coordinator
| Programme Structure | To be recommended for the award of an MPhil or PhD degree, students must successfully fulfil the coursework requirements, and they must satisfy the examiners in respect of their submitted thesis, an oral defense on the thesis and area of study concerned, and any required written or practical examinations. | |
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| Qualifying Examination | PhD students are required to take and pass a qualifying examination within 10 –24 months (both full-time and part-time) after commencement of PhD studies. The qualifying examination tests students’ knowledge of the major subject areas of their research disciplines and assesses their readiness to conduct research in their specific research discipline. | |
| Thesis | An MPhil thesis should present the results of an independent research investigation, provide evidence of a sound understanding of the area of study and of its context and applicability, and contribute to knowledge in the subject area concerned. A PhD thesis, in addition to the above, should make a substantial original contribution to knowledge in the subject area concerned. | |
| Study Period | For students admitted on or after 1 September 2024 | |
| Programme | Full-time | Part-time |
| MPhil | 2 years | 3 years |
| PhD | 4 years | 6 years |
A student who is receiving regular supervision in Hong Kong or in a designated location approved by the University is classified as being in residence. The required residence periods for research degree studies are indicated below:
| Programme | Full-time | Part-time |
| MPhil | 2 regular semesters | 1 regular semesters |
| PhD | 4 regular semesters | 2 regular semesters |
*Regular Semester refers to Semester A or Semester B of an academic year.
| Application Deadlines for 2025 Entry |
Applicants applying for the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS) have to submit BOTH an initial application to the Research Grants Council (RGC) and then a full application to CityUHK.
Research degree students may be eligible for, and can apply to, a number of financial support schemes, such as Postgraduate Studentships, Research Tuition Scholarships, Conference Grants and support from the Research Activities Fund. The Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS), established by the Research Grants Council (RGC) of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, aims to attract the best and brightest students in the world to pursue their research degree programs in a Hong Kong institution. Funding and Scholarship The Fellowship provides awardees with a monthly stipend of HK$28,100 (~US$3,602.5) and a conference and research related travel allowance of HK$14,000 (~US$1,790) per year for a maximum of three years. (The rates are for 2025/26. They are subject to revision from time to time without prior notification.) For Fellowship awardees who are admitted to a 4-year PhD programme, CityUHK will provide a monthly studentship at the same level as the RGC Fellowship for their fourth year of study. Post-doc Positions at CityUHK School of Law HKPFS recipients of CityUHK School of Law will be favourably considered for a 12-month post-doc position after they have successfully completed their PhD. Selection will be based on the consideration of relevant factors, including academic achievements, availability of a suitable faculty member as supervisor and availability of funding for the post-doc position. English Proficiency Requirements For applicants from non-English speaking universities are required to attach their TOEFL or IELTS score results with their PhD applications, unless they can provide proof that English is the language of instruction for all courses that qualify them for entrance to their proposed PhD programmes. TOEFL and IELTS scores are considered valid for two years from the test date and must be valid at the time of submission of application to CityUHK. For further details of the HKPFS, please click here . Prospective students are strongly encouraged to contact potential supervisors in their subject area before submitting an application, to ensure that appropriate supervision will be available for a given research project. The areas of research expertise of our faculty are available here: https://www.cityu.edu.hk/slw/research/areas-research-expertise . Staff profiles are available here: https://www.cityu.edu.hk/slw/about-school/our-people?f%5B0%5D=slw_staff_type%3A1101 . To apply for admission to either the MPhil or PhD programme offered by CityUHK School of Law, applicants are required to submit research proposal. The “Guidelines for Preparing a Research Proposal for Graduate Studies in the School of Law” are available here. If applicants have already published academic work, they may submit full copies of up to three of their publications. Where any publication is submitted in a language other than English, it must be accompanied by an abstract in English. (in support of the applicant’s publication record, if applicable) the front page of the papers (for papers that have been published) or the letter of acceptance (for papers that have been accepted for publication). For students who wish to apply for visiting research study at CityUHK School of Law:
The final decision on the assignment of supervisors for successful applicants rests with the School. For the application period and procedures, please click here .  “The PhD years at CityUHK were a journey to me. There were ups and downs but it formed me, both as a professional and as a person. I am grateful to have the moral support from my supervisors and friends in CityUHK, which enabled me to enjoy every single minute spent here. ” PhD graduate 2021  “Pursuing a PhD degree at CityUHK Law is an awesome experience. I benefited a lot from this programme. The valuable courses and professors’ patient guidelines equipped me to be a better researcher. My knowledgeable supervisors and colleague friends are the most precious I got from here. I learned a lot from them, without which I would not have been able to conduct and finish my research so well. They gave me great support, encouragement, and care. The faculty staff here are also friendly and helpful. These people made this programme and CityUHK Law so lovely. We have a PhD study station, which is an amazing place that all PhD candidates can work and learn and discuss with each other. This is also the place where I completed my research thesis. The time in CityUHK Law was one of the most wonderful parts of my life. ” Dr LI Xiaotong  “My name is Mekonnen Seid, and I’m an Ethiopian citizen. During my study period at CityUHK, I obtained advanced substantive and technical skills from the research and teaching environment of CityUHK, which is among the world-class universities. I would say I improved my research capacity from the bottom. Particularly, I learned how to produce research with new ideas. I also got the opportunity to serve as a teaching and research assistant. I believe the overall teaching and research experiences enabled me to engage in science-based decision-making in my future career. I am highly indebted to my supervisor for his constructive and very scientific comments and efforts to boost my dissertation’s originality by sharing useful materials and indicating new approaches. I would also like to thank the School of Law staff and my PhD classmates for their multidimensional support and useful comments during informal discussions and seminar presentations. I would also like to thank the Hong Kong government for its financial assistance (scholarship), which has been adequate enough to cover my research, living and study costs.” Dr Seid Demeke MEKONNEN  “I began a PhD in 2015, completing the project in 2018 and graduating in 2019. My research was in business and human rights, and particularly looked at how corporate economic activity harmed socio-economic rights. CityUHK fostered a good learning environment with a good balance between opportunities, such as conferences, and time for individual work. I was hired for two years as a Visiting Fellow upon completion of my PhD, and I am currently an Assistant Professor of Business Law and Corporate Governance at the University of Nottingham Business School, based in China.” Dr David Martin BIRCHALL PhD graduate 2019  "I spent five most fruitful years at the School of Law, City University of Hong Kong between 2014 and 2019, including four years of PhD study and one year as a postdoctoral fellow. Despite many anxieties and challenges, I achieved several important milestones, including completing the thesis, passing the thesis examination with distinction, publishing two articles in leading law journals, namely, the Columbia Journal of Asian Law and Law & Policy, and finally, obtaining an academic position at the Macao University of Science and Technology, where I am now an Assistant Professor. Most importantly, following significant improvement in my research capacity, I have attained the confidence and independence to pursue a research career, and I plan to continue publishing in the field of law and society. Without effective guidance from my supervisor as well as strong support provided by the School of Law, however, all these achievements would be impossible. The School of Law continually integrates interdisciplinary perspectives within the curriculum, and works hard to link the Chinese and global research communities – these features of the programme have helped to change my thinking and writing style since I commenced my PhD. I appreciate all the valuable support and assistance that the School of Law provided me during my time in Hong Kong. I believe that City University of Hong Kong School of Law is the best place to challenge yourself to think out of the box during your postgraduate study." Dr XIAO Huina PhD graduate 2018  “My PhD journey at CityUHK has been an amazing experience. The strong ties between supervisors and researchers and opportunities to attend seminars by internationally acclaimed scholars and academics not only developed my research capabilities but also broadened my academic outlook. The abundance of resources in the library and an intellectually enriched environment make CityUHK amongst the best places for academic engagement if anyone has passion for research. My time at CityUHK was the most rewarding experience in my life, and I am very glad that I chose CityUHK.” Dr Sarfaraz Ahmed KHAN PhD graduate 2017
The tuition fees for Visiting Research Students in 2024/25 are as follows:
Prospective students may contact: Chow Yei Ching School of Graduate Studies 4/F Fong Yun Wah Building City University of Hong Kong 83 Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon Tong, Kowloon, Hong Kong Tel: (852) 3442 9076 Fax: (852) 3442 0332 Email: [email protected] Website: https://www.sgs.cityu.edu.hk/ Routine admissions enquiries may be addressed to: General Office, School of Law City University of Hong Kong 83 Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon Tong, Kowloon, Hong Kong Tel: (852) 3442 8008 Fax: (852) 3442 0190 Email: [email protected] Website: https://www.cityu.edu.hk/slw/ Other enquiries may be addressed to the Research Degree Coordinator: Prof Zhu Guobin Professor Research Degree Coordinator School of Law, City University of Hong Kong 83 Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon Tong, Kowloon, Hong Kong Tel: (852) 3442 7228 Fax: (852) 3442 0190 Email: [email protected]    The City Law SchoolLocated in the heart of legal London, we are the first law school in London to educate students and practitioners at all stages of legal education. Undergraduate degrees LLB Graduate Entry Law GE LLB Graduate Diploma in Law GDL Master of Laws LLM Bar Vocational Studies BVS Solicitors' Practice Programme SPP Committed to academic excellenceCity was the institution in London to educate students at all stages of legal education. Established in The City Law School has an illustrious history of providing exceptional education for all law students.  Our facilities, including a mock courtroom complete with video-link room for vulnerable witness training, have been designed to reflect developments in the legal sector with digital technology in courtrooms and the use of artificial intelligence. Research from The City Law School The City Law School's research ranges from doctrinal to socio-legal, across a broad subject matter.
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The PhD/MPhil programme at the City Law School offers you the opportunity to carry out legal research and to contribute to professional knowledge in this constantly evolving field.
The City Law School is offering 2 full-time, three-year doctoral scholarships (entry in September 2024). Applications are invited from exceptional and ambitious graduates wishing to pursue cutting-edge research in any of the School's research areas.
CityUHK School of Law offers two research degrees: Master of Philosophy (MPhil) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). Each degree consists of a substantial research project and a limited coursework component.
The City Law School is the first in London to educate practitioners and students in all stages of legal education.
The PhD programme at the City, University of London Law School offers you the opportunity to carry out legal research and to contribute to professional
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