APPLICATION INFORMATION

Application Deadline:
Main Round: 1 December 2024
Clearing Round: 31 March 2025
(Applications in Clearing Round will only be considered subject to availability of places.)

Application: Graduate School Online Application
Tuition Fee: HK$42,100 per annum (full-time)

The requirements for the Doctoral Degree (Ph.D.) include a qualifying examination, a research proposal, long-term fieldwork and a dissertation. The thesis is expected to be a book-length original contribution to anthropology based on long-term fieldwork and research. Students normally complete the Doctoral Degree Programme in four years. 

Full-time graduate students are eligible for financial aid from the department—the department offers a number of postgraduate studentships of HK$18,725 approx. US$2,400 for PhD pre-candidacy (or HK$19,275 approx. US$2,471 for PhD post-candidacy, with effect from 1 August 2024) per month for 3 years or 4 years (starting from 2014-15, holders of research M.Phil. degrees or other research master’s degrees attained from non-UGC-funded institutions [e.g. from outside of Hong Kong] will be given a normative study period of 48 months). Funds from research projects are also used to assist students, on a case-by-case basis; and students are also eligible for special grants.

Students are eligible for admission into the Ph.D. Programme if they have a Master’s Degree in anthropology, or a master’s degree in a related discipline (e.g. sociology, ethnology, political science, etc.) and relevant experience (e.g. fieldwork experience). The programme welcomes applicants not only with an anthropological background, but from other related disciplines as well.

Applications for admission to Ph.D. programme should include:

1. completed online application under web of Graduate School,
2. Copies of Official transcripts (with a complete record of courses attended and examination results) and grading schemes of all tertiary level studies should be submitted. Please see Graduate School Admission Documents Required for details,
3. Three letters of recommendation (via Online or Hardcopy. If Hardcopy, send to division by deadline). Please see Graduate School Application Procedure for details,
4. original proof of proficiency in English (for students who have graduated from a university that does not use English as a medium of instruction). Please see http://www.gs.cuhk.edu.hk/page/EntryRequirements for details. The department prefers the TOEFL exam (550 or above, or 213 or above for the computer-based test; 79 or above for the Internet-based test), or IELTS (band 6.5 or above). If relevant for research, some evidence of Chinese proficiency is also required for non-native speakers,
   (*TOEFL and IELTS are considered valid for two years from the test date.)
5. receipt of application fee (Applicable if paid by Bank draft/ Cheque, no need if paid by Credit Card)
6. copies of certificates and a copy of applicant’s HKID card or other identity document.
7. Applicants who obtained degrees from universities in Mainland China are required to provide a valid Online Verification Report of Higher Education Qualification Certificate (教育部學歷證書電子註冊備案表) and a valid Online Verification Report of Higher Education Degree Certificate (中國高等教育學位在線驗證報告) issued by the CHESICC (學信網) together with their degree certificate and graduation certificate.
8. a two-to-three-page statement of purpose, describing why the applicant wants to study anthropology at CUHK and what research project the applicant proposes to carry out, (FAQ)
9. a copy of sample of the applicant’s writing, preferably a research paper. (FAQ)

All the above documents should be submitted to the application system BY DEADLINE.

Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed in person (local applicants) or by Skype (non-local applicants).

The admission exercise is in January-February for September admission. The university officially accepts PhD applications all year round, but the department normally only has vacancies and can accept students in the spring for September admission.

APPLICATION RESULTS

Application results will be posted on the homepage of the Graduate School from mid-February to August. Successful applications will receive the offer letter by August. Applicants will not be informed separately if their applications are not successful.

For further information concerning the Anthropology Programme at CUHK, please write the department at anthropology@cuhk.edu.hk.