STUDY SCHEME
PhD in Music
Specialization: Ethnomusicology/ Historical Musicology/ Theory
Coursework Requirement

The programme is basically research-oriented and a student may be required to enrol in formal courses as deemed necessary. All students must meet their Supervisors for prescription of courses every academic year before course selection.

- PhD, Ethnomusicology:
A student should have taken courses in ethnomusicology equivalent to MUSC6200, 6201, 6202, minimum of 1 course from this group: MUSC6250 and 6251 and minimum of 1 course from this group: MUSC6252 and 6253 as required in the MPhil programme in Ethnomusicology at this University. Otherwise, a student may be required to take these courses. A student may also be required to take additional graduate courses as prescribed by the Graduate Panel. If the student does not have a Master's degree in music, additional make-up courses may be required.
- PhD, Historical Musicology:
No course work requirement. Students to propose study plan for Graduate Panel approval.
 
- PhD, Theory
No course work requirement. Students to propose study plan for Graduate Panel approval.
Thesis monitoring course: MUSC8026
From the 2nd term of the first year of attendance, students are required to enrol in MUSC8026 each term until they submit their dissertations. (They are recommended to enrol in MUSC8026 in the 1st term of the first year of attendance.)
Comprehensive/Qualifying Examination

Advancement to Ph.D. candidacy is conditional upon the passing of a written qualifying examination. The written qualifying examination should only be taken after the satisfactory completion of all prescribed course work, if any. In case of failure, the student may re-attempt the failed part(s) of the written qualifying examination once, but should not exceed the maximum period stipulated below.

Applicable to students admitted on 1 August 2010 and thereafter:
Students are required to pass the qualifying examination within the maximum period counting from the date of first registration stipulated below:

With research Master's: Full-time
Part-time		 24 months
36 months
Without research Master's: Full-time
Part-time		 36 months
36 months
Other Requirements
  1. Students must fulfill the Term Assessment Requirement of the Graduate School. For details, please refer to Section 13.0 “Unsatisfactory Performance and Discontinuation of Studies” of the General Regulations Governing Postgraduate Studies which can be accessed from the Graduate School Homepage
  2. A student must achieve a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.0 in order to fulfill the graduation requirement, unless special approval is granted by the Graduate Council.
  3. Dissertation/Proposal – All Ph.D. students, should submit a dissertation proposal after passing the qualifying examination to the Graduate Panel for approval. Only after approval is granted may the candidate proceed to write the dissertation. An oral defense is required after the submission of the dissertation.
  4. Language – Ability to use a language other than Chinese and English, for research purposes, is required of students with specialization in Historical Musicology and Theory, and may be required for students with specialization in Ethnomusicology.
  5. Complete an Improving Postgraduate Learning (IPL) module on "Observing Intellectual Property and Copyright Law during Research". This is an online module and relevant information can be accessed from the website
  6. Students are required to complete an online Research Ethics Training (RET) module on "Publication Ethics" offered by the Office of Research and Knowledge Transfer Services (ORKTS) and obtain a valid Publication Ethics Certificate for graduation. Relevant information can be accessed from the RET website.
MPhil in Music
Specialization: Ethnomusicology
Coursework Requirement

Applicable to students admitted in 2022-23 and thereafter

Students are required to complete a minimum of 18 units of courses for graduation.

For Full-time Students
i. Required courses:
First to Second Years of Attendance:
MUSC6200, 6201		 12 units
  Two General Elective:
Elective course numbered 6000 or above in Music (MUSC) or a related subject to be chosen with the approval of the thesis supervisor. 
ii. Any one courses of MUSC6250, 6251
Any one courses of MUSC6252, 6253		 3 units
3 units
Total 18 units
 
For Part-time Students
i. Required courses:
First to Second Years of Attendance:
MUSC6200, 6201		 12 units
 

Two General Elective:
Elective course numbered 6000 or above in Music (MUSC) or a related subject to be chosen with the approval of the thesis supervisor.
ii. Any one courses of MUSC6250, 6251
Any one courses of MUSC6252, 6253		 3 units
3 units
Total 18 units

Thesis monitoring course: MUSC8025
From the 2nd term of the first year of attendance, both full-time and part-time students are required to enrol in MUSC8025 each term until they submit their theses. (They are recommended to enrol in MUSC8025 in the 1st term of the first year of attendance.)

Other Requirements
  1. Students must fulfill the Term Assessment Requirement of the Graduate School. For details, please refer to Section 13.0 "Unsatisfactory Performance and Discontinuation of Studies" of the General Regulations Governing Postgraduate Studies which can be accessed from the Graduate School Homepage
  2. A student must achieve a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.0 in order to fulfill the graduation requirement, unless special approval is granted by the Graduate Council.
  3. Language – Ability to use a language other than Chinese and English may be required for research purposes.
  4. Thesis Proposal – Towards the end of finishing 15 units of required courses for M.Phil. with an expected average grade "B-" or above, a student can submit his/her thesis proposal.
  5. Thesis – Only after the proposal is approved by the Graduate Panel can the student start writing the thesis. An oral defense is required after the submission of the thesis. An extensive thesis, showing evidence of significant individual research, is required.
  6. Complete an Improving Postgraduate Learning (IPL) module on "Observing Intellectual Property and Copyright Law during Research". This is an online module and relevant information can be accessed from the website.
  7. Complete an IPL module on “Research Data Management Training”. This is an online module and relevant information can be accessed from the website. Students are required to complete and pass the module in their first year of studies, with effect from the 2022-23 intake.
  8. Students are required to complete an online Research Ethics Training (RET) module on "Publication Ethics" offered by the Office of Research and Knowledge Transfer Services (ORKTS) and obtain a valid Publication Ethics Certificate for graduation. Relevant information can be accessed from the RET website.
MPhil in Music
Specialization: Historical Musicology
Coursework Requirement

Students are required to complete a minimum of 12 units of courses for graduation.

For Full-time Students
i.

Required courses:
First or Second Year of Attendance:
MUSC6357
MUSC6358

3 units
3 units
ii. Elective courses:
First to Second Years of Attendance:
Any two 3-unit courses from the "Course List" (except MUSC8025 and 8026)		 6 units
Total 12 units
For Part-time Students
i. Required courses:
First or Second Year of Attendance:
MUSC6357
MUSc6358

3 units
3 units
ii. Elective courses:
First to Second Years of Attendance:
Any two 3-unit courses from the "Course List" (except MUSC8025 and 8026)		 6 units
Total 12 units

Thesis monitoring course: MUSC8025
From the 2nd term of the first year of attendance, both full-time and part-time students are required to enrol in MUSC8025 each term until they submit their theses. (They are recommended to enrol in MUSC8025 in the 1st term of the first year of attendance.)

Other Requirements
  1. Students must fulfill the Term Assessment Requirement of the Graduate School. For details, please refer to Section 13.0 “Unsatisfactory Performance and Discontinuation of Studies” of the General Regulations Governing Postgraduate Studies which can be accessed from the Graduate School Homepage
  2. A student must achieve a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.0 in order to fulfill the graduation requirement, unless special approval is granted by the Graduate Council.
  3. Language – Ability to use a language other than Chinese and English may be required for research purposes.
  4. Thesis Proposal – Towards the end of finishing 15 units of required courses for M.Phil. with an expected average grade "B-" or above, a student can submit his/her thesis proposal.
  5. Thesis – Only after the proposal is approved by the Graduate Panel can the student start writing the thesis. An oral defense is required after the submission of the thesis. An extensive thesis, showing evidence of significant individual research, is required.
  6. Complete an Improving Postgraduate Learning (IPL) module on "Observing Intellectual Property and Copyright Law during Research". This is an online module and relevant information can be accessed from the website http://www.cuhk.edu.hk/clear/prodev/ipl.html
  7. Complete an IPL module on “Research Data Management Training”. This is an online module and relevant information can be accessed from the website. Students are required to complete and pass the module in their first year of studies, with effect from the 2022-23 intake.
  8. Students are required to complete an online Research Ethics Training (RET) module on "Publication Ethics" offered by the Office of Research and Knowledge Transfer Services (ORKTS) and obtain a valid Publication Ethics Certificate for graduation. Relevant information can be accessed from the RET website.
MPhil in Music
Specialization: Theory
Coursework Requirement

Students are required to complete a minimum of 12 units of courses for graduation.

For Full-time Students
i. Required courses:
First to Second Years of Attendance:
MUSC6401, 6402		 6 units
ii. Elective courses:
First to Second Years of Attendance:
Any 6 units of courses from the "Course List" (except MUSC8025 and 8026)		 6 units
Total 12 units
For Part-time Students
i Required courses:
First to Second Years of Attendance:
MUSC6401, 6402

6 units
ii. Elective courses:
First to Second Years of Attendance:
Any 6 units of courses from the "Course List" (except MUSC8025 and 8026)		 6 units
Total 12 units

Thesis monitoring course: MUSC8025
From the 2nd term of the first year of attendance, both full-time and part-time students are required to enrol in MUSC8025 each term until they submit their theses. (They are recommended to enrol in MUSC8025 in the 1st term of the first year of attendance.)

Other Requirements
  1. Students must fulfill the Term Assessment Requirement of the Graduate School. For details, please refer to Section 13.0 “Unsatisfactory Performance and Discontinuation of Studies” of the General Regulations Governing Postgraduate Studies which can be accessed from the Graduate School Homepage
  2. A student must achieve a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.0 in order to fulfill the graduation requirement, unless special approval is granted by the Graduate Council.
  3. Language – Ability to use a language other than Chinese and English may be required for research purposes.
  4. Thesis Proposal – Towards the end of finishing 15 units of required courses for M.Phil. with an expected average grade "B-" or above, a student can submit his/her thesis proposal.
  5. Thesis – Only after the proposal is approved by the Graduate Panel can the student start writing the thesis. An oral defense is required after the submission of the thesis. An extensive thesis, showing evidence of significant individual research, is required.
  6. Complete an Improving Postgraduate Learning (IPL) module on "Observing Intellectual Property and Copyright Law during Research". This is an online module and relevant information can be accessed from the website http://www.cuhk.edu.hk/clear/prodev/ipl.html
  7. Complete an IPL module on “Research Data Management Training”. This is an online module and relevant information can be accessed from the website. Students are required to complete and pass the module in their first year of studies, with effect from the 2022-23 intake.
  8. Students are required to complete an online Research Ethics Training (RET) module on "Publication Ethics" offered by the Office of Research and Knowledge Transfer Services (ORKTS) and obtain a valid Publication Ethics Certificate for graduation. Relevant information can be accessed from theRET website.
DMus in Composition
Coursework Requirement
The programme is basically research-oriented and a student may be required to enrol in formal courses as deemed necessary. All students must meet their Supervisors for prescription of courses every academic year before course selection.

Thesis monitoring course: MUSC8026
From the 2nd term of the first year of attendance, students are required to enroll in MUSC8026 each term until portfolios are submitted. Students are recommended to enroll in MUSC8026 in the 1st term of the first year of attendance.
Comprehensive/Qualifying Examination

Advancement to D.Mus. candidacy is conditional upon the passing of a written qualifying examination. The written qualifying examination should only be taken after the satisfactory completion of all prescribed course work, if any. In case of failure, the student may re-attempt the failed part(s) of the written qualifying examination once, but should not exceed the maximum period stipulated below.

Applicable to students admitted on 1 August 2010 and thereafter:
Students are required to pass the qualifying examination within the maximum period counting from the date of first registration stipulated below:

With research Master's: Full-time
Part-time		 24 months
36 months
Without research Master's: Full-time
Part-time		 36 months
36 months
Other Requirements
  1. Students must fulfill the Term Assessment Requirement of the Graduate School. For details, please refer to Section 13.0 "Unsatisfactory Performance and Discontinuation of Studies" of the General Regulations Governing Postgraduate Studies which can be accessed from the Graduate School Homepage
  2. A student must achieve a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.0 in order to fulfill the graduation requirement, unless special approval is granted by the Graduate Council.
  3. Portfolio – An oral defense is required after the submission of the portfolio.
  4. Complete an Improving Postgraduate Learning (IPL) module on "Observing Intellectual Property and Copyright Law during Research". This is an online module and relevant information can be accessed from the website
  5. Students are required to complete an online Research Ethics Training (RET) module on "Publication Ethics" offered by the Office of Research and Knowledge Transfer Services (ORKTS) and obtain a valid Publication Ethics Certificate for graduation. Relevant information can be accessed from the RET website.
MMus in Composition

Coursework Requirement

Students are required to complete a minimum of 12 units of courses for graduation.

For Full-time Students

i. Required courses:
First Year of Attendance:
MUSC6100, 6101, 6401, 6402		 12 units
Total 12 units

For Part-time Students

i. Required courses:
First to Second Years of Attendance:
MUSC6100, 6101, 6401, 6402		 12 units
 

Portfolio monitoring course: MUSC8025
  After completion of MUSC6100 and 6101, both full-time and part-time students are required to enrol for MUSC8025 each term if the portfolio is not yet finished.  
Total 12 units

Other Requirements

  1. Students must fulfill the Term Assessment Requirement of the Graduate School. For details, please refer to Section 13.0 "Unsatisfactory Performance and Discontinuation of Studies" of the General Regulations Governing Postgraduate Studies which can be accessed from the Graduate School Homepage
  2. A student must achieve a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.0 in order to fulfill the graduation requirement, unless special approval is granted by the Graduate Council.
  3. Portfolio – The portfolio consists of musical works written after the first date of registration.
    Students are required to complete a major work, or an equivalent group of smaller works.
  4. Complete an Improving Postgraduate Learning (IPL) module on "Observing Intellectual Property and Copyright Law during Research". This is an online module and relevant information can be accessed from the website website
  5. Students are required to complete an online Research Ethics Training (RET) module on "Publication Ethics" offered by the Office of Research and Knowledge Transfer Services (ORKTS) and obtain a valid Publication Ethics Certificate for graduation. Relevant information can be accessed from the RET website.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
  1. Our research programmes aim to educate researchers to embark on careers that would allow them to become world leaders in their fields, working as university professors, principal investigators in research institutes, senior managers in enterprises, or experts in other professions related to the pursuit and application of knowledge.
     
  2. The University expects doctoral degree graduates of research programmes to have acquired in-depth knowledge in a number of major areas of an academic discipline while maintaining a broad understanding of other related fields. Doctoral degree graduates should have accumulated enough educational experience and background learning to be capable of performing independent research to advance scholarship, with global standards. In particular, doctoral graduates should have the ability to identify research trends and opportunities, venture into new research areas when appropriate, define long-term research objectives, formulate original research problems, and originate and develop solution methodologies. Doctoral graduates should be capable of producing research output at a level that can either lead to publications in high-ranking scholastic venues, or to novel applications in relevant industrial, commercial, or other public sectors, or to other forms of useful knowledge transfer to society. They should have gained proficiency in techniques of knowledge dissemination through presentation and writing and some teaching experiences through student tutoring.
     
  3. The University expects master's degree graduates of research programmes to have acquired advanced knowledge in major areas of an academic discipline while maintaining a broad understanding of other related fields. Master's degree graduates should have gained enough background knowledge to enable them to perform research with minimal supervision. In particular, they should have the ability to formulate individual research tasks and to develop solution methodologies under minimal supervision. Master's degree graduates should be capable of producing original, innovative research output, some of which may lead to publication in well-respected scholastic venues. They should have gained proficiency in techniques of knowledge dissemination through presentation and writing.
     
  4. For graduates of research programmes at both doctoral and master's level, communication and language skills at a level appropriate to university graduates are expected already at the time of admission. In particular, fluent communication skills are expected in the language(s) essential to their research areas. In general, a high level of proficiency in English is expected as it is commonly regarded as the default international research language. Ability in a second language is encouraged.