Admission to Postgraduate Studies
(Materials Science and Engineering)

Introduction

The Department of Physics is a vibrant team consisting of 230 undergraduate students, 115 postgraduate students, 21 regular faculty staff, 2 research assistant professors, 4 instructors/tutors, and 16 technical/supporting staff. Every year, the department hosts a large number of visiting scholars, from postdoctoral fellows to Nobel laureates, who may stay a day and give a seminar, stay a term and teach a course, or stay several months and conduct research. The department has a strong commitment to curiosity-driven research but also recognizes its responsibility in helping industry conduct market-driven research and development. More importantly, the department has established a reputation in taking teaching and supervising students very conscientiously.

If you join the department as a new postgraduate student, you are expected to become an active member of the team. From the diverse research topics covered by the team, there must be one which matches your interest and career goals. Similarly, from our comprehensive postgraduate curriculum, there must be courses which will satisfy your needs in building up your background knowledge. In addition, you will learn from and argue with our staff and visitors on scientific matters. You will receive training in basic laboratory safety and teaching skills. You will present your research results in conferences overseas. You may even conduct some of your research work overseas...... All in all, you will find that the department is a great facilitator in helping a postgraduate student to become an independent researcher.

Admission Requirements:

Master of Philosophy and Doctor of Philosophy (MPhil-PhD) programme

The MPhil-PhD programme consists of MPhil and PhD streams.

Applicants for the PhD stream should hold, or expect to hold by the time of admission, a Master's degree in Materials Science and Engineering or related disciplines, or a Bachelor's degree in Materials Science and Engineering or related disciplines, normally with Second Class Honours or above. Applicants are advised to take the Advanced Physics Test of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) and a score of the test should be submitted along with the application.

Applicants for the MPhil stream should hold, or expect to hold by the time of admission, a Bachelor's degree in Materials Science and Engineering or related disciplines, normally with Second Class Honours or above.

Qualified applicants will be invited to take an entrance examination which consists of written examination and interview. The written examination covers the following subjects at undergraduate level: mechanics, electromagnetism and optics, thermal physics and statistical physics, quantum mechanics and modern physics, and materials. (Suggested reference books: R. Resnick, D. Halliday, K. Krane, "Physics"; K. R. Symon, "Mechanics"; D. J. Griffiths, "Introduction to Electrodynamics"; K. Krane, "Modern Physics"; F. Reif, "Fundamentals of Statistical and Thermal Physics".) However, applicants who have satisfactory score of the GRE Physics Subject Test taken within the past three years may be exempted from the written examination. Details of the entrance examination will be sent to qualified applicants via email in due course.

English Language Proficiency Requirement:

Applicants should normally either

  1. possess a pass grade in English in one of the following examinations
    • Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination (AS Level)
    • Hong Kong High Level Examination
    • CUHK Matriculation Examination, OR
  2. have a degree from a university in Hong Kong or an English-speaking country, OR
  3. submit one of the following scores for assessment:
    • TOEFL (Paper-based: 550; Computer-based: 213; Internet-based: 79)
    • College English Test (CET-6) of PRC (total mark 430 of Level 6)
    • GMAT (Verbal) (Band 21)
    • IELTS (Academic) (Band 6.5)
    • PETS (Level 5), OR
  4. have obtained a recognized professional qualification awarded in Hong Kong or in an English-speaking country, OR
  5. be exceptionally admitted upon full justification.

Projects Offered in 2012-13 (last updated 28/9/2011)

Regular Application Procedures:

Applicants can submit application through CUHK's online admission system (now open for applications).

Applicants should write down at least four project numbers in order of preference in the field "Field of study" under Part I of the online application form. Before making selections, potential applicants are encouraged to contact the individual professors to find out more about their research, their group and what kind of students they are looking for.

The applicants should also have the following supporting documents sent to "Division of Materials Science and Engineering, Room 107, Science Centre North Block, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong" by post as early as possible:

  • Updated curriculum vitae;
  • Official transcript of academic records of all tertiary level studies, to be sent directly by the original university/institution to our Division*;
  • Confidential recommendations from two referees, to be sent directly by the referees to our Division by post* or by e-mail to pgadm-mse@phy.cuhk.edu.hk;
  • Copy of certificates of academic/professional qualifications (e.g., degree certificate);
  • Copy of documentary proof of fulfillment of the English Language Proficiency Requirement;
  • Copy of the HKID card or other identity document as given in the Application Form;
  • Bank draft/cheque (in HK$) or bank-in slip for the application fee, if you did not pay by VISA/Master Card;
  • Applicants of the PhD programme are required to submit a research/study plan, indicating clearly the particular study field they are interested in.

* Official transcripts and confidential recommendations, sealed in envelopes by the universities and referees, can also be sent via the applicants together with other supporting documents to our Division.

Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS)

The Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme, established by the Hong Kong Research Grants Council (RGC) in 2009, aims at attracting the best and brightest students from all over the world to pursue their PhD studies in Hong Kong. The Fellowship provides a monthly stipend of HK$20,000 and a conference travel allowance of HK$10,000 per year for the awardees for a maximum period of three years. About 135 PhD Fellowships will be awarded for the 2012-13 academic year. The application deadline is 1 December 2011. Please refer to RGC's website (http://www.rgc.edu.hk/hkphd) for further details of the Scheme.

Applicants applying for admission to PhD programmes of the Chinese University of Hong Kong through the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme are required to comply with the admission requirements of the Graduate School. Applicants should submit initial application to the RGC through their online application system (now open for applications), and will be assigned a Reference Number. Applicants should then submit the full application through CUHK's online admission system and quote the RGC Reference Number. Applicants who are not selected for the Fellowship Scheme will be considered as normal application and if admitted, will be offered a regular postgraduate studentship stipulated by the University during their normative period of studies.

Application Periods:

  • Early applications for admission to PhD programme can be made starting from now.
  • Early Application Deadline: 17 August 2011
  • Regular applications can be made starting from October.
  • Regular Application Deadline:
    • 1 December 2011 (For applicants who apply for PhD programme through the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme.)
    • 31 January 2012 (For MPhil-PhD programme)
  • Applicants are advised to submit their applications as soon as possible, because we will be reviewing the applications upon receipt. All supporting documents, including official transcripts and confidential recommendations, must reach our Division before the application deadline.

Fees & Financial Support:

Annual tuition fee: HKD42,100 (Full-time MPhil-PhD)
Rent for dormitory: HKD1,235-2,480 per month
Postgraduate studentship
for MPhil-PhD students: 		HKD13,600 per month (separate application is not required)
Loans available: Yes

Programmes

Degree Normative Study Period Course Work Thesis Research
Full-time
MPhil 24 months 12 units 6 units each term
PhD (student with a
research master's degree)		 36 months 12 units 6 units each term during pre-candidacy
period and 12 units each term during
post-candidacy period
PhD (student without a
research master's degree)		 48 months 12 units 6 units each term during pre-candidacy
period and 12 units each term during
post-candidacy period

In the final year of study, MPhil-PhD student must submit a thesis to Divsion and pass an oral examination defending his/her thesis. PhD students must pass the candidacy examination within 24 months from first entry.

Enquiries:

For general enquiries, please call (852) 39436339 or e-mail to gradappl-mse@phy.cuhk.edu.hk.

For further information concerning application procedures, please contact Graduate School Office:
Phone: (852) 39438976
Fax: (852) 26035779
E-mail: Gradschool@cuhk.edu.hk

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