Thank you for your interest in our PhD programme. In relation to the application procedures for our PhD programme, I am pleased to provide you with more details as follows:
Application Procedures
If you would like to apply for our Full-time PhD programme with studentship in 2023/2024, you are strongly encouraged to make an application through the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS) for which the application period starts in early September every year. Please visit the HKPFS webpage for detailed information about the Scheme's application procedures and deadline.
Our School Research Committee will concurrently consider applications via this scheme for admission along with other studentship schemes, including PolyU Research Postgraduate Scholarship, or on Self-Financed basis.
Please note that fulfilling entrance and application requirements does not guarantee admission, as admission is on a competitive basis and subject to rigorous selection process.
Admission Requirements and Programme Details
Please click here for information on the School’s PhD programme. We advise applicants to keep themselves up-to-date for our PhD focus areas as well as the expertise of the chosen supervisors.
Please also visit Academic Registry website for updated admission information (here) and admission requirement (here).
Proposed Chief Supervisors
You can find the respective expertise of our academic staff (here). You may approach them to seek their prior permission to be your proposed Chief Supervisor before indicating his/her name in your application. Please indicate the proposed Chief Supervisor in the Research Degree Proposal (Form GSB/1A).
Required Application Documents (to be submitted via the afore mentioned hyperlink under Application Procedures)
Certificate of the award of your Bachelor's/Master’s degree(s)
Transcript of your degree(s) with the explanatory notes of overall GPA and maximum GPA of your studies
English language test result (for applicants who have not obtained a degree from a recognized university in which the language of instruction is English)
i. An overall score of at least 6.5 in the International English Language Testing System (IELTS); or
ii. A Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score of 80 or above for the Internet-based test or 550 or above for the paper-based test.
Updated Curriculum Vitae
Signed Research Degree Proposal (Using the Form GSB/1A; Please refer to below for instructions on writing the proposal and attached guideline.)
Personal Statement (your background, why do you want a PhD, your research interest area)
TWO academic referee’s reports at the university level
Additional documents, i.e. published papers, awards, portfolio etc. (JCR Q1/Q2 paper and Merit at university or national level will be an advantage)
Instructions on writing the Research Degree Proposal
A complete proposal using the Form GSB/1A should be within 5000 words (excluding bibliography) and include:
Name of Proposed Chief Supervisor
Project title
Project objectives [250 words max]
Scope and Background of Research [What?]
Research Methodology [How?]
This includes the main topic, goals, and hypotheses.
Project Significance and Value
The societal or political relevance; relevance to scholarship; relevance to design.
Link to at least one of the School’s research themes: Design Social, Design Economies, Design Making.
Details of Any External Collaboration
Declaration of the Applicant
Endorsement by the Proposed Chief Supervisor
Recommendation of Head of Affiliated Department in the University
Please DO NOT change the standard format and only attach the followings with Form GSB/1A:
36-Month Work Plan
demonstrating the feasibility of the proposed research
Bibliography
Please also see the attached PDF document.
Also, when you submit the application, please be reminded to submit all of the required documents:
Bachelor Cert
Bachelor Transcript
Bachelor Transcript Explanatory Note (explanation of the grading system)
Master Cert
Master Transcript
Master Transcript Explanatory Note (explanation of the grading system)
Referee's report 1
Referee's report 2
CV
Personal Statement
IELTS/TOEFL (if any)
To increase your opportunity to be admitted, please also submit the proof of the followings for consideration:
Official proof of ranking in class, etc
Awards (National level or University level)
Publication (at Q1/Q2 and 1st/2nd/corresponding author)
Any professional/research-related experience
Should you have further enquiry, please feel free to let me know.