Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
The University of Hong Kong
Admission 2025/26
The Centre for Quantitative History offers a research postgraduate programme leading to the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) through the Faculty of Business and Economics, University of Hong Kong (HKU Business School). Our PhD programme is designed to provide students with a deep understanding of the key aspects of quantitative history. PhD candidates are introduced to basic research tools and are expected to be able to conduct independent research in their fields of study, i.e. Economics or Finance. Through regular interactions with faculty, students also acquire a broader perspective on management and economic issues of the region and beyond.
Worldwide Recognition of HKU
QS World University Rankings 2025
QS Asia University Rankings 2024
QS World University Rankings 2025 and
THE Asia University Rankings 2024
Key Highlights of our PhD Programme
Potential Supervisors
Students will conduct research work under the supervision of at least one member of the Faculty’s staff. Our supervisors possess a wide range of research expertise and interests. With the awarded AoE fund by the Research Grants Council, our members have strategically aligned their work to correspond with the project’s objectives, with a focus on Chinese history.
We recommend reviewing their recent publications to ascertain whether they are engaged in areas pertinent to your research interests.
Professor Zhiwu Chen
Ancient Economies, Long-term Inequality, Development Economics, Economic History and Financial History
Professor Chen Lin
Financial History, Trade History and History of Money
Professor Chicheng Ma
Development Economics, Cultural Economics, Political Economy, Economic History and Financial History
Mode and Period of Study
The PhD programme is offered on a full-time basis. Candidates pursuing PhD studies are first required to register provisionally for the degree and are subject to a probationary period specified below:
Degree^ | Normative Study Period* | Probationary Period# |
3-year PhD (Full-time) | 36 months | 24 months |
4-year PhD (Full-time) | 48 months | 24 months |
Applicants for the four-year PhD degree should hold:
- a Bachelor’s degree with first class honours (or equivalent qualification) from a recognised university; or
- a Bachelor’s degree with honours and a taught Master’s degree (or equivalent qualification) from a recognised university.
Applicants for the three-year PhD degree should hold:
- a Bachelor’s degree with honours and a research Master’s degree (or equivalent qualification) from a recognised university.
Key Dates for 3-year PhD Candidates
| Key Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1st day | Registration |
| 1st month | Course selection@ |
| End of 6th month | Submit the 1st bi-annual progress monitoring report to the Departmental Research Postgraduate Committee (DRPC)* |
| Between 10th & 12th months | Complete Phase 1 Achievement Card online with the supervisor (applicable for students who register in and after September 2018) |
| End of 11th month | Submit the probationary report to the DRPC for confirmation of candidature*# |
| End of 12th month | Completion of two Graduate School research conduct modules unless exemption has been granted. End of probationary period |
| End of 18th month | Submit the 3rd bi-annual progress monitoring report to the DRPC* |
| Between 21st & 24th months | Complete Phase 2 Achievement Card online with the supervisor (applicable for students who register in and after September 2018) |
| End of 24th month | Submit the 4th bi-annual progress monitoring report to the DRPC* |
| End of 30th month | Submit the 5th bi-annual progress monitoring report to the DRPC* |
| Between 31st & 36th months | Complete Phase 3 Achievement Card online with the supervisor (applicable for students who register in and after September 2018) |
| At least 3 months before the expected date of thesis submission | Submit a written notice of intention to submit a thesis to the Chairperson of the DRPC |
| End of 36th month | Submit the 6th bi-annual progress monitoring report to the DRPC* End of candidature |
Key Dates for 4-year PhD Candidates
| Key Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1st day | Registration |
| 1st month | Course selection@ |
| End of 6th month | Submit the 1st bi-annual progress monitoring report to the Departmental Research Postgraduate Committee (DRPC)* |
| End of 12th months | Submit the 2nd bi-annual progress monitoring report to the DRPC* |
| Between 16th & 18th months | Complete Phase 1 Achievement Card online with the supervisor (applicable for students who register in and after September 2018) |
| End of 17th month | Submit the probationary report to the DRPC for confirmation of candidature*# |
| End of 18th month | Completion of Graduate School coursework requirements and at least 50% of Faculty / School / Departmental coursework requirements. End of probationary period |
| End of 24th month | Submit the 4th bi-annual progress monitoring report to the DRPC* |
| End of 30th month | Submit the 5th bi-annual progress monitoring report to the DRPC* |
| Between 33rd & 36th months | Complete Phase 2 Achievement Card online with the supervisor (applicable for students who register in and after September 2018) |
| End of 36th month | Submit the 6th bi-annual progress monitoring report to the DRPC* |
| End of 42nd month | Submit the 7th bi-annual progress monitoring report to the DRPC* |
| Between 43rd & 48th months | Complete Phase 3 Achievement Card online with the supervisor (applicable for students who register in and after September 2018) |
| At least 3 months before the expected date of thesis submission | Submit a written notice of intention to submit a thesis to the Chairperson of the DRPC |
| End of 48th month | Submit the 8th bi-annual progress monitoring report to the DRPC* End of candidature |
@ Enrolment in Semester 1 courses is generally scheduled in late August/early September and that for Semester 2 courses in December/January. The Graduate School will inform students of the exact course enrolment period via email. Students who register after the online enrolment periods may follow the add/drop procedures to do course enrolment.
* The DRPC shall be required to provide comments on the supervision and/or progress on the reports. After the DRPC has considered both supervision and candidate’s reports, an email will be sent to the supervisor and the candidate alerting them to view the reports with the comments of the DRPC. The DRPC will also submit the supervision report and the candidate’s report with its comments to the Faculty Higher Degrees Committee (FHDC).
# It is advisable that students submit their probationary report one month before the end of the probationary period to allow more time for the confirmation process.
By the end of the probationary period, students are required to:
- complete all Graudate School courses and at least 50% of the prescribed Faculty coursework requirements;
- pass the core examination(s);
- submit a thesis proposal, and a Data Managment Plan (DMP) if data is to be collected or generated as part of the research; and
- give an oral presentation of the thesis proposal (not applicable to students in the Area of Finance who registered before September 2021).
Course Requirements
The coursework components of our programme provide students with basic knowledge of their fields and offer tools to prepare them for writing the thesis. All PhD students are required to satisfactorily complete the Graduate School courses as well as the Faculty courses prescribed for their respective fields of study/degrees.
The completion of coursework typically requires two to three years and must be completed before thesis submission.
Graduate School courses aim to provide students from all faculties core knowledge on thesis writing and research skills and methods.
Students enrolled in the 3-year PhD programme must finish the two research conduct modules provided by the Graduate School, while those in the 4-year PhD programme need to complete a total of six modules. Students who have had equivalent training may apply for course exemption.
Below is the list of six modules being offered by the Graduate School. Please check this link for the most updated offerings from the Graduate School: https://gradsch.hku.hk/current_students/coursework/course_information/graduate_school_courses
Researcher Development Training (5 modules)
Module 1 Doing Research @ HKU (2 hours)
- GRSC6100 Doing Research @ HKU
Module 2 Introduction to Qualitative/Quantitative Research Methods (3 hours)
Select one of the following:
- GRSC6104 Introduction to Quantitative Research Methods (Humanities)
- GRSC6105 Introduction to Quantitative Research Methods (Sciences)
- GRSC6106 Introduction to Qualitative Research Methods (Humanities)
- GRSC6107 Introduction to Qualitative Research Methods (Sciences)
Module 3 Thesis Writing1 (3 hours)
Select one of the following:
- GRSC6120 Introduction to Thesis Writing (Humanities)
- GRSC6121 Introduction to Thesis Writing (Sciences)
- GRSC6140 Advanced Thesis Writing (Humanities)
- GRSC6141 Advanced Thesis Writing (Sciences)
Module 4 Responsible Conduct of Research (3 hours)
- GRSC6101 Responsible Conduct of Research
Module 5 Stream-based Responsible Conduct of Research (3 hours)
- GRSC6102 Stream-based Responsible Conduct of Research*
Professional Development Training (1 module)
Module 6 Transferable Skills (12 hours)
Select one of the following:
1 With reference to the TOEFL or IELTS scores submitted upon admission, some students will be required to complete GRSC6027 Intensive English for Postgraduate Students prior to taking Module 3: Thesis Writing. Students concerned will be notified individually by the Graduate School.
* Please take note of the focus of each sub-module from the course outline and, taking into consideration your research focus, ensure that you enrol in the appropriate subclass.
PhD students in Economics and Finance must complete 7 compulsory and 3 elective courses from the specified lists.
Please check this link for the most updated offerings from the HKU Business School: https://fbeo.fbe.hku.hk/phd/course/phd-mphil
General notes:
- The supervisor may, depending on individual student’s research field and needs, recommend that a student replace the listed course(s) with course(s) from the PhD curricula of cognate disciplines, or those offered by other local UGC-funded tertiary institutions under the Cross-Institutional Course Enrolment Scheme, subject to the approval of the Faculty Higher Degrees Committee (FHDC).
- Students may, on the recommendation of the supervisor and subject to availability and approval, take up to five course(s) from the taught postgraduate programmes offered by the Faculty which are not otherwise listed in the syllabus. However, such course(s) taken will not be counted towards fulfilling
the Faculty coursework requirement, unless special approval is given by the supervisor and the FHDC.
PhD Life, Skills and Training
Our full-time PhD programme typically spans three to four years. As a full-time student, you will be immersed in the vibrant atmosphere of the HKU Main Campus, where we have dedicated spaces for our PhD researchers and visiting scholars. Situated just a few stations away from downtown, you will be surrounded by the dynamic pulse of major business and cultural institutions. While embarking on the challenging journey of a PhD, you will benefit from Hong Kong’s unique blend of opportunities, engaging in a rich tapestry of research activities and collaborations that nurture innovative ideas throughout your academic pursuit.
We host a diverse array of academic and research activities such as conferences, guest lectures, seminars, workshops, and webinars. Supervisors involve students at different levels in these events, providing them with prime opportunities to interact with the academic community.
Photo caption: Highlighting young scholar contributions: Three conference papers co-authored by postgraduates, with six student presenters from HKU, HKUST, NUS, and Boston University, were presented at the Area of Excellence-Quantitative History Conference 2023.
We believe in hands-on learning. Students will engage in supervised service provision, yielding educational advantages for their academic growth. The amount of such services shall not exceed 100 hours in any full twelve-month period. The provision of services forms part of the research student’s training covered by the value of the Scholarship, and the nature of the training may for example include:
- assistance with research;
- assistance with scheduled laboratory, studio and fieldwork classes and with tutorials;
- assistance with the preparation of materials for scheduled classes;
- assistance with marking practical notebooks and answers from exercise classes; and
- assistance with invigilation of University degree examinations.
Composition Fees and Scholarships
Composition Fees
For the academic year 2024/25, the composition fees for the full-time PhD programme is HK$42,100 per annum.
Notes:
- The fees are reviewed annually.
- HKU waives composition fees for all HKU-PS and HKPFS awardees admitted in 2024/25.
- The University Grants Committee waives composition fees for all local students enrolled in full-time UGC-funded RPg programmes with effect from July 1, 2018.
Click here for details.
Postgraduate Scholarship (PGS)
Full-time regular students are eligible to receive a Postgraduate Scholarship (PGS) during the normative study period. The basic level of scholarship is HK$18,760 per month (w.e.f. September 1, 2024).
A PGS holder whose PhD probationary candidature has been confirmed will receive a higher PGS rate with effect from the following calendar month after his/her probation is fully confirmed. The higher PGS rate is HK$19,270 per month (w.e.f. September 1, 2024).
Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS)
The Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS), established by the Hong Kong Research Grants Council, aims at attracting the best and brightest students across the world to pursue PhD studies in Hong Kong.
All HKPFS holders of HKU will be concurrently awarded the HKU Presidential PhD Scholarship, details of which is provided in the section below. For more information on HKPFS, please visit here.
HKU Presidential PhD Scholar Programme (HKU-PS)
In order to attract top candidates from around the world to pursue full-time PhD studies at HKU, the HKU Presidential PhD Scholar Programme offers the most prestigious scholarship package to selected outstanding full-time PhD students.
HKU Presidential PhD Scholars will also receive strong academic and training support from the University, e.g. individualised advisory service, training in teaching and opportunities to interact with leading scholars. A group of distinguished Faculty members will also give advice, provide additional mentorship and training opportunities, and oversee the academic career paths.
More information on the programme package may be found here. All applicants applying for the full-time PhD programme will be automatically considered for the HKU-PS programme. In view of the intense competition, Main Round applicants are strongly encouraged to apply also for the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS).
Each HKU Presidential PhD Scholar will receive a package of up to around HK$433,300 (US$55,560) in the first year, and up to around HK$413,300 (US$52,990) in each of the subsequent years during the normative study period. The package includes:
- Cash Award to support research and living expenses
HK$40,000 in Year 1; HK$20,000 per year in the remaining normative study period - Waiver of composition fees for the whole normative study period (i.e. HK$42,100 per year)
- Postgraduate Scholarship of HK$28,100 per month
- Conference and Research-related Travel Allowance of HK$14,000 per year
- Financial support to selected outstanding students for an additional year of study beyond the normative study period to reward their outstanding research output and progress
- A guaranteed hall place in Year 1, with possibility of renewal
FBE PhD Entrance Scholarship
The FBE PhD Entrance Scholarship shall be awarded to new students admitted to our full-time PhD programme on the basis of academic merit at the time of admission. Students may be considered for the general track OR the Taught Postgraduate (TPg) track of the Scholarship based on the criteria fulfilled. Candidates considered for TPg track must be registered in or within one year of graduation from an eligible TPg programme offered by HKU Business School by December 1 of the year preceding admission to the full-time PhD programme.
The number of Scholarships to be awarded and/or the exact value of each Scholarship shall be determined each year. For general track, the Scholarship shall be of the value of HK$42,100 for the academic year 2024-2025. For TPg track, the Scholarship shall offset the amount of tuition fee paid by the awardee for the eligible TPg programme preceding admission to the full-time PhD programme.
All eligible candidates will automatically be considered and no application for the Scholarship is required. In the event of there being no suitable candidate in any year, no awards shall be made.
The living costs vary from one person to another depending on the type of accommodation selected and other factors. Usually, the postgraduate scholarship is sufficient to cover food, lodging, general living expenses and composition fees. Please click here for further information.
Admissions - Upcoming deadlines September 2025 entry
The application for admission 2025/26 opens on September 1, 2024 and the Main Round application is available through December 1, 2024. Applications received after this date will not normally be considered unless there are available places left after admitting the main round applicants.
Hong Kong PhD Fellowships: September 1 – December 1, 2024 at 12:00noon (Hong Kong Time)
Main round application: September 1 – December 1, 2024
1st Clearing Round: December 2, 2024 – April 30, 2025
2nd Clearing Round: May 1 – August 31, 2025
Qualified applicants are encouraged to apply for the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS), which was established by the Research Grants Council (RGC) of Hong Kong to attract the best and brightest students in the world to pursue their PhD studies in Hong Kong’s universities. An initial application should be made to RGC through the HKPFS Electronic System (deadline: December 1, 2024 at 12:00 noon, Hong Kong Time) before submitting applications for PhD admission to HKU. For more details, please visit here.
All applications should be submitted via the online application system of the Graduate School of HKU. Applicants should visit the Graduate School website for full details of the application procedures. The following materials are required for making an application and should be submitted via the online application system on or before December 1, 2024:
- Completed online application form
- Academic transcripts(s) and graduation certificate(s) of undergraduate and/or postgraduate studies
- Research proposal
- Official score report of GMAT or GRE (see details below)
- Official score report of TOEFL or IELTS (see details below)
- Two academic referee’s reports (submitted directly from the referees)
Degree Qualifications
To be eligible for admission to the PhD programme, applicants should possess:
- a Bachelor’s degree with first class honours (or equivalent qualification) from a recognised university; or,
- a Bachelor’s degree with honours and a Master’s degree (or equivalent qualification) from a recognised university.
GMAT/GRE
All applicants are required to demonstrate their capability for graduate studies by obtaining satisfactory scores in the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) or Graduate Record Examinations (GRE), taken within five years. Institution code:
- GRE – 2482
- GMAT – FS2-WL-48
Copies of the score reports should also be uploaded into the online application system.
English Language
Applicants who come from a university outside Hong Kong where the language of instruction and examination is not English are required to take one of the following English language proficiency tests, of which scores are valid for 2 years:
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
Institution code: 9671; Department code: 99
- Internet-based test (iBT) score ≥ 85
International English Language Testing System (IELTS) (Academic Module)
- overall score ≥ Band 6.5; all subtest ≥ 6
Copies of the score reports should also be uploaded into the online application system.
You are required to take either IELTS or TOEFL if you come from a university outside Hong Kong where the language of instruction and examination is not English. The University only accepts IELTS/TOEFL score that is taken within a two-year period. Please visit here for the detailed test score requirements.
We require all applicants to submit the official score report of GRE or GMAT, taken within five years. It is advised that you take the exam no later than mid-November in order to provide a full application file for consideration by the Admissions Panel. We do not grant waivers for applicants with an MBA degree and/ or work experience.
Institution code:
- GRE – 2482
- GMAT – FS2-WL-48
We do not impose minimum GMAT/GRE score requirement, but standardised test score plays a helpful role in the evaluation process as it gives the Admissions Panel a uniform way of assessing applicants.
- Upload a supporting document to the online application system explaining the delay and state your scheduled test date.
- Upload the test score and arrange to send the official report to us once the result is available.
A research proposal should include the background, the objectives and the methodology/approach you propose to take in studying the subject matter. A suggested framework of research proposal of our Faculty can be found here. You may use other format or add more section(s) to the form at your discretion.
For better alignment of research interests between students and supervisors, each student will only be assigned, at the time of admission, a nominal supervisor to provide academic guidance on course-taking and research planning at the initial stage. Students are encouraged to interact and discuss their research ideas with faculty members to confirm their supervisory arrangement at a more advanced stage of study. It is thus not a must for interested applicants to contact potential supervisors at the application stage.
We welcome prospective students to approach individual faculty members to explore research interests before applying to our programme.