Normal 4 years / 3 years (for students with Master degree with research components)
Maximum 6 years / 5 years  (for students with Master degree with research components)

A minimum of 18 academic credits, plus 6 - 11 training credits.

Starting from the 2022/23 intake cohort, all research students are required to complete the e-Learning module on “Understanding China and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, P.R.C.” in English before thesis submission as a graduation requirement.

#i. Departments can integrate the two elements as long as the Confirmation of Registration is successfully carried out by the end of the first five semesters/terms as required by the University.
#ii. Students who fail the compulsory PhD Qualification Exam will be required to exit with the MPhil degree (subject to meeting all the relevant MPhil requirements).

A minimum of 18 academic credits, plus 7 - 12 training credits.

Starting from the 2022/23 intake cohort, all research students are required to complete the e-Learning module on “Understanding China and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, P.R.C.” in English before thesis submission as a graduation requirement.

#i. Departments can integrate the two elements as long as the Confirmation of Registration is successfully carried out within the first half of the normal study period as required by the University.
ii. Students who fail the compulsory PhD Qualification Exam will be required to exit with the MPhil degree (subject to meeting all the relevant MPhil requirements).

Academic Referee's Report
Compulsory - Two Academic Referee’s Reports are required for the application for Fellowship and Scholarship Schemes.

• Identify and invite two academics who are familiar with your academic performance and achievements. Proposed supervisor(s) from the PolyU, proposed supervisor(s) from the partner institution (if any), and persons from non-academic backgrounds are not considered appropriate academic referees.
• Provide complete and accurate information on your referees, including their email addresses under a university or an organisation, in your online application.

Curriculum Vitae
Compulsory

Employer's Recommendation
Optional

Research Proposal
Compulsory

• A standard form must be used for the submission of research proposal. Please click here to download the form.
• Please provide prior research work.

Transcript / Certificate
Compulsory – Please upload all academic qualifications including Bachelor’s degree and Master’s degree (if any) according to the University’s admission requirements, also refer to the ‘Procedures – Guidelines for Submitting Supporting Documents’ to follow the submission requirements.

English Language Requirements
The requirements for those who do not have a degree for which English was the language of instruction at a recognised university are:

• An overall score of at least 6.5 in the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic Module; OR
• A Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score of 80 or above for the Internet-based test.
• All English language test scores are considered valid for two years after the date of the test.
• Only tests taken at a test centre and scores in one single attempt are accepted.

• GMAT Focus Edition score no less than 605/ GMAT score no less than 650/ GRE score equivalent for normal track PhD candidates.
• GMAT Focus Edition score no less than 525/ GMAT score no less than 550/ GRE score equivalent for Dual PhD Degree Programmes candidates.
• GMAT Focus Edition/ GMAT/ GRE test scores are considered valid for five years after the date of the test.
• Only tests taken at a test centre are accepted.