Research Postgraduate Studies: How to Apply
Step 1
Search for potential supervisor(s) from the list of our HKU IDS scholars.
Step 2
Discuss the proposed research areas with the potential HKU IDS scholar(s) if appropriate.
Step 3
Submit the application through the Online Application System for PhD and MPhil Admission on the Graduate School website.
For more details about the application procedures and documents required, please visit the Graduate School website. You can browse the FAQ page here or view the video below for the step-by-step procedures.
Note: Choose “Data Science”, as one of the “Interdisciplinary areas” in the proposed faculty of study, from the drop-down list under the Online Application system of Graduate School, and you will be referred to our HKU IDS scholars.
Qualifications
PhD:
- a Bachelor’s degree with honours and a taught Master’s degree (or equivalent qualification) from a recognized university; or
- a Bachelor’s degree with first class honours (or equivalent qualification) from a recognized university.
MPhil:
- a Bachelor’s degree with honours (or equivalent qualification) from a recognized university
Detailed admission requirements to research postgraduate studies, such as English language proficiency, can be found at the page below:
Faculty/School/Departmental courses are offered and arranged by individual Faculties. You may refer to the landing page of Graduate School below for the summary of the departmental courses you need to take during your studies.
Learn More About Departmental Course Requirements
For further details of coursework requirements and courses, students are advised to consult the homepages of the IDS scholars’ host/co-host departments.
Key Deadlines for Application
MPhil and PhD admissions, and applications for the HKU Presidential PhD Scholar Programme, are welcome all year round. Applications to the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS) are usually invited from September to early December.
In view of the limited admission quota, you are strongly encouraged to apply as early as possible during the Main Round. Applications will be considered in the clearing rounds only if there are vacancies after the Main Round.
| Year 2025/26 | Dates of application |
|---|---|
| Main Round | 1 September 2024 – 1 December 2024 (HKT 23:59, GMT+8) |
| 1st Clearing Round | 2 December 2024 – 30 April 2025 (HKT 23:59, GMT+8) |
| 2nd Clearing Round | 1 May 2025 – 31 August 2025 (HKT 23:59, GMT+8) |
Key deadlines for application
| Year 2023/24 | Dates of application |
|---|---|
| Main Round | September 1, 2022 – December 1, 2022 |
| Clearing Round 1 | December 2, 2022 – April 30, 2023 |
| Clearing Round 2 | May 1, 2023 – August 31, 2023 |
Our Postgraduate Programmes
The Musketeers Foundation Institute of Data Science is in collaboration with various different Departments and Faculties at the University to offer two postgraduate porgrammes by research, the Master of Philosophy (MPhil) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) programmes, to students who are devoted to exploring frontier research and applications in data science, and other cross-disciplinary areas, in Hong Kong, the Greater Bay Area, and globally.
The Institute aims to draw on strengths in varied disciplines, and to connect our expertise and a University-wide interest in establishing critical mass in key areas, and to explore frontier research and applications in data science, computing, mathematics, and statistics. One of our key missions is to nurture and support the next generation of data scientists who have a sense of social responsibility for the community they serve.
Why Choose IDS?
- Interdisciplinary research environment, with varied and advanced industrial support
- International scholars recruited under the HKU-100 Professoriate Data Science Cluster as mentors
- Comprehensive networks with top global research institutions as well as
- Strategically located in the Greater Bay Area
Curricula
| Programme | Coursework* required by Graduate School | Coursework* required by respective Host Department |
|---|---|---|
| MPhil | 2 compulsory components (6 modules in total) | Please browse the homepages below for more details: |
| 3-year PhD | 1 compulsory module | |
| 4-year PhD | 2 compulsory components (6 modules in total) |
Other requirements
Students are expected to participate in the Institute’s academic activities such as the HKU-IDS Scholar Seminar Series, public lectures, workshops, and sharing sessions by mentors. Attendance at tutorials and the Institute’s event organization may be required.
Special requirements by respective departments are listed as follows:
| Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering | To give at least one research seminar before submission of his/her thesis title |
| Department of Computer Science | To give a departmental pre-graduate seminar about his/her thesis work before thesis defense. |