Our joint PhD programmes offer full-time students the opportunities to benefit from shared research excellence in a wide range of disciplines between HKU and its prestigious partners. Students will acquire enriching international experience in learning and research, which is an invaluable asset in their career development. The programmes are elite and will admit only a very small number of high calibre students.
Students admitted to the joint PhD programmes will:
- be registered as full-time students at both universities and be able to enjoy their full range of academic and various facilities;
- be guided in their work by faculty members from both universities, and be examined to the standards of both; and
- normally split their time of study equally between the two universities and spend the last 6 months of study in the home university.
Students have to apply directly to the programme. Transfer from the conventional PhD programme to a joint PhD programme listed below will not be accepted.
Students can apply for study leave of up to half of the entire period of study, for the purpose of studying at the partner university.
Joint PhD Programme with King's College London
The Joint PhD programme was introduced in 2010/11. It offers a valuable opportunity for students to pursue research in a wide range of disciplines as well as in topics that invite interdisciplinary and cross-cultural approaches at two premier universities in Asia and Europe.
Joint Educational Placement for PhD with the University of Toronto
The joint educational placement, introduced since 2012/13, offers students the opportunities to benefit from shared research excellence in a wide range of disciplines between HKU and the University of Toronto. Students will acquire enriching international experience in learning and research, an invaluable asset in their career development.
Details
HKU-BICI Entrepreneurship Joint Educational Placement Programme for PhD
The HKU-BICI Entrepreneurship Joint Educational Placement Programme for PhD introduced in 2023/24 aims to nurture future talents in innovation and technology. Apart from the traditional PhD training, students admitted under this programme will be engaged in practical entrepreneurship training on real-world projects during the placement at Beijing Institute of Collaborative Innovation (BICI) to equip students in developing their global perspective, entrepreneurial spirit, creative thinking, and professional knowledge and expertise.
HKU-ASTRI Work Study Programme
The HKU-ASTRI Work-Study Programme, introduced in 2023/24, allow students to work in ASTRI as a full-time employee while pursuing a part-time PhD programme at HKU.
Some joint educational placement programmes are offered at the Faculty level:
- Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine:
- Faculty of Science:
- Joint Educational Placement for PhD with Northeastern University
- Joint Educational Placement for PhD with Sapienza Universita di Roma and McMaster University
- Joint Educational Placement for PhD with the Shenzhen Bay Laboratory (SZBL)
- Joint Educational Placement for PhD with the Chemistry and Chemical Engineering of Guangdong Laboratory (GDLab)