Department of Geography

(A) Graduate School Courses 

Requirements for students registered in or after September 2021Graduate School Course Information & Timetable

Modules Courses 4-year PhD/ MPhil 3-year PhD
Researcher Development Training (5 Modules)

Module 1 
Doing Research @ HKU 
(2 hours) 

 Required Optional
(Strongly encouraged to enrol in this orientation module)
 

Module 2
Introduction to Qualitative/ Quantitative Research Methods
(3 hours)

 Select one of the following courses based on your research needs:
  • 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)

 

Faculty/Departmental course(s) that can be taken as replacement:

  • FOSS6002 Qualitative Research Methods 1: Data Collection and Data Management Skills
  • FOSS6003 Quantitative Research Methods 1: Data Collection and Data Analysis Skills
  • FOSS6004 Qualitative Research Methods 2: Interpretation and Presentation of Qualitative Findings
  • FOSS6005 Quantitative Research Methods 2: Regression Analysis of Surveys
 Required
 		 Optional
 
Module 3
Thesis Writing 
(3 hours)

Select one of the following courses based on your research needs:

  • GRSC6120 Introduction to Thesis Writing (Humanities)
  • GRSC6121 Introduction to Thesis Writing (Sciences)
  • GRSC6140 Advanced Thesis Writing (Humanities)
  • GRSC6141 Advanced Thesis Writing (Sciences)
     

Note: Selected students are required to complete GRSC6027 Intensive English for Postgraduate Students prior to taking this module.  Students concerned will be notified individually by the Graduate School.

 Required Optional
Module 4
Responsible Conduct of Research
(3 hours)
  • GRSC6101 Responsible Conduct of Research
 Required Required
Module 5
Stream-based Responsible Conduct of Research 
(3 hours)
  • GRSC6102 Stream-based Responsible Conduct of Research
     
Select one of the following topics based on your research needs:
-    Working with Human Participants (Humanities)
-    Working with Human Participants (Medicine)
-    Working with Animals (Medicine)
-    Lab Safety
-    Working on Big Data
-    Working on Texts		 Required Required
Professional Development Training (1 Module)
Module 6
Transferable Skills 
(12 hours)		 Select one of the following courses:
  • GRSC6108 Online Transferable Skills Programme
  • GRSC6138 Transferable Skills Retreat
 Required Optional

Requirements for students registered before September 2021

Click here to view the Graduate School coursework requirements.

 

(B) Faculty/Departmental Courses 

Requirements for students registered in or after 2025/26Faculty Website

  • 2 compulsory courses and 4 departmental elective courses

Courses Compulsory (C)/Elective (E)
4-year PhD 3-year PhD MPhil
GEOG8001 Philosophical issues in Geography C -- C
GEOG8005 Research Colloquium C -- C
GEOG8006 Research Frontiers in Physical Geography – Part A E -- E
GEOG8007 Research Frontiers in Physical Geography – Part B E -- E
GEOG8008 Research Frontiers in Human Geography – Part A E -- E
GEOG8009 Research Frontiers in Human Geography – Part B E -- E
GEOG8010 Advanced GIS E -- E
GEOG8011Advanced Remote Sensing E -- E
FOSS6100 A Practical Guide to Social Science Research E -- E

Note: 
4-year PhD students must complete the Graduate School courses during their first year of study, and the 2 compulsory and 4 departmental elective courses within the initial 12-18 months of study. MPhil students are required to complete the 2 compulsory courses, 4 departmental elective courses, and Graduate School courses within their first year of study.

Requirements for students registered in 2024/25

  • 2 compulsory courses and 2 departmental elective courses

Courses Compulsory (C)/Elective (E)
4-year PhD 3-year PhD MPhil
GEOG8001 Philosophical issues in Geography C -- C
GEOG8005 Research Colloquium C -- C
GEOG8002 Research Frontiers in Physical Geography E -- E
GEOG8003 Research Frontiers in Human Geography E -- E
GEOG8004 Advanced Remote Sensing and GIS E -- E
FOSS6100 A Practical Guide to Social Science Research E -- E

Note:
4-year PhD students must complete the Graduate School courses during their first year of study, and the 2 compulsory and 2 departmental elective courses within the initial 12-18 months of study. MPhil students are required to complete the 2 compulsory courses, 2 departmental elective courses, and Graduate School courses within their first year of study.

Requirements for students registered in 2022/23 and 2023/24

  • 3 compulsory courses

Courses Compulsory (C)/Elective (E)
4-year PhD 3-year PhD MPhil
GEOG6003 Research Colloquium C -- C
GEOG6007 Research Methods in Geography C -- C
GEOG8001Philosophical issues in Geography C -- C
FOSS6100 A Practical Guide to Social Science Research E -- E

Note:
4-year PhD students must complete the Graduate School courses during their first year of study, and the 3 compulsory courses within the initial 12-18 months of study. MPhil students are required to complete the 3 compulsory courses, and Graduate School courses within their first year of study.

Requirements for students registered before 2022/23

  • 2 compulsory courses

Courses Compulsory (C)/Elective (E)
4-year PhD 3-year PhD MPhil
GEOG6003 Research Colloquium C -- C
GEOG6007 Research Methods in Geography C -- C
FOSS6100 A Practical Guide to Social Science Research E -- E

Note:
4-year PhD students must complete the Graduate School courses during their first year of study, and the 2 compulsory courses within the initial 12-18 months of study. MPhil students are required to complete the 2 compulsory courses, and Graduate School courses within their first year of study.
 

Coursework arrangements are subject to change during the course of study. Students are advised to consult their home Faculty/Department for the most up-to-date course information.