Hong Kong Institute for the Humanities and Social Sciences (inc. the Centre of Asian Studies)

(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 September 2024Faculty Website

  • 4-year PhD and 3-year PhD: 2 compulsory courses and 2 elective courses

  • MPhil: 2 compulsory courses and 1 elective course

Courses Compulsory (C)/Elective (E)
4-year PhD 3-year PhD MPhil
IHSS6001 Research Seminar on East Asian Studies C C C
A research methodology course below which coincides with the student’s own research focus and approved by the student’s supervisor(s):
  • ECON6801 Applied Econometrics 
  • HIST6001 Philosophy of History 
  • HIST6002 Historical Documents 
  • SOCI6011 Ethnographic Research Methods
  • SOCI7010 Quantitative Research Methods
  • Any other course deemed suitable by the student’s supervisor 
 C C C
IHSS6002 Direct Reading on East Asian Culture E E E
IHSS6003 Research Seminar on East Asian Medicine, Science and Technology E E E
IHSS6004 Selected Topics on Inter-Asian Connections E E E
IHSS6005 Selected Topics on Religion and Society in Asia E E E
IHSS6006 Selected Topics on China in Asian Context E E E
IHSS6007 Selected Topics in Anthropology E E E
IHSS6008 Advanced Ethnography and Field Research Methods E E E
A course from the MPhil curricula of the Faculty of Arts, Faculty of Social Sciences or Faculty of Business and Economics# which coincides with the student’s own research areas and disciplines E E E
A further course from the MPhil curricula of the Faculty of Arts, Faculty of Social Sciences or Faculty of Business and Economics# which coincides with the student’s own research areas and disciplines, or a further Graduate School core course E E E
FOSS6100 A Practical Guide to Social Science Research E E E


Requirements for students registered before September 2024

  • 4-year PhD and 3-year PhD: 2 compulsory courses and 2 elective courses

  • MPhil: 1 compulsory course and 2 elective courses

Courses Compulsory (C)/Elective (E)
4-year PhD 3-year PhD MPhil
IHSS6001 Research Seminar on East Asian Studies C C C
IHSS6002 Direct Reading on East Asian Culture C C E
IHSS6003 Research Seminar on East Asian Medicine, Science and Technology E E E
IHSS6004 Selected Topics on Inter-Asian Connections E E E
IHSS6005 Selected Topics on Religion and Society in Asia E E E
IHSS6006 Selected Topics on China in Asian Context E E E
IHSS6007 Selected Topics in Anthropology E E E
IHSS6008 Advanced Ethnography and Field Research Methods E E E
A course from the MPhil curricula of the Faculty of Arts, Faculty of Social Sciences or Faculty of Business and Economics# which coincides with the student’s own research areas and disciplines E E E
A further course from the MPhil curricula of the Faculty of Arts, Faculty of Social Sciences or Faculty of Business and Economics# which coincides with the student’s own research areas and disciplines, or a further Graduate School core course E E E
FOSS6100 A Practical Guide to Social Science Research E E E

Note:
#The coursework requirements have been revised to include courses from the MPhil/PhD curricula of the Faculty of Business and Economics as elective options for all cohorts, effective from October 22, 2025.


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.