Overview
Complementing the mentorship system of supervision, the coursework component which encompasses both the Graduate School courses and Faculty/School/Departmental courses aims to enhance research postgraduate (RPg) students’ abilities in different stages of their research studies. Coursework is compulsory for all RPg students, unless approval for exemption has been granted.
- Coursework Requirements for 4-year PhD and MPhil Students
- Coursework Requirements for 3-year PhD Students
- Course Exemption
English Enhancement
GRSC6027 Intensive English for Postgraduate Students is designed for RPg students to enhance their academic English communication skills. Some students will be required to complete the course prior to taking Module 3: Thesis Writing of the Graduate School coursework requirement. With reference to their TOFEL or IELTS scores submitted upon admission, students will be identified of their need for English enhancement and those who are required to take the course will be notified individually by the Graduate School.
Course Assessment
Starting from the 2024/25 academic year, coursework shall be graded by letter grades unless prior approval is obtained from the Graduate School (for Graduate School courses) or the Faculty (for Faculty/departmental courses) for the courses to be assessed on a pass/fail basis. Students who fail a course at the first attempt may be required to undergo re-examination in the failed courses or to take an alternative course as determined by the Faculty Higher Degrees Committee (FHDC). Students who have not satisfied the examiners in a course (which, for this purpose, includes the alternative course) in the second attempt may be required to discontinue their studies.
Upon obtaining approval from the FHDC (for Faculty/Departmental courses) or the Graduate School (for Graduate School courses), the Faculty Office shall arrange to release course results to students via HKU Portal.