The School of Architecture is home to a multi-disciplinary team of research faculty, who bring together approaches to architectural research from the arts and humanities, social sciences, and sciences. All research carried out in the School shares a common goal of informing design and improving the quality and understanding of the built environment.

Research initiatives in the School are aligned with CUHK’s Strategic Plan 2025 and United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with an emphasis on addressing society’s greatest challenges and contributing to the well-being of the global community. True to its longstanding commitment to creating positive social impact, the School has made significant efforts to establish collaborations with industry, NGOs, government agencies, and academic institutions to leverage design for greater economic, social and environmental sustainability.

Throughout each academic year, the School organizes a range of research activities, including public lectures, discussion forums, symposiums and themed workshops. These events provide students valuable opportunities to broaden their knowledge in cutting-edge research and practice, as well as to engage in emergent debates of the field in cross-cultural and transdisciplinary contexts.

Applications for admission in the academic year of 2025-26 should be submitted via the Graduate School Online Application System no later than 1 December 2024. Applicants who fail to nominate a supervisor will not be considered.

Eligibility for Admission

MPhil, Master of Philosophy (under the articulated MPhil-PhD Programme)

• In addition to the general requirements of the Graduate School, applicants should have a bachelor’s degree (or its equivalent) in a related field.

PhD, Doctor of Philosophy (under the articulated MPhil-PhD Programme)

• In addition to the general requirements of the Graduate School, applicants should have a first- or second-class bachelor’s degree (or its equivalent) in a related field. Those with a master’s degree (or its equivalent) in a related field may apply, after acceptance, to be exempted from some requirements.

Interested applicants who wish to be considered should:

1. Discuss their research proposals with potential supervisors by late October 2024 and indicate the intended supervisors on the cover of their research proposal*;
2. Achieved required score in English test (TOEFL / IELTS / GMAT) by the late October 2024, if the test score is needed to fulfill the University’s minimum English language requirements for admission, so that the original test report could reach the School by late November 2024;
3. Submit the materials to the Graduate School Online Application System and posted the requested original documents directly to the School of Architecture^, as specified in the list of application materials by the deadline 1 December 2024.

* Applicants who FAIL to nominate a supervisor WILL NOT be considered.

^ To be posted directly to the “School of Architecture, Room 106, Lee Shau Kee Architecture Building, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong (Attn: Application for MPhil-PhD in Architecture, Contact no. +852 3943 1309)”

Hong Kong PhD Fellowships Scheme (HKPFS)

Annual stipend of HK$337,200 and a conference and research-related travel allowance of HK$14,000 per year for each awardee for a period up to three years. Awardees will not be awarded with PGS concurrently.

• Selected candidates with outstanding qualities of academic performance, research ability / potential, communication and interpersonal skills, and leadership abilities.

CUHK Vice-Chancellor’s PhD Scholarship Scheme
Award of total HK$80,000 and studentships of HK$224,700 per annum within the normative study period. Awardees will not be awarded with PGS concurrently.

• Selected candidates with outstanding academic performance (obtained a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5 out of 4.0 or equivalent) and a PhD admission offer from a top overseas university for the 2025-26 intake

CSS PhD Fellowship Scheme@CUHK

Dual academic identity and annual stipend equal to the amount of a regular PGS at CUHK, i.e. annual stipend of HK$ 224,700 (rate as of 2024-25), lasting for four years of full time study.

• Selected candidates with research ability and/or potential for innovation in CSS, background preferably in both social science and computational science, quality of match with the proposed PhD programme, and inter/multi/cross-disciplinary orientation

Postgraduate Scholarships (PGS)

Annual studentship of HK$224,700 (rate as of 2024-25) within the normative study period.

• Full-time research postgraduate students

Research Postgraduate Student Grant for Overseas Academic Activities

Offered by the Graduate School and School of Architecture at CUHK

• Call for application: all year round
• Maximum HK$10,000 (MPhil) / HK$30,000 (PhD) for the whole normative study period (HKPFS awardees will only be eligible to apply for this grant after exhausting the annual travel grant.)
• Notes for applicants

Postgraduate Students Conference/Seminar Grants

Offered by the Research Grants Council (RGC)

• Call for applications: all year round
• To support conferences/ seminars organised by or for research students in order to encourage research students of the same discipline from the various UGC-funded universities to come together and share their experiences and research results.