Korean Studies Programme offers Master of Philosophy (MPhil) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees. We offer students the opportunity to conduct postgraduate research on a broad range of topics related to Korean society and culture.
Both M.Phil. and Ph.D. degrees have a compulsory coursework component consisting of courses offered by the School of Modern Languages and Cultures (SMLC) and courses offered by the University’s Graduate School. Research students will take part in regular supervision meetings to discuss their research and the progress they make. It is sometimes possible to arrange for joint supervision with a teacher in a second department or school.
We welcome both international and local students to apply. Students seeking to be admitted to the postgraduate research programmes in Korean Studies need to demonstrate to the selection committee processing applications that you are hard working and and able to take initiative. Strong background in Korean Studies (e.g., Korean Studies major) and Korean language proficiency (e.g., TOPIK level 6) would be helpful. SMLC requires a research proposal with the application. The research proposal should be between 3-5 pages with 1-2 pages of bibliography, and it should illustrate that you are familiar with the basic literature and positions in the proposed field of research. For brief guidelines on the research proposal by the Graduate School, click here.
Final year students with Korean Studies major who plan to apply for the MPhil programme should consult their teachers in the first semester of their third year studies.
For general information on postgraduate study at the University of Hong Kong, students should contact the Graduate School of the University of Hong Kong at http://www.hku.hk/gradsch/. Qualified candidates may obtain financial assistance through studentships administered by the University (see the Graduate School website). For international students, please follow the Faculty of Arts requirements for English proficiency test scores.
Before submitting application via the Graduate School, students are strongly encouraged to contact us in advance to discuss their research proposal.
Please contact Dr. Paul S. Cha for more information.
Prospective Supervisors and Their Main Areas of Research
History of Korea, 19th century to present; Religion and Nationalism; Christianity in Asia; Colonial Modernity; Postcolonialism
Su Yun Kim
Modern Korean literature & culture, modern Korean cultural history, Japanese empire & race, gender and sexuality, popular narrative.
To see the full list of faculty advisors in the School of Modern Languages and Cultures, please click here.