Admission Requirements

You should make your initial application to the Research Grants Council (RGC) of Hong Kong through the Fellowship Scheme’s online system to obtain a reference number before submitting a full application. When you apply for admission to the PolyU, via the Fellowship Scheme, you will be considered concurrently for a regular place assigned to the University through the award of a Postgraduate Studentship. This means that even if your application for the Fellowship Scheme is unsuccessful, you still may be offered a regular place in the Department of English.

You should:
  • hold a postgraduate degree containing a significant research component, such as a dissertation, conferred by a recognised university OR
  • have a Bachelor’s degree with First Class Honours, or the equivalent, conferrd by a recognised university
  • fulfill one of the following English language requirements if your degree is NOT from a university using English as Medium of Instruction (EMI):
    • an overall score of at least 6.5 (with score for the writing component at 6.0 or above) in the International English Language Testing System (IELTS); or
    • at least 550 in the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) for the paper-based test (with a score of at least 4 out of 6 in the Test of Written English), or at least 80 in the internet-based test (with a writing score of 23 or above).

Application Procedures

  1. Submission of Initial Application
    You can only make ONE initial application to the RGC through the HKPFS Electronic System to obtain a HKPFS reference number by 1 December 2018. You must indicate your preference on the institutions if you wish to apply for two institutions, instead of one. No change to the choice of institutions/preference is allowed after the submission of application.

  2. Submission of Full Application to PolyU
    You should then submit a full application to no more than two institutions by quoting the HKPFS reference number. If you choose two PolyU programmes in the initial application, you need to submit a separate full application for EACH chosen programme to PolyU. An application fee is required for each full application. Submission of full applications to PolyU should be made via the Web Application System 1 December 2018.
Warm reminder: Your application to the HKPFS is also regarded as a formal application for PhD admission to the chosen institution(s).

Selection criteria

The primary consideration is academic excellence, as indicated by the possession of a Master’s degree or, in exceptional cases, a Bachelor’s degree with First Class Honours. Selection panels also take account of the following factors:
  • Research ability and potential
  • Communication and interpersonal skills
  • Leadership ability

 

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Department of English. All rights reserved.