Why You Should Consider Studying a Master’s in Hong Kong

This year, for the first time, The Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK) was ranked in the top 10 universities in the world, and second in Asia, in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2018: Education, solidifying its status as a leading university for this subject.

Understandably, students wishing to pursue a degree at a top university in Hong Kong may be discouraged by tuition fees and living expenses which are comparatively higher than other Asian countries. However, these can be offset by the many scholarships available for international students.

The Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme offered by the Research Grants Council under the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region grants each awardee an annual stipend of HK$301,200 (~US$38,600) and a conference and research-related travel allowance of HK$12,600 (~US$1,600) per year for up to three years.

Also, full-time research students admitted to EdUHK’s graduate program who have a proven record of academic excellence, research ability, good communication, interpersonal and leadership abilities can apply for the University’s Research Postgraduate Studentship (RPGS).

Image: Students of the Master of Philosophy, Doctor of Philosophy and Doctor of Education programs gain international study experience in the United States

For students who are interested in research and aiming to embark on an academic career, getting support is crucial. At EdUHK, Research Postgraduate (RPg) students, as well as PhD and MPhil students, are encouraged to conduct research activities and go on international exchange programs with the provision of financial support of up to HKD$10,000 (US$1,282) per year and a conference allowance of up to HK$11,000 (US$1,410), respectively.

Finance aside, close faculty mentorship and guidance is also important as they influence how fruitful the learning experience is as well as the quality of scholarly output. For instance, Jason Yin Dean-Chen published a research article as the first author in Health Policy, a leading international journal in health policy studies. The paper was co-authored with an associate professor of the Department of Asian and Policy Studies at EdUHK where Jason studied the public policy and governance master’s program.

Another graduate, Michelle Chiu, recalled her experience of studying the child and family education master’s program at EdUHK. She said her supervisor went with her to collect data and walked her through the whole process. “She first let me do the interview, and then we discussed my performance and ways to improve. She then demonstrated how things should be done by doing an interview herself.”