Programme Information
MPhil-PhD in Applied Psychology
The programme is designed for students who wish to pursue a higher degree in the broad area of applied psychology within a framework of human lifespan development (human cognitive development and human career development) and with a research focus on cognitive development, decision-making, and mental health in the information age. The programme aims to strengthen students’ knowledge in applied psychology and train them to carry out original research independently, critically, and innovatively.
| Course Groupings | Course Units | Minimum Grade | Streams | |
| MPhil | PhD | |||
| Pre-Candidacy Period | ||||
| I. Lecture Courses: Group A (Required) | Units Required for Graduation | |||
| PSY5010 Research Methods in Psychology & Social Sciences | 3 | C | 6 units from the Group | 6 units from the Group |
| PSY5020 Statistics in Psychology & Social Sciences | 3 | C | ||
| II. Lecture Courses: Group B (Elective) | ||||
| GGE5001A Academic Writing and Presentation | 2 | PASS | 12 units from the group | 21 units from the group |
| PSY5120 Child and Adolescent Development | 3 | C | ||
| PSY5130 Educational and Psychological Testing | 3 | C | ||
| PSY5140 Learning and Cognition | 3 | C | ||
| PSY5210 Organizational Behavior | 3 | C | ||
| PSY5220 Psychology of Leadership and Decision Making | 3 | C | ||
| PSY5230 Social and Personality Psychology | 3 | C | ||
| PSY5240 Organizations and Group Processes | 3 | C | ||
| PSY5310 Counseling and Clinical Psychology | 3 | C | ||
| PSY5320 Positive Psychology | 3 | C | ||
| PSY5330 Psychological Assessment | 3 | C | ||
| PSY5340 Health Psychology | 3 | C | ||
| PSY6110 Topics in Cognitive Development | 3 | C | ||
| PSY6120 Topics in Behavioral Decision-Making | 3 | C | ||
| PSY6130 Topics in Educational/School Psychology | 3 | C | ||
| PSY6140 Topics in Cognitive Neuroscience | 3 | C | ||
| PSY6150 Topics in Health Psychology | 3 | C | ||
| PSY6160 Topics in Management Psychology | 3 | C | ||
| PSY6170 Topics in Counseling Psychology | 3 | C | ||
| III. Thesis Research Course (students need to register in the course every term) | ||||
| PSY7010A Thesis Research | 6 | B- | 6 units per term | 6 units per term |
| IV. Other Courses (students need to register in PSY7020 each term and pass PSY7030 in the pre-candidacy period) | ||||
| PSY7020A Research Seminars | 0 | PASS | 0 units per term | 0 units per term |
| PSY7030 Thesis Writing and Presentation | 0 | PASS | / | 0 units |
| Post-Candidacy Period | ||||
| V. Thesis Research Course (students need to register in the courseevery term) | ||||
| PSY7010B Thesis Research | 12 | B- | / | 12 units per term |
| VI. Other Courses (students need to register in the course every term) | ||||
| PSY7020B Research Seminars | 0 | PASS | / | 0 units per term |
| Units Distribution | ||||
| Lecture Courses: Group A | 6 | 6 | ||
| Lecture Courses: Group B | 12 | 21 | ||
| Thesis Research Course | 6 units*No. of terms | 6 units*No. of terms in Pre-Candidacy Period + 12 units*No. of terms in Post-Candidacy Period |
||
| Other Courses | 0 | 0 | ||
Notes:
1. For MPhil students exceeding normative study period, each student is expected to register in PSY7010A Thesis Research (6 units per term) every term.
2. For PhD students exceeding normative study period, each student is expected to register in PSY7010B Thesis Research (12 units per term) and PSY7020B Research Seminars (0 units) every term in the post-candidacy period.
*Applicable to students admitted in or after AY2024-2025
Study Period
The study periods for students of different streams/ stages under the framework of the new MPhil-PhD Programme are summarized below:
| Degree | Mode | Maximum Pre-Candidacy Period 1 | Normative Period | Maximum Period | ||
| MPhil | Full-time | -- | 24 months | 48 months | ||
| PhD (entering with a research master’s degree) | Full-time | 24 months 2 | 48 months | 72 months | ||
| PhD (entering without a research master’s degree) | Full-time | 36 months 2,3 | 60 months | 84 months | ||
Notes:
1 Maximum period to pass the candidacy requirement, counted from first entry.
2 A student who fails to pass the candidacy requirement within the maximum pre-candidacy period is required to withdraw from the PhD study.
3 A student without a master’s degree who fails to pass the candidacy requirement within the maximum pre-candidacy period is allowed to switch to MPhil study.
Course and Unit Exemption
1. MPhil Stream：Students can submit undergraduate and postgraduate transcripts and apply for exemption of up to three (9 units) relevant courses. The courses to be exempted must be approved by Programme Director and relevant Graduate Panel.
2. PhD Stream：Students can submit undergraduate and postgraduate transcripts and apply for exemption of up to three courses (9 units). The courses and units to be waived must be approved by the Programme Director and the Graduate Panel.
