Overview

A candidate for a Social Science PhD degree at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology is expected to make original and substantial contributions to knowledge in his/ her chosen discipline/ field of research.

Research Foci

Research focuses primarily on the evolving economy, polity and society of Mainland China in comparative perspective. Specific topics encompass economic reforms and development, social stratification and mobility, governance, historical demography and migration, environmental policy, emotions and the Chinese personality, cognitive and development psychology, as well as broad issues pertaining to gender, culture and the role of innovation and technology in society.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of the PhD programme, graduates will be able to:

Make rigorous use of diverse methodological tools for social analysis.

Creatively design and effectively carry out research that makes significant theoretical and/or empirical contributions to relevant fields.

Publish high-quality research output in leading academic venues.

Programme Structure

Course structure:

Quantitative Methods for Social Science Research

Social Science Research Design and Methods

Qualitative Research Methods

Econometric Approaches to Social Science Research

Computational Social Science

Causal Inference in Social Sciences

Social Network Analysis
and more...

Please visit the programme website for further details.

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 36 months
Part-time
- 72 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2027-09-01 00:00:00
- Apply before 2027-01-02 00:00:00 , International
- Apply before 2027-01-02 00:00:00 , National

Language

English

TOEFL^® IBT

80

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IELTS

6.5

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Credits

27 alternative credits

Delivered

On Campus

Campus Location

Hong Kong, Hong Kong (SAR)

Disciplines

Sociology View 6 other PhDs in Sociology in Hong Kong (SAR)

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Academic requirements

Applicants seeking admission to a doctoral degree program should have obtained a bachelor’s degree with a proven record of outstanding performance from a recognized institution; or presented evidence of satisfactory work at the postgraduate level on a full-time basis for at least one year, or on a part-time basis for at least two years.

English requirements

TOEFL^® IBT

80

Schedule TOEFL®

IELTS

6.5

Prepare for Your English Test

Cathoven AI IELTS Preparation

Learn your IELTS Score

AI-powered IELTS feedback. Clear, actionable, and tailored to boost your writing & speaking score. No credit card or upfront payment required.

Trusted by 300k learners
98 accuracy using real exam data
4.9/5 student rating

Other requirements

General requirements

Applicants seeking admission to a master's degree program should have obtained a bachelor’s degree from a recognized institution, or an approved equivalent qualification;
Applicants seeking admission to a doctoral degree program should have obtained a bachelor’s degree with a proven record of outstanding performance from a recognized institution; or presented evidence of satisfactory work at the postgraduate level on a full-time basis for at least one year, or on a part-time basis for at least two years.
A satisfactory score in GMAT or GRE

Student Insurance via Studyportals Partner

Make sure to cover your health, travel, and stay while studying abroad. Even global coverages can miss important items like Additional medical costs, Repatriation, Liability etc. Make sure your student insurance covers your needs.

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Starting from €0.53/day, free cancellation any time.

Remember, countries and universities may have specific insurance requirements. To learn more about how student insurance work at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and/or in Hong Kong (SAR), please visit Student Insurance Portal.

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are shown in and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.

International Applies to you

Applies to you

Non-residents

44500 HKD / year

≈ 44500 HKD / year
Domestic Applies to you

Applies to you

Citizens or residents

44500 HKD / year

≈ 44500 HKD / year

Living costs

Hong Kong

Hong Kong (SAR)

13720 - 23419 HKD / month

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Funding

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Scholarships Information

Below you will find PhD's scholarship opportunities for Social Science.

Available Scholarships

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

About

Overview

Research Foci

Learning outcomes

Programme Structure

Key information

Duration

Start dates & application deadlines

Language

Prepare for Your English Test

Credits

Delivered

Campus Location

Disciplines

What students do after studying

Academic requirements

English requirements

Prepare for Your English Test

Other requirements

General requirements

Student Insurance via Studyportals Partner

Tuition Fees

International Applies to you

Domestic Applies to you

Living costs

Hong Kong

Funding

Scholarships Information

Available Scholarships

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