Postgraduate Programs 2018/19
Master of Science Program in Global China Studies
Award Title

Master of Science in Global China Studies

Program Short Name

MSc(GCS)

Mode of Study

Both full- and part-time

Normative Program Duration

Full-time: 1 year
Part-time: 2 years

Program Fee

HK$120,000

Students who take additional course(s) are required to pay HK$5,000 for each additional credit.

Program Advisor

Academic Director:
Prof James LEE, Chair Professor of Social Science and Humanities

Enquiry

The Master of Science (MSc) Program in Global China Studies is an interdisciplinary program which focuses on four broad subject areas, Economic and Social History, Comparative Humanities, Contemporary China, and Quantitative Social Analysis, providing students global and local perspectives on China’s past and present.  It equips students with capacity building, especially capability of analysis, verbal communication and writing in a professional manner, for further study as well as to make a successful transition for future employment.  In addition, the program is designed to enable advanced undergraduates from elite universities to take on the challenge of postgraduate study in Global China Studies and receive both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Global China Studies normally within four to five years.

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

  1. Critically analyze significant social and cultural phenomena related to China and regarding China’s relations with the world;
  2. Interpret events and developments in China's past and present from both global and local perspectives;
  3. Effectively and appropriately communicate in written papers and reports in English to both non-expert and expert readers;
  4. Persuasively and appropriately communicate when presenting and discussing with both non-expert and expert audiences and discussants; and
  5. Carry out advanced research both independently and as part of a research team.
  1.  Minimum Credit Requirement

    24 credits 
     

  2. Core Courses

    9 credits

MGCS 5001
MGCS 5010
MGCS 5024

 

  1.  Academic Writing Course

    0-3 credits 

Students admitted with any IELTS sub-score of 5.5 are required to take the following academic writing course:

 

LANG 5070

 

  1. Elective Courses 

    12-15 credits 
     

    The chosen elective courses should cover at least two of the following subject areas, and include at least two China-related courses: 

    History and Social Science

MGCS 5002
MGCS 5003
MGCS 5005
MGCS 5020
MGCS 5021
MGCS 5022

 

Quantitative Social Analysis

MGCS 5011
MGCS 5012

 

Humanities and Creativity Arts

MGCS 5030
MGCS 5032
MGCS 5033
MGCS 5034
MGCS 5035

 

Subject to the approval of the Academic Director, students may take MGCS 6000 under the above subject areas to fulfill the elective requirement.

 

MGCS 6000

 

In exceptional circumstances, students may substitute no more than six elective credits (two courses) from other courses (and a maximum of one undergraduate course at 4000-level) offered by the School of Humanities and Social Science to fulfill the program requirements with prior approval of the Academic Director.  The approved substituting courses should be either China-related or global-related.
 

  1.  Optional Project 

     Selected students can take an extra project course: 
     

MGCS 6980

 

Credits earned from MGCS 6980 cannot be counted toward the credit requirements.
 

  1.  Remarks 

     Full-time students are required to take a minimum of 9 credits of coursework each regular term. 
     

Last update: 31 July 2018

To qualify for admission, applicants must meet all of the following requirements.  Admission is selective and meeting these minimum requirements does not guarantee admission.
 

1. General Admission Requirements of the University
  • 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.

2. Program-Specific Admission Requirements
  • A bachelor’s degree with a grade average of 3.0 out of 4.0; and

  • One of the following:

    • IELTS (Academic Module): Overall score: 7.0 and All sub-scores: 5.5

    • TOEFL iBT: 100

    • TOEFL pBT: 600

    • First language being English

    • Having obtained a bachelor’s degree awarded by an institution where the medium of instruction was English

 

For early admission of non-local applicants under nomination by strategic partner universities:

  • Having completed all the undergraduate coursework requirements with a cumulative grade average (CGA) of 3.0 out of 4.0; and

  • Having fulfilled the program-specific English language requirement specified above

3. Additional Information
  • Applicants who are HKUST graduates and have taken MGCS courses during their undergraduate studies may apply for transferring up to 12 of these credits to the MSc program upon admission.

 

For early admission of non-local applicants under nomination by strategic partner universities:

  • If admitted to the MSc program, students will remain registered as undergraduates in their home universities.

  • Upon completion of the MSc degree requirements, these students are required to submit an official copy of their bachelor’s degree certificate to the Program Office no later than 31 August each year in order to be conferred the MSc degree in Global China Studies at HKUST.