Urban Studies
Ph.D.
Overview
Today, half the world's population lives in cities - and the global trend towards increasing urbanisation shows no signs of slowing down. Along with the advantages that can come with metropolitan life, such as proximity to the hub of economic growth, there’s often a price to pay in the form of issues such as increased pollution and crime. More topically, the rapid spread of the COVID-19 virus in cities has highlighted another risk of high-density living.
Reflecting the growing concern among the wider public, there has been mounting interest in the types of scientific and professional training that would enable graduates to analyse urban problems, devise solutions, and effect real, positive change.
In response to this demand, and to build on the success of its existing Master of Cities and Governance programme, Lingnan University plans to launch a Research Postgraduate MPhil/PhD Programme in Urban Studies in September 2023.
Lingnan: a natural home for such a programme
Prof Yau Yung, the professor of urban studies at Lingnan University, points out that in universities around the world, even the most prestigious, Urban Studies programmes tend to be housed in the schools of Urban Planning or Geography. This phenomenon exists at undergraduate, postgraduate and research level.
Whereas at Lingnan, the School of Graduate Studies (SGS) takes the lead in running such a programme. The SGS is home to experts in a very wide range of disciplines, from housing and education to business, and many faculty have research backgrounds at noteworthy institutions across the globe, such as the UK’s Oxford, LSE, Bristol and York universities, the US’s Purdue and Pittsburgh universities,the National University of Singapore, and at local institutions, including the University of Hong Kong and Chinese University of Hong Kong. “This type of environment makes trans-disciplinary research possible,” Prof Yau explains.
There is also a close relationship between the SGS and Lingnan’s academic departments, which allows for co-supervision of PhD and MPhil students by faculty from different disciplines. “So, when we talk about urban regeneration, it is not just a question of land use, we can also discuss, say, the effects of this process on the elderly, and the possible social exclusion as a result,” says Prof Yau.
What’s more, the small size of the research student body at Lingnan means that the relationship between students and their supervisor is close.
Lingnan is also ideally placed in terms of its physical location. The university is sited extremely close to Hong Kong’s border with Mainland, within China’s Greater Bay Area, and with easy access to most of Asia.
The future: for graduates and for the programme itself
Graduates from this programme are likely to be in demand in a number of different fields and sectors. Among the many employment possibilities open to them are: as an academic researcher in higher education institutes; as a researcher or policy advocate in a think tank; government posts working in related fields; as a member of an NGO; as a consultant or administrator in real estate companies, and; as an ESG officer in these or a variety of other private sector businesses.
Prof Yau says he would also like to see graduates strike out as entrepreneurs, setting up their own companies to achieve social objectives.
In addition, he has a vision for the future of urban studies, which is currently categorised as an interdisciplinary field. “My ambition is to turn it into a trans-disciplinary field, so we are not just integrating knowledge from different disciplines but, through a joint effort, building a new concept, or framework, that may eventually result in some kind of social innovation.”
Structure
Both PhD and MPhil students on this programme will take courses to enhance their skills in areas such as academic writing, critical thinking, research design, and qualitative and quantitative research methods. They will attend workshops on topics such as research ethics, and seminars in which their proposed research topics will be discussed, and honed, in partnership with faculty members. They will also be provided with training in the use of technologies such as Geographic Information System, and in the creation and use of infographics to communicate their findings.
“Lingnan University is a liberal arts university and we want to make sure that the research we conduct has a real impact on society,” Prof Yau notes. “We stress on having impact with care.”
This concept of care encompasses everything from encouraging entrepreneurship to revitalising Hong Kong’s heritage.
The SGS currently emphasises several key areas of research in urban studies. These are: the housing crisis in Hong Kong and Asian cities; urbanisation and urban regeneration; housing and neighbourhood governance, and development and conservation. However, because of the scope for co-supervision of research projects students on the Research Postgraduate MPhil/PhD Programme in Urban Studies programme can choose topics in other areas.
Students from seemingly non-relevant academic backgrounds are welcome to apply for a place on this programme as long as they can formulate good research proposals related to urban studies.
Costs
Tuition
HK$84,200.00
(international)
HK$84,200.00
(home)
Funding
The University has endeavoured to provide research postgraduate students with financial assistance to enable them to devote full efforts to their studies and to facilitate their research studies and professional development.
Fellowships and Studentships
A full-time PhD student will normally be awarded with either a PhD Fellowship* or a Postgraduate Studentship. A full-time MPhil student will normally be awarded a Postgraduate Studentship.
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PhD Fellowship
PhD Fellowship awardees will be provided with a Fellowship with a monthly stipend for a maximum period of 3 years. The monthly stipend for 2023-24 is HK$27,600 (subject to annual review). For awardees with a normative study period of 4 years, the University will offer the same level of Fellowship for their fourth year of study.
(*For more details on PhD Fellowship, please refer to the webpage of Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme.) (US$1 = HK$7.8) -
Postgraduate Studentships
Postgraduate Studentships (PGSs) are awarded to full-time MPhil/PhD students to support their daily subsistence, tuition fee and other expenses that may incur during the course of their studies. The full monthly stipend for 2023-24 is HK$18,270 for an MPhil student; HK$18,530 for a PhD student before confirmation of candidature; and HK$18,890 for a PhD student after confirmation of candidature. A partial studentship which is a fraction of the amount for a full studentship may be awarded. For details, please refer to Terms and Conditions of Postgraduate Studentships. (US$1 = HK$7.8)
As part of the training for postgraduate degree studies, fellowship or studentship recipients are required to perform, under supervision, teaching duties and/or research support duties of up to 12 hours per week on average. Please refer to Terms and Conditions of Postgraduate Studentships.
Research Postgraduate Student Conference/Field Trip Sponsorships
The University deems it important to provide support to research postgraduate students in academic activities, mainly conference attendance and conducting field trips, to nurture their academic and/or professional growth.
The funding limit for supporting conferences, field trips and/or other exceptionally approved academic activities is HK$19,000 for an MPhil student and HK$25,000 for a regular PhD student during his/her entire period of study at Lingnan.
An annual sponsorship will be provided to a PhD Fellowship awardee for a maximum period of 3 years, and the rate for 2023-24 is HK$13,800 (subject to annual review). For an awardee with a normative study period of 4 years, the University will offer the same level of sponsorship for his/her fourth year of study.
Research Postgraduate Scholarships for Overseas Research Visits
A full-time PhD student who wishes to undertake a short-term visit at an overseas institution for a term and up to 6 months can apply for the scholarships. During the period of visit, the PhD student will be immersed in a research environment different from his/her original, and expected to participate in research activities under the co-supervision by Supervisors from Lingnan and the host institution. MPhil and PhD students at Lingnan are expected to benefit from the academic exchanges with in-bound overseas research students.
The Scholarships are offered on a competitive basis. Depending on the destination of the host institution and the period of stay, a selected PhD student may receive support ranging from HK$25,000 to HK$50,000 for a 6-month visit.
Other Scholarships
In addition, research postgraduate students are eligible for a number of scholarships, which are normally awarded based on academic merits and recommendation of department/programme concerned.
Tuition Waiver
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PhD Fellowships Awardees
Starting from the 2019-20 academic year, the full tuition fee for the first year of study of a PhD Fellowship awardee will be waived.
Note
A local HKPFS awardee is eligible for the scheme of Tuition Waiver for Local Research Postgraduate (RPg) Students offered by the HKSAR Government. The tuition fee for his/her normal study period will be waived. -
Eligible Local Full-time MPhil/PhD Students
Starting from the 2018-19 academic year, the HKSAR Government will provide tuition waiver for all eligible new and progressing local students enrolled in UGC-funded RPg programmes under the scheme of Tuition Waiver for Local Research Postgraduate (RPg) Students. The Scheme will cover the tuition fees for the normative study period of UGC-funded RPg programmes, viz. 2 years for MPhil students, 3 years for PhD students with a research master’s degree and 4 years for PhD students without a research master’s degree.Note
· Local RPg students who are admitted to the MPhil/PhD programmes of the University as a self-financed student are not eligible for the Tuition Waiver for Local RPg Students.
· Non-local students holding the following visas are not eligible – (a) student visa/entry permit; (b) visa/entry permit under the Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates (IANG); (c) or dependent visa/entry permit* issued by the Immigration Department of the HKSAR.
* Applicable to students who were aged 18 years old or above when they were issued with such visa.
· To prevent double benefit, students whose tuition fee are fully waived by any other schemes will no longer be eligible for the tuition waiver.
Admissions
Qualifications
An applicant for admission to candidature for the degree of PhD should normally:
a) hold a master's degree awarded by a tertiary education institution recognised for this purpose by the University; or
b) hold a relevant bachelor's degree with first or second class honours or at an equivalent standard, and have registered in a programme of study for a master's degree at a recognised tertiary education institution for at least one year and have evidence of research achievement; or
c) have obtained an equivalent qualification of a) or b) above; or
d) have provided satisfactory evidence of academic and professional attainment.
Note: First degree graduates with proven research qualification or experience might be admitted direct to PhD studies only under exceptional circumstances. Normally a candidate without a master's degree will not be admitted to PhD studies and he/she should register as an MPhil student in the first instance.
Language requirements
IELTS
6.5
TOEFL
79