Overview
The Department of Art History at the University of Hong Kong is one of Asia’s leading centres of art historical research. We offer research postgraduate (RPg) programmes leading to the Master of Philosophy (MPhil) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees. For information on our taught postgraduate (MA) programme, go to the MA section. Please note that we do not offer any applied degrees in studio art or design.
Our MPhil is a two-year full-time (or three-year part-time) programme, while the PhD takes three or four years full-time (four-and-a-half or six years part-time). Both programmes are based primarily on the writing of a dissertation in English under the close supervision of a full-time faculty member from our department. It is possible to have a co-supervisor within or outside our department.
The Graduate School handles the overall management of the degrees; it sets policies for admissions and examinations, and also provides compulsory courses and optional workshops for RPg students. The Arts Faculty’s Higher Degrees Committee provides academic oversight of all RPg programmes and students. And the School of Humanities office handles most of the day-to-day administrative work for RPg students once they have begun their studies.
Note that we do not currently participate in the King’s College London and Hong Kong University Joint PhD programme.
Facilities and Support Services
HKU Research Services
The Research Services unit provides guidelines on research integrity and offers research-related grants, including funding for RPg travel and participation in academic conferences.
HKU Library Service
In addition to its extensive research collections and databases, the HKU Library offers courses on various research tools and provides individualized consultation services to RPg students. The Main Library and branch libraries also offer a variety of study spaces for all users.
CEDARS
The Centre of Development and Resources for Students (CEDARS) assists all students with housing issues, and offers a range of counseling services, including both career counseling and mental health counseling.
Study Space
RPg students share a dedicated School of Humanities study room in Run Run Shaw Tower. The room includes desks, personal lockers, a small meeting room, refrigerator and microwave oven, and lots of natural light with excellent views. Students are also welcome to use the extensive facilities of the Learning Commons (Centennial Campus), the various HKU libraries, and the Art History Resource Centre.
Department Facilities
The Art History Resource Centre houses a small library of reference books and loanable books, AV collections, the Hong Kong Art Archive, computers, and a small meeting room. Contact our department clerk for use of the department scanners and photocopier.
Leave of Absence
Full-times RPg students are required to work full-time on their studies and remain resident in Hong Kong, except for periods of approved leave of absence. There are four kinds of leave available: study leave (usually used for research-related travel); non-study leave (for vacation or other personal travel); sick leave (for health-related issues); and maternity or paternity leave (for pregnancy and childbirth). Details on the various leave requirements and limits are available from the Graduate School’s Leave of Absence page. Applications for leave must be approved in advance by the student’s primary supervisor and the Department Research Postgraduate Committee; applications forms are available here.
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