MAHKCS Programme

School of Chinese

Established in 1927, the School of Chinese has been dedicated to preserving Chinese heritage and fostering the fusion of Chinese and Western scholarship. With the hard work of our founders and their successors, the School has evolved into a leading international hub for research and teaching in Chinese language, literature, history, and translation.

Faculty of Arts

The School of Chinese is part of the prestigious Faculty of Arts, which consistently ranks highly in global university rankings:

• 2nd in Asia and 14th worldwide for Arts and Humanities in the U.S. News & World Report 2025-2026 Best Global Universities Rankings;
• 4th in Asia and 1st in Hong Kong in Arts and Humanities in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject 2025;
• 1st in Asia and 18th worldwide in Arts and Humanities in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025.

Master of Arts in the field of Hong Kong Cultural Studies (MAHKCS)

The Master of Arts (MA) in the field of Hong Kong Cultural Studies is an interdisciplinary programme aimed at offering students the humanities disciplines about Hong Kong, including its language, literature, culture, society, creative industries, cinema, and media, with an academic training on a problem-based approach to understand the city’s role in the Greater Bay Area and its connection with China in the global context.

The inaugural cohort will commence studies in September 2026, and admissions are now open. We warmly invite applicants including those interested in Hong Kong, cultural professionals, educators, and lifelong learners.

Key Features of the MAHKCS

1. First-of-its-Kind Programme

• The MAHKCS is the first postgraduate programme devoted to Hong Kong Cultural Studies, emphasizing humanities disciplines such as language, literature, cinema, media, and creative industries within an interdisciplinary framework.
• Courses will be primarily conducted in English and supplemented with Chinese; making the programme more accessible.

2. Interdisciplinary and Theoretical Depth

• The programme offers rigorous training in cultural and critical theories alongside research methodologies.
• It encourages problem-based learning and trans-cultural perspectives, equipping students to interpret Hong Kong’s culture within local, national, and global contexts.

3. Distinctive Curriculum Design

• Two compulsory core courses provide a solid foundation in theoretical frameworks and research methods.
• A diverse selection of electives covers topics such as literature, cinema, Cantopop, and Hong Kong’s role as a global hub.

4. One-to-one Capstone Project Supervision

The capstone project requires each student to submit a dissertation or an analysis of a media project with media production under the supervision of scholars and specialists in Hong Kong Cultural Studies. Each student will receive individual attention to their work and learning progress.

5. Career and Academic Advancement

• The M.A. programme offers the highest standard of academic training for our students who could consider to pursue a doctoral degree at leading universities.

• The possible opportunities in career pathways include roles in government, museums, cultural institutions, publishing, media, tourism, and digital content creation.

Additional Programme Highlights

• Teaching is delivered by a team of renowned scholars and experienced academics from the School of Chinese, dedicated to excellence in student mentorship and instruction.
• Students engage in seminars, conferences, and public lectures featuring prominent figures from Hong Kong's cultural scene.
• The programme offers a flexible structure and timetable, with no classes scheduled during the summer vacation to accommodate students’ needs.
• Students complete a capstone project under the supervision of an assigned faculty member.
• Exceptional dissertations (graded A- or above) may be archived in the HKU Libraries, contributing to scholarly resources.
• Graduates who achieve overall distinction will have this recognized on their Certificate of Graduation.

Apply Now
Join us in exploring the dynamic culture and society of Hong Kong through this groundbreaking programme. Admission is open for the September 2026 intake. We encourage all interested candidates to apply.