Joint Education Programme for PhD: SUSTech

Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech) is a public university founded in the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone of China. It is intended to be a top-tier international university that excels in interdisciplinary research, nurturing innovative talents and delivering new knowledge to the world. SUSTech was born in 2011 with a mission to reform higher education in China. Since then, it has been widely regarded as a pioneer and innovator in collectively moving China's higher education forward to match China's ever-growing role in the international arena. In 2012, the Chinese Ministry of Education endorsed the establishment of SUSTech and acknowledged the university as a platform for experimenting with and catalyzing Chinese higher education reform. SUSTech has 12 existing academic programmes, ranging from financial mathematics to environmental and water resources engineering. New programmes are being offered continuously to meet growing demands.

The Joint Education Programme offered by HKU and SUSTech provides students the opportunities to benefit from shared research excellence between the two universities locating in near vicinity.

Students admitted to the joint education programme will:

• be registered as full-time students at both institutions and be able to enjoy their full range of academic and various facilities;

• be guided in their work by faculty members from both institutions, and be examined to the standards of both; and

• normally study for 4 years, with the 1^st and 4^th years of studies at HKU and the 2^nd and 3^rd years at SUSTech.

Both universities have agreed that no further admissions will be accepted with effect from academic year 2022-23.

Candidates have to pay tuition fees to HKU during their 2 years of studies at HKU, in the same amount as the normal full-time PhD programmes. Eligible candidates will receive Postgraduate Scholarship (PGS) from HKU for up to two years during their studies in HKU, with the PGS amount equivalent to other full-time PhD students in HKU.

During their studies at SUSTech, scholarships, tuition fees, research and living expenses would be arranged as per SUSTech’s regulations. 

Upon successful completion of the programme, a student will be conferred a single PhD degree from HKU. 

Please contact SUSTech for enquiries about application for admission to this programme.