Joint Educational Placement for PhD: University of Toronto

The University of Toronto was founded in 1827. It is made up of a wide range of Schools/Faculties including Applied Science & Engineering, Architecture, Landscape & Design, Arts and Science, Dentistry, Education, Forestry, Global Affairs, Information, Kinesiology and Physical Education, Law, Management, Medicine, Music, Nursing, Pharmacy, Public Health, Public Policy & Governance, and Social Work. It is one of the top 20 universities in the world according to 2013/14 QS World University Rankings. The University is one of the most important research institutions in Canada and has gained an international reputation for its research.

The joint educational placement, introduced since 2012-13, offers students the opportunities to benefit from shared research excellence in a wide range of disciplines between HKU and the UofT. Students will acquire enriching international experience in learning and research, an invaluable asset in their career development.

Students admitted under the joint educational placement arrangement 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 split their time of study equally between the two institutions, and spend the last 6 month of study at the lead institution.

Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine at HKU with Faculty of Medicine at UofT

For more details, please visit the website of the Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine.

Faculty of Science at HKU with Department of Molecular Genetics at UoFT

For more details, please click here.  

Interested applicants should first contact the Faculty concerned on available supervisors and subject areas.

Students are required to meet the entry requirements of both universities:

• University of Toronto Graduate Programme entry requirements

• The University of Hong Kong Research Postgraduate entry requirements

(Students applying through The University of Hong Kong are also required to meet the English Language proficiency requirements of University of Toronto).

Applicants can apply through either university. The admission decision will, however, be made jointly by both universities.

To apply through The University of Hong Kong (i.e. HKU as your home institution):

1. Please submit an on-line application to HKU (with  application fee). Your application will be reviewed by the supervisor, Department, Faculty and the Joint Doctor of Philosophy Degree Committee (JDP Committee) members at HKU, where appropriate.

2. If your application is supported by HKU for putting forward to U of T for consideration, you will be requested to submit an on-line application (with application fee) to the U of T, and complete the relevant parts of the 'Agreement for a Joint Educational Placement-Doctorate' for submission to the U of T for consideration.

To apply through University of Toronto (i.e. UofT as your home institution):

• You only need to submit one on-line application (with application fee) to the U of T. The U of T will pass your application to HKU for consideration, where appropriate. You do not need to submit a separate application to HKU.

Candidates will pay tuition fees to the admitting university for the whole period of candidature. Applicants applying through The University of Hong Kong can apply for Postgraduate Scholarship (PGS). Please click here for more information about PGS. 

The living cost of students varies depending on different factors like duration of study, accommodation type and life style. Please click here for details. 

Upon successful completion of the programme, a student will be conferred a single doctoral degree from the lead institution. The transcript will have a note on it stating that “the degree is awarded as a single degree under a Joint Placement arrangement with the [Collaborator Institution]”.