Research Focus
At the intersection of neuroscience and human behaviour, focusing on how the human brain drives decision-making, learning and social behaviour. Includes:
- Decision-making and behavioural neuroscience
- Neural basis of social and moral behaviour
- Educational neuroscience and learning
- Behavioural intervention and application
Programme Structure and Funding
This is a full-time PhD programme with a duration of 3–6 years (typically 4 years). Only 1 place is available.
Tuition and Scholarships
Depending on the student’s qualifications and background, the following study modes may be available.
| Funding type | Funding duration | Local students | Non-local students |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full UGC-funded studentship | Full duration (typically 4 years) | Monthly stipend of approximately HK$19,000; tuition fully waived by the government; actual net income approximately HK$19,000/month, HK$228,000/year | Monthly stipend of approximately HK$19,000; tuition HK$47,000/year, to be paid from the stipend; actual net income after deducting tuition approximately HK$15,000/month, HK$181,000/year |
| Partial studentship | 1–2 years, with no funding in the remaining years | During the funded period, monthly stipend of approximately HK$19,000 and tuition waived; during the unfunded period, no monthly stipend, tuition still covered by the government, living costs to be self-funded | During the funded period, net income after deducting tuition approximately HK$15,000/month; during the unfunded period, no monthly stipend, tuition at the self-funded rate of HK$94,000/year, both living costs and tuition to be self-funded |
| Self-funded | Full duration | No monthly stipend; tuition HK$94,000/year, fully self-funded. Local student tuition waiver applies only to UGC-funded programmes | No monthly stipend; tuition HK$94,000/year, fully self-funded |
| HKPFS (Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme) | 4 years | Monthly stipend HK$28,400; tuition fully covered separately; HK$14,200 per year for conference travel; HK$20,000 total research funding over 4 years; guaranteed accommodation in the first year | Funding standards same as for local students |
Note: studentship stipends are pre-tax monthly amounts; pre-candidacy is HK$18,930, rising to HK$19,460 after confirmation of candidature, rounded to approximately HK$19,000 in the table. Tuition figures are for AY2026/27. HKPFS is highly competitive and requires a separate application through the RGC.
Entry Requirements
Psychology, cognitive neuroscience, neuroscience, biomedical engineering, computer science, artificial intelligence, statistics, mathematics, education, economics
- Academic background: a bachelor’s degree (with evidence of research achievements/experience) or a master’s degree in psychology, cognitive neuroscience or a related discipline. Note: graduates with bachelor’s degrees in computer science, engineering and similar fields may also apply if they have some foundation in psychology or neuroscience.
- Grade requirements: Direct PhD from bachelor’s: GPA ≥ 3.8; With a master’s degree/currently studying for a master’s: no hard GPA requirement; research experience and research ability are weighted more heavily.
- Language requirements: TOEFL: 79 (before 21 January 2026, Reading/Listening/Speaking 18, Writing 19) or 4.5 (after 21 January 2026, Reading/Speaking 4, Listening/Writing 4.5); or IELTS: 6.5 (no sub-score below 5.5); Applicants who have obtained a degree from an English-taught country may apply for an exemption; TOEFL iBT Home Edition, TOEFL MyBest Score, IELTS Indicator, IELTS One Skill Retake and IELTS Online are not accepted.
- References: 2 letters of recommendation.
- Preferred qualifications: applicants familiar with programming tools such as Matlab and Python are favoured.
Application Materials
- A copy of the Hong Kong identity card or other identity document or passport;
- Degree certificate/graduation diploma and transcripts;
- English language test score report;
- Other relevant test scores (if applicable: GMAT, GRE);
- 2 letters of recommendation;
- Published papers (if any).
Application Period
Autumn intake. Application period: opens on 1 September, first round closes on 1 December (scholarships likewise), clearing round closes on 15 April.
Application Process
From now until the end of October, applicants submit an English CV and relevant materials, and we will conduct a preliminary assessment. In November, those who pass the initial screening will be invited to interview with potential supervisors. Before December, after passing the interview, applicants must formally submit their application materials through the official website. From December to the following year, shortlisted candidates will be interviewed by the Faculty admissions committee.
Timeline
January to February–March of the following year: admission offers received
Autumn: 1 December (first round), 15 April (clearing round)
Tuition and Living Costs
Living costs
Rent approximately RMB 10,000/month, other living expenses approximately RMB 7,000–8,000/month; the annual total is approximately over RMB 200,000, depending on individual circumstances.
Career Prospects
PhD graduates in psychology and neuroscience from Hong Kong Baptist University are highly competitive in the job market. Overall, PhD graduates in psychology in Hong Kong have strong employment outcomes; some surveys show an employment rate of 100% for related disciplines, and they are well recognised for the solid research skills and interdisciplinary perspective developed in an internationalised environment.
Salaries in psychology and related social science fields in Hong Kong have been rising steadily in recent years; the average annual salary in some postgraduate disciplines can reach around HK$300,000, while the average salary level in the neuroscience field is approximately HK$676,000 per year. In terms of career choices, PhD graduates mainly move into the following areas:
- Academia and higher education institutions: more than 40% of PhD graduates give priority to entering universities or research institutions.
This includes undertaking postdoctoral research at local Hong Kong and mainland universities, ultimately competing for faculty positions; or serving as research scientists at platforms such as the Hong Kong Science Park and State Key Laboratories, focusing on frontier research topics such as brain cognition and mental health.
- Clinical and medical services: graduates can serve as clinical/educational psychologists in hospitals under the Hong Kong Hospital Authority, large NGOs or private psychology clinics, mainly in areas such as psychiatry, special education and community mental health.
In addition, some graduates enter the healthcare industry to work in cognitive assessment, patient psychological intervention and similar roles.
- Corporate psychology and business applications: with a deep understanding of decision-making behaviour, consumer motivation and team collaboration mechanisms, PhD graduates also have broad prospects in the business sector.
This includes serving as user experience (UX) researchers and user behaviour data analysts at multinational technology companies and internet enterprises; they are also suited to roles such as human resources strategy consultants in financial markets, data scientists and independent organisational psychology consultants.
- Business and organisational psychology: the assessment tool development and data analysis skills accumulated through a psychology PhD equip graduates for frontier roles such as talent assessment, organisational effectiveness enhancement, human-computer interaction design and product strategy optimisation in commercial organisations.
