The part-time MAES programme is offered over the course of two years (i.e., four semesters, 12 weeks each).

Starting from 2022-2023, you will be offered a choice of electives (2 out of 4 possible courses) in Semester 2 of your studies, including two courses that will be taught online (Note: These courses are still to be confirmed). You will receive a form to let us know your preference for courses in Semester 2.   While part-time students normally follow a fixed curriculum with half of their courses in Literature and half in Linguistics, they can apply for special approval to take seminar courses in either Linguistics or Literature stream. In order to allow more flexibility, part-time students may also apply for special approval and take electives offered during the day in either literature and linguistics in lieu of the course(s) offered in the evenings after they have taken the mandatory introductory classes in literature and linguistics.

Please note you will be in a combined class with full-time MAES students. The class size will range from 30 – 90 students depending on the course.

Please find the Regulations & Syllabuses 2024-25 for your reference.

The MA in English studies consists of two introductory courses (9 credits each), four seminar courses (6 credits each), and a capstone experience (18 credits) in the form of a final research project and a conference paper to be presented at a conference on a Saturday in May. This conference will be open to the academic and wider community. The total graduation requirement is 60 credits.

• Semester 1 Timetable

The introductory core courses will be held in the evenings, Mondays and Wednesdays. Some elective courses will be offered in the evenings and others in the daytime and will run for 2-3 hours.

Each session may consist of a lecture, workshop, students' presentations or other form of in-class learning. Students' attendance and participation in all courses are required.

Recent graduates interested in strengthening their academic foundation and pursuing further study, education professionals, and those seeking a change of careers or intellectual challenge.

To be eligible for admission to the programme, a candidate shall satisfy both the University Admission Requirements and the Programme Specific Requirements as listed below:

(a) shall hold

1. a good Bachelor’s degree of this University; or a qualification of equivalent standard from this University or another comparable institution accepted for this purpose; and
2. a good Bachelor’s degree with a major in English or a closely related subject;

(b) for a candidate who is seeking admission on the basis of a qualification from a university or comparable institution outside Hong Kong of which the language of teaching and/or examination is not English, shall satisfy the University English language requirement applicable to higher degrees as prescribed under General Regulation G2(b).

The programme has set its minimum requirements with regard to TOEFL and IELTS as follows:

^{Note: Only TOEFL/IELTS scores recorded in the two years before the date of application are considered.}

(c) shall satisfy the examiners in a qualifying examination if required.

In addition, a personal statement, an academic writing sample and two references will be required for your application. More details on supplementary documents will be made available on the online application form. Please note that if you are applying for a scholarship or a fellowship, an additional essay is required on the separate application form.

For the online reference, each applicant should provide contact information of 2 referees. Referee accounts will be created and referee invitation emails will be sent out to the referee the day after the applicant submits the application.

Other qualifications will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Candidates might be asked to attend an interview.

2024-26: HKD$100,000 per annum, or HKD$200,000 over two years

Candidates who have accepted a conditional offer will be asked to pay the 1st instalment of tuition fees.

***Once you have paid the initial deposit to secure your place on the programme, please note that it is NOT transferable to other MA Programmes at HKU or refundable in any way.***

Closed.

Round 1: 12:00 noon (GMT +8), December 5, 2023
Round 2: 12:00 noon (GMT +8), March 28, 2024
Round 3: extended deadline: 12:00 noon (GMT +8), July 19, 2024

^{Note: The earlier deadline for non-local students is to give enough time for the Immigration Department to process visas, if applicable.}

Entrance Scholarship for the Master of Arts in the Field of English Studies

In 2018, the School of English established an Entrance Scholarship for students of the Master of Arts in the field of English Studies programme to recognise their outstanding achievement upon admission. The Scholarship shall be awarded to cohorts admitted from the academic year 2020-21 under the following regulations:

1. The Scholarship shall be awarded annually to new full-time and part-time students of the Master of Arts in the field of English Studies programme, on the basis of academic merit, upon admission. Preference shall be given to the students who are not holding any scholarships and students with financial need.
2. The exact award number and values of awards shall be determined by the Selection Committee, based on funding availability. 
3. In the event of there being no suitable applicant in any year, no awards shall be made.
4. MAES applicants who would like to apply for the Entrance Scholarship shall submit a separate application by completing the application form (see below) and send it back to the School Office (email: maesft@hku.hk) by March 28, 2024.

[Download the application form here: docx ] (Application deadline: 12:00 noon (GMT +8) March 28, 2024)

Background

“Targeted Taught Postgraduate Programmes Fellowships Scheme” is a pilot scheme for five cohorts to provide fellowships for local students pursuing designated taught postgraduate programmes in the eight University Grants Committee (UGC)-funded universities. The main objectives of the scheme are to attract more meritorious local students to pursue further studies in priority areas conducive to the development of Hong Kong, and to encourage universities to establish more innovative and multi-disciplinary programmes that are beneficial to society.

Number of fellowship

The MAES programme has been awarded 4 Fellowship places for the academic year 2024-25. Applications are open to both full-time and part-time local students.

Duration and amount of fellowship

The fellowship students are required to pay a minimum tuition fee of at least HK$42,100, which is the prevailing rate of the UGC-funded programmes. The differences will be subsidised by the fellowships subject to a cap of HK$120,000 for each student regardless of the actual study period of the programme; and any remaining cost should still be covered by the students.

Fellowship holders who are unable to complete the MAES programme or fail to attain an expected level of performance may be required to refund the full amount of the fellowship award.

Application procedures

MAES applicants for the Targeted Taught Postgraduate Programmes Fellowships Scheme for 2024-25 are expected to demonstrate their strengths regarding the following areas, if applicable:

• academic achievements;
• professional qualifications;
• relevant working experience and achievements in other areas;
• how they can contribute to the priority areas of Hong Kong after completing the programme (see the priority areas under “List of eligible taught postgraduate programmes” section below).

MAES applicants who would like to apply for the Targeted Taught Postgraduate Programmes Fellowships Scheme shall submit a separate application by completing the application form (see below) and send it back to the School Office (email: maesft@hku.hk) by March 28, 2024.

[Download the application form here: docx ] (Application deadline: 12:00 noon (GMT +8) March 28, 2024)

Criteria for selection of fellowship recipients by universities

The scheme will adopt a merit-based approach in selecting the most outstanding students to pursue designated taught postgraduate programmes. The applicants are required to be admitted to the universities and submit their application to the universities with a proposal expounding on how they can contribute to the priority areas of Hong Kong after completing the programme concerned. Applications for the fellowships will be assessed by the universities based on a rigorous and holistic approach, subject to the following criteria:

1. applications are open to local students of eligible programmes only;
2. students awarded any other government scholarships for pursuing the same programme, including the Continuing Education Fund, will not be considered to avoid “double benefit”. Nevertheless, students provided with financial assistance in the form of loans from the Government (e.g. Extended Non-means-tested Loan Scheme under Student Finance Office) to settle the tuition fees for the TPg programme are still eligible to apply.
3. both full-time and part-time local students of eligible programmes can apply for the fellowships; and
4. the award of the fellowships will be based on merits taking into account the students’ academic achievements, professional qualifications, relevant working experience and achievements in other areas as well as the proposals submitted by the students with special attention to their personal statements on how they can contribute to the priority areas of Hong Kong after completing the programme.

List of eligible taught postgraduate programmes

The eligible taught postgraduate programmes should be directly related to one or more of the following seven priority areas in 2022/23 academic year:

1. "STEM" (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics);
2. Healthy living and caring community;
3. Sustainable city and regional development;
4. Hong Kong's strategic position as a regional and international business centre;
5. Emerging research;
6. Creative industries; and
7. Culture, heritage and humanities [This is the primary priority area of MAES].

For more information on the “Targeted Taught Postgraduate Programmes Fellowships Scheme”, please visit the University Grants Committee’s official website.

Application deadline: 12:00 noon (GMT +8) March 24, 2024

The Scholarship for Teachers for full-time HK teachers is subject to confirmation. Please visit the website here.