The Department is committed to training and fostering prospective students to become excellent researchers and outstanding professionals in the areas of economics and finance. We offer research degree programmes leading up to the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and Master of Philosophy (MPhil). Upon completion of the programme, students will be well-equipped to work and be able to contribute significantly in academic institutions and in various business sectors. The Department has one of the strongest research teams in Asia in the field of economics and finance. The areas of strength of our current faculty members include, among others, international trade and finance, economic development and growth, micro and macro economic theory, econometrics, money and banking, urban and real-estate economics, Chinese economy, public economics, corporate finance, financial markets, market microstructure, security analysis and portfolio management, derivative instruments, banking system and financial institutions, and management of financial institutions.
Research Rankings of the Department of Economics and Finance in Asia:No. 1 in the top 25% institutions in Hong Kong and 4 faculty members ranked amongst the top 25% authors in Hong Kong (IDEAS, RePEc website), accessed in March 2018EconomicsNo. 1 in per capita research publications in Economics (Review of International Economics, 2008)No. 1 in International Economics (Review of International Economics, 2009)No. 2 in Real Estate (Journal of Real Estate Finance and Economics, 2011)No. 3 in Development Economics (Review of International Economics, 2009) Graduate Placements(Outstanding)Jean Baptiste HABYARIMANALecturer, University of Rwanda, RwandaHO Cheuk YinAssistant Professor, Beijing Normal University·Hong Kong Baptist University, United International College, Hong KongHUANG JuAssistant Professor, Nanjing Audit University, ChinaJIANG MingmingAssistant Professor, Shandong University, ChinaKASHYAP RaviAssistant Professor, SolBridge International School of Business, South KoreaLAI TeAssistant Professor, Guangdong University of Foreign Studies, ChinaLI LingxiaoAssistant Professor, California State University, USALIN Mi Lecturer, University of Lincoln, UKLIN ZhitaoAssistant Professor, Jinan University, ChinaNG Cho YiuAssistant Professor, The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong, Hong KongOpoku Eric Evans OseiAssistant Professor, University of Nottingham Ningbo ChinaPANG YuAssistant Professor, Macau University of Science and TechnologyRAZA Syed HassanAssistant Lecturer, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong KongSO Pik KiLecturer, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong KongTANG Chi HoAssistant Professor, Hong Kong Shue Yan UniversityTIAN XingdiAssistant Professor, Southwestern Finance University, ChinaXIAO HongManager, Hong Kong Monetary Authority, Hong KongWANG Tian Yu Senior Executive, Shenzhen Qianhai Authority, ChinaWANG WenhaoAssistant Professor, Shangdong University of Economics and Finance, ChinaProgramme DetailsProgramme StructureCoursework RequirementsPhD/MPhil students are required to take the stipulated courses specified by the Chow Yei Ching School of Graduate Studies and the College of Business. In addition, students have to fulfill the following coursework requirements designated by the Department.
PhD (for cohort 2020 and thereafter)
Year 1 Semester A EF8070 Advanced Microeconomics EF8072 Advanced Macroeconomics EF8090 Advanced Econometrics 1 course (at least 3 credits) from other departments of the College of Business Semester BSG8001 Teaching Students: First Steps EF8071 Topics in Microeconomics EF8078 Topics in Macroeconomics (Course offered in alternate year) SummerQualifying Examination Year 2Semester A / BEF8075 Topics in Econometrics (Course offered in alternate year) Earn AT LEAST 6 credits from below courses: EF5400 Advanced International Trade EF5402 Economic Growth and Development EF5406 International Finance EF8074 Independent Project EF8077 Theoretical Asset Pricing SummerFB8905 Project (Thesis Proposal Defense) Year 3Semester ACon't FB8905 Project (Thesis Proposal Defense) Semester A / BFB8914 Doctoral Seminar Submission of PhD ThesisMPhil
Year 1 Semester A / BSG8001 Teaching Students: First Steps EF8070 Advanced Microeconomics EF8072 Advanced Macroeconomics EF8075 Topics in Econometrics EF8090 Advanced Econometrics Year 2Semester A / B1 course (at least 3 credits) from other departments of the College of Business Submission of MPhil Thesis
PhD students are also required to complete the Qualifying Examination successfully by 31 December of the second year of study.
Thesis SubmissionAn MPhil thesis should present the results of research investigation, give evidence of a sound understanding of the area of study, its context and applicability, and make a contribution to knowledge. A PhD thesis, in addition to the above, should make a substantial original contribution to knowledge in the subject area concerned.
Supervisory ArrangementDuring the study period, research degree student will be supervised by at least one teaching staff of the Department.
Study PeriodStudents are required to complete their studies, including the submission of their theses, within the below stipulated study periods.
DegreePeriod of Study (year)Full-timePart-timeMPhil24PhD48AdmissionAdmission applications should be sent directly to Chow Yei Ching School of Graduate Studies. For admission details, please refer to the below websites. To apply on-line, please click Apply Now.
Research ProposalAlthough the submission of research proposal is not compulsory, applicant is encouraged to provide a few-page proposal on the topic you intend to study, and how you want to approach the problem. Inclusion of details of your plan and a reference list would be helpful too.
Admission Handbook - Research Degree Programmes (Chow Yei Ching School of Graduate Studies)
It provides information about entrance requirements, English proficiency requirements, application procedures, tuition fees, financial supports and scholarships.
Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme
ApplicationsApplications are accepted throughout the year and will be considered mainly in one admission round. The application deadline for 2024 entry is 1 December 2023 at noon (Hong Kong time or GMT+8 hours) and the application results will be announced in March 2024.
For application procedures, please visit Chow Yei Ching School of Graduate Studies website.
Note: Applicants do not need to contact individual professors before applying.
ScholarshipsEntrance Scholarships
Hong Kong PhD Fellowship SchemeChow Yei Ching School of Graduate Studies Entrance ScholarshipsScholarships are available for government-funded research students:
Postgraduate Studentships (Basic Rate: HK$17,800/month for 2023-2024)*Chow Yei Ching School of Graduate Studies Scholarships (to cover student's tuition and on-campus hostel accommodation fees in first year of study)Research Tuition Scholarship (in the form of an exemption for students from paying tuition fees)Conference Grant (HK$10,000 maximum)*Research Activities Fund (HK$30,000 maximum)** Subject to revision every year
Awards offered by Department of Economics and Finance
The Best Summer Paper Awards to Junior Ph.D. Students (HK$5,000/award)EF PhD Studentship Extension Sponsorship (maximum 10-month studentships during extended study period) (subject to funding and approval) Current Research Students and Specializations (2023 cohort and before)Current Research StudentsResearch SpecializationsSupervisorsASAANA Clement AgonyimInternational EconomicsProf. Vikas KAKKARASEFA Anteneh BizualemTBCProf. TAM Xuan SongGUAN ZiyiTBCProf. XU WenjiHONG YulinMacroeconomicsProf. ZHOU YingHONG Zi YiInternational Economics/ International TradeProf. TAM Xuan SongLI JinzeEconometricsProf. HAN XuLI Tian XiangMicroeconomicsProf. LI YunanLI YuefeiHuman Capital and Economic GrowthProf. TAM Xuan SongLIU ChangInternational TradeProf. HUANG HanweiLIU JinfengDevelopment Economics and Applied EconometricsProf. Isabel YANLONG ZhongMicroeconomicsProf. LI YunanMA Ming Hui Development EconomicsProf. HAN XuNIE XiaojieDevelopment EconomicsProf. TAM Xuan SongPENG YufeiTBCProf. Isabel YANSONG JianshengMicroeconomic Theory Prof. XU WenjiTANG YunjieReal Estate Economics (the Chinese Housing Market and Property Tax Reform)Prof. TAM Xuan SongWANG Qiu ShiMacroeconomic Theory, Inequality and Chinese EconomyProf. QIU Zhe ShengYE ZinanMacroeconomics and Income InequalityProf. QIU ZheshengYU YuyuanInternational TradeProf. HUANG HanweiZHANG ChangchuanMacroeconomics and Monetary EconomicsProf. ZHOU YingExchange Programme
Exchange opportunities are offered to our PhD students to visit the University of California, Santa Cruz.