MPhil-PhD in Pharmacology
The MPhil-PhD Programme in Pharmacology aims to educate and train research graduate students with a broad foundation in Pharmacology, with specialized knowledge in selected areas. They are expected to become leading academics and researchers in universities, research institutes, and industries in the future.
The fields of pharmacology as well as drug discovery are interdisciplinary biomedical sciences, drawing upon the foundations and approaches of pharmacology, cellular and molecular biology, physiology, biochemistry, genetics, and neuroscience. A primary objective of pharmacology is to investigate fundamental aspects of cellular and molecular bio-regulatory mechanisms for the purpose of understanding how drugs act and in order to develop new drugs for treatment of diseases.
Required courses
| Group A courses (MPhil students select at least 12 units; PhD students select at least 18 units) | Group B courses
|
Thesis Research I | Cell and Molecular Biology | Cancer Biology |
Thesis Research II | Biochemical and Molecular Basis of Diseases | Computational Molecular Modelling and Design |
Responsible Conduct of Biological Science Research | Molecular Pharmacology | Organic Chemistry with a Biological Emphasis |
Research Seminars I | Advanced Biochemistry | Enzymology |
Research Seminars II | Modern Drug Discovery and Development | Theories and Algorithms in Bioinformatics |
Thesis Writing and Presentation | Advanced Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics | Genome Informatics |
Civic Education (CE) courses | Pharmacology of Natural Products | Statistical Methods for Biomedical Research |
| Advanced Pathology | Neuropharmacology |
| Computer-Aided Drug Design | Structural Pharmacology |
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| Immunopharmacology and Immunotherapy |
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| Advanced Physiology |
|
| RNA Drugs |
For the Doctor of Philosophy stream, the applicant shall have:
1. A Master's degree holder from a recognized university; or
2. Graduated from a recognized university and obtained a Bachelor's degree, normally with honours not lower than Second Class; or
3. Graduated from an honours programme of a recognized university with a Bachelor's degree, normally achieving an average grade of not lower than "B" and ≥3.2/4.0; or
4. Completed a course of study in a tertiary educational institution and obtained professional or similar qualifications equivalent to an honours degree.
For a Master's stream, the applicant shall have:
1. Graduated from a recognized university and obtained a Bachelor's degree, normally with honours not lower than Second Class; or
2. Graduated from an honours programme of a recognized university with a Bachelor's degree, normally achieving an average grade of not lower than "B" ; or
3. Completed a course of study in a tertiary educational institution and obtained professional or similar qualifications equivalent to an honours degree.
To fulfill the University’s minimum English language requirements for admission to postgraduate programmes, applicants* should have:
1. obtained a degree from a university in Hong Konga or taken a degree programme of which the medium of instruction was English; or
2. achieved scores in the following English Language testsb as indicated:
i. TOEFL: 550 (Paper-based)/79 (Internet-based/Home Edition);
ii. IELTS (Academic): 6.5(Test Centre based/Online);
iii. GMAT: Band 21 (Verbal)c;
iv. GMAT Focus Edition: Band 78 (Verbal); or
3. obtained a pass grade in English in one of the following examinations:
i. Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination (AS Level);
ii. Hong Kong Higher Level Examination;
iii. CUHK Matriculation Examination;
iv. General Certificate of Education Examination (GCE) Advanced Level (A-Level)/Advanced Subsidiary Level (AS-Level); or
4. achieved Level 4 or above in the English Language subject of the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) Examination;
Note:
a. This is based on the understanding that English is the medium of instruction of degree programmes offered by universities in Hong Kong. Moreover, graduates from universities in Hong Kong should have fulfilled the English language requirements of the institution concerned when they were admitted to the degree programmes. The CUHKSZ Graduate School may request applicants to provide additional supporting documents to prove their English proficiency.
b. TOEFL and IELTS scores are considered valid for two years from the test date. GMAT scores are considered valid for five years from the test date.
c. GMAT (Verbal) scores at or above the threshold value of 21 will be kept until the score validity phases out.
![]() | ZHU, Bao-Ting
Presidential Chair Professor Professor
Research Field: Molecular Pharmacology and Mechanism of Drug Actions; Drugs for the Prevention and Treatment of Cancer; Molecular and Chemical Mechanisms Underlying Various Degenerative Diseases; Molecular Mechanism Underlying Memory and Cognition
Email:btzhu@cuhk.edu.cn Personal Website:https://med.cuhk.edu.cn/teacher/117 |
![]() | YE, Richard
Associate Dean (Postgraduate Studies) Presidential Chair Professor Professor
Research Field: Pharmacology, Immunology
Email:richardye@cuhk.edu.cn Personal Website:https://med.cuhk.edu.cn/teacher/38 |
![]() | WANG, Pan
Presidential Young Fellow Assistant Professor Programme Coordinator of Undergraduate Programme in Pharmaceutical Science
Research Field:Computational Pharmacology/toxicology; Pharmacology/physiology of steroid hormones; Endocrine and reproductive pharmacology; Pharmacology of natural products; Molecular toxicology of environmental pollutants
Email:wangpan@cuhk.edu.cn Personal Website:https://med.cuhk.edu.cn/teacher/175
|
![]() | CHEN, Jihang
Presidential Young Fellow Assistant Professor
Research Field:Phytochemistry and Pharmacological Activity of Herbal Medicine and Natural Products
Email:chenjihang@cuhk.edu.cn Personal Website:https://med.cuhk.edu.cn/teacher/182
|
![]() | HE, Yisheng
Presidential Young Fellow Assistant Professor
Research Field:Drug safety, Drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics, Toxicology of natural/environmental chemicals, Molecular biomarker, Molecular epidemiology, Gut-liver axis
Email:heyisheng@cuhk.edu.cn Personal Website:https://med.cuhk.edu.cn/teacher/732 |
![]() | LI, Zhaoting
Presidential Young Fellow Assistant Professor
Research Field:Cell therapy; Living system-based drug delivery; Immunotherapy
Email:lizhaoting@cuhk.edu.cn Personal Website:https://med.cuhk.edu.cn/teacher/976 |
![]() | KIM, Sunjin
Assistant Professor
Research Field:Molecular Pharmaceutics, Molecular Diagnostics, Diagnostic Platforms, Biomedical Engineering, Protein Engineering, Binary/ternary Split-protein Systems, Omics Technology Development
Email:kimsunjin@cuhk.edu.cn Personal Website:https://med.cuhk.edu.cn/teacher/1411 |
Normally Fall Admission Date is in August, and Spring Admission Date is in January.
The application deadline for Spring Admission is usually the end of October of the previous year, while the application deadline for Fall Admission is usually the end of May of the current year.
1. Contact the Intended Supervisor in advance.
2. Online application:
Please go to https://pgapply.cuhk.edu.cn/
Please note that all original documents will be checked at the time of enrollment. Any misrepresentation in the documents and information provided will result in disqualification of their applications and subsequent enrollments in the University.
The tuition for both MPhil and PhD students is RMB140,000 per year. University or School may offer various kinds of financial supports to selected applicants:
| Scholarship Type | Offers | Remarks |
| Presidential Fellowship | After-tax stipend of RMB180,000/Year | To work as a Teaching Assistant (TA) for a total of four semesters (summer counts as one semester) during the fellowship period |
| PGS Scholarship I | A full tuition waiver | To serve as a Teaching Assistant (TA) or Research Assistant (RA) to earn monthly stipends |
| PGS Scholarship II | A half tuition waiver | The student may serve as a Teaching Assistant (TA) or Research Assistant (RA) to earn monthly stipends |
*The selection is based on merit and no separate application is required.






