Double PhD Degree Programme in Data Science with Chongqing University (CQU), China

The School of Data Science at Lingnan University (SDS-LU) and two Schools/Colleges at Chongqing University (CQU), i.e. the School of Automation (ACCU-CQU) and the College of Computer Science (CS-CQU), will launch a double PhD degree programme in Data Science from September 2026, which leverages the unique strengths of each institution to foster advanced PhD training, promote interdisciplinary research, and enhance academic and professional opportunities for PhD students.

Programme Highlights

Candidates for the double PhD programme will be selected separately from ACCU-CQU and CS-CQU and the candidates must have fulfilled the PhD admission requirements of both CQU and LU (including English proficiency and disciplinary knowledge requirements). There are two study schemes (i.e. Schemes One and Two) to cater/facilitate different study and research needs of potential students for this double PhD programme, and the study scheme is determined by both LU and CQU upon the student’s admission to the double PhD programme on the basis of his/her research experience and academic performance. The double PhD Degree Programme adopts a dual-supervisor system. Students will be assigned two primary supervisors, one each from LU and ACCU-CQU/CS-CQU, from the start of studies on the double PhD degree programme to monitor the student’s progress. A co-supervisor at LU will also be appointed. Upon graduation, students can apply for the conferment of PhD degrees from both LU and CQU. The conferral of a PhD degree from LU is contingent upon the student receiving the PhD degree from CQU.

Study Mode and Programme Duration  

The programme is available in full-time mode. 

Students participating in the double PhD Degree Programme who do not hold a master’s degree (including ACCU-CQU/CS-CQU's combined master-doctoral students and direct-entry doctoral students from bachelor's degree) must either, (1) hold a relevant bachelor's degree with first or second class honours or at an equivalent standard, and have registered in a programme of study for a master's degree at a recognised tertiary education institution for at least one year and have evidence of research achievement to meet LU’s PhD admission requirements, or (2) hold a relevant bachelor’s degree with first class honours or an equivalent qualification at a recognised tertiary education institution, and have evidence of substantial research achievement are also eligible for application.

The normal study duration of the double PhD degree programme would be four years for those not in possession of a relevant master’s degree (including those who admitted with a bachelor’s degree), with two years on each side. 

The normal study duration of the double PhD degree programme would be three years for those in possession of a master’s degree, with one year at CQU and two years at LU. 

The minimum study period at LU is 18 months while the maximum is 36 months.

To cater/facilitate different study and research needs of potential students, there are two study schemes with study locations and timing arranged (to be determined upon the student’s admission) as follows:

For students admitted to the 3-year double PhD programme, their study locations and timing would follow the schedule (Scheme One or Scheme Two) for the last three years of the aforementioned plans.

Programme Curriculum

Students are required to fulfil all coursework and general requirements required by both LU and CQU, i.e. the 14-credit coursework requirements of PhD in Data Science at LU, topic-defence and research findings seminars, confirmation of candidature by the stipulated timeline by LU, and the submission of one Chinese thesis to ACCU-CQU/CS-CQU, and one English thesis to SDS-LU upon completion of the research work. For the 14-credit coursework requirements, credit transfer of at most six credits earned at CQU for the “Major Requirement” is allowed.
 

Award of Degree

Students joining this double PhD programme must submit one Chinese thesis to ACCU-CQU/CS-CQU, and one English thesis to LU upon completion of the research work. In addition, the contents of the two theses must be independent of each other and must not be the same or substantially similar to ensure substantial originality and distinctiveness. The theses must comply with the respective formatting and submission requirements of LU and CQU, and meet the respective academic standards of LU and CQU. LU and CQU will independently arrange the review and defence of the thesis in accordance with its own regulations. To reflect the spirit of joint training, the supervisors from both LU and CQU must be appropriately acknowledged as “Advisors” in a manner that complies with the requirements of both LU and CQU.

Upon completing the coursework/general requirements of both LU and CQU and passing the thesis examinations, students can apply for the conferment of PhD degrees from both LU and CQU. The conferral of a PhD degree from LU is contingent upon the student receiving the PhD degree from CQU. When applying for a degree at CQU, CQU shall be designated as the first institution, and the applicant must meet the requirements for innovative research outcomes.
 

Fees and Studentships

Fees

CQU will collect tuition fee and miscellaneous fees when students are studying at ACCU-CQU/CS-CQU, while LU will collect tuition fee and miscellaneous fees when students are studying at LU. Students under this collaboration will be admitted as a self-financed student of LU.

For fee details at LU, please refer to https://LN.edu.hk/rpg/admission/fees. For fee details at CQU, please contact the Admission Team of CQU.
 

Studentships

Studentships will be provided to students by LU while they are studying at LU during the normal study period. When they are studying at CQU, they shall pay tuition and other fees in accordance with the relevant CQU’s regulations, and shall be entitled to the same rights and benefits as other full-time doctoral students of CQU. Students may apply for Chinese Mainland scholarships or exchange programme funding from CQU based on individual circumstances. 

For financial support available from LU, please refer to https://LN.edu.hk/rpg/admission/financial-support for details.

For information on financial support at CQU, please contact the Admission Team of CQU.

Accommodation

On-campus accommodation may be available for students (at their own costs and subject to availability) during their studies at LU. Details of student hostels of LU are available at https://LN.edu.hk/osa/hostel.

For information on accommodation at CQU, please contact the Admission Team of CQU.
 

Admission Requirements

Applicants shall meet the minimum admission requirements of both universities.
 

1. For LU, please refer to https://LN.edu.hk/rpg/admission/requirement/admission-criteria-and-requirements for the admission criteria and requirements of LU, and https://www.ln.edu.hk/rpg/admission/requirement/additional-admission-requirements for the additional admission requirements of the PhD in Data Science programme.

2. For CQU, please refer to https://yz.cqu.edu.cn/ for the admission criteria and requirements of CQU.

3. An applicant needs to pass the interview jointly conducted by both LU and CQU.

Application for Admission

Selected candidates from ACCU-CQU/CS-CQU should submit an individual application to LU via the University’s Online Admission System at https://apply.ln.edu.hk.
 

For more details about LU’s online submission and uploading of documents, please refer to the webpage of Online Application at https://LN.edu.hk/rpg/admission/application-for-admission/online-application.
 

Application Fee

HK$300 per programme for LU; For CQU, please visit the CQU’s website at https://www.cqu.edu.cn/ for fee details.

Application Deadline

The application deadlines are as follows:

For LU: Please refer to the application periods in the GS’s website at https://www.ln.edu.hk/rpg/admission/application-for-admission. 
For CQU: To be confirmed
 

About Chongqing University (CQU)

For the details about CQU, please visit the CQU’s website at https://www.cqu.edu.cn/.

(只提供英文版本)