Double PhD Degree Programme in Business with South China University of Technology (SCUT), China
Lingnan University (LU) and South China University of Technology (SCUT) have launched a double PhD degree programme in Business from September 2022, which leverages more rigorous coursework training from SCUT’s PhD programme.
Programme Highlights
Current MPhil/PhD students in a relevant programme in SCUT are eligible to apply for admission to this double PhD degree programme. Students with/without an MPhil degree should have been enrolled in the PhD/MPhil programme in a relevant discipline of SCUT for at least one academic year. The normal study duration of the double PhD degree programme would be 3 years for those in possession of an MPhil degree and 4 years for those without an MPhil degree. Each student will be matched with at least one supervisor each from SCUT and LU. Upon graduation, students will be awarded a PhD degree in Management from SCUT and a PhD degree in Business from LU (subject to successful obtainment of the SCUT PhD degree).
Study Mode and Programme Duration
The programme is available in full-time mode. The normal study period is 3 years for students with an MPhil degree and 4 years for students without an MPhil degree, with a maximum 1-year extension subject to approval by both SCUT and LU.
Students with an MPhil degree will spend their 1st and 3rd years in LU and the 2nd year in SCUT to work on a research thesis and required coursework. Students without an MPhil degree will spend their 1st and 3rd years in SCUT to complete the course requirements of SCUT’s PhD programme, and the 2nd and 4th years in LU to work on a research thesis and required coursework. Students of this double degree programme will be a registered student at SCUT throughout the entire 3 or 4-year study period and a registered student at LU at the time when studying at LU.
Programme Curriculum
Students with an MPhil degree will spend their 1st and 3rd years at LU, and the 2nd year at SCUT. Students are advised to start research work in addition to fulfilling the coursework requirements and confirming candidature in the first year and should concentrate on research in the last two years. Students without an MPhil degree will normally spend their 1st and 3rd years at SCUT, and the 2nd and 4th years at LU. Students are advised to start research work for the first two years and concentrate on research in the last two years. Students should fulfil all the course requirements for both SCUT and LU.
Students have to complete all the coursework and take all the prescribed tests and examinations during their research studies at LU, including 2 compulsory courses. During the first 12 months in LU (in the first academic year for students with an MPhil degree, and in the second academic year for students without an MPhil degree), students should pass a written candidacy examination administered by individual departments to become an All But Dissertation (ABD).
All major courses taken by students during their PhD studies at SCUT can be used to fulfil 9 of the 12-credit Major Requirement for the PhD in Business programme at LU. Students must also fulfil the 3-credit Quantitative Requirement and take 3 credits of course in the Major Requirement category at LU.
Award of Degree
Students should submit an English thesis to LU and SCUT that meets the degree and graduation requirements of LU and SCUT respectively and pass two separate thesis examinations. On fulfilment of all graduation requirements of both SCUT and LU, students will be awarded a PhD degree in Business from LU and a PhD degree in Management from SCUT respectively. Degrees will be awarded from LU conditional on the fulfilment of all LU graduation requirements and compliance with all LU regulations for Research Postgraduate students. Additionally, students must successfully obtain a PhD degree from SCUT before being awarded a PhD degree from LU.
Fees and Studentships
Fees
SCUT will collect tuition fee and miscellaneous fees when students are studying at SCUT, while LU will collect tuition fee and miscellaneous fees when students are studying at LU. Students under this collaborative will be admitted as a self-financed student of LU.
For LU, please refer to https://LN.edu.hk/rpg/admission/fees for fee details. For SCUT, please refer to https://www.scut.edu.cn/en/main.htm .
Studentships
Studentships will be provided to students by SCUT when they are studying at SCUT, and by LU while they are studying at LU.
For LU, please refer to https://LN.edu.hk/rpg/admission/financial-support for the details of financial support available.
For SCUT, please refer to http://www2.scut.edu.cn/sie_en/1169/list.htm for details.
Accommodation
Accommodation will be available for students (at their own costs) during their studies at LU. Details of student hostels of LU are available at https://LN.edu.hk/osa/hostel. For SCUT, please refer to SCUT’s website at https://www.scut.edu.cn/en/main.htm for details.
Admission Requirements
Applicants shall meet the minimum admission requirements of both universities.
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://LN.edu.hk/rpg/admission/requirement/additional-admission-requirements for the additional admission requirements of the PhD in Business programme.
For SCUT, please refer to https://www.scut.edu.cn/en/wdmission/list.htm for the admission criteria and requirements of SCUT.
An applicant needs to pass the interview jointly conducted by the faculty members from both LU and SCUT.
Application for Admission
Applicants should submit an individual application to LU via the online admission system at https://www.LN.edu.hk/admissions/applyonline/index-rpg.html.
For more details about 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$200 (late application fee HK$400)
Application Deadline
19 January 2024*
(*Late applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis, subject to the availability of places.)
About South China University of Technology (SCUT)
For the details about South China University of Technology, please visit SCUT’s website at https://www.scut.edu.cn/en/main.htm.