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ADMISSIONS 2026 Intake (Full time)

Application Deadline

Round 1: March 30, 2026, 12:00 noon (GMT +8)

Round 2: May 4, 2026, 12:00 noon (GMT +8)

For MAEAS application enquiries, please contact us by email at: areastudiesma@hku.hk
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  • The MAEAS Programme is offered as a one-year full-time degree.

    Each academic year comprises two semesters:
     

    Semester 1 (Fall) and Semester 2 (Spring).

    Semester 1 normally commences in September and ends in December, while Semester 2 normally commences in January and ends in May. Exact starting and ending dates shall be announced in due course.

  • The basic qualification for admission to the MAEAS is a good honours degree from HKU or an equivalent qualification from comparable institutions.

     

    Qualified applicants 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 Japanese, Korean, East Asian Studies or related disciplines, including, but not limited to Anthropology, Cultural Studies, History, Linguistics, Literature, Media Studies, Politics, and Sociology; and a high degree of language abilities already achieved in Japanese, Korean, or Russian.

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    • For Japanese: level N2 in the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT)

    • For Korean: level 4 or 5 in the Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK)

    • For Russian: level II or III in the Test of Russian as a Foreign Language (TORFL)

     

    The Programme has its specific requirements with regard to TOEFL and IELTS:

     

    Minimum requirement

    • TOEFL Internet-based test (iBT): Overall score of not less than 80 with 25 in Writing; or

    • IELTS: a minimum overall Band of 7 with no subtest lower than 5.5

     

    Note: Starting from the 2026 intake, IELTS and TOEFL tests must be taken within two years prior to September 1 of each admissions year. IELTS Indicator and TOEFL Special Home Edition are not accepted.

  • Application for admission should be made online via https://admissions.hku.hk/tpg

     

    ADMISSIONS for 2026

    Application Deadline

    Round 1: March 30, 2026, 12:00 noon (GMT +8)

    Round 2: May 4, 2026, 12:00 noon (GMT +8)

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    • Identification Document (HKID Copy for Local Applicants or Passport Copy (with the photo) for Non-Local Applicants)

    • Academic Transcript

    • Graduation Certificate for Bachelor’s Degree

    • TOEFL / IELTS official score report (for applicants from universities or comparable institutions outside Hong Kong of which the language of teaching and/or examination is not English)

    • Valid certificate / score report demonstrating proficiency in one of the target languages in Japanese, Korean, or Russian

    • Personal statement

    • CV

    • Details of Two Academic Referees

  • Application Fee: HK$600

    Caution Money: HK$350

    Composition Fee: HK$265,000

    Deposit: HK$132,500

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    Important Notes:

    • On acceptance of offer of admission, students are liable to pay the deposit comprising the first instalment of the composition fee and the caution money. The first instalment shall be credited towards the composition fee.

    • On leaving the University, the caution money shall be used to offset the graduation fee or, if the student is not graduating, be returned to the student.

    • Fees once paid are not refundable.

  • Faculty of Arts Scholarship for Local Students

     

    In 2024, the Faculty of Arts established the “Faculty of Arts Scholarship for Local Students” to recognise the outstanding achievements of local students and encourage their pursuit of further study. The Scholarship shall be awarded from the academic year 2025-26 under the following regulations:

     

    • The Scholarship shall be known as the “Faculty of Arts Scholarship for Local Students”.

    • The Scholarship shall be awarded each year to local students admitted to taught postgraduate (TPg) programmes offered by the Faculty of Arts on the basis of academic merit. Eligible students shall be automatically considered, with no application necessary.

    • The Scholarship shall be of the value of up to 20% of the tuition fee for the TPg programme to which they are admitted. It shall be disbursed in two installments, each up to 10% of the tuition fee. The first installment shall be disbursed upon the student’s admission to the TPg programme, and the second installment shall be disbursed upon the completion of the TPg programme.

    • The number of scholarships and the value of each scholarship to be made each year shall be determined by the Faculty of Arts, based on the recommendation from individual TPg programmes and subject to funding availability.

    • Awardees shall return the Scholarship payment if they fail to complete their studies in the enrolled TPg programme.

    • In any year when candidates are judged to be of insufficient merit, no awards shall be made.

    • Short-listed applicants may be invited to take a qualifying test and a follow-up online interview.

    • ​However, please be reminded that being invited to an interview is not an indicator of the chance of admission

    • Dates for the qualifying test: To be confirmed.

  • All non-local candidates who receive the admission offer of MAEAS must obtain a student visa before commencing their studies. Please refer to student visa website of HKU Admissions Office for detailed application instructions.

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