Master of Education
Fields of Studies
Enquiries Information
General Enquiries
+852 3917 5712 /
+852 3917 1951 /
+852 3917 8044
[javascript protected email address]
Room 420, 4/F, Meng Wah Complex
The University of Hong Kong
Fields of Studies^ (2023 Intake)
The following specialisms are offered for admissions in September 2023. Please note that most of them are available in both one-year full-time and two-year part-time modes, while some of them are available for full-time mode only.
When you apply for admission to the MEd, you will be asked to choose your specialism and mode of study. If you are applying for more than one specialism/mode of study, separate online applications should be submitted. Applications are non-transferrable among specialisms/modes of study once an online application has been submitted.
For further information about the specialism, please contact the relevant Specialism Coordinator.
^ The University reserves the right to withdraw the offering of any field of study if the number of enrolment is insufficient to form a viable class or due to any unforeseen circumstances. In the event that a field of study is withdrawn, applicants may have their deposit refunded.
EDB's Scholarship for Teachers (Pursuit of Master's Degree Programmes)
The Education Bureau (EDB) has launched a scheme called the Scholarship for Teachers (Pursuit of Master's Degree Programmes). The Scholarship for Teachers aims to celebrate achievements of high-performing teachers and to encourage teachers’ pursuit of higher qualifications as well as to enhance their professionalism. It is offered to selected full-time serving teachers who take part-time studies in the following MEd fields of study in 2022-23 school year (The list for 2023-24 intake will be available in due course):
1. Chinese Language Education
2. Content and Language Integrated Learning
3. Educational Administration and Management
4. English Language Education
5. Gifted Education and Talent Development
6. Psychological Studies in Education
7. Science Education
8. STEM Education
9. Teaching of Science in an International Context
For details, please visit EDB website at: https://www.edb.gov.hk/en/teacher/qualification-training-development/training/scholarship-for-teacher-master/index.html.
Full-time and part-time
This Generalist Strand consists of a compulsory core course (6 credits), 7 general elective courses (6 credits each), plus a research project or a professional portfolio (12 credits).
| Specialism Coordinator | Dr Cheng Yong Tan |
| Contacts | 3917-4635, [javascript protected email address] |
Chinese Language Education (CLE)
Full-time and part-time
This specialism provides teachers, language educators and teacher educators with theoretical knowledge and the latest research developments in Chinese linguistics and language education and enhances their pedagogical skills. This specialism also aims to promote research relevant to language in education in Hong Kong.
Click here for detailed information (PDF)
Specialism Coordinator:
Dr Chin-Hsi Lin (+852 3917 1512; [javascript protected email address])
Full-time and part-time
Comparison is a fundamental tool for all forms of enquiry. When applied to education in an international setting, it assists in identification of factors which shape education systems, processes and outcomes, and instruments for improvement. The comparisons in this specialism will be framed by theories and understandings of the forces of globalisation. These forces bring benefits for many people, but can also have negative dimensions. The specialism will examine forces of continuity and change and the implications for educators. It will also focus on the nature of development in an international context and on the role of education in the processes of development. This will include analysis of all levels of formal education (early childhood to higher education), and various types of non-formal education. It will include particular reference to UNESCO’s work in the context of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Click here for detailed information (PDF)
Specialism Coordinator:
Dr Nutsa Kobakhidze (+852 2241 5454; [javascript protected email address])
Full-time and part-time
This specialism aims to cater for more content and language in-service and pre-service teachers in Hong Kong, Mainland China, and overseas. It is designed for subject teachers who are directly involved in English medium instruction (EMI) and English language teachers who have a role to play in supporting EMI content teaching. It equips participants with the linguistic principles and knowledge of practice to develop and implement language-across-the-curriculum initiatives in schools to improve both English academic literacy and EMI content instruction.
Click here for detailed information (PDF)
Specialism Coordinator:
Dr Simon Chan (+852 3917 5416; [javascript protected email address])
Dr Hamid Mirhosseini (+852 3917 4343; [javascript protected email address])
Full-time only
The specialism aims to provide participants with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to facilitate high quality and contextually appropriate early childhood education. Specifically, the specialism will help participants acquire scientifically-based knowledge about early childhood education, develop a deeper understanding of contextual influences on children’s development and learning, and further develop their professional competence in planning, implementing and evaluating programmes of early childhood education and care. Participants will also be encouraged to access the most recent international knowledge in the field.
Click here for detailed information (PDF)
Specialism Coordinators:
Professor Nirmala Rao (+852 3917 7604; [javascript protected email address])
Dr Xiao Zhang (+852 3917 0375; [javascript protected email address])
Full-time and part-time
This specialism provides educators with related theoretical background, cultivates their research interests and abilities to understand and analyse the effective practice of administration and management in education, as well as in other relevant contexts as appropriate. Topics discussed will include organisation theories; management theories; theories and strategies for decision-making; sociological perspectives of educational institutions; educational policy-making and planning; organisational performance; accountability and law in education; and research methodology in educational administration.
Click here for detailed information (PDF)
Specialism Coordinator:
Dr Vincent Wong (+852 2859 2986; [javascript protected email address])
Full-time and part-time
The specialism aims to provide experienced teachers and language specialists with an appropriate theory-based framework within which to understand and investigate issues involved in English language education, in order that they can develop leadership roles in the profession. The specialism focuses on the development of participants’ language awareness, with a view to equipping them with the expertise necessary for a critical understanding of approaches to research and development in English language teaching and learning. The specialism also develops the practical skills needed for school-based classroom research, curriculum development, and the implementation of innovations.
Entry requirements:
- Have obtained a minimum level 7 overall in IELTS or equivalent and no less than 6.5 in any skill (where applicable)
- Hold a first degree in a language related discipline
- Hold a teaching qualification
- Have at least 1 year of full-time teaching experience (discretion may be applied in considering individual cases
Click here for detailed information (PDF)
Specialism Coordinator:
Dr Simon Chan (+852 3917 5416; [javascript protected email address])
Dr Hamid Mirhosseini (+852 3917 4343; [javascript protected email address])
Full-time and part-time
The MEd (Guidance and Counselling) is a graduate professional specialism designed for administrators, teachers, student affairs professionals, and guidance personnel concerned with various aspects of educational guidance, career education and counselling in schools and similar settings. The specialism is based upon the belief that personal-social, academic and career development is essential for all school students. This specialism is based on the “systems approach” as a conceptual framework, and addresses approaches that schools may employ in strengthening Domain Three―Student Support and School Ethos. Awareness of the overall framework will assist in school self-evaluation and external school review. The specialism provides not only the theoretical framework but also practical strategies for organising and implementing guidance activities that foster students’ whole-person development. This specialism addresses the competencies teachers are required to display in the Dimension “Pastoral Care for Students” as an important aspect of their continuing professional development.
This specialism addresses participants’ development of key competencies necessary for implementing comprehensive guidance and career education programmes in educational settings. The participants in this specialism will be encouraged to reflect on their own practices and strategies in guidance and counselling, which in turn can contribute to the building of a comprehensive guidance system. The aim is to develop their ability to find creative solutions to various critical issues in student development in Asian cultural contexts. Attention will be given to designing and implementing a guidance curriculum, the provision of career-related activities, and the development of policy and support related to student guidance, student affairs, career education and counselling. The specialism places emphasis on the delivery of student guidance as a whole-school approach, with strategies and skills pertinent to guidance, counselling, and discipline. It covers: mastery of individual and group counselling skills to support students, parents and teachers; guidance strategies to foster students’ personal, social, career and talent development; supporting students in distress; and crisis intervention
Click here for detailed information (PDF)
Specialism Coordinators:
Dr Mantak Yuen (+852 3917 8542; [javascript protected email address])
Dr Queenie Lee (+852 3917 0373; [javascript protected email address])
Full-time and part-time
This specialism is designed to provide students with a comprehensive perspective on the theories and practices in higher education. In the increasingly globalised and complex higher education environment, the programme aims to enhance students’ critical thinking, research skills, and professional development in higher education. The courses draw on interdisciplinary perspectives from philosophy, sociology, economics, political science, pedagogy, and comparative education. It also covers multiple layers of higher education, including global and national systems, institutional policy and practice, and teaching and learning. Teachers in the specialism are globally known scholars in higher education and their research works are widely published internationally. Students who want to develop their research skills for further study, seek career advancement in the higher education sector, and pursue interdisciplinary knowledge in education are welcome.
Click here for detailed information (PDF)
Specialism Coordinator:
Dr Jisun Jung (+852 2859 1183; [javascript protected email address])
Full-time and part-time
This specialism is designed for teachers and other educators directly involved with mathematics education. It aims to provide a comprehensive overview that will cover relevant research and contributions to the discipline from a variety of perspectives, namely the social and cultural context, teaching and learning, the curriculum, philosophy, and the impact of technology.
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Specialism Coordinator:
Dr Ida Mok (+852 2859 2536; [javascript protected email address])
Full-time and part-time
This specialism aims to equip education students with an in-depth understanding of theoretical and practical issues surrounding STEM education. The specialism will explore philosophy, theories, learning design, technologies and policy at local and international level with respect to STEM. Specific theoretical constructs will be examined in the specialism, with a focus on developing further research agenda at graduate level, e.g., STEM literacies, learning design, levels of integration, computational thinking, and design thinking.
Click here for detailed information (PDF)
Specialism Coordinator:
Dr Daniel Churchill (+852 2859 1141; [javascript protected email address])
Full-time only
This specialism is designed for pre-service or in-service Chinese language teachers in primary or secondary schools, who want to equip themselves with research and teach Chinese in various global contexts, including teaching Chinese as a second or foreign language. The programme connects theory and practice, and focuses on the issues related to Chinese as a second language pedagogy, curriculum design, assessment and classroom research. The programme aims at developing qualified TCSL teachers who are versed in various international curricular, with a particular focus on the IB curriculum.
Click here for detailed information (PDF)
Specialism Coordinator:
Dr Chun Lai (+852 3917 7087; [javascript protected email address])
Full-time only
The specialism equips the participants with knowledge and pedagogical skills in teaching Chinese language and literature. It focuses on the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme (DP) and other international curricula. It aims to enable participants to become effective teachers in international education, thus building their capacity to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and globally minded young people. It is a specialism requiring both coursework and a professional portfolio. The course arranges teaching practicum experience in IB schools for pre-service teachers. The participants will explore theories and practices of teaching Chinese language and Chinese literature requiring critical thinking about teaching and learning. This specialism is a course provider of the IB Certificate in Teaching and Learning.
Click here for detailed information (PDF)
Specialism Coordinator:
Ms Louisa Yen (+852 3917 5430; [javascript protected email address])
Full-time and part-time
This Generalist Strand does not have a specialist course. It allows students to choose seven elective courses of various areas that are of interest or needs of the candidates. Candidates who do not wish to commit to a particular specialism may consider this Strand.
Click here for detailed information (PDF)
Specialism Coordinators:
Dr Frank Reichert (+852 2241 5571; [javascript protected email address])
Dr Sung Tae Jang (+852 2219 4194; [javascript protected email address])
Dr Juuso Henrik Nieminen (+852 3917 0371; [javascript protected email address])
