03 March 2025
In response to growing societal demand, the LKS Faculty of Medicine of the University of Hong Kong (HKUMed) has launched a four-year full-time Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (Graduate Entry) track for degree holders, referred to as the 'MBBS (Graduate Entry)'. This Graduate Entry track has recently been approved by the University Grants Committee, with an initial intake of 25 students. The first cohort is expected to commence in September this year. The programme is now open for applications from degree holders until 20 June. An information session will be held next Wednesday.
Benchmarking the curriculum of world-class medical schools
Professor Chak-sing Lau, Vice-President & Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Health) and Dean of Medicine at HKU, emphasised the Faculty's successful track record in admitting degree holders to its medical programme, demonstrating the importance of diverse pathways in recruiting outstanding students. Last year, for instance, the Faculty received approximately 300 applications from degree holders for its MBBS programme. ‘Many top-notch medical schools worldwide, including the University of Cambridge and the University of Oxford, have launched four-year graduate entry programmes,’ said Professor Lau. ‘We have gleaned insights from the curriculum design and successful experience of these overseas institutions, drawing inspiration from our graduate-entry students in our existing six-year MBBS programme, to support the continuous development of the Faculty.’
Flexible path to earn an extra degree: one-year Master of Research in Medicine
The curriculum of the four-year MBBS (Graduate Entry) track aligns with the professional core components and assessment requirements of the accredited six-year MBBS programme. The programme update was submitted to the Medical Council of Hong Kong. The first year will provide intensive pre-clinical training, while the second to fourth years will offer clinical clerkships, in which the students will undergo the same kind of immersive clinical training as their classmates in the six-year MBBS programme.
At HKUMed, students benefit from an exceptional faculty that includes over 100 scholars ranked among the world's top 2% of scientists. Notably, 32 faculty members were named 'Most Highly Cited Researchers' by Clarivate Analytics in 2024, accounting for nearly a quarter of the selected scholars in Hong Kong. This underscores the Faculty's contribution and impact in pushing the boundaries of medical science and fostering innovative knowledge. Committed to nurturing medical research talent, HKUMed offers students the opportunity to engage in cutting-edge research projects with 'world-class scholars' after the completion of their first year in the Graduate Entry track. Students can pursue HKUMed's unique one-year Master of Research in Medicine (MRes[Med]) programme to complete two degrees in five years. As a highly attractive option for our six-year MBBS students, students enrol in the MRes[Med] programme during their Enrichment Year in the third year of their studies. To date, over 100 MBBS students have completed the MRes[Med] programme, and many of them received scholarships, attended international conferences or published personal research papers during their studies. The same option will be offered to our four-year Graduate Entry track MBBS students.
Diverse admissions to attract outstanding students
Professor Lau added, ‘Students with a first degree have a robust academic foundation that enhances the integration of cross-disciplinary knowledge into medical education. This facilitates interdisciplinary collaboration and knowledge integration, ultimately broadening the students' horizons and enhancing their future career prospects. As Hong Kong is facing challenges like an ageing population and a shortage of healthcare professionals, accelerating talent training has become a pressing priority. This new programme opens a new pathway for aspiring medical professionals, while strengthening and diversifying the talent pool for the healthcare system and clinical research.’
Comprehensive clinical training to cultivate future clinicians
The MBBS (Graduate Entry) track will provide all-rounded clinical training and diverse exposure for these degree holders. Professor Lau highlighted, ‘We place great importance on clinical training and have a strong network of teaching hospitals equipped with comprehensive resources and support. Students in this programme will undertake three years of clinical training in both public and private hospitals in Hong Kong and other cities in the Greater Bay Area.’
The new programme targets university degree holders who have a keen interest and passion to join the medical profession. Applicants should have an honours degree from a reputable university in Hong Kong or overseas, and fulfil the University's admission requirements in Chinese, English and science subjects, such as chemistry or biology. Proficiency in Cantonese is also required for effective communication. For more details, please join the information session or visit the website https://www.med.hku.hk.
Details of the information session:
Date: 12 March 2025 (Wednesday)
Time: 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Venue: HKUMed Campus, 21 Sassoon Road, Pokulam
| Igniting passion for research: MRes[Med] helps nurture medical research professionals in Hong Kong Dr Matthew Hsu's passion for science began in childhood, fuelling his aspiration to become a doctor. After high school, he received offers from various local and overseas medical schools, but he chose to enrol in the MBBS programme at HKUMed, attracted by its vibrant academic atmosphere and impressive research achievements. Graduating in 2022, Dr Hsu now serves as a Clinical Lecturer in the Department of Pathology under the School of Clinical Medicine at HKUMed. His journey into pathology was profoundly influenced by his participation in the MRes[Med] during the Enrichment Year in his third year of the MBBS programme. He recalled, ‘Throughout my six years of medical studies, I often struggled to define my professional trajectory and had limited opportunities to engage in medical research. In 2018, with the launch of the Enrichment Year, I seized the opportunity to enrol in the MRes[Med] programme to deepen my knowledge in the field of research.’ During the programme, he conducted research on the gut microbiome under the supervision of Professor Gary Lau Kui-kai, now Assistant Dean (Education Innovations) and Clinical Associate Professor of the Department of Medicine of the School of Clinical Medicine, who had also graduated from the MRes[Med] programme. As a result, Dr Hsu published his first paper in the international journal Hypertension. He reflected, ‘The MRes[Med] programme allowed me to acquire fundamental research knowledge and receive invaluable mentorship from Professor Lau. He was exceptionally supportive in mentoring students, providing me with the opportunity to collaborate with excellent professors and research teams in the Faculty.’ This experience ignited Dr Hsu's passion for medical research, motivating him to explore the underlying causes of diseases through research. He found the pursuit of answers fulfilling, laying the foundation for his future endeavours in the Department of Pathology. He added, ‘Pursuing the MRes[Med] paves the way for medical students to enter the academic field and enhances their competitiveness in their career development. In addition to obtaining an additional research master's degree, completion of this programme reflects students' mastery of essential skills that are highly valued in the workplace, such as analytical thinking and good time management.’ |
Media enquiries
Please contact LKS Faculty of Medicine of The University of Hong Kong by email (medmedia@hku.hk).
Follow HKUMed