Master of Research in Medicine (MRes[Med])
Frequently Asked Questions

It is a full time intercalated programme for one academic year (from 01 July every year to 30 June next year) during enrichment Year 3 of the MBBS curriculum.

The programme comprises both coursework (21 credits) and hands-on research training (48 credits) leading to a 20,000-word dissertation, with the coursework and hands-on research training to be completed within the intercalated year and the dissertation to be submitted before the end of MBBS Year 6.

MBBS II students at HKUMed will have the option to apply for the MRes[Med] programme during their enrichment year.

Candidates will be considered based on their academic performance in MBBS I and II summative examinations, merits of research proposal and their enthusiasm in research. There is NO official cut-off point for the required MBBS I and II academic results. All applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis by the Advisory Group.

Application results will usually be announced with the granting of conditional offers in March based on the candidates’ MBBS I Summative Examination results and merits of their research proposals. The confirmed offers will be granted subject to the attainment of satisfactory results in MBBS II Summative Examination, which are usually released in June.

Entrance scholarship granted based on students’ MBBS I-II academic performances*

• Mr & Mrs SH Wong Foundation Scholarship for Master of Research in Medicine
• Hou De Charitable Foundation Scholarship for Master of Research in Medicine

*Students enrolled in the programme will be considered directly by the Advisory Group for these entrance scholarships. No application is needed.

Scholarship granted based on students’ research progress in MRes[Med]^#

• BL Wong Scholarship for Master of Research in Medicine
• Yu Chun Keung Memorial Scholarship for Master of Research in Medicine

^#Applications will be invited before the end of the MRes[Med] study.

Other enrichment year awards

• Undergraduate Research Fellowship Programme (URFP) (applications by invitation only; email: urfpmedf@hku.hk)

Students’ roles in the research training vary and depend on the research plan decided in consultation with the supervisors. Some examples are subject recruitment, data collection and analysis, literature review, experiments in wet labs and genome sequencing. Students have to communicate with potential supervisors and come up with a comprehensive research training plan.

Yes, students are encouraged to study different research projects from the project listing specific to MRes[Med] and approach relevant potential supervisors to identify their most interested research area before submitting their final proposal.

No, students are advised to approach supervisors on the list ONLY.

Yes, students may discuss with potential supervisors and adjust the topics/plans where appropriate, which should be submitted together with the applications for consideration by the Advisory Group.

Students are advised to seek supervisors’ guidance on the preparation of proposal, which should include the research objective, significance and methodology. The merits of candidates’ research proposals will be considered as one of the admission criteria by the Advisory Group.

MRes[Med] students with outstanding MBBS I-II academic results and strong research performance in MRes[Med] can apply for admission to an intercalated MBBS/PhD programme, no later than the 8^th month of their MRes[Med] study and before returning to MBBS IV. The MBBS/PhD programme is a full-time combined programme extending over not less than nine years and leading to the award of both MBBS and PhD degree upon graduation. Students admitted to this programme will pursue full-time research under the supervision of Faculty teachers and undertake coursework prescribed by the Graduate School and the Faculty.

Application deadline for the MBBS/PhD programme is April 30 every year. Please learn more about research postgraduate studies at HKUMed: www.med.hku.hk/rpg.