It is essential to equip students with the necessary skill sets to not only understand the dynamics of the rise of Asia but also its implications on their daily lives, the functionality of their societies and economies, and the performance of their states and governments. Without such an understanding, students will be passive receptors of change and remain ill-equipped to maximise their potential in an ever-globalising workplace.

This programme aims to provide students with a deeper understanding of regional and international affairs. This knowledge will not only help graduates to upgrade their professional abilities, but will also ensure that they are equipped with the necessary tools to understand the global and regional forces that shape our world. The programme will provide advanced training for students seeking to strengthen their analytical skills, develop the capacity to conduct original research, and bolster their communication and presentation abilities.

This programme is designed for:

Graduates from disciplines of relevance to International Studies, including: 

Asian Studies/International Studies/Communications/Law/Economics/Public and Social Administration/Geography/Political Science/History/Sociology 

As well as professionals working in International Studies-related fields, including from:  

Corporations/International Organizations/the Diplomatic core/Mass Media/Government agencies/Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs)

To be eligible for admission, you must satisfy the General Entrance Requirements and

• have a Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline from a recognized tertiary institution or an equivalent qualification.
• One or more years of working experience in a related field would be an advantage.

Applicants whose entrance qualification is obtained from an institution where the medium of instruction is not English should also fulfill the following minimum English proficiency requirements:

• a score of 79 (Internet-based test) in the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)^@#; or
• an overall band score of 6.5 in International English Language Testing System (IELTS)^@
• other equivalent qualifications.

^@TOEFL and IELTS scores are considered valid for two years. Applicants are required to provide their English test results obtained within the two years preceding the commencement of the University's application period. 

^# Applicants are required to arrange with the Educational Testing Service (ETS) to send their TOEFL results directly to the University. The TOEFL institution code for CityU is 3401.

There are five core courses:

• Asian Regional Governance
• International Political Economy
• Theory in International Studies
• International Relations of Northeast Asia
• Master's Thesis or Capstone Project

Plus up to three electives from the following (subject to availability):

• Special Topics in Development Studies
• Research Design for the Social Sciences
• Security Studies
• Authoritarian Resilience and Democratic Change in East Asia
• East Asia and the US: Conflict and Interdependence
• Environmental Challenges in Asia and the World
• Human Rights in Asia
• BRIC Countries and the Emerging Global Order
• Special Topics in Asian and International Studies
• Religion and Development
• International Organisations
• Women and Politics in Asia
• History of Sino-Japanese Relations
• Development Policy and Advocacy
• Gender and Development
• Welfare Regimes and Social Protection in Asia
• Disaster Management, Development and Regional Governance in Asia
• Indonesia: Politics and Society
• Labour and Development
• Infrastructure Development in China

Students will acquire the ability to:

1. independently identify the forces shaping the interplay of regional and international policies and programmes;
2. generate innovative hypotheses to explain similarities, differences, patterns, and relationships across a range of critical issues;
3. conduct theory-based analyses of regional and international issues across the fields of political economy, political science, security studies and international relations;
4. perform methodologically sound empirical research aiming to produce novel findings and develop new insights into contemporary issues and problems relevant to Asian and international studies;
5. investigate governance challenges facing international organizations, governments, markets and civil societies, applying critical thinking skills to formulate creative solutions.

The Programme, which commenced in 2010, provides essential skills for anyone who wants to understand the future and forge a successful international career.

The Department of Public and International Affairs is the only academic department dedicated to the study of this subject in Hong Kong.

You will be taught by a group of scholars who have vast international research and teaching expertise, as well as in-country professional experience, providing you with unparalleled access to the latest knowledge and research.

Department of Public and International Affairs
College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences