The Master of Social Sciences in Cross Sectoral Leadership cultivates visionary leaders dedicated to advancing societal well-being, economic inclusivity, and technological innovation. By nurturing future leaders and socially minded entrepreneurs, this programme aims to elevate the socioeconomic status, cultural standards, and living environments, thereby creating a new and forward-looking community for the common good. This holistic approach ensures that graduates are equipped to make meaningful impacts across various sectors, driving progress towards a more inclusive, innovative, and prosperous society. The elective courses ensure that students can select the specialised topics related to public sector leadership, social entrepreneurship and cultural innovation. The programme will enhance students’  expertise and deepen their domain-specific knowledge to meet societal demands and equip them with the specialised skills necessary for their future careers.

The curriculum of the Master of Social Sciences in Cross Sectoral Leadership is uniquely designed to incorporate contemporary leadership models with cross sectoral disciplines integrating public sector leadership, social entrepreneurship and cultural innovation. These areas are woven into the fabric of the required courses, ensuring that all students gain a robust foundation in the essential principles and practices applicable to each field.

The topics of public leadership focus on equipping students with the skills necessary to innovate within the public sector, tackling societal challenges through creative problem-solving and effective governance. Social innovation and leadership development modules aim at nurturing individual leader who can identify social problems and develop sustainable business solutions that make a positive impact on communities. Meanwhile, cultural leadership classes emphasise the importance of leveraging cultural assets and creativity for economic and social development, fostering an appreciation for diverse cultures and promoting their integration into leadership ventures.

In addition to these comprehensive core courses, the programme offers interdisciplinary elective courses. These electives span across various fields, including technology adaptation and social impacts, economics, sociology, sustainability, and more. They are designed to broaden students' perspectives, encouraging them to explore cross-disciplinary approaches and think outside traditional academic boundaries. Through this expansive curriculum, students not only deepen their expertise in their chosen specialisation but also acquire a holistic understanding of how different sectors interconnect and influence one another.

Ultimately, this innovative educational model aims to cultivate future leaders who possess both deep domain-specific knowledge and broad interdisciplinary insights. Graduates of the programme are well-prepared to drive meaningful change and innovation across multiple sectors, acting as catalysts for progress towards a more inclusive, culturally rich, and economically vibrant society.

The programme aims to equip learners with the skills, knowledge, and networks to address challenges and opportunities within the cultural, social, and public sectors, emphasizing holistic approaches, balanced leadership, and positive impact-driven leadership.

a)  Develop Leadership Skills: Equip students with essential leadership skills, including social business planning, market analysis, funding strategies, and leadership abilities, necessary for launching and managing successful ventures in diverse sectors.

b)  Enhance Practical Experience: Provide hands-on learning opportunities through internships, project-based learning, and collaboration with agencies and organizations in different sectors, enabling students to apply theoretical knowledge in practical settings.

c)  Promote Global Perspective: Encourage a global mindset by incorporating international case studies, cross-cultural communication skills, and opportunities for study abroad, preparing students to operate effectively in a globalized economy.

d)  Encourage Social Responsibility: Instill a sense of social responsibility and ethical decision making, focusing on creating sustainable and socially impactful enterprises.

e) Foster Interdisciplinary Innovation: To encourage students to explore and integrate knowledge across various sectors, such as technology adaptation, social enterprise, arts, and sustainability, promoting innovative solutions that transcend traditional industry boundaries.

Applicants must satisfy the following general entrance requirements:

• hold a bachelor’s degree from one of the universities in Hong Kong or from an overseas institution recognized for this purpose by the University; or
• hold such other qualifications as deemed acceptable by the University as equivalent to the above.

申請入讀本碩士課程的人士必須：

• 持有獲認可香港或海外大學所頒授的學士學位；或
• 持有其他獲大學承認的同等學歷

Applicants whose entrance qualification is obtained from an institution where the medium of instruction is NOT English should also fulfil the following minimum English proficiency requirement:

• a score of 79 (Internet-based test) in the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)@#; or
• an overall band score of 6.0 in International English Language Testing System (IELTS)@##; or
• a score of 450 in College English Test-Band 6 (CET-6) in the Chinese mainland; or
• other equivalent qualifications.

申請者的入學資格是非英語授課的院校，必須符合以下最低英語能力要求：

• 托福（TOEFL）網考總成績達79分@#；或
• 雅思國際英語語言測試（IELTS）總級別達6.0分@##；或
• 中國國家大學英語考試（六級）達450分*；或
• 其他同等英語測試證明

@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 start of the University's application period. 'TOEFL iBT Home Edition', ‘TOEFL MyBest Score’, ‘IELTS Indicator’, ‘IELTS One Skill Retake’ and ‘IELTS Online’ are not acceptable.

托福及雅思成績有效期為兩年。申請人提交的英語測試成績必須以大學接受開始報名日期前起計算兩年內方為有效。城大不會接受 'TOEFL iBT Home Edition', ‘TOEFL MyBest Score’, ‘IELTS Indicator’, ‘IELTS One Skill Retake’ , ‘IELTS Online’ 的成績。

#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 CityUHK is 3401.

申請人必須透過托福官方考試機構（Educational Testing Service）（ETS）將托福成績直接寄給城大。城大的院校代碼是3401（Graduate School Admissions）。

##Applicants are required to arrange for sending their IELTS result(s) via the IELTS Results Service e-delivery to the University. Please note that applicants with an overall band score of 6.0 will be required to pass an interview for English proficiency conducted by the concerned academic unit. Interviews for other applicants may not be required.

申請人必須透過雅思官方考試機構IELTS Results Service e-delivery 將雅思成績直接發送給城大研究生院。持有總級別6.0分的申請者，需通過相關學術單位的英語能力面試。其他申請者可能無需參加面試。

In addition to the University General Entrance Requirements, applicants are expected to meet the following specific Chinese language requirement:

• Applicants who have graduated from Putonghua medium universities will be exempt from the Chinese language proficiency requirement.
• Applicants whose educational background is not in a Putonghua-speaking environment—such as those from Central or Southern Asia—must submit proof of Chinese language proficiency or take a Chinese language proficiency test such as the Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (HSK) Exam to ensure they meet the required Chinese language proficiency level to study in the programme.

除了大學的一般入學要求外，申請人還需符合以下特定的中文語言要求：

• 畢業於以普通話授課的大學的申請人，將獲豁免中文語言能力要求。
• 畢業於非普通話教育背景的申請人（例如來自中亞或南亞地區），必須提交中文語言能力證明, 或參加中文語言能力測試 如漢語水平考試（HSK），以確保其達到修讀本課程所需的中文語言水準。

Remarks:
The programme will be primarily conducted in Chinese (Putonghua), with selected courses delivered in English. Teaching materials and readings will be provided mainly in Chinese, supplemented by English resources where appropriate. Coursework, assignments, and projects will generally be completed in Chinese; however, submissions in English are also acceptable.

Programme Requirement

The total credit unit of the programme is 30.

Remarks:

1. COM5110 and COM5402 will be taught in English.
2. Whether elective courses from COM (Department of Media and Communication) and CAH (Department of Chinese and History) will be offered, and the quota available, depends on the decision of the respective departments.
3. If a student chooses a field trip as an experiential learning course, he or she will be responsible for covering the cost of the field trip.
4. If a student chooses an internship as an experiential learning course, Internship-related expenses will be borne by students.

The curriculum of the Master of Social Sciences in Cross Sectoral Leadership programme is thoughtfully crafted to integrate research elements that enhance the academic experience for all students. The program aims to instill a culture of research-driven inquiry and critical thinking among learners.

The research elements of the programme are embedded in 3 core courses:

• CLA5002 - Research Design and Methods
• CLA5003 - Innovative Finance for Global Leaders
• CLA5004 - Impact Management and Evaluation