Postgraduate Programmes
The Master of Social Sciences in Psychology Programme (MSSPSY) with Mental Health and Investigative Psychology concentration is designed to provide education and training to individuals who are holders of Bachelor's degrees in non- psychology fields and have an interest in gaining psychological knowledge. This programme is unique among the conversion programmes in Hong Kong by offering concentrations in both mental health and investigative psychology. Through a comprehensive curriculum that integrates theoretical frameworks with practical applications, students engage in in-depth study of knowledge, research skills, and competencies in psychology. This programme equips these students with the essential knowledge and skills in psychology which serves as the first step for those who intend to pursue Master's level education or above in the field of psychology in Hong Kong or overseas (e.g. Counselling Psychology, Clinical Psychology, Educational Psychology, Industrial-Organizational Psychology).
Specifically, this programme sets out to provide students sufficient grounding in the core areas of psychology to qualify them: 1) To apply for student affiliate or graduate membership of the Hong Kong Psychological Society (HKPS), the American Psychological Association, the British Psychological Society, and other professional associations of comparable standing; 2) to gain direct entry into any career potentially open to Psychology graduates in both the private and the public sectors; and 3) to apply for postgraduate training in all recognized areas in psychology, and in particular, in one of the four areas of applied professional psychology (i.e. Clinical Psychology, Counselling Psychology) in an accredited university.
Information Seminar
Non local online seminar: 3 March 2025;
Local information seminar: 18 August 2025
Registration link: click here (deadline: 14 August 2025, 11:45pm)
The Brain and Mental Health Conference 2024 supported by RGC IIDS grant (UGC/IIDS15/H02/23) was a resounding success!
Video with Conference Photo Highlights - YouTube
Conference highlighted videos 1 (youtube.com)
News article:
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The programme is designed to give students sufficient grounding in the core areas of psychology to qualify them:
- To apply for student affiliate or graduate membership of the Hong Kong Psychological Society, the American Psychological Association, the British Psychological Society, and other professional associations of comparable standing;
- To gain direct entry into any career potentially open to Psychology graduates in both the private and the public sectors; and
- To apply for postgraduate training in all recognized areas in psychology, and in particular, in one of the four areas of applied professional psychology (i.e. Clinical Psychology, Counselling Psychology, Educational Psychology, and Industrial and Organizational Psychology) in an accredited university.
The programme sets out to achieve these aims by providing learning opportunities for personal growth, theoretical knowledge, research skills, and competencies necessary for further education at postgraduate level.
| Title of Award: | Master of Social Sciences in Psychology |
| Mode of Attendance: | Full-time / Part-time |
| Intake Quota per Annum: | 35 |
| Duration of Programme: | Full-time: 1 year (3 Trimesters) Part-time: 2 years (6 Trimesters) |
| Commencement: | January each year |
| Programme Director: | Dr. LAM, Yin-hung Bess |
| The total number of credits required for graduation: | 36 |
| Total Tuition Fees: | $100,800 ($2,800 per credit) |
Path A (MSS Psychology -- Mental Health): 9 common core courses (including Research Project) + 3 courses in the stream of Mental Health
Path B (MSS Psychology -- Investigative Psychology): 9 common core courses (including Research Project) + 3 courses in the stream of Investigative Psychology
Path C (MSS Psychology): 9 common core courses (including Research Project) + 3 courses in general stream
Full-time Mode
| 1st Trimester (Jan-Apr) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Code | Course | Credits | |
| PSY 501 | Research Methods and Statistics I | 3 | |
| PSY 503 | Lifespan Developmental Psychology | 3 | |
| PSY 507 | Cognitive Psychology | 3 | |
| -- | One Elective Course* | 3 | |
| 2nd Trimester (May - Aug) | |||
| PSY 502 | Research Methods and Statistics II | 3 | |
| PSY 504 | Personality and Individual Differences | 3 | |
| PSY 509 | Research Project I | 3 | |
| -- | One Elective Course* | 3 | |
| 3rd Trimester (Sep - Dec) | |||
| PSY 505 | Social Psychology | 3 | |
| PSY 506 | Biological Bases of Behaviour | 3 | |
| PSY 510 | Research Project II | 3 | |
| -- | One Elective Course* | 3 | |
| TOTAL CREDITS | 36 | ||
Part-time Mode
| 1st Trimester (Jan - Apr) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Code | Course | Credits | |
| PSY 501 | Research Methods and Statistics I | 3 | |
| PSY 503 | Lifespan Developmental Psychology | 3 | |
| 2nd Trimester (May - Aug) | |||
| PSY 502 | Research Methods and Statistics II | 3 | |
| PSY 504 | Personality and Individual Differences | 3 | |
| 3rd Trimester (Sep - Dec) | |||
| PSY 505 | Social Psychology | 3 | |
| PSY 506 | Biological Bases of Behaviour | 3 | |
| TOTAL CREDITS FOR YEAR 1 | 18 | ||
| 4th Trimester (Jan-Apr) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Code | Course | Credits | |
| PSY 507 | Cognitive Psychology | 3 | |
| -- | One Elective Course | 3 | |
| 5th Trimester (May - Aug) | |||
| PSY 509 | Research Project I | 3 | |
| -- | One Elective Course | 3 | |
| 6th Trimester (Sep - Dec) | |||
| PSY 510 | Research Project II | 3 | |
| -- | One Elective Course | 3 | |
| TOTAL CREDITS FOR YEAR 2 | 18 | ||
| Minimum Number of Credits for Graduation | 36 | ||
*Please refer to the below section on elective courses
Path A Mental Health Stream (Students will choose 3 out of 4 courses )
| Code | Course | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PSY 563 | Abnormal Psychology | 3 |
| COUN 560 | Counselling and Psychotherapy | 3 |
| PSY 564 | Applied Positive Psychology | 3 |
| MPT 510 | Introduction to Expressive Art Therapy | 3 |
Path B Investigative Psychology Stream (Students will choose 3 out of 4 courses)
| Code | Course | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PSY 565 | Criminal Behaviors | 3 |
| PSY 566 | Introduction to Investigative Psychology | 3 |
| PSY 567 | Psychological Testing and Assessment | 3 |
| PSY 563 | Abnormal Psychology | 3 |
Path C General Stream (Students will choose 3 out of 7 courses)
| Code | Course | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PSY 563 | Abnormal Psychology | 3 |
| PSY 564 | Applied Positive Psychology | 3 |
| PSY 565 | Criminal Behaviors | 3 |
| PSY 566 | Introduction to Investigative Psychology | 3 |
| PSY 567 | Psychological Testing and Assessment | 3 |
| COUN 560 | Counselling and Psychotherapy | 3 |
| MPT 510 | Introduction to Expressive Art Therapy | 3 |
| Note: The programme team will offer the most preferred courses in the list. The preference of elective course will be collected via survey from students. | ||
Candidates must
i. Bachelor’s degree in non-Psychology major with first- or second-class honours from a Hong Kong university or have obtained an equivalent qualification from an institution recognized for this purpose by the University, AND
ii. attend an interview, AND
iii. pass a take home entrance examination on Introductory Psychology composed primarily of multiple-choice and essay questions.
Language Requirements
Applicants with entrance qualifications from an institution where the medium of instruction is not English should also fulfil the following minimum English proficiency requirement:
(a) Overall score ≥ 6.5 in International English Language Testing System (IELTS) (Academic); or
(b) Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score of 600 (Paper-based Test) or 100 (Internet-based Test) or 250 (Computer-based Test); or
(c) Other equivalent qualifications acceptable to the University.
Take Home Entrance Examination
After the interview process is completed, short-listed applicants will receive a take home examination. The exam coverage is derived from material typically covered in an Introductory Psychology course. Specifically, the following subjects constitute the test's coverage: the Research Enterprise, Biological Psychology, Sensation and Perception, Learning, Human Memory, Intelligence and Emotion, Human Development, Personality, Social Psychology, and Abnormal Psychology. Most introductory psychology textbooks from 2009 to the present will contain extensive coverage of these topics. It is recommended that the applicant use such a textbook to prepare for the entrance examination. Currently, the primary text adopted in PSY100 Introductory Psychology at this university is Sun, C. T. L. (Ed.). (2015). Psychology in Asia: An introduction. Singapore: Cengage. Learning.
Transfers from non SYU-operated Conversion Programmes in Psychology
Candidates with previous qualifications in conversion programmes in psychology for which the exit award is below the master's level or who are currently enrolled in such programmes either locally or overseas may apply for credit transfer into the MSocSc in Psychology. The maximum number of transferred credits must not exceed 55% (or 20 credits) of the total number of credits required for graduation.
Information Seminar
Non local online seminar: 3 March 2025;
Local information seminar: 18 August 2025
Application Procedures
Online Application
Click here to access the online application. Please read the notes carefully before completing the online application form.
Please prepare the following items for application:
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A Photocopy of HKID Card/Passport
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Application fee: $200 (local applicants) and $650 (non-local applicants) and must be settled online by WeChat Pay 微信支付 / Alipay (內地版支付宝) / FPS轉數快 / Credit Card (Fees paid are not refundable)
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A recent, colour, passport-size photo (i.e., approximately 40mm (Width) x 50 mm (Height) showing a full frontal face with clear facial features.)
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Copy of Graduation Certificate(s) and/or Degree Certificate(s) of your undergraduate/postgraduate studies
o For qualifications obtained in Mainland China: The Graduation Certificate AND Degree Certification should be accompanied by the Online Verification Report of Higher Education Qualification Certificate and Online Verification Report of Higher Education Degree Certificate by CHSI 學信網 (教育部學籍線上驗證報告及中國高等教育學位 線上驗證報告)
o For Mainland Applicants with overseas qualifications: The Graduation Certificate and/or Degree Certification should be accompanied by the Overseas Credential Evaluation Report (國外學歷學位認證書) issued by Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange (CSCSE) (教育部留學服務中心)
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Copy of each professional qualification obtained as stated on the application form
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Copy of Transcript(s) with Grading Scheme of your undergraduate/postgraduate studies
Notes for official transcripts:
- Official transcripts of your undergraduate and postgraduate studies should be directly sent to the Department of Counselling and Psychology in a sealed envelope from the issuing universities. Please send the above Transcript Request Form (Transcript Request Form (pdf version / doc version)to your appropriate officer of institution from which the transcript is requested.
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For top-up degree holders, transcripts of sub-degree programme should also be provided.
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HKSYU graduates are not required to request transcripts from the Registry. However, copies of transcripts should still be submitted.
Application Period (For January 2026 cohort)
Start of all applications: 1 May 2025
Application Deadline
Non-local applicants: 22 August 2025
Local Applicants:
1st Round Application Deadline: 30 September 2025
2nd Round Application Deadline: 30 October 2025
We have a quota for admitting students each year and applications are considered in batches. Admissions priorities will be given to applicants who apply in the main round (and subsequently those in the second round). Applications beyond deadline will only be considered on case-by-case basis subject to availability of spaces. You are therefore encouraged to apply as early as possible.
Telephone: 2806 7332
E-mail: msspsy@hksyu.edu
- Postgraduate Research Scholarship:
The “Postgraduate Research Scholarship” aims to attract students with strong academic backgrounds who have an avid interest in refining their research skills. Each year, a total of 15 scholarships @HKD20,000 will be allocated to this category. Awardees are expected to commit 200 hours to research activities as assigned by the Programme Director during their period of study at HKSYU.
- Fellowship for Postgraduate Studies:
The “Fellowship for Postgraduate Studies” aims to support outstanding final year undergraduate students in HKSYU to pursue postgraduate studies. Those successfully admitted into local full-time postgraduate programmes may be considered for this category. Each year, 10 scholarships @HKD10,000 will be allocated to this category.
For further scholarship and fellowship details, please click HERE
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Dr. LAM, Yin-hung Bess |
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Dr. Jason CHOW T.S. Area of Research Interests: |
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Dr. Bobo LAU H.P. Area of Research Interests: |
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Dr. Patrick CONNOLLY J. Area of Research Interests: |
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Dr. WANG, Yi-Zhou Joe Assistant Professor Area of Research Interests: 1. Mental Wellbeing of People with Mental Disorders and Their Family Caregiver 2. Psychodynamic Psychotherapy, Sandplay Therapy 3. Information & Communication Technology in Mental Health |
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Dr. SUNG, Kwan-kit Marco Area of Research Interests: |
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Dr. TAN, Ya-qian Yannie Area of Research Interests: |
