MACHS Programme

Established in 1927, the School of Chinese has been dedicated to preserving Chinese heritage and fostering the fusion of Chinese and Western scholarship. With the hard work of our founders and their successors, the School has evolved into a leading international hub for research and teaching in Chinese language, literature, history, and translation.

The School of Chinese is part of the prestigious Faculty of Arts, which consistently ranks highly in global university rankings:

• 1st in Asia and 18th worldwide for Arts and Humanities in the U.S. News & World Report Best Global Universities 2023, the only Asian university in the top 30 this year among 250 universities worldwide.
• 3rd in Asia and 1st in Hong Kong for Arts and Humanities in the Times Higher Education World University Subject Rankings 2023.
• 1st in Hong Kong and 2nd in Asia for Arts and Humanities in the QS World University Subject Rankings 2022.

Established in 1974, the Master of Arts in Chinese Historical Studies (MACHS) is a long-standing programme, unique to Hong Kong, that has been running for nearly 50 years. Besides the reputable 2-year part-time programme, a 1-year full-time study mode was introduced in the 2023-24 academic year. The curriculum offers courses in Chinese historical materials and methodology, Chinese historiography, and various topics related to the history and culture of imperial, modern, and contemporary China. The MACHS program is designed to benefit students' educational and professional qualifications. We welcome Chinese history and culture enthusiasts, educators, and lifelong learners to apply.

Key features of the MACHS program include:

• A comprehensive curriculum covering Chinese history and culture, emphasizing the interconnectedness of history and culture and offering a unique range of courses within Hong Kong's academic setting.
• A teaching team of renowned scholars and experienced academics from the School of Chinese, committed to nurturing students through teaching excellence.
• Flexible program structure and timetable with no classes during summer vacation.
• Enriching fieldwork trips to historical and cultural sites, allowing students to apply their knowledge in practice.
• Completion of a capstone portfolio or dissertation under the supervision of an assigned teacher.
• Opportunity for exceptional dissertations (A- grade or above) to be collected in the HKU library.
• Graduates with overall distinction will have their grades displayed on the Certificate of Graduation.
• Scholarships and prizes for outstanding students, including the MA in Chinese Historical Studies Entrance Scholarship, MA in Chinese Historical Studies Prize, and MA in Chinese Historical Studies Alumni Scholarship. Awarded scholarships and prizes will be listed on the Transcript of Academic Record.
• No prior specialized field or degree required; open for enrollment to everyone. Apply now.

Since the 2018-2019 academic year, secondary schools in Hong Kong have made Chinese History a separate compulsory subject at the junior secondary level. The MACHS program helps educators enhance their understanding and knowledge of Chinese History, improving their teaching effectiveness.

The introduction of the one-year full-time study mode in the 2023-24 academic year allows students from near and far to study Chinese history and culture in Hong Kong – a region with a unique Chinese history and cultural standing – at the internationally renowned centennial HKU.