Research and Scholarship
Academic Advancement
MSocSc (Gerontology)
Objectives
In view of the rapid ageing of the population in Asia, the programme aims at promoting innovative teaching and learning in gerontology as well as contributing to the development of ageing societies like Chinese Mainland and the cultivation of leaders in elderly-related policy and aged-care services. Emphasis is placed on both theoretical and practical skills.
Learning Outcomes
After the completion of this programme, students should be able to
possess the most advanced knowledge in gerontology and contemporary issues related to older adults;
possess the ability to conduct critical intellectual inquiry in gerontology in the light of the best available evidence;
possess the ability to generate enquiries about the issues in gerontology and derive an appropriate response;
understand, appraise, and analyze the impact of ageing in a global and societal context;
identify, formulate, and solve novel and ill-defined problems related to aged population;
function well in a multi-disciplinary team of gerontology and communicate effectively with the team members orally and in writing; and
demonstrate the potential of becoming responsive leaders in gerontology, especially in policy advocacy.
For more details about the program, please refer to the website of HKU Department of Social Work and Social Administration:
Ph.D. & M.Phil. in Gerontology
Sau Po Centre on Ageing is one of the research centres under the Faculty of Social Sciences, which has been ranked 25th in the world and the first in Asia based on the latest Times Higher Education Survey. To purse research and academic excellence, high calibre candidates are welcome to apply for the Ph.D. / M.Phil. Programme offered by the Department of Social Work and Social Administration, The University of Hong Kong.
Application Due Date: January 9, 2026
L.C.K. Yung Global Studies Summer Fellowship in Hong Kong
The Global Studies Program at the University of Chicago is pleased to invite applications for the 2026 L.C.K. Yung Global Studies Summer Fellowship in Hong Kong. This is an inter-institutional and interdisciplinary research program between the Hong Kong Jockey Club University of Chicago Academic Complex | The University of Chicago Francis and Rose Yuen Campus in Hong Kong and the University of Hong Kong. Students will work directly on faculty-led projects to explore topics in the following areas: health and well-being, global finance, technology, public policy, language, and migration.
The Global Studies Program will provide funds to cover travel, lodging, and living expenses in Hong Kong for the research assistants. We will also provide administrative and research support in the form of mentoring, as well as methodological training at the campus in Hong Kong.
Accepted University of Chicago College students are eligible for a $1,000 Metcalf Grant Fellowship through the University of Chicago Career Advancement.
To apply, please complete and submit this Google form by January 9, 2026:
https://forms.gle/qDyz7Za8EA4im6mf9
The form requires applicants to select up to three projects, motivating their interests and providing information on their technical, methodological, and linguistic skills. The form also requires applicants to upload a recent resume and to list the names and contact information of two references. Recommendation letters are not required at the time of application.
2025-2026 Awardees
Francisca Giuliani
The University of Chicago ’26 – B.A. in Public Policy Analysis
“I had an incredible and immersive experience as a research intern at the Sau Po Centre on Ageing at HKU. It was inspiring to deepen my understanding of how aging is shaped by cultural values, family structures, and long-term care policies across East Asia. Through my work, I explored critical issues such as caregiver burden, care roles, and the future of eldercare systems, topics that challenged and expanded my perspective as a student of Public Policy at UChicago. Working with the research team was both fun and intellectually enriching. I gained insight into the day-to-day life of researchers and students in Hong Kong, and I appreciated how collaborative, supportive, and welcoming the environment was. Beyond the research, I loved exploring the city’s food scene and bonding with the team over shared meals. I am deeply grateful for the experience and hope to return to Hong Kong again soon!”
HKU COA JMK Dementia Care Scholarships
About the Scholarships
In 2013, the Sau Po Centre on Ageing received a HK$1,000,000 donation from Mr. Joe Ma and Dr. Karen Cheung to celebrate their JMK China wedding anniversary. The donation has been designated to support the academic initiatives in dementia care with an aim to raising public awareness and care to dementia patients, their families and caregivers. Part of the donation has contributed to establish a scholarships scheme starting from the academic year 2013-14 to support the research studies of research postgraduate (RPG) students. At present, each scholarship is of the value of HK$10,000 which is awarded on annual basis.
Guidelines
Who is eligible?
The candidates should be pursing full-time or part-time MPhil or PhD programmes in any faculty in HKU, and whose research studies should be related to the area of dementia care whereas the principle of dementia care applies to all disciplines, including but not limited to psychosocial, socio-behavioral, health, nursing, education, and architectural elements.
The candidates should demonstrate academic merits and significance of their research studies in improving and enhancing care to dementia patients, their families and caregivers.
The candidates must have passed their probation and have their dissertation research proposal approved by their supervisors.
Each student can only be awarded the Scholarships once in the course of his/her RPG programme.
The Centre shall reserve the right to determine the eligibility of an applicant and the relevance of his/her research study to dementia care.
How to apply?
Applicants should submit a completed nomination form with recommendation by their supervisor and endorsement by their department head (or Faculty Dean, if applicable), together with their dissertation research proposal, to the Sau Po Centre on Ageing via the following methods:
by post (address: 11/F, T.T. Tsui Building, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong) or
by email at ageing@hku.hk
The research proposal should consist of the following:
Project title/ area of interest
Literature review/ key references on related work including alternative approaches to the problem
Research problems/ questions
Objectives of the study
Expected outcomes
Research plan and methodology
Key references
A plan to use the monetary award in the research implementation and the expected outcome or achievements
Task Timeline
Nomination
2 June 2025
Evaluation by Selection Panel
October – November 2025
Confirmation of Awardees
December 2025
scholarship winners
Academic year 2024-2025
Miss BIAN Jinwei
(Ph.D. Student) School of Nursing
Cognitive frailty among older adults: trajectories, associated factors and health outcomes
Academic year 2024-2025
Miss CHEN Zhen
(Ph.D. Student) Division of Applied Oral Sciences & Community Dental Care
Microbiome Analysis and Machine Learning of Dental Plaque
for Early Alzheimer’s Disease Detection and Risk Stratification
Academic year 2024-2025
Miss YANG Ziying
(Ph.D. Student) School of Nursing
Microbiome Analysis and Machine Learning of Dental Plaque
for Early Alzheimer’s Disease Detection and Risk Stratification
Academic year 2022-2023
Miss YE Fen
(Ph.D Student) School of Nursing
Development and testing of a dyadic empowerment-based sport stacking program to improve health outcomes of people with dementia and their family caregivers
Academic year 2022-2023
Miss XU Shicheng Shirley
(M.Phil. Student) Department of Social Work and Social Administration
Communicating dementia across three generations within Chinese families
Academic year 2021-2022
Miss LIU Xiaodi
(Ph.D. Student) Department of Medicine
The impact of sleep disturbances on longitudinal vascular cognitive impairment
Academic year 2021-2022
Miss HU Xiaoqian
(Ph.D. Student) School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine
Towards early diagnosis and sensitive measure of dementia by leveraging spatial navigation
Academic year 2021-2022
Mr. NG Yong Hao
(Ph.D. Student) Department of Social Work and Social Administration
The effects of interactional reshaping of pre-death grief among dementia caregivers in Singapore: A system thinking approach
Academic year 2020-2021
Mr. ZHANG Yingyang
(Ph.D. Student) Department of Social Work and Social Administration
Healthcare Utilization and Costs in Patients with Dementia: Evidence from Electronic Medical Records in Hong Kong
Academic year 2020-2021
Mr. ZHOU, Huiquan
(Ph.D. Student) Department of Social Work and Social Administration
Impact of Environmental Factors on the Aging Brain
Academic year 2019-2020
Ms. CAI Xinxin
(Ph.D. Student) Department of Social Work and Social Administration
The impact of a task-shifting approach on inequities in access to dementia and depression services among older adults
Academic year 2019-2020
Mr. CHEN Shuangzhou Kevin
(Ph.D. Student) Department of Social Work and Social Administration
Meaning-making choice of dementia working caregivers
Academic year 2019-2020
Miss LIN Sin Yi Rose
(Ph.D. Student) School of Nursing
Effects of a multimodal intervention on neuropsychiatric symptoms, cognitive function and health-related quality of life of persons with mild cognitive impairment: A randomized controlled trial
Academic year 2018-2019
Mr. CHOY Chak Pui Jacky
(Ph.D. Student) Department of Social Work and Social Administration
Developing a Conceptual Model on Family Preparedness for Future Caregiving in Dementia
Academic year 2018-2019
Ms. ZHANG Yan Anna
(Ph.D. Student) Department of Social Work and Social Administration
The Role of Engagement in Affecting Outcomes of People with Dementia Receiving Cognitive Stimulation Therapy
Academic year 2017-2018
Ms. LING Cheuk Chi Gigi
(Ph.D. Student) Department of Social Work and Social Administration
When Cancer meets Dementia: an interpretative phenomenological study of the end-of-life experience of comorbid dementia & cancer from the perspective of formal and informal caregivers
Academic year 2017-2018
Ms. YEK Po Loi Olive
(Ph.D. Student) Department of Social Work and Social Administration
Efficacy of an evidence-based individual Cognitive Stimulation Therapy for people with dementia and their caregivers
Academic year 2014-2015
Mr. NG Fai Hung Patrick
(Ph.D. Student) Department of Social Work and Social Administration
A Study on the relationship between wisdom and psychological well-being among dementia caregivers
Academic year 2017-2018
Ms. LAU Bobo Hi Po
(Ph.D. Student) Department of Psychology
The Role of Trait Gratitude in Coping with Dementia Caregiving
Academic year 2013-2014
Ms. WANG Junfang
(Ph.D. Student) Department of Social Work and Social Administration
The role of filial discrepancy in stress and coping process among Chinese adult children dementia caregivers: Effects on life satisfaction