Programme Aims
This is a one-year Master's level programme for graduates with a psychology major who are looking for systematic training in the latest advances in assessment and practice methods applicable in various professional psychology settings.
The programme aims to provide a well-balanced foundation in functional competencies in assessment, intervention, research and evaluation. Over 1 or 2 years, a solid identity as an applied psychologist with professional skills and knowledge will be built up.
Characteristics
The teaching faculty members from the Department of Applied Social Sciences have enjoyed a long history of being both active in leadership roles in the Hong Kong Psychological Society and as recipients of a number of successive multi-year and territory-wide research and consultancy programmes of policy priority in Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland. This background has made it possible for the development of a unique curriculum to include direct and innovative instructional strategies, and in some cases first-hand exposure to experimentation in large-scale successfully implemented programmes in education, health and social care.
Recognition & Prospects
In principle, the requirements for becoming a Registered Psychologist in Hong Kong are: (1) be a member of the Hong Kong Psychological Society (HKPS), (2) possess a Master's degree in Psychology, and (3) have a minimum of one year of post-master's relevant working experience. It should be noted that this programme is designed to help students in meeting the second requirement.
On successful completion of the programme, students with a membership of HKPS may consider applying for registration upon obtaining at least one year of post-qualification experience in a discipline of psychology deemed acceptable by the HKPS. The final decision on registration is still maintained by the HKPS. All psychologists on the register must observe the Code of Professional Conduct maintained by the HKPS.
Curriculum
The programme is composed of Foundational Competencies and Functional Competencies. Core and Elective Subjects are grouped under two major study areas.
Foundational Competencies
Core Subject
Functional Competencies
Psychological assessment, research and evaluation competencies: Advanced Psychological Assessment (APA)
Core Subjects
Elective Subjects
Psychological intervention competencies: Advanced Practice Methods (APM)
Elective Subjects
Knowledge and enterprising competencies
Core Subject
Elective Subject
*Price shown is for indicative purposes, please
September 2025
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
ST305, 3/F, Ng Wing Hong Building,
Hung Hom,
Kowloon City, Hong Kong, Kowloon
A recognised Bachelor's degree with a major in Psychology.
If you are not a native speaker of English, and your Bachelor's degree or equivalent qualification is awarded by institutions where the medium of instruction is not English, you are expected to fulfil the following minimum English language requirement for admission purpose, unless otherwise specified by individual programmes concerned:
*There may be different IELTS requirements depending on your chosen course.
PolyU ranks 65th in the QS World University Rankings and 79th in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings internationally.
