Master of Arts in Global Higher Education [MA(GlobalHE)] | Academy for Applied Policy Studies and Education Futures

Programme Code

Full-time / A1M110

Part-time / C2M040*

Programme Leader

Prof Anatoly Oleksiyenko

Enquiry (Admission)

acadmission@eduhk.hk

Enquiry (Programme)

maglobalhe@eduhk.hk

Introduction

This programme provides professional training for teachers and administrators of universities and colleges, knowledge developers, and policy-makers in local governments and non-governmental institutions in Hong Kong, the GBA, Chinese Mainland, the Asia Pacific Region, and other regions. It also aims to enhance capacities for world-class higher education and pursuing a higher quality of research, teaching, and development. The ultimate goal is to achieve a more globally-open, ambitious, and inspiring space and practice for higher learning.

* For information on whether a non-local student can study a full-time or part-time programme, please refer to Taught Postgraduate Programmes - FAQs webpage.

According to the Education Bureau (EDB), definition of local and non-local applicants is as listed here.

To make direct enquiries on the definition of non-local students, please contact EDB (Email: edbinfo@edb.gov.hk / Fax: (852) 2804 6499).

Programme Highlights

Cross-Cultural Communication
Research and Policy Analysis
Programme Development and Management
Strategic Planning and Leadership
Data Literacy and Assessment

Students/Alumni Sharing

From being attracted by the course concept to immersive learning in Hong Kong— Hello everyone, I'm Wang Jiaxin, a 2024 master's graduate in the Master of Arts in Global Higher Education.

I warmly invite all aspiring individuals to consider applying for the Master of Arts in Global Higher Education Program. This unique journey awaits your participation!

Wang Jiaxin

During the initial phase of my application, with the loving support of my parents and the foundation laid by my undergraduate studies, I became increasingly aware of how crucial an international perspective is for personal development. The innovative curriculum and inspiring philosophy of the MA(GlobalHE) programme immediately captured my mind and reinforced my passion for this field.

Throughout my master's studies, I had the wonderful opportunity of gaining a comprehensive understanding of higher education theories. Our dedicated professors enriched our learning experience by integrating research findings from various scholars, real-world case studies from multiple countries, and their own professional experiences. This approach allowed me to delve into the subject and develop a well-rounded understanding of global higher education systems, sparking my profound interest in this field's research.

As time swiftly passed, my master's journey in Hong Kong has been a meaningful experience, revealing the city's unique charm where Eastern and Western cultures harmoniously coexist. From the lively ambiance of traditional tea restaurants to the innovative spirit of international exhibitions, from the graceful artistry of Cantonese opera to the cutting-edge advancements in technology, Hong Kong's inclusive nature has nurtured my growth amidst cultural diversity.

My name is Wang Xiyan, a graduate of the Master of Arts in Global Higher Education programme at The Education University of Hong Kong.

Since joining this program, I have deeply felt a significant expansion in my perspectives and thinking.

Wang Xiyan

My decision to pursue this program stemmed from a strong interest in the diversity of global education, and I was particularly drawn to the internationalized educational atmosphere at EdUHK.

This learning journey has helped me realize that higher education is not only a platform for knowledge transmission but also carries the important mission of promoting educational equity and social impact. It has given me a deeper understanding of the essence of education.

Through systematic coursework, I have come to appreciate the close connections between management, leadership, and policy-making, and I have acquired practical skills in strategic planning and analyzing global education trends. In Hong Kong’s multicultural environment, I benefited from interactions with people from diverse backgrounds, which cultivated an open mindset. I also adapted to the fast-paced lifestyle, enhancing my independence and rigor. These experiences laid a solid foundation for my personal growth.

Looking ahead, I am full of anticipation for the integration of educational innovation and technology, believing that this field offers vast potential for educational development. The learning experience and curriculum in Hong Kong have made me more sensitive to change, and I hope to apply what I have learned in practice to contribute to the advancement of education.

Hi, I am Janny. To improve myself, I chose the Master of Arts in Global Higher Education [MA(GlobalHE)] programme.

Zhang Jing, Janny

The Master's programme in Global Higher Education has not only cultivated my global perspective and cross-cultural awareness, but also enhanced my critical thinking skills and brought opportunities for future development.

During my time in Hong Kong, I realized the importance of inclusive and diverse cultural awareness, which is a field I am very interested in.

Hi, everyone. I’m Wanru Zhao, a graduate of the Master of Arts in Global Higher Education program.

During my studies, I was honored to serve as a student representative — an experience that allowed me to engage more deeply with the program and my peers, and made me cherish this journey even more.

Zhao Wanru

I chose this program because I have always believed that the meaning of education goes beyond the transmission of knowledge — it is about helping people understand the world. When I first learned about Global Higher Education, I was deeply drawn to its emphasis on real educational contexts and its encouragement to think critically from a global perspective. I didn’t want to study education only as a subject, but to understand people, societies, and the world through it.

Over the past year, I’ve realized that growth doesn’t come from mastering more concepts, but from thinking more deeply and seeing more broadly. In class, our professors connected theory with reality, and culture with context, allowing me to see the wider social fabric that education is woven into.

Living in Hong Kong has also given me new insights. The city moves fast but embraces diversity. Here, I learned to find balance amid change and to approach differences with an open mind. It has made me calmer and more confident in facing uncertainty.

Looking back, my greatest gain from this journey is a transformation of mindset. I’ve learned to pause and reflect in a fast-paced world, and to use education as a way to listen and to connect. This experience has strengthened my belief that a truly global perspective is not defined by distance, but by an open and understanding heart.

Disclaimer

The University is committed to upholding the educational quality and standard of the programmes it offers. The University, being funded by the University Grants Committee (UGC), is one of the nine self-accrediting institutions in Hong Kong. In addition, the quality of the educational experience in all programmes offered by the UGC-funded universities is subject to the quality assurance process administered by the Quality Assurance Council of the UGC. Individuals who wish to apply for qualification certification in Chinese Mainland after graduation should contact the CSCSE (website: https://zwfw.cscse.edu.cn/cscse/lxfwzxwsfwdt2020/xlxwrz32/index.html) directly for updated details and confirmation. The certification in Chinese Mainland is an independent process from the conferral of academic qualification in Hong Kong by the University. For the avoidance of doubt, no warranties are given in respect of individual graduate’s qualification certification or recognition in Chinese Mainland or any other professional qualification or license outside Hong Kong.

In the event of inconsistency between information in English and Chinese versions or where an interpretation of the programme content is required, the decision of the University shall be final.

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this website. Changes to any aspects of the programmes may be made from time to time as due to change of circumstances and the University reserves the right to revise any information contained in this website as it deems fit without prior notice. The University accepts no liability for any loss or damage arising from any use or misuse of or reliance on any information contained in this website.

Any aspect of the courses and course offerings (including, without limitation, the contents of the course and the manner in which the course is taught) may be subject to change at any time at the sole discretion of the University if necessary. Without limiting the generality of the University’s discretion to revise the courses and course offerings, it is envisaged that changes may be required due to factors including staffing, enrolment levels, logistical arrangements, curriculum changes, and other factors caused by change of circumstances. Tuition fees, once paid, are non-refundable.

EdUHK, has not collaborated with any agency in Chinese Mainland or Hong Kong on admission, and does not encourage students to entrust their applications to any third-party agents and we always contact applicants directly on updates regarding the applications. You must complete and submit your own application via the EdUHK online admissions system and provide your own personal and contact details. Please refer to the official EdUHK channels, such as programme websites and the admissions system, for the required information to complete your application.

Important Notes for Students from Chinese Mainland on Overseas Credential Evaluation (國(境)外學歷學位認證)

Students who have fulfilled the programme requirements will be conferred the degree upon the approval of the University's Academic Board. The University bears no responsibility for the evaluation of its degrees outside of Hong Kong. Students are advised to consult with the relevant authority(ies) for the prevailing rules/regulations.

Individuals who would seek qualification certification in Chinese Mainland after graduation should contact the Chinese Service Centre for Scholarly Exchange (CSCSE) 中國(教育部) 留學服務中心 (https://www.cscse.edu.cn) for updated details.

The certification in Chinese Mainland is an independent process from the conferral of academic qualification in Hong Kong by the University. For the avoidance of doubt, no warranties are given in respect of individual graduate's qualification certification or recognition in Chinese Mainland or any other professional qualification or license outside Hong Kong.

CSCSE takes a very prudent approach in evaluating each application, including the students' residential period in Hong Kong during the entire study period. When evaluating graduates' credentials, the full border entry and exit records of individual applicants will be examined.

Students who would pursue credential recognition should be aware that short stays in Hong Kong during the study period may not fulfil the CSCSE residential requirements, leading to possible uncertainty and risks to their credential recognition.

Students are seriously advised to consider the above when making personal plans, such as accommodation and travel plans from Hong Kong, etc. and make necessary arrangements where appropriate.

It is the responsibility of the students to be familiar with and comply with the University regulations and guidelines governing the Taught Postgraduate Programmes. Students should refer to the Graduate School website for the General Academic Regulations and the Code of Practice for Taught Postgraduate Programmes for details.

Students should consult with CSCSE if they have any enquiries.

1 June 2025

Programme Aims

The programme aims to:

Creates an advanced and comprehensive platform for professionals who have dedicated their careers to higher education institutions
Equips students with a better understanding of contexts, cultures, and conditions in developing internationalised, respectful, and intellectually invigorating campuses
Focuses on international policy-making, programme development, project management, research, and teaching support
Helps university educators and administrators enhance their programmes with a higher return on investment in cross-border mobility and exchange, international research and development, and globally influential learning designs

Prospective Students

The programme welcomes students from diverse academic backgrounds. It is particularly suitable for university teachers, administrators, researchers, and policy makers from local governments and NGOs across Hong Kong, the Greater Bay Area, Mainland China, the Asia-Pacific region, and beyond. Graduates who are passionate about the development of global higher education are also encouraged to join and explore cutting-edge issues and practical strategies in the field.

Programme Structure

Students are required to complete a total of 24 credits covering core and elective courses to fulfil the graduation requirements. One-year full-time students are expected to take four courses in the first semester (two core + two elective) and four courses (two core + two elective) in the second semester. Two-year part-time students are expected to take two courses per semester over their two years of study.

Core courses	12 cps
Elective courses	12 cps
Total	24 cps

Programme Curriculum

Type	Course Title	Credit Points (cps)
Core course	Foundations of Global Higher Education	3
Core course	Comparative Studies in Global Higher Education	3
Core course	Administration and Management in World-Class Universities	3
Core course	Equity and Social Justice in Global Higher Education	3
Elective course^#	Academic Research and Writing in Higher Education	3
Elective course^#	Leadership in Higher Education	3
Elective course^#	Higher Education for International Development	3
Elective course^#	Global Governance and Policy Making in Higher Education	3
Elective course^#	Entrepreneurialism and Interprofessional Learning in Higher Education	3
Elective course^#	Independent Project in International Higher Education	3

^#Individual electives may not be offered every year

Medium of Instruction

Two streams of studies are offered for the Master of Arts in Global Higher Education Programme from 2025/26 and onwards:

English as the medium of instruction (EMI): The medium of instruction is mainly English.
Putonghua as the medium of instruction (PMI): The medium of instruction is mainly Chinese.

Study Location

Classes in the same or different semester(s) may be scheduled on weekday daytime/evenings, weekends and/or during long holidays at the Tai Po Campus / Tseung Kwan O Study Centre / North Point Study Centre / West Kowloon Study Centre / Kowloon Tong Satellite Study Centre and/or other locations as decided by the University.

Career Prospects

Graduates may pursue the following careers:

University administrators
Policy analysts
International programme coordinators
Educational consultants

Disclaimer
The University is committed to upholding the educational quality and standard of the programmes it offers. The University, being funded by the University Grants Committee (UGC), is one of the nine self-accrediting institutions in Hong Kong. In addition, the quality of the educational experience in all programmes offered by the UGC-funded universities is subject to the quality assurance process administered by the Quality Assurance Council of the UGC. Individuals who wish to apply for qualification certification in Chinese Mainland after graduation should contact the CSCSE (website: https://zwfw.cscse.edu.cn/cscse/lxfwzxwsfwdt2020/xlxwrz32/index.html) directly for updated details and confirmation. The certification in Chinese Mainland is an independent process from the conferral of academic qualification in Hong Kong by the University. For the avoidance of doubt, no warranties are given in respect of individual graduate’s qualification certification or recognition in Chinese Mainland or any other professional qualification or license outside Hong Kong.

In the event of inconsistency between information in English and Chinese versions or where an interpretation of the programme content is required, the decision of the University shall be final.

Important Notes for Students from Chinese Mainland on Overseas Credential Evaluation (國(境)外學歷學位認證)

Students who have fulfilled the programme requirements will be conferred the degree upon the approval of the University's Academic Board. The University bears no responsibility for the evaluation of its degrees outside of Hong Kong. Students are advised to consult with the relevant authority(ies) for the prevailing rules/regulations.

Individuals who would seek qualification certification in Chinese Mainland after graduation should contact the Chinese Service Centre for Scholarly Exchange (CSCSE) 中國(教育部) 留學服務中心 (https://www.cscse.edu.cn) for updated details.

The certification in Chinese Mainland is an independent process from the conferral of academic qualification in Hong Kong by the University. For the avoidance of doubt, no warranties are given in respect of individual graduate's qualification certification or recognition in Chinese Mainland or any other professional qualification or license outside Hong Kong.

CSCSE takes a very prudent approach in evaluating each application, including the students' residential period in Hong Kong during the entire study period. When evaluating graduates' credentials, the full border entry and exit records of individual applicants will be examined.

Students who would pursue credential recognition should be aware that short stays in Hong Kong during the study period may not fulfil the CSCSE residential requirements, leading to possible uncertainty and risks to their credential recognition.

Students are seriously advised to consider the above when making personal plans, such as accommodation and travel plans from Hong Kong, etc. and make necessary arrangements where appropriate.

It is the responsibility of the students to be familiar with and comply with the University regulations and guidelines governing the Taught Postgraduate Programmes. Students should refer to the Graduate School website for the General Academic Regulations and the Code of Practice for Taught Postgraduate Programmes for details.

Students should consult with CSCSE if they have any enquiries.

1 June 2025

Entrance Requirements (for 2026/27 Admission)

1. General Requirements

Recognised Bachelor's Degree or other equivalent qualifications.
Applicants who obtained degrees from universities in Chinese Mainland are required to provide:
- Degree Certificate（學位證書-中文原件掃描）and Online Verification Report of Higher Education Degree Certificate（學位在線驗證報告）issued by the CHSI（學信網）with a validity period of six months;
- Graduation Certificate（畢業證書-中文原件掃描）and Online Verification Report of Higher Education Qualification Certificate（學歷證書電子註冊備案表）issued by the CHSI（學信網）with a validity period of six months; and
- Final Transcript（最終成績單-中文原件掃描）.

2. English Language Proficiency Requirements

Applicants from institutions where English is not the medium of instruction are required to demonstrate English proficiency that meets the programme’s established standards. They should have attained scores in one of the following recognised English proficiency tests as indicated:
i. Overall score of IELTS 6.0 (academic version)^#;
ii. TOEFL score of 80 (internet-based test)^#;
iii. Band 6 in the College English Test (CET)^#with a total score of 430;
iv. Grade C or above in GCSE/GCE O-Level English; or
v. Other equivalent qualifications on a case-by-case basis.

^# The test should be taken in test centres and the result should be valid within two years. TOEFL Home Editions, TOEFL MyBest Score, IELTS Indicator, IELTS Online, IELTS One Skill Retake, Duolingo and National Postgraduate Entrance Examination (全國碩士研究生招生考試) are NOT acceptable.

3. Interview

Shortlisted applicants may be required to attend an interview.

Tuition Fee

The tuition fee (2026/27 cohort) for the whole programme is HKD180,000 (24 cps) (Non-Local Student) / HK$144,000 (24 cps) (Local Student) for the whole programme, which is provisional and subject to adjustment. Tuition fees paid are normally not refundable or transferable. Extension fees will be charged to students who extend their studies beyond the normal duration (i.e. 1 year for full-time and 2 years for part-time).

The University reserves the right to make changes to tuition fee without prior notice.

For information on whether a non-local student can study a full-time or part-time programme, please refer to Taught Postgraduate Programmes - FAQs webpage.

According to the Education Bureau (EDB), definition of local and non-local applicants is as listed here.

To make direct enquiries on the definition of non-local students, please contact EDB (Email: edbinfo@edb.gov.hk / Fax: (852) 2804 6499).

AAPSEF Entrance Scholarship

Starting from the 2026/27 academic year, the Academy for Applied Policy Studies and Education Futures will offer a one-off entrance scholarship (HK$30,000) to local and non-local students with outstanding academic and non-academic achievements in its taught postgraduate programmes.

Places are limited, please visit the Academy’s website for details: https://aapsef.eduhk.hk/study/aapsef-entrance-scholarship

Application and Enquiries

Admission: acadmission@eduhk.hk

Programme: 2948 7823, maglobalhe@eduhk.hk

Interested applicants please submit your application via EdUHK Online Application Systems. Prior to your submission, please visit https://www.eduhk.hk/acadprog/postgrad/index.html for detailed application and admission information.

Disclaimer

In the event of inconsistency between information in English and Chinese versions or where an interpretation of the programme content is required, the decision of the University shall be final.

Important Notes for Students from Chinese Mainland on Overseas Credential Evaluation (國(境)外學歷學位認證)

Students who have fulfilled the programme requirements will be conferred the degree upon the approval of the University's Academic Board. The University bears no responsibility for the evaluation of its degrees outside of Hong Kong. Students are advised to consult with the relevant authority(ies) for the prevailing rules/regulations.

Individuals who would seek qualification certification in Chinese Mainland after graduation should contact the Chinese Service Centre for Scholarly Exchange (CSCSE) 中國(教育部) 留學服務中心 (https://www.cscse.edu.cn) for updated details.

The certification in Chinese Mainland is an independent process from the conferral of academic qualification in Hong Kong by the University. For the avoidance of doubt, no warranties are given in respect of individual graduate's qualification certification or recognition in Chinese Mainland or any other professional qualification or license outside Hong Kong.

CSCSE takes a very prudent approach in evaluating each application, including the students' residential period in Hong Kong during the entire study period. When evaluating graduates' credentials, the full border entry and exit records of individual applicants will be examined.

Students who would pursue credential recognition should be aware that short stays in Hong Kong during the study period may not fulfil the CSCSE residential requirements, leading to possible uncertainty and risks to their credential recognition.

Students are seriously advised to consider the above when making personal plans, such as accommodation and travel plans from Hong Kong, etc. and make necessary arrangements where appropriate.

It is the responsibility of the students to be familiar with and comply with the University regulations and guidelines governing the Taught Postgraduate Programmes. Students should refer to the Graduate School website for the General Academic Regulations and the Code of Practice for Taught Postgraduate Programmes for details.

Students should consult with CSCSE if they have any enquiries.

1 June 2025