Master of Arts in Language Studies (MALS) is a programme offered by the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. It is taught by faculty members of the Department of English Language and Literature, which is under the Academy of Language and Culture. It has been running since 1992.
Brochures
For International Applicants
One-year full-time (non-dissertation option) or one and half years full-time (dissertation option).
The dissertation option is subject to the final approval by the Programme Director, depending on the student’s academic results and the merits of his/her preliminary proposal.
Classes are conducted on weekday evenings and Saturdays, so that both part-time and full-time students can attend. We may offer a few courses in the daytime so that full-time students can be given more choices of elective courses.
A number of scholarships are offered to incoming MALS students who (1) obtained first or second upper honours classification from their first degrees, and which are relevant to language studies (linguistics, translation, English language & literature, etc.), or (2) are the UGC-funded HKBU Bachelor of Arts and Social Sciences graduates under Academy of Language and Culture. (w.e.f. 2025/26 intake)
Scholarships are open to incoming international students in order to increase the diversity of students and enhance their exposure to peers from other linguistic and cultural backgrounds. The scholarship awards vary from 15% to 100% of the total tuition fee and will be deducted from the tuition fee upon admission. The scholarships are awarded based on a holistic review process that includes academic results, academic outputs, interviews, relevant test scores and/or other evidence of excellence and aptitude.
Scholarships are open to all applicants regardless of race, nationality, gender, political view, or any other irrelevant parameter. The requirements are strictly in relation to service to Hong Kong. Examples of service may include work at Hong Kong-related NGOs, charity bodies, extra-curricular societies like the boy scouts or girl guides, help given to minority or disadvantaged groups, service (not just membership) to political parties, service (not just membership) to professional bodies, etc. Acceptable evidence includes testimonies, references, certificates, and other materials that allow verification. The scholarship awards vary from 5% to 100% of the total tuition fee and will be deducted from the tuition fee upon admission. Applicants who wish to be considered for the award should include all relevant supporting materials at the point of application for admissions. (w.e.f. 2025/26 intake)
A Dissertation Excellence Prize is now offered by MALS to encourage students’ progression from taught postgraduate programmes to research postgraduate programmes. The Dissertation Excellence Prize will be awarded to the best five MALS dissertations that score at or above “A-” each year. (The award for an “A” grade is HK$10,000, and for an “A-” grade is HK$5,000.) (w.e.f. 2025/26 intake)
The graduate attaining the highest cumulative GPA in the graduating class of the Programme and whose cumulative GPA is no less than 3.67 will be awarded the MALS Scholastic Award for that year.
Applicants should possess:
- a Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university or comparable institution, or
- a qualification deemed to be equivalent.
Applicants are expected to have advanced competence in spoken and written English. A good knowledge of other languages (including Chinese) would be an added advantage. If English was not the medium of instruction for the first degree, applicants are required to provide evidence of good English proficiency. At least one of the following minimum scores or standards has been achieved: (i) IELTS (Academic): Overall Band at 6.5; (ii) TOEFL: 550 (Paper-based), 79 (Internet-based); (iii) CET-6 (College English Test band 6): 500; (iv) Grade D in AS Use of English (HKALE); OR (v) Level 4 in English Language (HKDSE). For IELTS, TOEFL and CET6, the test result provided should be within two years from the date of issuance of the Admission Offer letter. Test result of TOEFL iBT Home Edition or IELTS Indicator is not accepted.
Transfer of units may be granted (i) if relevant and comparable course(s) have been previously taken from a recognised institution no more than eight years before the commencement of study at HKBU and (ii) if the relevant course result is equivalent to B- or above in the University’s grading system. Subject to programme requirements and panel approval, transfer may be granted for up to four courses for credits earned from an HKBU postgraduate diploma programme. Applications for credit transfer should be submitted to the admission panel, supported by relevant proof. Where appropriate, students may be required to sit for and achieve satisfactory results in the University’s proficiency test(s) or qualifying examination(s) before their application for transfer of units is approved. Where a transfer of credits is effected, the tuition fee will be adjusted accordingly.
Dr. CHOR, Winnie O W
BA (Hons) (HKU), MPhil (HKU)
PhD (SydneyU)
Associate Professor, Department of English Language and Literature
Dr. HE, Angela Xiaoxue
BA (CUHK)
PhD (U. of Maryland)
Assistant Professor, Department of English Language and Literature
Dr. LI, Mingxing
BA, MA (Tianjin Normal U)
MPhil (CUHK), PhD (Kansas)
Associate Professor, Department of English Language and Literature
Dr. LI, Ran
BA, MA (U. of Maryland)
PhD (Boston U.)
Assistant Professor, Department of English Language and Literature
Dr. LU, Dan Huai
Dip (Anhui), MA (Shanghai Int’l Stud), PhD (Alberta)
Honorary Associate / Part-time Lecturer, Language Centre
Dr. ROWLETT, Benedict
BA (Hons) (U of London), MSc (AstonU)
PhD (CityU HK)
Associate Professor, Department of English Language and Literature
Dr. SHAO, Jing
BA (Beijing Normal U), MA (Peking U)
PhD (CityU HK)
Research Assistant Professor, Department of English Language and Literature
Prof. WEE, Lian Hee
BA (Hons) (Singapore), PhD (Rutgers)
Professor, Department of English Language and Literature
Dr. WONG, Janice W S
BA (Hons) (CUHK), MPhil (CUHK)
PhD (CUHK)
Senior Lecturer, Department of English Language and Literature
Programme Director, MALS
Online application through the website of the Taught Postgraduate Section of Academic Registry, Hong Kong Baptist University:
https://ar.hkbu.edu.hk/tpg-admissions/programmes/master-of-arts-ma-in-language-studies
Application Hotline: (852) 3411 5127
Application Enquiries Email: hkbu_tpg@hkbu.edu.hk
MALS Programme Office
Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong
Telephone (852) 3411 7851
Email: langstud@hkbu.edu.hk
Website: https://mals.hkbu.edu.hk
