The Chinese University of Hong Kong Anthropology Methods Summer Workshop will be held again this summer, subject to funding. Participants will learn about research design and qualitative and ethnographic research methods.
Target Students
The Workshop is aimed at upper-level undergraduates and Masters students majoring or minoring in Anthropology, Ethnology or related disciplines intending to pursue postgraduate degrees in Anthropology. It assumes students have an introductory background knowledge in anthropology/ethnology.
Priority will be given to final year undergraduates and MA/MPhil students who will soon be applying to PhD programmes. All students will be expected to be able to function at a high level in English since that will be the primary language of the Workshop.
When
Friday 5 June to Tuesday 9 June 2026. A half-day fieldtrip will be included for practical skills training.
Seminar Topics
- Research Design: How to Frame a Proposal for Ethnographic Research
- Research Ethics in Anthropology
- The Literature Review
- The Statement of Goals and Significance
- Planning for and entering the field
- Interviewing Skills
- When and How to Use Questionnaires
- Participant Observation and Rapport
- Direct and Unobtrusive Observation
- Keeping and Retrieving Field Notes
- Using and Analyzing Visual Media
- Text Analysis and Identifying Themes
- Ethnographic Writing
Academic instructor
Dr. Joseph Bosco, who has retired from the Department, will lead the workshop. Dr. Bosco taught the postgraduate methods seminar for 24 years, and was Graduate Division Head for 19 years. He will attend all sessions with the students. Current teachers from the Department may participate in some parts and join in meals. Advanced PhD students in the Anthropology Department will discuss their fieldwork experiences and answer questions, giving participants a practical and deeper understanding of fieldwork.
Costs and Expenses
The Workshop is free. Students are expected to cover the cost of transportation to Hong Kong and to the CUHK campus and also meals during the Workshop (a meal at a student canteen costs around HK$30-60). Free on-campus accommodation will be provided. Accepted students will be asked to pay a HK$1000 deposit that will be refunded once they arrive for the Workshop.
Application
Applications are being accepted now until March 31.
Early Decision: To encourage diversity among admitted students, and to allow international students to better plan their travel and summer activities, international students (i.e. those not holding a PRC or Hong Kong passport) are encouraged to apply for early decision. We aim to announce early decision admissions by early March, as soon as funding is approved.
Regular admissions decisions will be announced in mid-April.
The application includes:
- an application form
- academic transcripts
- proof of English ability; TOEFL or IELTS scores preferred
- two letters of recommendation
- two short essays, each under 400 words, with the prompts “I want to pursue postgraduate studies in anthropology because…” and “The research topic I am most interested in is….”
Apply online: https://cloud.itsc.cuhk.edu.hk/webform/view.php?id=13726096