This research programme aims at training communication students who plan to become researchers, university teachers, consultants, executives, professionals, etc. A total of at least 30 units are required for graduation. Advancement to PhD candidature is conditional upon the passing of a qualifying examination. Students should at least have one refereed international conference presentation that requires submission of the full paper and one single-authored or co-authored refereed Chinese or English-language journal article of any tier accepted/published before graduation.