Why FWM?

The family wealth management industry saw strong growth in recent decades, and despite greater market uncertainty in the last few years, demand for professionals to manage wealth continues to grow. In particular, families are increasingly seeking advice on how to holistically manage their wealth, business and legacy.

While there are many finance and accounting postgraduate programmes in Hong Kong and the region, the Master of Family Wealth Management (FWM) degree at HKU fills a gap in specialized knowledge that caters to the unique needs of family offices, high-net-worth families and private wealth management.

 

 

What are the key programme features?

Interdisciplinary approach

The Master of Family Wealth Management programme adopts a multi-faceted learning approach, focusing on family history and business, the history of wealth and financial markets, estate planning, and family office management. The Programme emphasizes the importance of soft skills alongside hard knowledge, ensuring you can connect with families on a personal level while providing expert guidance.

Industry-oriented

Designed for individuals who are passionate about managing family wealth and family offices, this Programme prepares students with the necessary skills and knowledge to pursue careers as family wealth managers. Graduates can choose to work professionally in the field, or contribute as an integral member of their own family legacy.

Cohesive cohort

Admission to the Master of Family Wealth Management programme will be limited to a select group of students. This approach ensures a more cohesive cohort, allowing for enhanced collaborative learning opportunities and fostering stronger connections. These connections often extend beyond the academic environment, creating networks that support both personal growth and professional development after the program concludes.

MFWM website photo collage (2)

 

Who should apply?

Master of Family Wealth Management programme is suitable for a wide range of prospective students. Potential student profiles may include, but not limited to:

  • Recent university graduates looking to complement their undergraduate majors with more well-rounded post-graduate studies; for example, a psychology or engineering major looking to acquire financial market knowledge, a finance major looking to better understand family psychology, or an economics major looking to expand into history and finance.
  • Early career professionals looking to expand horizons or upgrade skills, such as tax consultants, lawyers, private bankers, investment advisors, fund managers, looking to better understand the entire spectrum of their clients’ needs.
  • Younger members of families seeking insights on family wealth management, succession planning, family business development, and governance.

At the heart, the programme caters to those who are passionate about family wealth management and managing family office, regardless of their prior education and work.

 

Why HKU and the IHSS?

The Hong Kong Institute for Humanities & Social Sciences (IHSS) is housed in May Hall, a declared historical monument at the heart of HKU’s main campus. The majority of FWM’s classes are envisioned to be conducted inside May Hall.

As a leading research and teaching institution in Asia, The University of Hong Kong (HKU) brings together top academics across multiple disciplines – business, finance, social sciences, history, culture and psychology. Situated in Hong Kong, one of the global wealth management hubs, HKU enables its students to take advantage of the confluence of capital markets and academia.

The Hong Kong Institute for Humanities and Social Sciences (IHSS) has a focus on research and teaching in finance, family business, business history, and culture. Its academic staff and affiliates have long been known as leading experts in these fields. IHSS Director Zhiwu Chen was a founding partner of hedge fund company, Zebra Capital Management, and has advised many family offices, hedge funds, private equity funds, and investment institutions. Master of FWM participants will have exposure to an academic team with strong credentials in fields relevant to the programme, as well as practitioners who have many years of industry experience across various professions.

With the above institutional backing, the Master of Family Wealth Management programme is well placed to draw from and bring synergies to other HKU departments and offerings, such as the Master of Finance, Master of Economics, and Master of Social Sciences in the field of Nonprofit Management programmes.

 

What are the key facts for 2025-2026 admissions?

The Master of Family Wealth Management programme is a full-time, one-year Taught Postgraduate Programme.

  • Session dates:
    • Students are expected to be on campus by last week of August 2025;
    • Programme end date tentatively scheduled for end of June 2026;
    • Students pursuing an internship option will also finish in June 2026;
    • All courses will be conducted on 6-week modules.
  • Tuition for the programme is HKD $420,000, to be payable in 2 instalments in one academic year.
  • Application deadlines:
    • Round 1: 8 October 2024, 12:00 noon (GMT +8)
    • Round 2: 2 December 2024, 12:00 noon (GMT +8)
    • Round 3: 17 January 2025, 12:00 noon (GMT +8)

Learn more about Admissions