SOSC has undertaken a comparative benchmarking study of research postgraduate studies with other local and overseas institutions: The University of Hong Kong (PhD/MPhil), Cornell University (Graduate School of History), University of Plymouth (PhD/MPhil), Australian Group of Eight (PhD programmes). Based on the benchmark, an overall action plan for AY2014-15-AY2017-18 has been formulated to enhance the competitiveness of the programmes.