Postgraduate Prospectus 2012-13

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School of Science

School of Engineering

School of Business and Management

School of Humanities and Social Science

HKUST Fok Ying Tung Graduate School

Interdisciplinary Programs Office

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Founded only in 1991, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology has risen higher and faster in prestige and international rankings than many older universities. Behind the multitude of achievements are our efforts in turning out students innovative in thinking and entrepreneurial in spirit, whose scientific literacy is complemented by knowledge in humanities and social sciences. We are the regional pioneer in the interdisciplinary approach to research and education. HKUST is home to Asia’s budding intellectual center, the Institute for Advanced Study. It underlines our unshakable belief in our mission as a focused elite research university.

And we have a pleasant, non-academic surprise for you. People often think of Hong Kong as a city of high-rises. But this is a city of surprises, with breathtaking coastal and mountain views. Here at HKUST, you will find a stunning seaside campus overlooking a tranquil cove, with a vibrant campus life. Our university offers intellectual excitement in a quiet environment, and we are only 30 minutes from the throbbing downtown life that makes Hong Kong world-famous.

Hong Kong, multicultural and English-speaking, is situated in the heart of Asia, and lies tantalizingly at the gateway to the thriving Chinese Mainland with its many career and commercial opportunities. Our university, one of the most international in Asia, enjoys growing ties with leading universities and institutions on the Mainland. Come sample a life that offers the best of East and West, and taste the intellectual excitement that brews year-round at HKUST.

Welcome to a first-rate city and a first-class international university.

Tony F Chan President, HKUST

Welcome to

HKUST

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China’s International City of the

Future, Asia’s World City

Undertaking your postgraduate studies at HKUST in Hong Kong opens the door to a new view of life. With its Chinese heritage and 150 years of British administration up to 1997, Hong Kong has evolved into a one-of-a-kind international city. One of the world’s leading financial centers, a major tourist destination, a business hub for Asia and a springboard to the Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong helps to set the pace in numerous fields while its East-West vision continuously drives you forward to fresh lines of thought.

Strategic Location

Hong Kong’s position on the edge of southern China makes it the ideal location to keep up to date with the rapid scientific, technological, economic and social developments in one of the world’s fastest growing and most influential economies. At the same time, Hong Kong’s international standing and competitive environment enables it to keep fully up to speed with the latest regional and global advances.

The Hong Kong Edge

Size

Hong Kong covers 1,100 square kilometers. Despite its reputation for high-rises, country parks and other protected areas cover 40% of its land.

People

Of Hong Kong’s population of 7 million plus, 95% are of Chinese descent and 5% from all over the world. The latter are active and highly visible members of the community.

Languages

The official languages are Chinese and English. English is generally the medium of instruction in public higher education institutions. While Cantonese is the dialect of the man-in-the-street, many Hong Kong people are able to converse in English and Putonghua.

Border

There is a border with immigration controls separating Hong Kong from Shenzhen in Mainland China. People, goods and vehicles flow constantly across it in both directions. Information

Hong Kong is home to more than 130 media organizations, with leading international news organizations having a presence in the city and more than 40 newspapers and 700 periodicals published in English and Chinese.

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One Country, Two Systems

Under the “one country, two systems” concept, Hong Kong, as a special administrative region of China, has been allowed to retain its capitalist system and way of life, including its common law legal system, currency, and freedom of information, creating a unique social framework within which to live and study.

Global Business Center

Along with Hong Kong’s numerous enterprises, over 3,500 overseas companies have regional operations in the city. A low and simple tax structure, stable social environment and international lifestyle all help to keep overseas businesses moving in. An estimated 2,000 Mainland China-backed enterprises seeking international exposure are also registered in Hong Kong.

A Regional Higher Education Hub

Hong Kong has a thriving academic community with eight tertiary institutions supported by public funds, along with other higher education institutions. It attracts top academic faculty from around the world and offers first-rate teaching and research facilities creating a vibrant environment for learning and knowledge creation. The Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI), Jockey Club Institute of Chinese Medicine Limited (also under ASTRI), Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks organization, and several R&D centers carry out and assist companies with applied research activities and commercialization of technologies in fields including nanotechnology, IT and communications, traditional Chinese medicine and logistics.

Spirit of Enterprise

With its positive, can-do spirit, life in Hong Kong is stimulating, surprising, rewarding and enlightening. It is a city that fosters enterprise and bold thought, expects hard work and results, and refuses to stand still. It is the right place for postgraduates who want to make a world of difference.

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The Hong Kong lifestyle bears many resemblances to other major international cities but also takes its own charismatic approach to various aspects of life, making it easy to feel at home while offering new cultural insights.

East-West Culture

Hong Kong is a colorful place to live. The city celebrates Western and Chinese traditional festivals, including the Dragon Boat Festival, the beautiful Mid-Autumn Lantern Festival, Christmas and two different New Years. Long-established street markets sit next to designer shops. Chinese opera and art are available along with Western movies, performing arts and music. Tai chi, kung fu and the Rugby Sevens all have their place.

Leisure

Hong Kong is well provided with attractions. These include the Disneyland and Ocean Park theme parks, Peak Tram, Hong Kong Wetland Park, Giant Buddha and spectacular harbor firework displays held to celebrate special occasions. Major international sporting events, a thriving night-life scene, and a multicultural array of restaurants add to the picture. Located in beautiful Clear Water Bay, HKUST offers easy access to dramatic country parks and beaches as well as the bright lights of the city center.

Climate

Hong Kong has a sub-tropical climate with temperatures ranging from around 10°C in winter to 34°C in summer. Most rain falls in the summer months.

Food

A wide selection of Chinese, Asian and Western cuisines is available in restaurants ranging from fast food takeaways to 3-star Michelin dining establishments. Communication The city’s sophisticated telecommunications include an all-digital local fixed telephone network, mobile phone service, IDD to Mainland China and other countries, multiple 3G service providers and widespread broadband access.

Living in Hong Kong

Health

Western public and private healthcare and traditional Chinese medicine are available in Hong Kong.

Goods and Services The latest electronics, computers, clothes, music and gadgets of every kind are sold throughout the city, along with daily necessities. Services are usually fast and efficient. Travel

State-of-the-art Chek Lap Kok International Airport provides flights to 150 locations. Most major Asian destinations are within four hours’ flight time. Ferries, trains and cross-border buses give additional access to Mainland China.

Moving Around

Helped by its compact size and fast-moving lifestyle, Hong Kong has developed a highly efficient public transportation system. Reliable and cost-effective, the network offers many different ways of getting around the city. Bus, tram, minibus, MTR (subway), taxi, ferry, and the renowned cross-harbor Star Ferry are among the options.

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HKUST Research Excellence

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HKUST’s research breakthroughs and pursuit of academic excellence have played an essential role in building the University’s global reputation since its establishment in 1991. The University comprises five Schools and an Interdisciplinary Programs Office which co-ordinates inter-disciplinary programs. The Schools of Science, Engineering, Business and Management, Humanities and Social Science, and Interdisciplinary Programs Office are located at the Hong Kong campus while the HKUST Fok Ying Tung Graduate School in Nansha has been established across the border in the Chinese Mainland.

Academic Powerhouse

One of HKUST’s central objectives is to be a leading research institution, working to expand knowledge in both fundamental and applied areas and establishing partnerships with business and industry to promote technological advances and economic development. This mission to go beyond the traditional areas of teaching and academic research to assist in the social and economic development of Hong Kong distinguishes HKUST from other tertiary institutions in the region. Our comprehensive research infrastructure and the continuous drive of faculty members see the University succeed in world-class breakthroughs as well as the application, development and transfer of innovations into the wider community. The University files numerous patent applications each year, licenses the transfer of intellectual property, and incubates start-up companies founded with HKUST expertise and

technology developed at the University.

For the past 18 years, we have achieved the top success rate in Hong Kong’s internationally peer-reviewed Research Grants Council’s General Research Fund (GRF, formerly known as Competitive Earmarked Research Grants (CERG) program). In 2011, Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) ranked HKUST as the No. 1 university in Asia. The University was ranked No. 40 overall in the QS World Top 200 University Rankings and No. 41 overall in the Times Higher

Education World Top 200 University Rankings in 2010.

Postgraduate Undergraduate Total

School of Science School of Engineering School of Business and Management

HKUST Fok Ying Tung Graduate School Student Enrolment Faculty Members Schools and IPO Research Institutes Research Centers Central Research Facilities As of 1 January 2011 3,709 6,172 9,881 497 9 44 9

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3,505 6,010 9,515 489 9 44 9 5

High Impact Areas

Five high-impact areas were identified in which the University seeks to build on its first-rate competencies to drive international advances and global

understanding. These are all key areas for the advancement of life in the 21st century and will serve to reinforce HKUST’s world standing and Hong Kong’s role as a higher education hub. The fields are:

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Nanoscience and nanotechnology;

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Biological sciences and biotechnology;

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Electronics, wireless and information technology;

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Environment and sustainable development; and

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Management education and research.

Institute for Advanced Study

HKUST IAS (http://ias.ust.hk), also part of the strategic plan, adds a new dimension to the intellectual

excellence in the University. Seeking to draw together the world’s most brilliant minds to become a premier intellectual center in Asia and beyond, IAS aims to spur innovation and technology development, spearhead fundamental and applied research relevant to Hong Kong and regional development, attract the most gifted students, and raise public awareness of the latest discoveries. IAS champions collaborative projects across disciplines and institutions and seeks to forge strong ties with academic, business, government and community leaders. Since the inaugural lecture given by Prof Stephen Hawking of Cambridge University in June 2006, IAS has organized some 180 distinguished lectures, seminars, workshops, conferences, etc., including 21 lectures/seminars delivered by 16 Nobel Laureates.

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World-class Faculty

Faculty Profile

100% hold doctorate degrees 80% from the following universities:

Caltech Northwestern Cambridge Oxford Carnegie Mellon Princeton Chicago Purdue Columbia Stanford Cornell Toronto Harvard UBC Illinois UC Berkeley Imperial UCLA London Washington Michigan Wisconsin MIT Yale HKUST’s international academics include renowned

names in their respective fields and rising stars. Our faculty members, drawn from famous research universities around the world, frequently receive top international honors for their work and have their research published in leading academic journals. Working at the cutting edge, they are stimulating teachers and excellent role models for research postgraduate students. Supporting our faculty’s achievements are some of the region’s leading research facilities.

Making a Difference

HKUST researchers have made significant contributions at the forefront of their disciplines:

Identification of a key regulator of brain plasticity – major breakthrough in the development of new treatments against neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases

Discovery in the mechanism behind visual system contributes to research on common human visual disorders such as retinitis pigmentosa and night blindness

Ground-breaking discovery in elucidating the disease-causing mechanism of the devastating Usher syndrome -- hereditary deaf-and-blindness

Direct observation of optical precursor of a single photon reported which proves that single photons cannot exceed the speed of light and reaffirms Einstein's theory that nothing travels faster than light Development of the world’s first smart anti-microbial

coating which can kill 99.9% of bacteria within one minute

Creation of a picture with a resolution of 150 billion pixels by stitching together 11,000 18-megapixel photos – the world’s largest digital photograph and a record-breaking global achievement

Cutting-edge project on “Range-free Localization and Localizability for Wireless Network and IOT: Theory and Practice” received a prestigious First Class honor in the Ministry of Education (MOE) Awards for Research Excellence in Natural Science

Launch of the first Air Quality Research Supersite to enhance air quality research and to tackle air pollution problems in Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta

Research performances in marketing and in management were both placed third in rankings by the University of Texas at Dallas (UTD) based on publications in the top three marketing journals and top five management journals respectively

HKUST is ranked among the world’s top five universities based on publications in the three most prestigious international journals on China studies, alongside Harvard and Stanford

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Our Students

Our Alumni

As an active, forward-looking university, HKUST seeks highly qualified, open-minded students with the passion and initiative to participate in the diverse academic and social activities on campus. HKUST’s student community comes from Hong Kong, Mainland China and overseas. This lively, multicultural mix creates a dynamic learning environment and a great opportunity for increased cross-cultural understanding. The University fosters collaboration and a multidisciplinary approach, while a global outlook with China and Asia perspectives helps students develop the all-round vision to succeed anywhere in the world.

HKUST’s alumni community is composed of interesting and vibrant people who have ventured into a diversity of careers.

Teresa Law PhD(CHEM) • MPhil(CHEM) • BSc(CHEM)

Co-Founder and Managing Director, AKOS Advanced Technology Limited

Together with George Chan who is also a UST alumnus, Teresa set up Akos Advanced Technology Ltd., where the world’s first indoor environment analyzer capable of carrying out instant data analysis, forecast problems and suggest solutions was developed.

Corbett Ray Rowell

MPhil(ELEC)

Research & Development Director, HK Applied Science & Technology Research Institute

Founder, Velocity Racers

As the Research & Development Director of ASTRI, Corbett Rowell and his team brings about a breakthrough in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) which helps to enormously reduce the cost of traditional MRI system while making the technology affordable to developing countries in future.

Oscar Lee

MBA

Principal Anchor, NOW TV

Despite the challenging job nature, Oscar took time amidst his busy schedule to study MBA at HKUST. “The well-structured program, the interactive learning environment, the star professors, the highly international student mix are all the reasons behind.”

Naubahar Sharif

MPhil(SOSC) • BBA(MARK)

Associate Professor, Division of Social Science, HKUST

“I try to influence students’ academic and personal development hoping that, by the end of one of my courses, my students have within them a thirst for learning, a felt need for and enjoyment in acquiring knowledge, skills, and attitudes that they can apply in their lives. I strive to do all of this by working in cooperation with my students - by creating partnerships with them.”

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Program Title

Research Postgraduate Programs Taught Postgraduate Programs Master of Philosophy (MPhil) Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Master of Science (MSc) Master of Business Administration (MBA/EMBA) Graduate Diploma (GD) Master of Arts (MA) 8

Postgraduate Opportunities

HKUST encourages well qualified and enthusiastic students from around the world to apply for its challenging and intellectually rewarding postgraduate programs.

Programs

HKUST currently offers postgraduate programs in five Schools: Science, Engineering, Business and Management, Humanities and Social Science and HKUST Fok Ying Tung Graduate School. In addition, the Interdisciplinary Programs Office (IPO) offers programs that bring together two or more different fields of study. The University’s Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and Master of Philosophy (MPhil) programs are research

degrees. Master of Science (MSc), Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA), Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Master of Arts (MA) programs are coursework degrees.

Listed below are HKUST postgraduate programs with intakes in 2012-13. Research programs are on the left and taught postgraduate programs on the right. You can check for updates at

http://www.ust.hk/admissions.

To read in greater detail about the

postgraduate programs offered by individual departments or program offices, visit

http://publish.ust.hk/pgstudies. School of Science School of Science Biotechnology A511 # Chemistry M130 D130 Life Science M111 D111 Mathematics M140 D140

Mathematics (Financial Mathematics

and Statistics) A541

Nano Science and Technology M501 D501

Physics M150 D150

School of Engineering School of Engineering Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering M2121_(ET_{, NT) D212}1 _{(ET, NT)} Civil Engineering M2231 (ET, NT) D2211 (ET, NT) Civil Infrastructural

P231 # A431

Engineering and Management

Computer Science and Engineering M2321 (ET) D2311 (ET) Electronic and Computer Engineering M2421 (ET, NT) D2421 (ET, NT)

Electronic Engineering A454

Engineering Enterprise Management A462

Environmental Engineering M280 D280

Environmental Engineering

P233 A433

and Management

IC Design Engineering A451

Industrial Engineering and

M2561 _{(ET) D253}1 _(ET) Logistics Management

Information Technology A441

Intelligent Building Technology

A471

and Management

Mechanical Engineering M2601 (ET, NT) D2601 (ET, NT) A472

Telecommunications A453

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Program Title

Research Postgraduate Programs Taught Postgraduate Programs Master of Philosophy (MPhil) Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Master of Science (MSc) Master of Business Administration (MBA/EMBA) Graduate Diploma (GD) Master of Arts (MA)

School of Business and Management School of Business and Management

Kellogg–HKUST Executive MBA A307 #

HKUST Executive MBA A308 #

MBA A301

MBA Program in Shenzhen A301 SZ #

Accounting D310

Economics D3302 A331 *

Global Finance A306 #

Finance D340

Financial Analysis A305 #

Information Systems D321

Information Systems Management A321 #

Investment Management A341 #

Operations Management D323

Management D350

Marketing D360

School of Humanities and Social Science School of Humanities and Social Science

China Studies A601

Humanities M410 D410 A611

Liberal Studies A602 #

Social Science M420 D420 A621

HKUST Fok Ying Tung Graduate School HKUST Fok Ying Tung Graduate School

Advanced Materials Engineering L701 *

Atmospheric Environmental Modeling L702 * Computer Science and Technology L441

Interdisciplinary Programs Office Interdisciplinary Programs Office Atmospheric Environmental Science M160 D160

Bioengineering M270 D270

Environmental Science and Management P611 A111

Marine Environmental Science M162 D162 * Full-time mode only # Part-time mode only Notes:

1 The School of Engineering offers the following two concentrations in its research programs: Nanotechnology Concentration – disciplines offering this concentration are marked with “NT”.

Applicants interested in nanoscience and technology may refer to the following web site for details: http://sengnano.ust.hk/introduction.html. Energy Technology Concentration – disciplines offering this concentration are marked with “ET”.

Applicants interested in energy technology may refer to the following web site for details: http://www.seng.ust.hk/ENEG. 2 Students are required to complete the MPhil in Economics curriculum in the first two years of this PhD program.

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Duration of Study

Many of HKUST’s postgraduate programs are available on both full-time and part-time basis. Those undertaking PhD and MPhil programs may be required to participate in research on a full-time basis in some disciplines. Most of our taught programs offer part-time mode of study.

Students may apply to their major department prior to the beginning of any regular term for a transfer from full-time to part-time status and vice versa. If such a transfer is approved, the remaining program requirements will then be determined.

The following tables show the usual time it takes to complete HKUST postgraduate programs.

Visiting Students

Students from institutions outside Hong Kong who wish to study at HKUST on a short-term basis, i.e. one semester normally, may apply for admission to the University as visiting students. A visiting student may take courses but cannot enroll on specific programs. Non-local students must apply for a student visa/entry permit. Further details are available at

Credit Transfer

This may be granted in recognition of studies completed successfully elsewhere. Visit

http://publish.ust.hk/calendar for further details on

credit transfer conditions. Research Degree

Program Normal Duration of Study PhD MPhil Full-time Part-time Full-time Part-time

4 years with a first degree 3 years if a relevant research master’s degree is earned prior to entering the PhD program

8 years with a first degree 2 years

4 years

Taught Degree

Program Normal Duration of Study MSc and MA MBA EMBA Full-time Part-time Full-time Part-time Part-time 1 or 1.5 years as specified by individual programs 2 or 3 years as specified by individual programs 1 to 1.5 years 2 years 16 months

Fall Term 10 Sep - 21 Dec 2012

(14 weeks)

Study Break (Fall) 10 - 11 Dec 2012 Winter Term 2 - 26 Jan 2013 Spring Term 1 Feb - 29 May 2013

(14 weeks)

Study Break (Spring) 17 - 18 May 2013 Summer Term 3 Jun - 10 Aug 2013

Provisional Dates for the 2012-2013

Academic Year

Graduate Diploma Normal Duration of Study Full-time 1 year

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Opportunities for International

Exposure

To enhance the professional and international exposure of postgraduate students, Research Travel Grants are available to research postgraduate students to present papers in international conferences. Opportunities for student exchange to universities overseas and Mainland are available. These widen global perspectives by immersing students in a different way of life and by helping them to forge international connections and expand networks. For full-time PhD students at HKUST, there is also the opportunity to apply for an overseas research

attachment sponsored by the University. This enables students to gain experience of working in a different research environment and to strengthen professional contacts.

Career Development

Hong Kong’s role as a global financial, business and academic hub brings exciting career openings in world-class companies and organizations in many fields, including IT, engineering, business services, the media, banking, telecommunications and management among others. HKUST’s strong links with other academic institutions and different industries, locally, nationally and internationally, also helps to create career opportunities for postgraduates.

The Career Center of the Student Affairs Office

(https://career.ust.hk) guides and assists students in their

job search and career development. Career programs and workshops are organized regularly to keep students up to date with the latest developments in postgraduate career education. In addition, some schools and programs offer their own career

development workshops, services, and information on internships.

HKUST provides orientation sessions, workshops and seminars to postgraduate teaching assistants (TAs) to further their knowledge and understanding as educators. These are offered through the Center for Enhanced Learning and Teaching (http://celt.ust.hk). The Center also works with TA Coordinators to support TAs in their work.

The University’s Entrepreneurship Program can assist HKUST graduates to launch hi-tech start-up companies.

Personal Growth

At HKUST, there are many on-going enrichment activities to enjoy alongside your academic work. Among them are:

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lectures, seminars and forums by key thinkers and leaders including Nobel Laureates, top business executives, academics, artists and community figures.

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courses and self-access learning in many different

languages, including English, written Chinese, Putonghua, Cantonese, Japanese, French, German, Italian, Spanish and Latin provided by the Language Center (http://lc.ust.hk). Among the English language courses are business communication and technical communication programs catering for the career needs of graduates.

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numerous arts and cultural activities, including an Artist-in-Residence program, arranged by the University’s Center for the Arts (http://www.ust.hk/cfa).

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Campus Life

HKUST is situated on a stunning, award-winning coastal campus spread over 60 hectares. Acclaimed by all who visit, the University’s green environment offers a refreshing place to live and study, while still being conveniently located for the city center.

Daily Life

http://www.ab.ust.hk/cso

Facilities on campus include banks, a supermarket and a bookstore. A health center provides an out-patient service and dental care. There are also many different dining options including self-service cafeterias, Chinese and Western restaurants, a food court, a coffee shop and a snack shop. Smoking is not allowed anywhere on campus.

Recreation

http://sao.ust.hk/facilities

Superb sports facilities, including a 50 m seafront outdoor swimming pool, a 25 m indoor pool, fitness center, 400 m running track, tennis courts, an artificial turf soccer pitch, a 8 m climbing wall, as well as indoor facilities for badminton, basketball,

volleyball, indoor soccer and handball, are available to HKUST students.

Multi-purpose rooms are provided for activities such as martial arts, fencing, indoor archery and social dance. In addition, there are music rooms, a photographic darkroom and meeting rooms. Over 100 student societies at HKUST are related to academic disciplines, sports, arts and other social interests. 12

The Library

http://library.ust.hk

School of Science School of Engineering

The Lee Shau Kee Library, as a core component of or academic programs, is centrally located on campus. The purpose-built five-storey Library, providing 12,350 m² floor space and inspiring sea view, actively supports learning, teaching and research at HKUST. Its collection comprises 760,000 printed books, journals and microform plus 36,000 media items. Electronic resources include more than 310 databases, over 26,000 full text e-journals and 170,000 e-books. The Library is usually open seven days a week. Its electronic resources can be accessed everywhere on campus, including student housing, 24 hours a day. Seminar and presentation rooms, group study rooms, collaborative spaces, reading tables and study carrels for individual use are available.

The “Information Commons” provides space and high-end PCs with advanced software and multimedia applications for information-gathering, self-learning and collaborative work. Users will find assistance always on hand.

A new “Learning Commons” is being built on LG1 to bring together services and facilities from various academic support units. It will be an integral hub of student services, providing a variety of spaces for collaborative learning and electronic teaching. The Library also stages a variety of exhibitions and organized international conferences focusing on the latest trends and developments in information management, among other activities.

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Accommodation

http://sao.ust.hk/housing

On-Campus Housing

There are two types of on-campus housing available for postgraduate students:

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The University Apartments comprise 189 fully furnished apartments, providing over 800 bedspaces in single and double rooms (with bunk bed). Charge for University Apartments is HK$15,500-28,000 per residential year (around 10½ months) excluding utility charges.

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Stephen Kam Chuen Cheong Hall is a postgraduate hall of residence offering 120 single rooms.

It charges HK$32,000 per residential year (around 9 months).

At present, there is no provision for married students with their spouse or family. There is heavy demand for on-campus student housing. Many students now live off-campus.

Off-Campus Housing

The University has rented some apartments/hostels within the vicinity of the campus for postgraduate students on taught programs.

Students may rent their own accomodation in nearby areas. The rental may depend on its location, size, furniture, facilities and the public transportation available.

The Student Housing Office offers an information service (http://sao.ust.hk/housing/living_offcampus.html) on how and where to find off-campus accommodation.

Living Expenses

Tuition fees (P16) and accommodation are the primary expenditure for postgraduate students. In addition, you will need to cover the cost of textbooks, local travel, clothing, and other personal needs. The price of meals, books and incidental expenses vary according to individual preferences. However, an average HKUST student spends approximately HK$100 (US$12) per day on meals on campus. Off-campus restaurants are usually substantially more expensive. Miscellaneous spending will be about HK$300 per week, depending on your spending habits.

Insurance

http://sao.ust.hk/studentlife/insurance.html

Non-local degree seeking students are required to subscribe and pay for a compulsory Medical Insurance Scheme. The Scheme covers hospitalization and surgical benefits.

Accessibility

Convenient transport links connect the HKUST campus to the rest of the city. Minibuses leave directly from campus to nearby MTR stations which take you to most parts of Hong Kong. There are also buses and taxis.

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How to Apply

General Requirements

Applicants seeking admission to a master’s degree or graduate diploma program at HKUST should have obtained a bachelor’s degree from HKUST or another recognized institution, or obtained an approved equivalent qualification.

Applicants seeking admission to a doctor of philosophy degree program at HKUST should normally have obtained a master’s degree from HKUST or an approved institution, or presented evidence of satisfactory work at the postgraduate level on a full-time basis for at least one year, or on a part-time basis for at least two years.

Program Requirements

These are available on individual program websites. Visit http://publish.ust.hk/pgstudies to access academic departments and program offices at HKUST.

English Requirements

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1) Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL ) • Paper-based test (PBT) score 550

• Internet-based test (iBT) score 80

or

2) International English Language Testing System (IELTS ) overall score 6.0, all sub-scores 5.5

In case you have difficulties in submitting your online application, please contact the Postgraduate Admissions Team at the Academic Records and Registration Office (ARRO) at [email protected].

Students from institutions outside Hong Kong may enroll as visiting students to study at HKUST on a short-term basis. Application procedures are available at https://www.ab.ust.hk/arr/adm/pg/admissions/TPG/visiting.html.

Notes:

1 TOEFL/IELTS scores are valid for 2 years from the test date

2 The Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS) is an award established by the Research Grants Council (RGC) of Hong Kong to attract top quality doctoral students from around the world to study PhD program in Hong Kong. Persons interested in the HKPFS should refer to http://www.ust.hk/hkpfs for details.

Some programs require supplementary data section(s) of the online form to be completed.

Applicable to research programs

Applications will be assessed on the basis of uploaded documents but official credentials will be required upon offer acceptance. If any of these documents is in a language other than English or Chinese, a certified translation in English must be provided. To be sent directly to HKUST by the referees

Payment for online applications will be made by credit card. i Application form

ii Proposed Research Plan

iii Supporting documents, such as official certified true copies of certificates, official academic transcripts, original score reports for international tests/exams

iv Two sets of confidential references v Application fee

Making an Application

Prospective students of postgraduate programs should apply online2_{. Information on postgraduate} admissions, application forms and details of how to complete the form online are available at

Applications can be made either through the Academic Records and Registration Office (ARRO) or, for some taught postgraduate programs, directly to the relevant School. Details on application routes are set out in

In general, an application should include the following:

Applicants must satisfy the University’s general requirements and the specific admission requirements of their chosen program. Applicants whose mother tongue is not English and whose medium of instruction of the degree program completed previously was not English will also have to meet the English requirements.

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Intake recruitment starts in Sep 2011

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With varied closing dates from Jan to Jun 2012 (see program lists at http://www.ust.hk/admissions)

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HKPFS applicants must register at RGC by 1 Dec 2012 and submit their applications by 6 Dec 2012.

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Notifications on admission offers will be issued from Mar to Aug 2012 in accordance with admission schedules of individual programs.

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Program registration in mid Aug 2012

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Closes in late Dec 2012

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Program registration in late Jan 2013

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Closes on 31 May 2012

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Closes on 31 Oct 2012 Application for 2012-13

Application for 2012-13 Spring Intake (applicable to selected programs only) Application for Visiting Students - 2012-13 Fall Intake

- 2012-13 Spring Intake

Schedule for Applying for Admissions to HKUST Postgraduate Programs (2012-13)

Visas and Entry Permits

All non-local students are required to obtain a student visa/entry permit to study in Hong Kong. The

application process normally takes about two months. Non-local students include those from Mainland China, Taiwan and Macao. Mainland students should allow an additional two weeks to apply for an exit-entry permit for travel to Hong Kong and Macao.

Students are strongly encouraged to apply for their visas/entry permits through HKUST, with the Director of Academic Records and Registration acting as sponsor. Details of visa/entry permit application procedures can be found at http://www.ust.hk/admissions

(> Non-local Students). A fee will be charged to cover

the visa/entry permit label fee and cost of forwarding the label.

Application Fee

The application fee is HK$180 per program for online application and HK$300/US$40 for visiting student applications. Fees are non-refundable and subject to revision. Different application fees may apply to some taught postgraduate programs in the School of Engineering and the School of Business and Management.

Admissions Timetable

Applications for admission to postgraduate programs in the academic year 2012-13 are invited from September 2011 onwards. You are recommended to apply well before the program closing dates given on the admissions website. Late applications may be considered at the discretion of individual program teams provided that places are still available.

You will need to show sufficient financial resources to cover expenses for your period of study. Full-time non-local students may, upon written advice from the Hong Kong Immigration Department, be allowed to take up study or curriculum related internship, as well as part-time work during semester time (restricted to campus work only) and full-time work during the summer vacation. However, research postgraduate students receiving Postgraduate Studentships (see P16) may not engage in employment, full-time or part-time, during the academic year. Visiting and inbound exchange students are also not allowed to work in Hong Kong.

All non-local students should make sure they have a passport/travel document valid for six months beyond the travel period.

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There are various ways that postgraduate students can gain assistance to help finance their studies.

Postgraduate Studentships

HKUST awards postgraduate studentships (PGSs) to selected qualified full-time research postgraduates who will consequently be engaged in ancillary teaching and/or research duties which supplement their formal degree programs. No separate application is required. In the 2011-12 academic year, the rate for PGSs is HK$13,600 per month.

Hong Kong PhD Fellowship

Scheme (HKPFS)

The Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme

is established by the Hong Kong Research Grants Council (RGC) with aims to attract top quality students from around the world to pursue doctoral studies in Hong Kong.

The Fellowship provides each awardee with a monthly stipend of HK$20,000 (~USD2,500) and a conference travel allowance of HK$10,000 (~USD1,300) per year for a maximum period of three years. 135 PhD Fellowships will be awarded for the 2012/13 academic year for the whole of Hong Kong.

For each of the two years of operation of the Scheme (2010-11 and 2011-12), the University has secured more than 25% of the total awards for Hong Kong. Applicants seeking admission as new full-time PhD research candidates in Government-funded institutions in Hong Kong, irrespective of their country of origin and ethnic background, are eligible to apply. Details on the Scheme are available at http://www.ust.hk/hkpfs.

Scholarships and Prizes

The University administers a number of scholarships and prizes on behalf of individual and corporate donors. Most are offered to students on the strength of

academic merit and the recommendations of a school or department. Other scholarships may have

conditions specified by the donor. Details are obtainable from the Scholarships and Financial Aid Office at this website: http://scholarship.ust.hk.

Government Financial Assistance

Schemes

Full-time research students who have the right of abode in Hong Kong or have resided or have had their home in Hong Kong continuously for three complete years immediately prior to the start of their year of study may apply to the government’s Student Financial Assistance Agency (http://www.sfaa.gov.hk) for financial aid. Assistance is available through the Tertiary Student Finance Scheme - Publicly-funded Programmes (TSFS) and Non-means Tested Loan Scheme (NLS) and students may apply to both or either one. Application forms are available on-line from SFAA

(http://www.sfaa.gov.hk/eng/schemes/pst.htm) or HKUST’s

Student Affairs Office. Student visa/entry permit holders are not eligible, irrespective of the number of years they have resided in Hong Kong.

University Loans and Bursaries

Local students with financial needs may apply for loans and bursaries administered by HKUST. In general, these funds are used to supplement government financial assistance and not as a substitute. Details of loans and bursaries are available at the Student Affairs Office

(http://sao.ust.hk).

Tuition Fees

Research Postgraduate Programs Master of Philosophy (MPhil)/

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Full-time HK$42,100 per annum Part-time HK$21,050 per annum Tuition fees are payable in two equal installments at the beginning of each regular term. The tuition fees quoted above are subject to government confirmation.

Taught Postgraduate Programs

Tuition fees for taught programs (i.e. all MSc, MA, MBA, EMBA and Graduate Diploma programs) are available on the websites of the relevant School/program.

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For enquiries, advice or assistance on programs, application procedures, admission requirements or other related matters, please contact the Academic Records and Registration Office:

Email : [email protected] Tel : (852) 2623 1120

In written enquiries, please state the degree program(s) of interest.

Admission Enquiries

For more details on postgraduate admissions, please visit

http://www.ust.hk/admissions

Information on HKUST

http://www.ust.hk

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