Postgraduate Prospectus 2011-12

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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

1 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. Our notable achievements in science, engineering, business and management, social sciences and humanities are globally recognized. With first-rate international faculty and excellent facilities, we are proud of the quality of our education and research. Here you will find a stunning seaside campus

overlooking a tranquil cove, with a vibrant campus life. 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. Our University offers the best of both worlds, as 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 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 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 fueled by a fascinating historical blend of cultures. One of the world’s leading financial centers, a major tourist destination, a business hub for Asia and a springboard to Mainland China, Hong Kong helps to set the pace in numerous fields while its East-West vision continuously drives you forward to fresh lines of thought.

The Hong Kong Edge

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HK

CHINA

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 mean it remains fully up to speed with the latest regional and global advances.

One Country, Two Systems

On its return to Chinese sovereignty, Hong Kong began an innovative political experiment under the “one country, two systems” concept. As the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China, the city 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.

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Size

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

People

Hong Kong’s population of 7 million comprises 95% 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, with English used as the medium of instruction in most public higher education institutions, including HKUST. While Cantonese is the dialect of the man-in-the-street, many Hong Kong people, particularly those working in the service industry, are able to converse in 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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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.

Higher Education Hub

Hong Kong has a thriving academic community with seven universities and one teacher training institute supported by public funds, and two self-supporting universities, 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 six 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. In this way, the city itself helps to raise awareness of alternative perspectives, adding further value to your postgraduate experience in Hong Kong.

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 welcomes millions of tourists each year and 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. At the same time, spectacular countryside abounds just a short distance away from buzzing, high-rise Hong Kong. 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.

Moving Around

Hong Kong’s compact size and fast-moving lifestyle has led to a highly efficient public transportation system. Reliable and cost-effective, the network offers many different ways of getting around the city. Bus, tram, minibus, Mass Transit Railway (MTR), taxi, ferry, and the renowned cross-harbor Star Ferry are among the options.

Climate Hong Kong has a sub-tropical climate with temperatures ranging from around 10 degrees Centigrade in winter to 34 degrees Centigrade 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 five-star dining establishments.

Communication The city’s sophisticated telecommunications include an all-digital local fixed telephone network, IDD to over 230 countries and 1,300 cities in Mainland China, multiple 3G service providers, widespread broadband access and more mobile phone subscriptions than Hong Kong’s total population.

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 Airport provides flights to 150 locations. By air, most major Asian destinations are within four hours’ flight time. Ferries, trains and cross-border buses give additional access to Mainland China.

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HKUST Research Excellence

3,505 6,010 9,515 489 9 44 9 Postgraduate Undergraduate Total School of Science School of Engineering School of Business and Management

5 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. The Schools of Science, Engineering, Business and Management, and Humanities and Social Science are located at the Hong Kong campus while the HKUST Fok Ying Tung Graduate School in Nansha has newly been established across the border in Mainland China.

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 17 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 2010, the University was ranked 2nd in Asia in QS (Quacquarelli Symonds) Top 200 Asian University Rankings. It was ranked No. 35 overall in the

Times Higher Education Supplement’s World Top 200

Universities rankings in 2009. Student Enrolment Faculty Members Schools Research Institutes Research Centers Central Research Facilities As of 1 January 2010

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High Impact Areas

In HKUST’s 15-year strategic plan, launched in 2005, five high-impact areas were identified in which the University seeks to build on its already 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:

. Nanoscience and nanotechnology;

. Biological sciences and biotechnology;

. Electronics, wireless and information technology;

. Environment and sustainable development; and

. Management education and research.

Institute for Advanced Study

HKUST’s IAS, also part of the strategic plan, seeks to draw together the world’s most brilliant minds to become a premier intellectual center in Asia and beyond. IAS (http://ias.ust.hk) 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. The institute also sponsors a regular series of lectures by eminent academics, discussions and short courses. Its inaugural lecture was given by Prof. Stephen Hawking of

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HKUST Academic Breakthroughs

Fabrication of the world’s smallest single-walled carbon nanotubes

Discovery of the fifth gene linked to schizophrenia Development of a fast motion estimation algorithm

recognized as part of MPEG-4, the international standard for multimedia applications

US and Chinese patents for a molecular biosensor to rapidly screen chemical compounds that can trigger programmed cell death in cancer cells

Highly ranked business and management research and regular publication in top academic journals Launch of Bulletin of Chinese Linguistics, the first

academic journal worldwide devoted primarily to Chinese historical linguistics, in conjunction with the Li Fang-Kuei Society for Chinese Linguistics

Our Students

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.

World-class Faculty

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 postgraduate researchers. Supporting our faculty’s achievements are some of the region’s leading research facilities.

Faculty Profile

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

Caltech Imperial

Stanford Toronto

Cambridge London

Carnegie Mellon Michigan

Chicago MIT UC Berkeley UCLA Columbia Northwestern Cornell Oxford Washington Wisconsin Harvard Princeton Illinois Purdue Yale UBC

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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 2011-12. 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 Biochemistry M110 D110 Biology M120 D120 Biotechnology A511 # Chemistry M130 D130 Mathematics M140 D140

Mathematics (Financial Mathematics

and Statistics) A541

Nano Science and Technology M501 D501

Physics M150 D150

School of Engineering School of Engineering

Bioengineering M270 D270

Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering M2121 D2121 Civil Engineering M2231 D2211 Civil Infrastructural

P231 # A431

Engineering and Management

Computer Science and Engineering M232 D231 Electronic and Computer Engineering M2421 _D2421

Electronic Engineering A454

Engineering Enterprise Management A462

Environmental Engineering M280 D280 P232 A432

IC Design Engineering A451

Industrial Engineering and

M256 D253 Logistics Management

Information Technology A441

Intelligent Building Technology

A471

and Management

Mechanical Engineering M2601 _D2601_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 P401 A601

Humanities M410 D410 P411 A611

Liberal Studies A602 #

Social Science M420 D420 P421 A621

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

Advanced Materials Engineering L701 *

Atmospheric Environmental Modeling L702 *

Interdisciplinary Programs Office Interdisciplinary Programs Office Atmospheric Environmental Science M160 D160

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 a Nanotechnology Concentration in the research programs of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Civil Engineering, Electronic & Computer Engineering and Mechanical Engineering. Applicants interested in nanoscience and technology may apply for admission into one of these programs and opt for the nanotechnology concentration in the first semester of study.

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Duration of Study

Many of HKUST’s postgraduate programs are available on both a full-time or 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.

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

Students may apply to their major department prior to the beginning of any semester 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.

Double Registration

Students are not permitted to concurrently register for another program at HKUST or at another tertiary institution unless prior permission from the Director of Admissions, Registration and Records has been obtained.

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 Length of Study PhD MPhil Full-time Part-time Full-time Part-time

4 years with a first degree 3 years if a relevant 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 Length of Study

Graduate Diploma Normal Length 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 Full-time 1 year Part-time 1.5 to 2 years Fall Semester 1 Sep - 21 Dec 2011

(14 weeks)

Study Break (Fall) 8 - 10 Dec 2011 Winter Session 3 - 31 Jan 2012 Spring Semester 1 Feb - 25 May 2012

(14 weeks)

Study Break (Spring) 14 - 15 May 2012 Summer Session 4 Jun - 11 Aug 2012

Provisional Dates for the 2011-2012

Academic Year

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Residency Requirements

If you are a full-time research student, you will be required to be on campus full-time and consequently in such geographical proximity as to be able to participate fully in University activities associated with the

program. Also included in residency are periods during which your research requires off-campus field or non-HKUST laboratory work. The usual residency requirements for various research postgraduate degrees are as follows:

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2 full-time semesters for MPhil degree

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3 full-time semesters for PhD degree if a relevant master’s degree is earned prior to entering the PhD program

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4 full-time semesters for PhD degree if only a first degree is earned prior to entering the PhD program A semester of residency of a part-time student counts as a one-half semester of residency. These requirements do not apply to taught 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. As a visiting student you 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

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

Well Connected

The University’s sophisticated IT network covers all parts of the campus, including residential halls. Students can access network services via a number of Express Stations at various campus locations, through wireless hotspots in public areas, or from off-campus using their home computers. International Internet connectivity is provided by mutiple high-speed links.

Exchanges and Research Attachments

Student exchanges to universities in Mainland China and overseas are available in some postgraduate programs. 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.

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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 Student Affairs Office operates a Career Center

(https://career.ust.hk) which 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:

. Lectures, seminars and forums by key thinkers and

leaders including Nobel Laureates, top business executives, academics, artists and community figures.

. The Language Center (http://lc.ust.hk), which provides

courses and self-access learning in many different languages, including English, written Chinese, Putonghua, Cantonese, Japanese, French, German, Italian, Spanish and Latin. Among the English language courses are Business Communication and Technical Communication programs catering for the career needs of graduates.

. The University’s Center for the Arts

(http://www.ust.hk/cfa), which arranges numerous

arts and cultural activities, including an Artist-in-Residence program.

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The Library

The Lee Shau Kee Library - HKUST’s striking, state-of-the-art Library (http://library.ust.hk) is centrally located on campus as befits its place as a core component of our academic programs. The purpose-built five-story Library actively supports learning, teaching and research at HKUST, providing over 2,000 seats, 10,000 meters of floor space and inspiring sea views along with book, periodical and microform collections totaling approximately 740,000 printed books, journals and microforms and 35,000 media materials. Electronic resources include more than 300 electronic databases, over 25,000 full text e-journals and 150,000 e-books.

The Library is usually open seven days a week and its extensive array of electronic resources can be accessed everywhere on campus, including student housing, 24 hours a day. It continuously expands its collections and applies the latest information technologies to facilitate the University’s pioneering work.

The “Information Commons” on the Library’s ground floor provides space and high-end PCs with advanced software and multimedia applications for information-gathering, self-learning and collaborative work. Assistance is always on hand via a group of roving staff, including librarians, technical officers and student helpers who address information access and software application needs.

Seminar and presentation rooms, group study rooms, collaborative spaces, reading tables and study carrels for individual use are available along with a

well-equipped classroom and computer laboratory. The Library also stages a variety of exhibitions and organizes international conferences focusing on the latest trends and developments in information management, among other activities.

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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, less than 30 minutes away.

Accommodation

On-Campus Housing

Living on campus enables you to become immersed in the University community in both your studies and on a social level. There are two types of on-campus housing available for postgraduate students:

. The University Apartments comprise 189 fully

furnished apartments, providing single rooms and double rooms (with bunk bed). There are sitting room, kitchenette, toilet and shower facilities in each apartment. Bedrooms and living rooms are

air-conditioned.

. Stephen Kam Chuen Cheong Hall is a postgraduate

hall of residence offering 120 single rooms. Common facilities on each floor include shower and toilet facilities and a lounge area with an adjoining pantry. There are no cooking facilities. Hall residents may use various catering outlets on campus.

Laundry facilities are available in both the apartments and the hall of residence. At present, there is no provision for married students with or without

children. There is heavy demand for on-campus student housing. Some students may need to 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 university offers an information service

(http://sao.ust.hk/housing/living_offcampus.html) on how

and where to find off-campus accommodation. Other related expenses include utilities, rates, management, transportation and furnishings. The exact amount will depend on the market and individual spending patterns.

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Daily Life

Facilities on campus include banking services, 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.

Living Expenses

Tuition fees and accommodation are the primary expenditure for postgraduate students (see P18). 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

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

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

Recreation

Superb sports facilities are available to HKUST students. These include:

. 50m seafront outdoor swimming pool and 25m

indoor pool

. Fitness center

. 400m running track

. Tennis courts

. Artificial turf soccer pitch

. Facilities for badminton, basketball, volleyball, indoor

soccer, handball

. 8m climbing wall

. Multi-purpose rooms for different activities including

martial arts, fencing, indoor archery and social dance In addition, there are music rooms, a photographic darkroom and meeting rooms. There are over 100 student societies at HKUST related to academic disciplines, sports, arts and other social interests.

Accessibility

Convenient transport links connect the HKUST campus to the rest of the city. Minibuses leave directly from campus to nearby Mass Transit Railway 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

1

1) Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL ) • Paper-based test (PBT) score 550 • Internet-based test (iBT) score 80

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 Admissions, Registration and Records 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 in 2009 for the best and brightest students from around the world. 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

Please note that 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 Outline of research proposal

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

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

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

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 2010

.

With varied closing dates from Feb to Jun 2011 (see program lists at http://www.ust.hk/admissions)

.

Notification on admission offers will be issued from Mar to Aug 2011 in accordance with admission schedule of individual programs.

.

Program registration in mid Aug 2011

.

Closes in late Dec 2011

.

Program registration in late Jan 2012

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Closes on 31 May 2011

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Closes on 31 Oct 2011 Application for 2011-12

Application for 2011-12 Spring Intake (applicable to selected programs only) Application for Visiting Students - 2011-12 Fall Intake

- 2011-12 Spring Intake

Schedule for Applying for Admissions to HKUST Postgraduate Programs (2011-12)

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 encouraged to apply for their visa/ entry permit through HKUST, with the Director of Admissions, Registration and Records 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 2011-12 are invited from September 2010 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 P19) 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.

Alternatively, applicants (except for Mainland China students) can submit applications to a Chinese Embassy or Consulate in their country of residence. 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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Study Costs

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 semester. 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 relevant School’s website.

On-campus Accommodation

Postgraduate Hall HK$29,000 per residential year (around nine months)

University Apartments HK$15,500 - 27,500 per residential year (around ten months and a half), excluding utility charges

Charges listed here are 2010/11 figures which are subject to revision annually. All accommodation must be paid in advance by installment. Charges for air-conditioning are not included.

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Financial Assistance

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 2010-11 academic year, the rate for PGSs is HK$13,000 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 the best and brightest 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 (~USD1,250) per year for a maximum period of three years. 135 PhD Fellowships will be awarded for the 2011/12 academic year.

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 Awards Unit or 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/tc/public/index.htm#tsfs) 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). School of Science

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

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

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

For more details on postgraduate admissions, please visit http://www.ust.hk/admissions Information on HKUST http://www.ust.hk

Admission Enquiries

School of Science School of Engineering