HKUST Postgraduate Programs 2025-26 ais.hkust.edu.hk ACADEMY OF INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES
Contents Welcome 2 School Profile 3 Division of Arts and 4 Machine Creativity Division of Emerging 5 Interdisciplinary Areas Division of Environment 6 and Sustainability Division of Integrative Systems 8 and Design Division of Public Policy 10 Submit Your Application 12
Welcome to the Academy of Interdisciplinary Studies (AIS) at HKUST! Formed in 2008 as the Interdisciplinary Programs Office (IPO), we have grown rapidly into an education center nurturing cross-disciplinary professionals, an incubator for new interdisciplinary programs, and an interdisciplinary research powerhouse. In July 2023, IPO was renamed as the Academy of Interdisciplinary Studies to reflect our school-level scale, the evolved functions in interdisciplinary education and research, as well as the new role as a special academic zone to carry out missions with flexibility and agility. AIS has made many new initiatives in interdisciplinary education, including offering the Individualized Interdisciplinary Programs at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels – the first of their kind in the Greater China area, that allow students the academic freedom to create their custom majors; launching the first Dual Degree Program in Technology & Management in Hong Kong which provides high-flying students an opportunity to gain two full degrees in five years; the first in Hong Kong to introduce a novel academic framework “Major + X” as a new degree option for undergraduates to excel in an extended major of an emerging hot topic such as Artificial Intelligence or Digital Media and Creative Arts. Currently, AIS offers 5 undergraduate programs and 13 postgraduate programs* which are all highly interdisciplinary and relevant to our modern world. Offered by our world-class AIS faculty members, these exciting programs have attracted talented students globally, with our 1291 undergraduates hailing from 24 countries and 802 postgraduates comprising 28 nationalities as of May 2024. AIS provides a nurturing environment for faculty members from different backgrounds working together for cuttingedge interdisciplinary research. Our faculty members are clustered into five academically significant and socially impactful divisions, namely the Division of Environment and Sustainability, the Division of Public Policy, the Division of Emerging Interdisciplinary Areas, the Division of Integrative Systems & Design, and the newly established Division of Arts and Machine Creativity, with a wide range of research focus in air and health, climate adaptation and resilience (CARE), green finance and net zero solutions, science, technology, and innovation policy, environment policy, sustainability, social changes, robotics and AI, IoT for integrative systems, art management and machine creativity, and other emerging areas. One-third of our faculty members have joint appointments with other departments like Mathematics, Computer Science and Engineering, Chemistry, Economy, Civil Engineering, and Social Science, to name a few. In our rapidly evolving world, grand challenges faced by humans today require solutions beyond individual disciplines. AIS will explore new pedagogy to cultivate students’ competencies in fusing knowledge and know-how from different fields to drive positive changes in the world. New interdisciplinary research clusters will be established at AIS to tackle today’s challenging and multi-faceted issues. AIS also plays an important role in support of the strategic plan of HKUST, including HKUST (GZ). As the Dean of AIS, I encourage you to join us in transcending traditional academic boundaries and broadening our reach through partnerships within the community, industry, academia in Hong Kong and beyond. Sincerely, Prof. Huamin QU Dean, Academy of Interdisciplinary Studies Welcome *Including the programs pending for the University Senate’s approval 2
3 Faculty Members (as of 31 May 2024) Regular Faculty (including teaching and research faculty) Visiting/ Adjunct Faculty Total 82 26 108 PG Student Enrollment (as of 31 May 2024) Enrollment Total MPhil/PhD in Atmospheric Environmental Science MPhil: 12 PhD: 37 49 MPhil/PhD in Environmental Science, Policy and Management MPhil: 9 PhD: 29 38 MPhil/PhD in Individualized Interdisciplinary Program (Research Area) MPhil: 18 PhD: 35 53 MPhil/PhD in Individualized Interdisciplinary Program (Research Area) - HKUST Guangzhou Pilot Scheme* Students MPhil: 6 PhD: 234 240 MPhil/PhD in Integrative Systems and Design MPhil: 10 PhD: 31 41 MPhil/PhD in Public Policy MPhil: 3 PhD: 24 27 Master of Public Management MPM: 51 51 Master of Public Policy MPP: 172 172 MSc in Technology Leadership and Entrepreneurship MSc: 31 31 PGD/MSc in Environmental Science and Management PGD: 3 MSc: 97 100 Total 802 Academy of Interdisciplinary Studies (AIS) Division of Environment & Sustainability • MPhil/PhD in Atmospheric Environmental Science • MPhil/PhD in Environmental Science, Policy & Management • PGD/MSc in Environmental Science & Management Division of Public Policy • MPhil/PhD in Public Policy • Master of Public Management • Master of Public Policy Division of Integrative Systems and Design • MPhil/PhD in Integrative Systems and Design • MPhil in Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurship • MSc in Technology Leadership and Entrepreneurship Division of Emerging Interdisciplinary Areas • MPhil/PhD in Individualized Interdisciplinary Program (Research Area) Division of Arts and Machine Creativity • The Division plans to offer postgraduate programs in 2025/26 academic year *The admissions of HKUST Guangzhou Pilot Scheme were available in 2019-20, 2020-21 and 2021-22 only.
School of SCIENCE 4 Division of Arts and Machine Creativity Enquiries Division of Arts and Machine Creativity amcgeneral@ust.hk T : (852) 3469 3065 Research Foci Established in July 2024, the Division of Arts and Machine Creativity (AMC) is an interdisciplinary academic division envisioned to become a leading cross-disciplinary center where technology, art and humanities converge to drive creativity and innovation. The Division will offer both research and taught postgraduate programs to equip students with the ability to integrate new technologies into their creative processes and fields of interests. The Division’s main areas of focus are: Machine creativity Machine-assisted art practice Art management Critical studies on arts and machine creativity Prospective Students Aspiring managers and innovators who envision leading the intersection of arts and technology, blending administrative acumen with creative insight to drive the future of creative industries Artists with a substantive portfolio, seeking to deepen their creative practice through advanced technology, fostering a professional mastery of art that resonates in the digital age Scholars with a solid foundation in the arts and a demonstrated potential for technological innovation, ready to embark on rigorous research that pushes the boundaries of art-tech convergence
School of SCIENCE 5 Division of Emerging Interdisciplinary Areas Enquiries MPhil and PhD Programs iip@ust.hk T : (852) 3469 2071 Research Postgraduate Programs Master of Philosophy/ Doctor of Philosophy in Individualized Interdisciplinary Program (Research Area) The MPhil/PhD in Individualized Interdisciplinary Program (Research Area) offers students a broad academic freedom to create a unique research postgraduate program focused on a specialized area of research in ways that best suit their own intellectual interests and passion, by working on an interdisciplinary research topic and using courses from different departments/divisions to fulfill the curriculum requirement. It aims to create an organic curriculum to facilitate students’ intellectual growth, exploration into novel research direction and a long term commitment in an interdisciplinary research field bridging seemingly unrelated areas. The program would make an ideal choice for students with academic and research interests which extend beyond the boundaries of HKUST’s existing RPg programs. Students have to develop a research plan and framework which allow them to explore their unique research interests and to work with their supervisors to pursue and complete their degree. MPhil PhD The program is designated for: Students who have particular, well-articulated research goals which cannot be achieved through established RPg programs. Students who wish to combine the knowledge from two or more disciplines in order to develop a research plan that best aligns with their academic needs. Students with strong exploratory mindset and have strong interest in specialized areas at the interface of more traditional disciplines. Applicants are required to develop a research plan as a written proposal. Before submitting an application, they should form a research team which is composed of at least two faculty members working on different research areas to warrant that the research is interdisciplinary in nature. One faculty of the research team will serve as the primary supervisor and the rest will serve as co-supervisors. emia.hkust.edu.hk
School of SCIENCE 6 The Division’s main areas of focus are: Air and Health Climate Adaptation and Resilience Sustainable Finance and Net Zero Solutions We also work at the points where these areas intersect, such as the scientific understanding of management strategies and policy formulations. Division of Environment and Sustainability Research Foci Facilities We are living in a world facing serious interrelated environmental problems, including climate change, pervasive pollution, reduction in biodiversity, and looming supply constraints for a number of key natural resources. Individually, and especially in combination, these issues pose serious challenges to sustainable development. The Division of Environment and Sustainability has been created to meet such challenges. Our faculty members have diverse backgrounds in science, engineering, business and social sciences to provide integrated and cutting-edge education and research on global environmental issues and emerging solutions. Our postgraduate programs offer students a great opportunity to gain a broader understanding of environmental science and related policies to help increase their understanding of the issues involved in tackling the environment and their ability to generate meaningful solutions. HKUST has excellent central facilities and equipment to support the Program’s teaching and learning. These include: Environmental Central Facility, the Air Quality Research Supersite Facility, Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) Laboratory, realtime air quality and meteorological forecasting systems, satellite receiving systems and Geographical Information System. envr.ust.hk
7 The MPhil and PhD programs offered by Division of Environment and Sustainability are broadbased research postgraduate programs that embrace a wide spectrum of environmental interests. The programs serve as an innovative platform for interdisciplinary research involving scientific, technological, environmental socio-economic and policy challenges. The programs also provide students with the background to solve complex environmental problems and to engage in interdisciplinary environmental research that can have a high impact on Hong Kong and the world. Co-supervision on student thesis work is a core feature in the program, an approach that enhances the interdisciplinary education experience for students. Research Postgraduate Programs Master of Philosophy in Atmospheric Environmental Science The MPhil Program aims to train students to conduct independent research in Atmospheric Environmental Science. A candidate for an MPhil degree is expected to demonstrate knowledge in the discipline and to synthesize and create new knowledge, making a contribution to the field. MPhil Master of Philosophy in Environmental Science, Policy and Management The MPhil Program aims to train students to conduct independent interdisciplinary research in Environmental Science, Policy and Management. A candidate for an MPhil degree is expected to demonstrate knowledge in the discipline and to synthesize and create new knowledge, making a contribution to the field. MPhil Doctor of Philosophy in Atmospheric Environmental Science The PhD Program seeks to train students in original research in Atmospheric Environmental Science and to cultivate independent and innovative thinking that is essential for a successful research career in environmental science. A candidate for a PhD degree is expected to demonstrate mastery of knowledge in the chosen discipline and to synthesize and create new knowledge, making an original and substantial contribution to the discipline. PhD Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental Science, Policy and Management The PhD Program seeks to train students in original research and to cultivate the independent, interdisciplinary and innovative thinking that is essential for a successful career in research, management or policy formulation in this area. A candidate for a PhD degree is expected to demonstrate mastery of knowledge in the chosen discipline and to synthesize and create new knowledge, making an original and substantial contribution to the discipline. PhD Taught Postgraduate Programs Postgraduate Diploma/ Master of Science in Environmental Science and Management The programs prepare participants to tackle the rapidly developing environmental and sustainability issues in Hong Kong and the surrounding region. The multidisciplinary program offers a unique opportunity to combine advanced environmental science and management courses with engineering electives to help broaden capabilities. It strengthens student’s professional status with updated and advanced knowledge and development in important and emerging environmental and sustainability issues and concepts and enhance their ability to address local, regional and global sustainability challenges through proper technical and management strategies. It also cultivates student’s stewardship towards sustainable development in their professional industries and sectors. The Postgraduate Diploma provides flexibility for students who are unable to commit the time and financial resources required by the MSc. PGD MSc Enquiries Division of Environment and Sustainability envr@ust.hk T : (852) 2358 8363
School of SCIENCE 8 isd.hkust.edu.hk Division of Integrative Systems and Design The Division of Integrative Systems and Design (ISD) was founded in 2017, aiming at nurturing a new generation of technology innovators and entrepreneurs. Interdisciplinary vision, human-centered mindset, technical ability and design thinking skills are the core dimensions of ISD’s unique pedagogy. We provide a platform for students to fully unleash their potentials and contribute to the society. The interdisciplinary background of our faculty drives collaborations across academic fields and bridges research outcomes with industry to create societal impacts. Building on our current research foundation, ISD aims to delve deeper into focused areas, such as Bio Health, Marine Tech and AI Design. Research Foci The Division’s main areas of focus are: MarineTech - HealthTech - SustaintableTech - DesignTech Facilities Prototyping is a core part of the integrative systems design process, and therefore our students are encouraged to gain hands-on practice throughout the program. Our makerspaces, ISDworks! and Design Studio, are equipped with state-of-the-art prototyping equipment, such as advanced 3D printers, laser cutters, CNC machines, solar simulator, nanoimprint machine, electrochemical stations and robotic arms. The makerspaces also serve as project spaces for inspiration, collaboration and project showcases. They are the heart and soul of ISD where students make their dreams a reality. MarineTech HealthTech SustaintableTech DesignTech
9 Enquiries MPhil and PhD in isdpg@ust.hk T: (852) 3469 2811 Integrative Systems and Design MPhil in Technology Innovation isdpg@ust.hk T: (852) 3469 2957 and Entrepreneurship MSc in Technology Leadership enquirytle@ust.hk T: (852) 3469 2957 and Entrepreneurship Master of Philosophy in Integrative Systems and Design MPhil students of ISD are trained to conduct research on interdisciplinary topics, while demonstrating sufficient knowledge about the state-of-the-art in the areas related to the research problem and on the broader related topics. Their research will adopt principles of design in solving technical problems with clear emphasis on human and societal benefits. MPhil Master of Philosophy in Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurship The establishment of our new TIE program is a transformative step towards redefining research and industry impacts at postgraduate level. It enables our graduates to become pioneers in their respective fields, driving technological progress and contributing to a thriving, future-ready economy. Students will form dynamics teams to engage in rigorous trainings, interdisciplinary exposure and industry connections. They are required to independently complete a thesis under the mentorship of a faculty member. Candidates with a robust foundation in science and engineering, a profound sense of curiosity, and an aptitude for learning are ideal for this program. MPhil Doctor of Philosophy in Integrative Systems and Design The PhD program trains students in leading world-class research based on their original ideas and driving a team of interdisciplinary experts to make a substantial research contribution. It is also a platform for students to demonstrate mastery of understanding in the chosen areas and initiate interdisciplinary research cooperations to create new knowledge. By the time of graduation, students should possess the essential expertise and experience for a successful career in the academia. PhD Research Postgraduate Programs Master of Science in Technology Leadership and Entrepreneurship Jointly offered by the Academy of Interdisciplinary Studies and the School of Business and Management, this unique program seeks to nurture engineering talents with an entrepreneurial spirit and a design thinking mindset, so that they can become technology entrepreneurs. Students will work independently or in a team to conceptualize and develop a product or services prototype. Along the way, they can enroll in a diverse selection of technical and business courses to build in-dept knowledge related to their project. A start-up workshop will equip students with practical details of venturing in the Greater Bay Area. Taught Postgraduate Program MSc
School of SCIENCE 10 Division of Public Policy Research Foci Global policy challenges such as aging, climate change and economic crises call for innovative solutions beyond institutional and disciplinary boundaries, and public policy schools, departments, institutes and programs have been set up in leading universities around the world to tackle these global challenges. With substantial strengths in science, engineering, business and management, and quantitative social science areas, the Division of Public Policy (PPOL) and the Institute for Public Policy (IPP) are established to develop public policy as an emerging strategic area by fostering close collaboration across disciplines and to contribute more to policy development in key policy areas both locally and globally. The program aims to develop unique interdisciplinary postgraduate programs to provide rigorous training in policy research on a wide range of policy areas, such as environmental/ social/ economic policy, innovation and technology policy that meet society’s needs and professional requirements. Students in MPhil/PhD in Public Policy programs will have the opportunity to specialize in one of the following four policy areas. Science, Technology and Innovation Policy Environmental Policy and Sustainability Social Changes and Public Policy China’s Development Policies ppol.hkust.edu.hk
11 Master of Philosophy/ Doctor of Philosophy in Public Policy The MPhil and PhD programs provide rigorous training in public policy research to academically outstanding students aspiring to pursue a career in policy research and teaching. Given the breadth and depth of research faculty expertise across departments and schools in HKUST, students in the Public Policy Programs will have the opportunity to specialize in one of the following key policy area: Science, Technology and Innovation Policy, Environmental Policy and Sustainability, Social Changes and Public Policy, and China’s Development Policy. The MPhil program aims to train students to conduct independent interdisciplinary research in public policy. A candidate for an MPhil degree is expected to demonstrate knowledge in the discipline and to synthesize and create new knowledge, making a contribution to the field. The PhD program seeks to train students in original research in public policy and to cultivate the independent, interdisciplinary and innovative thinking that is essential for a successful career in public policy research and formulation. A candidate for a PhD degree is expected to demonstrate mastery of knowledge in the chosen discipline and to synthesize and create new knowledge, making an original and substantial contribution to the discipline. Research Postgraduate Programs MPhil PhD Taught Postgraduate Programs M Master of Public Management The Master of Public Management (MPM) Program prepares students for senior management roles in organizations providing public services or having frequent interactions with the public sector. By equipping them with the skills and knowledge to cope with the increasingly dynamic and complex challenges of the public sector, they would develop managerial capacities, such as the analytical skills, managerial competence, and political acumen, that are essential for successful career in public sector organizations. Given the importance of technology innovation and sustainability, the program provides the students with an interdisciplinary study with a strong emphasis on the policy, management and governance issues concerning technological innovation and sustainability. MPM Master of Public Policy The Master of Public Policy (MPP) Program is an interdisciplinary program that equips students with knowledge of the full impact of science and technology innovations, and professional skills in the formulation and implementation of innovative solutions to current and emerging global challenges. It provides students with complete professional training that focuses on problem-solving skills with real-world cases and examples, such as information technology and telecommunications, environment, energy, health care, transportation and finance. Designed for students with diverse educational backgrounds, including social science, science, engineering, business, and other fields of study, this two-year full-time program consists of a core curriculum, a client-based policy analysis project, and elective courses allowing students to develop their areas of specialization. MPP Enquiries MPhil and PhD Programs ppolpg@ust.hk T: (852) 3469 2426 MPM Program ppolmpm@ust.hk T: (852) 3469 2256 MPP Program ppolmpp@ust.hk T: (852) 3469 2001
School of SCIENCE 12 Submit Your Application @ fytgs.hkust.edu.hk/apply Admission Requirements @ fytgs.hkust.edu.hk/adm-req To qualify for admission to the University, applicants should have: • Obtained a bachelor’s degree from a recognized institution, or an approved equivalent qualification; • For PhD applicants (additional to the above): a proven record of outstanding performance from a recognized institution or presented evidence of satisfactory work at the postgraduate level on a fulltime basis for at least one year, or on a part-time basis for at least two years; • Fulfill the English language requirements with one of the following proficiency attainments1: Proficiency Test Minimum Score TOEFL – Internet-based Test (iBT) 80 (in one single attempt) TOEFL – Paper-based Test (pBT) 550 TOEFL – Revised Paper-delivered Test 60 (total scores for Reading, Listening and Writing sections) IELTS (Academic Module) Overall score: 6.5 and all sub-scores: 5.5 1 You are not required to present TOEFL or IELTS score if your first language is English, or your bachelor’s degree (or equivalent qualification) was awarded by an institution where the medium of instruction was English. Guaranteed University Accommodation in the First 2 years of Full-time Research Studies Generous Scholarship @ fytgs.hkust.edu.hk/funding • Met program-specific admission requirements, if any. For more programs offered at HKUST, please refer to fytgs.hkust.edu.hk/programs. Cross-Campus Study Opportunities Top-notch Faculty from Worldwide @ fytgs.hkust.edu.hk/faculty
This booklet was published in August 2024, the details may be subject to change. For the most up-to-date information, please refer to fytgs.hkust.edu.hk.
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong hkust.edu.hk
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