Course Information
Registration period
4 Mar 2022 (Fri) - 4 Mar 2026 (Wed)
Price
-
Study Mode
Duration
4 Year(s)
Language
English
Location
-
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Course Overview
MPhil
- Full-time: 2 years
- Part-time: 4 years
PhD
- Full-time: 3 years (with a relevant research master’s degree), 4 years (without a relevant research master’s degree)
- Part-time: 6 years
The Master of Philosophy (MPhil) Program is designed to train students to conduct independent research in Physics, and to prepare students for teaching, further postgraduate studies, or advanced work in industry. 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 Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Program is designed to train students to conduct significant original research, and the degree is conferred primarily in recognition of breadth of scholarship, depth of research, and power to investigate problems independently and efficiently. 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.
What You’ll Learn
Minimum Credit Requirement
MPhil/PhD: 12 credits
Required Courses
Students are required to complete at least 12 credits of approved Physics postgraduate courses.
Full-time students are expected to complete the coursework requirements during the first two regular terms.
Students with a first degree in an area other than Physics may be required to take additional courses.
Graduate Teaching Assistant Training
PDEV 6800Introduction to Teaching and Learning in Higher Education0 Credit(s)
All full-time RPg students are required to complete PDEV 6800. The course is composed of a 10-hour training offered by the Center for Education Innovation (CEI), and session(s) of instructional delivery to be assigned by the respective departments. Upon satisfactory completion of the training conducted by CEI, MPhil students are required to give at least one 30-minute session of instructional delivery in front of a group of students for one term. PhD students are required to give at least one such session each in two different terms. The instructional delivery will be formally assessed.
Professional Development Course Requirement
PDEV 6770Professional Development for Research Postgraduate Students1 Credit(s)
Students are required to complete PDEV 6770. The 1 credit earned from PDEV 6770 cannot be counted toward the credit requirements.
PhD students who are HKUST MPhil graduates and have completed PDEV 6770 or other professional development courses offered by the University before may be exempted from taking PDEV 6770, subject to prior approval of the School.
PHYS 6771Professional Development in Physics1 Credit(s)
Students are required to complete PHYS 6771. The 1 credit earned from PHYS 6771 cannot be counted toward the credit requirements.
PhD students who are HKUST MPhil graduates in Physics and have completed PHYS 6000 Physics Seminar or PHYS 6700 Professional Development in Science (Physics) before may be exempted from taking PHYS 6771, subject to prior approval of the Department Head or PG Coordinator.
English Language Requirement
LANG 5000Foundation in Listening & Speaking for Postgraduate Students1 Credit(s)
Full-time RPg students are required to take an English Language Proficiency Assessment (ELPA) Speaking Test administered by the Center for Language Education before the start of their first term of study. Students whose ELPA Speaking Test score is below Level 4, or who failed to take the test in their first term of study, are required to take LANG 5000 until they pass the course by attaining at least Level 4 in the ELPA Speaking Test before graduation. The 1 credit earned from LANG 5000 cannot be counted toward the credit requirements.
LANG 5010Postgraduate English for Science Studies1 Credit(s)
Students are required to complete LANG 5010 in the first year of study. The 1 credit earned from LANG 5010 cannot be counted toward the credit requirements.
PhD students who are HKUST MPhil graduates may be considered for exemption from this requirement, subject to approval from the Department Head and PG Coordinator.
PhD Qualifying Examination
PhD students are required to sit for a qualifying examination set by the Department and pass it within the first two years of study. After passing the qualifying examination, students with satisfactory academic records are admitted to PhD candidacy.
Thesis Research
PHYS 6990MPhil Thesis Research0 Credit(s)
PHYS 7990Doctoral Thesis Research0 Credit(s)
MPhil:
Registration in PHYS 6990; and
Presentation and oral defense of the MPhil thesis.
PhD:
Registration in PHYS 7990 after passing the qualifying examination; and
Presentation and oral defense of the PhD thesis.
On successful completion of the MPhil program, graduates will be able to:
- Explain the principles of several of the core areas of physics (including classical mechanics, quantum mechanics, electricity and magnetism, and statistical mechanics) and solve related problems at the postgraduate level;
- Demonstrate competence in the concepts and literature of a specific sub-discipline of physics;
- Conduct a successful program of supervised research; and
- Communicate scientific results effectively, both orally and in writing.
On successful completion of the PhD program, graduates will be able to:
- Explain the principles of the core areas of physics (including classical mechanics, quantum mechanics, electricity and magnetism, and statistical mechanics) and solve related problems at the postgraduate level;
- Demonstrate a mastery of the concepts and literature of a specific sub-discipline of physics;
- Conduct a successful program of independent research; and
- Communicate scientific results effectively, both orally and in writing.
