Course Information
Registration period
25 Mar 2022 (Fri) - 25 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 (with a bachelor’s degree only)
- Part-time: 6 years
The Master of Philosophy (MPhil) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Programs are broad-based 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 programs, an approach that enhances the interdisciplinary education experience for students. Currently, the research concentrations include:
- Air quality and built environment
- Climate change and adaptations
- Environmental data analysis
- Environmental economics
- Environmental microbiology
- Environmental policy and management
- Environmental pollution and health
- Physical/Biophysical oceanography and ecosystem modeling
- Planning and design for sustainable development
- Sustainability, energy and environment
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.
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.
What You’ll Learn
Minimum Credit Requirement
MPhil: 9 credits
PhD: 12 credits
Credit Transfer
Subject to approval of the PG Coordinator, PhD students who have taken the HKUST MPhil Program in Environmental Science, Policy and Management will be granted credit transfer of up to a maximum of 9 credits. Students admitted to the PhD program with a relevant master’s degree may be granted credit transfer on a case-by-case basis. In such case, the maximum number of credits transferrable is 6.
Core Courses
MPhil/PhD: 6 Credits
ENVR 5290Climate Change: Science, Policy and Management3 Credit(s)
orSOSC 5770Policy Analysis and Design for Sustainable Development3 Credit(s)
ENVR 5360Sustainable Development Research and Practice3 Credit(s)
orSOSC 5620Sustainable Development3 Credit(s)
Elective Courses
MPhil: 3 Credits
PhD: 6 Credits
ENVR 5210Environmental Microbiology3 Credit(s)
ENVR 5250Environmental Economics and Management3 Credit(s)
ENVR 5260Environmental Policy and Management3 Credit(s)
ENVR 5310Atmospheric Dynamics3 Credit(s)
ENVR 5320Environmental Data Analysis3 Credit(s)
ENVR 5330Environmental Geographical Information System3 Credit(s)
ENVR 5340Fundamentals of Sustainability Science and Technology3 Credit(s)
ENVR 5350Climate Dynamics3 Credit(s)
ENVR 5370Energy Systems, Sustainability, and Policy3 Credit(s)
ENVR 5380The Circular Economy – Institutions, Stakeholders and Modes of Implementation3 Credit(s)
ENVR 5390Satellite Remote Sensing and Informatics3 Credit(s)
ENVR 5410Atmospheric Chemistry3 Credit(s)
ENVR 6040Special Topics in Environmental Science1-4 Credit(s)
ENVR 6050Introduction to Oceanography3 Credit(s)
ENVR 6060Sustainability Economics3 Credit(s)
ENVR 6090Special Topics in Environmental Management1-4 Credit(s)
EVSM 5270Environmental Law3 Credit(s)
EVSM 6070Environmental Impact Assessment4 Credit(s)
EVSM 5280Introduction to Atmospheric Aerosols3 Credit(s)
RMBI 4000BEnvironmental Risk Management for Corporate3 Credit(s)
Students may take other postgraduate course(s) approved by the supervisor and the PG Coordinator.
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 Interdisciplinary Programs Office.
ENVR 6770Professional Development in Environmental Science, Policy and Management1 Credit(s)
Students are required to complete ENVR 6770. The 1 credit earned from ENVR 6770 cannot be counted toward the credit requirements.
PhD students who are HKUST MPhil graduates and have completed ENVR 6770 or other professional development courses offered by the University before may be exempted from taking ENVR 6770, subject to prior approval of the Interdisciplinary Programs Office.
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 5080English Seminar and Presentation Skills3 Credit(s)
LANG 5081Research Writing Skills3 Credit(s)
MPhil students are required to complete LANG 5081. PhD students are required to complete LANG 5080 and LANG 5081.
The credits earned from LANG 5080 and LANG 5081 cannot be counted toward the credit requirements. Students can be exempted from taking LANG 5080 and/or LANG 5081 with the approval of the supervisor and the PG Coordinator.
Postgraduate Seminar
ENVR 6010Postgraduate Seminar0 Credit(s)
Students must take ENVR 6010 whenever it is offered.
PhD Qualifying Examination
PhD students are required to submit a thesis proposal to the Qualifying Examination Committee who will examine the students’ general background knowledge and knowledge related to the topic of the research. Students must pass the qualifying examination no later than the forth regular term of study for full-time students, or the sixth regular term of study for part-time students.
Thesis Research
ENVR 6990MPhil Thesis Research0 Credit(s)
ENVR 7990Doctoral Thesis Research0 Credit(s)
MPhil:
Registration in ENVR 6990; and
Presentation and oral defense of the MPhil thesis.
PhD:
Registration in ENVR 7990; and
Presentation and oral defense of the PhD thesis.
