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 (without a relevant research master’s degree)
- Part-time: 6 years
The Master of Philosophy (MPhil) and Doctor of Philosophy (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.
What You’ll Learn
Minimum Credit Requirement
MPhil: 15 credits
PhD: 21 credits
Credit Transfer
Subject to approval of the PG Coordinator, PhD students who have taken the HKUST MPhil Program in Public Policy will be granted full recognition of credit transfer to the PhD program. 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: 15 Credits
PPOL 5110Foundation in Public Policy3 Credit(s)
PPOL 5111Foundation in Public Policy II3 Credit(s)
PPOL 5120Research Methods in Public Policy3 Credit(s)
PPOL 5130Microeconomics and Public Policy3 Credit(s)
One of the following quantitative methodology courses:
ECON 5280Applied Econometrics4 Credit(s)
PPOL 5240Advanced Analytical Methods for Public Policy3 Credit(s)
SOSC 5090Quantitative Methods for Social Science Research3 Credit(s)
SOSC 5340Econometric Approaches to Social Science Research3 Credit(s)
SOSC 5700Categorical Data Analysis3 Credit(s)
Elective Courses
MPhil: 0 credits
PhD: 6 credits
PPOL Electives
PPOL 5180Risk and Regulation3 Credit(s)
PPOL 5190Policy Analysis and Design for Sustainable Development3 Credit(s)
PPOL 5200Applied Demography3 Credit(s)
PPOL 5210Environmental Policy and Natural Resource Management3 Credit(s)
PPOL 5220Complex Systems for Policy3 Credit(s)
PPOL 5240Advanced Analytical Methods for Public Policy3 Credit(s)
PPOL 5230Technology, Innovation and Public Policy3 Credit(s)
PPOL 5250Innovation and Sustainability3 Credit(s)
PPOL 5270Finance, Financial Crises and Economic Development3 Credit(s)
PPOL 6000Independent Study1-3 Credit(s)
PPOL 6100Special Topics in Public Policy1-3 Credit(s)
Other Electives
BIEN 5050Global Health Ethics3 Credit(s)
ECON 5280Applied Econometrics4 Credit(s)
ECON 5370Using Data for Economics Analysis3 Credit(s)
ENVR 5250Environmental Economics and Management3 Credit(s)
ENVR 5260Environmental Policy and Management3 Credit(s)
ENVR 5290Climate Change: Science, Policy and Management3 Credit(s)
ENVR 6060Sustainability Economics3 Credit(s)
MGCS 5022Political Economy of China3 Credit(s)
SOSC 5090Quantitative Methods for Social Science Research3 Credit(s)
SOSC 5110Social Science Research Design and Methods3 Credit(s)
SOSC 5170Qualitative Research Methods3 Credit(s)
SOSC 5340Econometric Approaches to Social Science Research3 Credit(s)
SOSC 5700Categorical Data Analysis3 Credit(s)
SOSC 5720Economic Development in China3 Credit(s)
SSMA 5050Economic Transformations in Post-Mao China3 Credit(s)
Students may take other postgraduate course(s) approved by the supervisor and the PG Coordinator.
Additional coursework may be required as part of the research preparation.
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 sessionof 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.
PPOL 6770Professional Development in Public Policy1 Credit(s)
Students are required to complete PPOL 6770. The 1 credit earned from PPOL 6770 cannot be counted toward the credit requirements.
PhD students who are HKUST MPhil graduates and have completed PPOL 6770 or other professional development courses offered by the University before may be exempted from taking PPOL 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)
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.
For PhD students whose native language is not English, and do not have a TOEFL score of over 600 (paper-based total) or 250 (computer-based total) or 100 (internet-based total), or an IELTS score of 6.5 or above, or a score of 4 or above in "HKDSE English Language", they are also required to take a course on English writing offered by the Center for Language Education.
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
PPOL 6990MPhil Thesis Research0 Credit(s)
PPOL 7990Doctoral Thesis Research0 Credit(s)
MPhil:
Registration in PPOL 6990; and
Presentation and oral defense of the MPhil thesis.
PhD:
Registration in PPOL 7990; and
Presentation and oral defense of the PhD thesis.
Students are expected to work closely with their supervisor(s) on an informal rather than formal classroom basis.
