Course Information
Registration period
7 Apr 2022 (Thu) - 7 Apr 2026 (Tue)
Price
-
Study Mode
Duration
4 Year(s)
Language
English
Location
-
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Course Overview
Robotics is a transdisciplinary branch of engineering and science that deals with the design, construction, operation, and use of robots, as well as computer systems for their control, sensory feedback, and information processing. An autonomous system is a system that performs tasks with a high degree of autonomy (without external influence). Designing and managing Robotics and Autonomous Systems requires diverse skills from various engineering disciplines such as electronics, mechatronics, control and signal processing together with state-of-the-art computer science such as software architecture, algorithms and data structures or artificial intelligence.
The Master of Philosophy (MPhil) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Programs in Robotics and Autonomous Systems aim to provide well-rounded education as well as rigorous research training to prepare students to become versatile and knowledgeable professionals, with the broad fields of robotics engineering as a major focus, together with connections to theoretical and applied mechanics, optimization, communication, information theory, machine learning, computing, mathematics and signal processing.
MPhil graduates should be able to demonstrate mastery of knowledge in design, construction, operation, and management of robots, and develop innovative solutions required by the emerging global industry in Robotics and Autonomous Systems (ROAS), and across many other sectors where ROAS skills are applicable.
PhD graduates should be capable of conducting high-quality original research, creating new knowledge, deriving valuable insights, and making tangible impacts on academia and the field.
What You’ll Learn
Minimum Credit Requirement
MPhil: 15 credits
PhD: 21 credits
Credit Transfer
Students who have taken equivalent courses at HKUST or other recognized universities may be granted credit transfer on a case-by-case basis, up to a maximum of 3 credits for MPhil students, and 6 credits for PhD students.
Cross-disciplinary Core Courses
2 credits
IIMP 6010Cross-disciplinary Research Methods I2 Credit(s)
IIMP 6020Cross-disciplinary Research Methods II2 Credit(s)
IIMP 6030Cross-disciplinary Design Thinking I2 Credit(s)
IIMP 6040Cross-disciplinary Design Thinking II2 Credit(s)
All students are required to complete either IIMP 6010 or IIMP 6030. Students may complete the remaining courses as part of the credit requirements, as requested by the Program Planning Committee.
Hub Core Courses
4 Credits
Students are required to complete at least one Hub core course (2 credits) from the Systems Hub and at least one Hub core course (2 credits) from other Hubs.
Systems Hub Core Course
SYSH 5000Model-Based Systems Engineering2 Credit(s)
Other Hub Core Courses
FUNH 5000Introduction to Function Hub for Sustainable Future2 Credit(s)
INFH 5000Information Science and Technology: Essentials and Trends2 Credit(s)
SOCH 5000Technological Innovation and Social Entrepreneurship2 Credit(s)
Courses on Domain Knowledge
MPhil: minimum 9 credits of coursework
PhD: minimum 15 credits of coursework
Under this requirement, each student is required to take elective courses to form an individualized curriculum relevant to the cross-disciplinary thesis research. To ensure that students will take appropriate courses to equip them with needed domain knowledge, each student has a Program Planning Committee to approve the courses to be taken soonest after program commencement and no later than the end of the first year. Depending on the approved curriculum, individual students may be required to complete additional credits beyond the minimal credit requirements.
Sample Course List
To meet individual needs, students will be taking courses in different areas, which may include but not limited to courses and areas listed below.
ROAS 5100Introduction to Robotics3 Credit(s)
ROAS 5200Autonomous Mobile Robotics3 Credit(s)
ROAS 5300Cloud Robotics and Autonomous Multi-Robot Systems3 Credit(s)
ROAS 5400Human-Robot Interaction3 Credit(s)
ROAS 5500Mechatronics Design3 Credit(s)
ROAS 6000Special Topics in Robotics3 Credit(s)
ROAS 6010Special Topics in Autonomous Systems3 Credit(s)
AESF 5311Robotics: Mechanics and Control3 Credit(s)
COMP 5211Advanced Artificial Intelligence3 Credit(s)
COMP 5421Computer Vision3 Credit(s)
ELEC 5600Linear-System Theory3 Credit(s)
ELEC 5640Robot Manipulation3 Credit(s)
orMECH 5561Robot Manipulation3 Credit(s)
ELEC 5650Introduction to Networked Sensing, Estimation and Control3 Credit(s)
ELEC 5660Introduction to Aerial Robotics3 Credit(s)
ELEC 5670Robot Perception and Learning3 Credit(s)
orCOMP 5223Perception and Information Processing for Robotics3 Credit(s)
IEDA 5230Deterministic Models in Operations Research3 Credit(s)
Additional Foundation Courses
Individual students may be required to take foundation courses to strengthen their academic background and research capacity in related areas, which will be specified by the Program Planning Committee. The credits earned cannot be counted toward the credit requirements.
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 Program Planning Committee.
SYSH 6780Career Development for Systems Hub Research Students1 Credit(s)
Students are required to complete SYSH 6780. The 1 credit earned from SYSH 6780 cannot be counted toward the credit requirements.
PhD students who are HKUST MPhil graduates and have completed SYSH 6780 or other equivalent professional development courses offered by the University before may be exempted from taking SYSH 6780, subject to prior approval of the Program Planning Committee.
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 5001Postgraduate English for Engineering Research Studies1 Credit(s)
LANG 5002Postgraduate English for Business and Social Science Studies1 Credit(s)
LANG 5010Postgraduate English for Science Studies1 Credit(s)
Students are required to take one of the above three courses. The credit earned cannot be counted toward the credit requirements. Students can be exempted from taking this course with the approval of the Program Planning Committee.
Postgraduate Seminar
ROAS 6800Seminar in Robotics and Autonomous Systems0 Credit(s)
MPhil:
Full-time students must take and pass ROAS 6800 at least twice, and present at least one seminar during their study, in addition to the oral defense of their MPhil thesis. Part-time students must take and pass ROAS 6800 at least once, and present at least one seminar during their study, counting the oral defense of their MPhil thesis.
PhD:
Full-time students must take and pass ROAS 6800 at least four times, and present at least two seminars during their study, in addition to the oral defense of their PhD thesis. Part-time students and students entering with an HKUST MPhil degree must take and pass ROAS 6800 at least twice, and present at least one seminar during their study, counting the oral defense of their PhD thesis.
PhD Qualifying Examination
PhD students are required to pass a qualifying examination to obtain PhD candidacy following established policy.
Thesis Research
ROAS 6990MPhil Thesis Research0 Credit(s)
ROAS 7990Doctoral Thesis Research0 Credit(s)
MPhil:
Registration in ROAS 6990; and
Presentation and oral defense of the MPhil thesis.
PhD:
Registration in ROAS 7990; and
Presentation and oral defense of the PhD thesis.
