Innovative sustainable energy technologies with minimal environmental impact will act as a catalyst to trigger breakthrough development in many fields, ranging from greener aviation, to safer electric vehicles, to longer endurance of 3C products. Studies in in sustainable energy technologies focus on cutting-edge research in the related cross-disciplines, including sustainable energy harvesting and conversion technologies; high-performance energy storage systems and electric vehicles; smart energy distribution, intelligent energy systems and energy saving strategies; hydrogen and electrolyzers; bioenergy and bio-inspired energy systems, and lifecycle analysis and recovery of energy system.

The Master of Philosophy (MPhil) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Programs in Sustainable Energy and Environment aim to provide solid education and rigorous research training in sustainable energy technologies, as well as prototyping and transferring original research results on our campuses as living lab and to industrial collaborators. The programs will also offer dymanic pedagogical training to equip students with competitive and transferrable skills in sustainable energy technologies that serve regional and national industries with a global vision.

An MPhil graduate is expected to demonstrate domain knowledge and to synthesize and create new technology or method, making a contribution to the field.

A PhD graduate 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.

On successful completion of the MPhil program, graduates will be able to:

1. Identify scientific and engineering significances in various sustainable energy technologies and their environmental impact;
2. Apply a range of qualitative and quantitative research methods for conducting basic or applied research or development in sustainable energy technologies;
3. Transfer applied research insights and innovative ideas effectively and develop them into new domain knowledge or engineering prototypes; and
4. Demonstrate independent and critical thinking, and develop an innovative spirit and a global vision in the field.

On successful completion of the PhD program, graduates will be able to:

1. Identify scientific and engineering significances in various sustainable energy technologies and their environmental impact;
2. Apply a range of qualitative and quantitative research methods for conducting cutting-edge research in sustainable energy technologies or disruptive technology innovation;
3. Transfer fundamental research insights and innovative ideas effectively and develop them into new domain knowledge and engineering prototypes; and
4. Demonstrate independent and critical thinking, and develop a growth mindset, an innovative spirit, and a global vision in the field.

1. Minimum Credit Requirement

   MPhil: 15 credits
   PhD: 21 credits

2. 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.

3. Cross-disciplinary Core Courses

2 credits

All students are required to complete either UCMP 6010 or UCMP 6030. Students may complete the remaining courses as part of the credit requirements, as requested by the Program Planning cum Thesis Supervision Committee.

4. Hub Core Courses

4 Credits

Students are required to complete at least one Hub core course (2 credits) from the Function Hub and at least one Hub core course (2 credits) from other Hubs.

  Function Hub Core Course

  Other Hub Core Courses

5. 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 cum Thesis Supervision 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.

6. 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 cum Thesis Supervision Committee. The credits earned cannot be counted toward the credit requirements.

7. Graduate Teaching Assistant Training

All full-time RPg students are required to complete PDEV 6800. The course is composed of a 10-hour training offered by the Institute of Educational Innovation and Practice (IEIP), and session(s) of instructional delivery to be assigned by the respective departments. Upon satisfactory completion of the training conducted by IEIP, 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.

8. Professional Development Course Requirement

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 cum Thesis Supervision Committee.

Students are required to complete FUNH 6770. The 1 credit earned from FUNH 6770  cannot be counted toward the credit requirements.

PhD students who are HKUST MPhil graduates and have completed FUNH 6770  or other similar professional development courses offered by the University before may be exempted from taking FUNH 6770 , subject to prior approval of the Program Planning cum Thesis Supervision Committee.

9. English Language Requirement

Full-time RPg students are required to take an English Language Proficiency Assessment (ELPA) Speaking Test administered by the Division of 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.

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 cum Thesis Supervision Committee.

10. Postgraduate Seminar

  MPhil:

Full-time students must take and pass FUNH 6800 in at least two terms.

PhD:

Full-time students must take and pass FUNH 6800 in at least four terms.

11. PhD Qualifying Examination

PhD students are required to pass a qualifying examination to obtain PhD candidacy following established policy.

12. Thesis Research

  MPhil:

1. Registration in SEEN 6990; and
2. Presentation and oral defense of the MPhil thesis.

PhD:

1. Registration in SEEN 7990; and
2. Presentation and oral defense of the PhD thesis.

Last Update: 21 March 2023