The global urgency to address climate change underscores the intertwined goals of carbon neutrality and green finance. With 138 countries committing to carbon neutrality and the rise of sustainable financial tools, the convergence of environmental stewardship and financial innovation has become paramount. China, as the world's leading energy consumer and producer, responsible for 28% of global CO2 emissions, has embarked on ambitious targets to peak emissions by 2030 and attain carbon neutrality by 2060. The Greater Bay Area, endowed with industrial, technological, and financial prowess, stands as a key driver of this transformation.

The dual challenges of transitioning to carbon neutrality and fostering green finance in China necessitate specialized skills and expertise. The “2022 Global Green Skills Report” by LinkedIn reveals an acute shortage of professionals in carbon neutrality and sustainable finance, with a notable talent gap anticipated in the future. HKUST(GZ) epitomizes a forward-thinking educational approach, employing its cross-disciplinary framework to augment the established HKUST. As part of the Greater Bay Area’s master plan, it acts as a nexus for talent across Hong Kong, Macao, and Guangdong Province, and fortifies Hong Kong’s high-tech manufacturing through mainland connections. The Carbon Neutrality and Climate Change (CNCC) Thrust, within the Society Hub, dedicates itself to national imperatives, leadership development, and climate change mitigation, emphasizing virtues such as integrity, creativity, and social responsibility.

The unique Master’s program in Carbon Neutrality and Green Finance (CNGF) at HKUST(GZ) is meticulously crafted to equip students with both technological and financial knowledge to meet this multifaceted challenge. CNGF is seeking to bridge the significant talent gap in the interdisciplinary field by offering electives in the field of green finance and ESG. Utilizing the Greater Bay Area’s distinctive assets, the program will equip students to navigate the scientific and financial dimensions of carbon neutrality. Graduates will be poised to innovate in climate solutions, shape new financial products, and play a decisive role in realizing China’s carbon neutrality targets, thus contributing to global sustainability.

The MSc program in Carbon Neutrality and Green Finance combines financial expertise with knowledge of the obstacles involved in shifting towards a low-carbon economy. This significant shift will necessitate innovative financial instruments and will impact markets, companies, and investors profoundly. Taught in English, the program prepares the next wave of financial professionals for the energy transition, ensuring the financial industry's long-term alignment with environmental needs. Students in this MSc will join an elite group skilled in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors in financial decisions. Our electives in green finance and ESG add a unique dimension, enhancing understanding of climate change solutions within societal, technological, political, and financial contexts.

The program is ideal for those who want to pursue a career in local, national and international climate policy; businesses and industries focused on climate change innovations, technologies, climate finance; or in academia with a focus on carbon neutrality technologies and finance research. Students also benefit from opportunities to undertake work placements in the Greater Bay Area, including HK, Guangzhou, and Jiangmen.

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

1. Acquire a holistic understanding of climate change, carbon neutrality, green finance, and ESG at multiple scales, ranging from local to global;
2. Engage practically with industry and research institutions and apply their knowledge and skills to address real-world challenges in the industry and research sectors, leveraging their hands-on experience gained from the comprehensive internships;
3. Cultivate readiness for a variety of professional roles in the emerging sectors of carbon neutrality, green finance, and ESG, bolstered by targeted career development activities;
4. Integrate and employ knowledge from various disciplines to formulate innovative solutions in the field of carbon neutrality and green finance; and
5. Develop foundational research skills for further academic pursuits or specialized roles requiring rigorous research capabilities.

1. Minimum Credit Requirement

   34 credits

2. Credit Transfer

Subject to the approval of the Program Director, students who have taken equivalent courses at other recognized universities may be granted credit transfer on a case-by-case basis, up to a maximum of 12 credits.

3. Core Courses

10 credits

4. Elective Courses

15 credits

Students can take the following courses to meet the elective course requirement:
• Any postgraduate elective courses offered by CNCC
• A list of other postgraduate elective courses offered at HKUST(GZ) in a particular year will be announced at the beginning of each intake

Additional coursework may be required as part of the program preparation.

5. Project

3 credits

Students are required to complete a one-term independent project on real-world industry problems. Each independent project will be supervised by one faculty member at HKUST(GZ). The topics of the projects will come from industry with focus on carbon neutrality or green finance. Students are expected to complete the project in the first term of their second academic year.

6. Internship

   6 credits

Students are required to complete a guaranteed internship with a duration of 6 months. Each internship will be supervised by one academic supervisor at HKUST(GZ) and one industrial supervisor as a pair.

Students are required to complete internship reports consisting of two parts. Students are required to pass oral examinations consisting of one Open Topic Report and one Final Report. Each oral presentation should normally take approximately 1 hour. The Open Topic Report will be examined based on the scientific value, feasibility and technical challenges of the proposed topic. The Final Report will examine the industry collaboration progress, final output from the internship and gains of the students.