POSTGRADUATE
PROGRAMS
PROGRAMS
Postgraduate Programs 2025/26
Master of Philosophy and Doctor of Philosophy Programs in Smart Manufacturing
Award Title
Master of Philosophy in Smart Manufacturing
Doctor of Philosophy in Smart Manufacturing
Program Short Name
MPhil(SMMG)
PhD(SMMG)
Mode of Study
Both full- and part-time
Normative Program Duration
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
Offering Unit
Smart Manufacturing Thrust Area
Systems Hub
Program Advisor
PG Programs Coordinator:
Prof Pengcheng HU, Professor of Smart Manufacturing
Website
Enquiry
Smart Manufacturing refers to fully-integrated and collaborative manufacturing systems that respond in real time to meet changing demands and conditions in a smart factory, a supply network, and/or customer needs. It is about the use of real-time data and cutting-edge technologies to support factories to make effective and accurate engineering decisions and create highly differentiated, cost-effective and competitive products that match the market needs.
The Master of Philosophy (MPhil) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Programs in Smart Manufacturing aim to provide students with a detailed understanding of each level of manufacturing process, combining skills in mathematics, science and business to prepare them in developing innovative ways of systems design and product production. The program design focuses on providing fundamental knowledge as well as hands-on training in the curriculum. Students graduated from the program will be versatile and well-equipped to derive valuable insights and make sound decisions in manufacturing. The programs will also offer new pedagogical training to prepare research students with specialized and transferrable skills to cope with new manufacturing engineering settings.
A graduate of the MPhil Program should be able to demonstrate a good mastery of knowledge in process engineering, system design and management aspects of manufacturing; establish competitive advantages for the company; and formulate strategies to meet new challenges in manufacturing.
A graduate of the PhD Program should be capable of conducting high-quality original research, creating new knowledge, showing valuable insights and making significant contribution to academia and the field of manufacturing.
On successful completion of the MPhil program, graduates will be able to:
- Model a manufacturing system in order to create a formal process for characterizing manufacturing performance;
- Demonstrate a broad based knowledge and process capability of various smart manufacturing technologies and production processes;
- Demonstrate critical thinking and analytical skills and apply them to manufacturing engineering;
- Conduct original research in areas of manufacturing and systems engineering and provide scientific contribution to the discipline;
- Translate and transform fundamental research insights effectively into practical applications in industry; and
- Apply cross-disciplinary knowledge and skills in data analytics, real-time sensing, and optimal planning to improve manufacturing process capabilities.
On successful completion of the PhD program, graduates will be able to:
- Model a manufacturing system in order to create a formal process for characterizing manufacturing performance;
- Demonstrate a broad based knowledge and process capability of various smart manufacturing technologies and production processes;
- Find optimal solutions to models of manufacturing systems in specific disciplinary contexts;
- Demonstrate critical thinking and analytical skills and apply them to manufacturing engineering;
- Conduct high-quality original research independently in areas of manufacturing and systems engineering and provide substantial scientific contribution to the discipline;
- Translate and transform fundamental research insights effectively in academic fields and industry; and
- Apply cross-disciplinary knowledge and skills in data analytics, real-time sensing, and optimal planning to improve manufacturing process capabilities.
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Minimum Credit Requirement
MPhil: 15 credits
PhD: 21 credits -
Credit Transfer
Students who have taken equivalent courses at HKUST(GZ) 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.
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Cross-disciplinary Core Courses
2 credits
UCMP 6010
Cross-disciplinary Research Methods I
2 Credit(s)
Description
This course focuses on using various approaches to perform quantitative analysis through real-world examples. Students will learn how to use different tools in an interdisciplinary project and how to acquire new skills on their own. The course offers different modules that are multidisciplinary/multifunctional and generally applicable to a wide class of problems.
UCMP 6020
Cross-disciplinary Research Methods II
2 Credit(s)
Description
This course focuses on using various approaches to perform quantitative analysis through real-world examples. Students will learn how to use different tools in an interdisciplinary project and how to acquire new skills on their own. The course offers different modules that are multidisciplinary/multifunctional and generally applicable to a wide class of problems.
UCMP 6030
Cross-disciplinary Design Thinking I
2 Credit(s)
Description
This course focuses on user-collaborative design methods for generating inclusive product solutions that integrate stakeholder and product functionality perspectives. Students will create specified product/process/policy/protocol/plan (5P) concept models through the use of recursive user feedback engagement methods, experimental prototyping, and divergent and convergent ideation strategies. Featured topics include design thinking; stakeholder research; concept development, screening, and selection; and interaction design.
UCMP 6040
Cross-disciplinary Design Thinking II
2 Credit(s)
Description
This course focuses on user-collaborative design methods for generating inclusive product solutions that integrate stakeholder and product functionality perspectives. Students will create specified product/process/policy/protocol/plan (5P) concept models through the use of recursive user feedback engagement methods, experimental prototyping, and divergent and convergent ideation strategies. Featured topics include design thinking; stakeholder research; concept development, screening, and selection; and interaction design.
UCMP 6050
Project-driven Collaborative Design Thinking
2 Credit(s)
All MPhil students are required to complete UCMP 6050. All PhD 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.
PhD students who are HKUST(GZ) MPhil graduates and have completed UCMP 6010, UCMP 6030 or UCMP 6050 before may be exempted from this requirement, subject to prior approval of the Program Planning cum Thesis Supervision 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 5000
Model-Based Systems Engineering
2 Credit(s)
Description
Model-based systems engineering (MBSE) is a contemporary systems engineering methodology that uses conceptual models for communication between system architects, designers, developers, and stakeholders. Object-Process Methodology (OPM) is an MBSE language and methodology for constructing domain-independent conceptual models of all kinds of systems. The course provides students with basic knowledge and tools for MBSE, focusing on conceptual modeling of systems, giving learners a competitive advantage over their peers.
Other Hub Core Courses
FUNH 5000
Introduction to Function Hub for Sustainable Future
2 Credit(s)
Description
This course covers background knowledge in the thrust areas of the Function Hub, including Advanced Materials, Sustainable Energy and Environment, Microelectronics, and Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences.
INFH 5000
Information Science and Technology: Essentials and Trends
2 Credit(s)
Description
This inquiry-based course aims to introduce students to the concepts and skills needed to drive digital transformation in the information age. Students will learn to conduct research, explore real-world applications, and discuss grand challenges in the four thrust areas of the Information hub, namely Artificial Intelligence, Data Science and Analytics, Internet of Things, and Computational Media and Arts. The course incorporates various teaching and learning formats including lectures, seminars, online courses, group discussions, and a term project.
SOCH 5000
Technological Innovation and Social Entrepreneurship
2 Credit(s)
Description
This course discusses both opportunities and risks that technological breakthrough has brought to the human society. What would be the policy responses required to maximize its positive benefit and minimize its social costs? In particular, how could we utilize the technological advancement, entrepreneurial thinking to address the challenges our societies are facing, such as job loss/unemployment, income inequality and societal polarization, environmental degradation, health disparity, population aging, and among others. The course uses either case studies or cross-country and time-series data analyses to facilitate the discussion of various social issues and look for innovative solutions of in the real world.
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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.
SMMG 5100
Microelectromechanical Systems (MEMS) Fabrication Technology
3 Credit(s)
SMMG 5200
Global Manufacturing
3 Credit(s)
Description
Topics include globalization and manufacturing paradigms, product-process-business integration, product invention strategy, customized, personalized and reconfigurable products, mass production and lean production, mathematical analysis of mass customization, traditional manufacturing systems, reconfigurable manufacturing systems, reconfigurable machines, system configuration analysis, responsive business models, enterprise globalization strategies, and the global integrated enterprise.
SMMG 5300
Nanotechnology: Fundamentals and Applications
3 Credit(s)
SMMG 5400
Design for Additive Manufacturing
3 Credit(s)
Description
This course provides knowledge and skills on how to develop, optimize, and implement different design strategies in additive manufacturing (AM). Through hands-on instructional activities and case studies, students will learn to select the appropriate AM technologies for specific design-manufacturing applications; explain challenges in design and manufacturing and provide solutions; identify and utilize proper software tools to analyze and evaluate designs; and design parts that fully leverage the strengths of AM.
SMMG 5500
Additive Manufacturing Fundamentals
3 Credit(s)
SMMG 5600
Fundamental Theories and Algorithms of CAD/CAM
3 Credit(s)
Description
This course covers topics such as curves and surfaces, geometric modeling basics, data structures in CAD/CAM, optimization, multi-axis path planning in NC machining and additive manufacturing, and projects. In addition to lectures, a 3-hour lab in SolidWorks and MATLAB programming will be offered.
SMMG 5700
Fundamentals in Metal Processing
3 Credit(s)
Description
This course introduces a wide range of manufacturing processes for metal materials, including machining, casting, 3D printing, and heat treatment; and explains the fundamental and practical aspects of manufacturing at scale. For each process, this course explains the underlying physical principles, provides several examples and demonstrations. The course concludes with a perspective on sustainability and the worldwide trajectory of metal manufacturing.
SMMG 5800
Industrial Automation and Analytics
3 Credit(s)
Description
Industrial automation and analytics embrace a wide range of subject matters and draws from several quite distinct disciplines. This course introduces basic concepts and applications that are useful for understanding the insight of industrial automation and analytics, such as the impact on advanced manufacturing. The main focuses include basic programming for robotics, applications of programmable logic control, sensor technology and its application in complex systems, and advanced analytics for manufacturing. The data analytics will cover some basic machine learning modeling, such as predictive modeling, forecasting, neural network, segmentation, and anomaly detection, as well as their applications in process monitoring and control for advanced manufacturing processes (additive manufacturing).
SMMG 5900
Advanced Metal Additive Manufacturing
3 Credit(s)
SMMG 6000
Special Topics in Smart Manufacturing
3 Credit(s)
Description
Selected topics in smart manufacturing of current interest in emerging areas and not covered by existing courses. May be repeated for credit if different topics are covered.
- 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.
- Graduate Teaching Assistant Training
PDEV 6800
Introduction to Teaching and Learning in Higher Education
0 Credit(s)
Description
The course is designed to strengthen students’ competence in teaching. It comprises 2 parts: Part 1 aims to equip all full-time research postgraduate (RPg) students with basic teaching skills before assuming teaching assistant duties for the department. Good teaching skills can be acquired through learning and practice. This 10-hour mandatory training course provides all graduate teaching assistants (GTA) with the necessary theoretical knowledge with practical opportunities to apply and build up their knowledge, skills and confidence in taking up their teaching duties. At the end of the course, GTAs should be able to (1) facilitate teaching in tutorials and laboratory settings; (2) provide meaningful feedback to their students; and (3) design an active learning environment to engage their students. In Part 2, students are required to perform instructional delivery assigned by their respective departments to complete this course. 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. Graded PP, P or F.
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 Thrusts/Base. 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.
- Professional Development Course Requirement
PDEV 6770
Professional Development for Research Postgraduate Students
1 Credit(s)
Description
This course aims at equipping research postgraduate students with transferrable skills conducive to their professional development. Students are required to attend 3 hours of mandatory training on Professional Conduct, and complete 12 hours of workshops, at their own choice, under the themes of Communication Skills, Research Competency, Entrepreneurship, Self‐Management, and Career Development. Graded PP, P or F.
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.
SYSH 6780
Career Development for Systems Hub Research Students
1 Credit(s)
Description
This course aims at equipping research students with the skills conducive to their professional career development. Students will attend the training focusing on personality self-exploration and program-specific training at the Thrust level, and another training at the Hub level. Graded PP, P or F.
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 cum Thesis Supervision Committee.
- English Language Requirement
LANG 5000
Foundation in Listening & Speaking for Postgraduate Students
1 Credit(s)
Description
For students whose level of spoken English is lower than ELPA Level 4 (Speaking) when they enter the University. The course addresses the immediate linguistic needs of research postgraduate students for oral communication on campus using English. To complete the course, students are required to attain at least ELPA Level 4 (Speaking). Graded P or F.
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.
PLED 5001
Communicating Research in English
1 Credit(s)
Students are required to take PLED 5001. 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.
- Postgraduate Seminar
SMMG 6800
Seminar in Smart Manufacturing
0 Credit(s)
Description
Seminar topics presented by students, faculty and guest speakers. Students are expected to attend regularly and demonstrate proficiency in presentation in accordance with the program requirements. Graded P or F.
MPhil:
Full-time students must take and pass SMMG 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 SMMG 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 SMMG 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 SMMG 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
SMMG 6990
MPhil Thesis Research
0 Credit(s)
Description
Master's thesis research supervised by co-advisors from different disciplines. A successful defense of the thesis leads to the grade Pass. No course credit is assigned.
SMMG 7990
Doctoral Thesis Research
0 Credit(s)
Description
Original and independent doctoral thesis research supervised by co-advisors from different disciplines. A successful defense of the thesis leads to the grade Pass. No course credit is assigned.
MPhil:
- Registration in SMMG 6990; and
- Presentation and oral defense of the MPhil thesis.
PhD:
- Registration in SMMG 7990; and
- Presentation and oral defense of the PhD thesis.
Last Update: 1 July 2024
To qualify for admission, applicants must meet all of the following requirements. Admission is selective and meeting these minimum requirements does not guarantee admission.
1. General Admission Requirements of the University
Please refer to Admission Requirements.
2. English Language Admission Requirements
Please refer to Admission Requirements.
Admission to HKUST(GZ)
Apply online before the application deadlines.
Application Fee
RMB150
* All international students are required to obtain a student visa (X visa) for studying in China’s mainland. For details on student visa (X visa) requirements, please click here.
