Postgraduate Courses
SBMT
School of Business and Management
- SBMT 5010Accounting for Managers[3-0-0:3]Previous Course Code(s)SBMT 501DescriptionThe first part of the course provides students with a basic foundation and practical understanding of financial accounting. Focus is on the design, use and impact of financial information and accounting measures in organizational planning and control. The second part of the course is to apply and analyze accounting information in managerial decision making with the fundamental concepts of accrual accounting given in the first part. Registration is limited to students on the MSc program in Engineering Enterprise Management only.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Comprehensively explain major principles governing financial and managerial accounting.
- 2.Develop analytical and basic technical skills required to prepare financial accounting records and reports, as well as to use and interpret them.
- 3.Identify the role of managerial accounting in decision-making process of managers in business organizations.
- 4.Form critical judgement by identifying and defining accounting and business problems, applying analytical and quantitative techniques, and making and justifying decision.
- SBMT 5020Fundamentals of Economics and Finance[3-0-0:3]Previous Course Code(s)SBMT 502DescriptionThe first part of the course covers managerial economics: understanding of economics and the application of economic analysis in the context of the needs of management and of managerial decision-making in today's changing environment. The second part of the course covers the basic concepts in finance. Topics include time value of money, valuation of securities, capital budgeting including computation of cash flows, NPV, IRR, portfolio theory and capital asset pricing model, and rudimentary concepts about options and futures contracts. Registration is limited to students on the MSc program in Engineering Enterprise Management only.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Identify basic Microeconomic theories such as consumer theory, firms' optimal decision making under different contexts, and the operation and properties of perfectly competitive markets.
- 2.Recognize the Economics methodology and apply economic analysis in managerial decision making.
- SBMT 5030Marketing Management and Strategy[3-0-0:3]Previous Course Code(s)SBMT 503DescriptionThe first part of this module covers marketing management using the framework of the 4P's (Product, Price, Promotion and Place). Topics include consumer needs and wants, marketing research, advertising and sales promotion, pricing theory, etc. The impact of the Internet on all aspects of marketing will also be examined. The second part will cover marketing and business policy from a strategic perspective. Decision making in a competitive environment in the face of environmental constraints will also be examined. Registration is limited to students on the MSc program in Engineering Enterprise Management only.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Conduct a marketing environmental analysis and identify market opportunities that will be strategically fit with the company or organization.
- 2.Identify and evaluate segments, and decide on the appropriate target(s) within a given market.
- 3.Construct a persuasive value proposition and positioning statement for a given offering.
- 4.Formulate marketing strategies and make strategic marketing decisions, including specific marketing mix strategies.
- 5.Monitor and control strategic marketing plans.
- 6.Make effective presentations of a company’s or organization’s marketing plan.
- SBMT 5300Enhancing Professional Skills[2-0-0:2]Previous Course Code(s)SBMT 6010BDescriptionIt aims at helping MBA students work intensively on developing or improving some key presentation skills which will be useful to them throughout their business careers. Simply put, the essence of Enhancing Professional Skills as “Making a Logical, Effective and Persuasive Business Presentation". Graded P or F.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Identify the key issues from a tangle of issues, to analyze and develop solutions.
- 2.Create and deliver logical, effective and persuasive business presentations.
- 3.Enhance communication effectiveness.
- SBMT 5460Business Plans Competition[1-0-0:1]Previous Course Code(s)SBMT 546, SBMT 601HExclusion(s)SBMT 6010JDescriptionThe objective of this course is to provide hands on perspective of what it takes to start a successful business from the business plan, to funding, to beginning operations. Students will go overseas to participate in international business plan competitions. Graded P or F.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Create ideas and formulate feasible strategies for startups or venture at early growth stage.
- 2.Develop and deliver persuasive business presentations.
- 3.Integrate and apply the knowledge learnt in business operation.
- 4.Increase exposure in a global business context.
- SBMT 5470Case Analysis Competition[1-0-0:1]Previous Course Code(s)SBMT 547, SBMT 601IDescriptionThe objective of this course is to provide hands on perspective of what it takes to analyze a real-life business case. Students will go overseas to participant in international case competitions. Graded P or F.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Analyse a relevant current case.
- 2.Evaluate various business solutions.
- 3.Develop and prepare a convincing presentation.
- 4.Increase exposure in a global business context.
- SBMT 5500MSc Study Tour[2-0-0:0]DescriptionThe MSc Study Tour aims to provide a first-hand opportunity for MSc students in Business School to learn about updated information of different industries in a specific city. Students will visit a range of companies and meet with senior executives to learn from the successes and challenges they face. Students will rapidly gain a deep insider's view and understanding of the regional market, economy and its unique challenges and opportunities. Graded P or F.
- SBMT 5600Business Chinese for MBA students[2-0-0:2]Previous Course Code(s)SBMT 6010HDescriptionThis is a course for MBA students with non-Chinese language backgrounds. It enhances students' ability in understanding spoken Putonghua, and takes them to a higher level of communicative competence in speaking and writing Chinese in business situations. Students are expected to have at least 120 hours of prior tuition in Chinese language, or have passed the admission test for this course. Graded P or F.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Engage in conversations in Chinese in business settings.
- 2.Develop fluency in business Chinese speaking.
- 3.Grasp Chinese business terms to function effectively in the workplace.
- 4.Acquire 800+ Chinese vocabulary related to social and business topics.
- 5.Summarize the main points of simple business texts and reports.
- 6.Use standard Chinese to write short letters, notes, and brief reports in business settings.
- SBMT 5700Global Network Week[2-0-0:2]Previous Course Code(s)SBMT 6010MDescriptionThe course aims to integrate global horizons and foster cross-cultural, economic, and social understanding by immersing MBA/MSc students in another culture. Students will have the opportunity to study a short-term program at one of the top business schools of the Global Network for Advanced Management (GNAM) and learn from leading professionals in selected locations globally. Some of the GNAM member schools include INSEAD, HEC Paris, UC Berkeley, LSE, IE Business School, etc. Typically the program will include lectures on-campus and off-campus, corporate visits, and meeting with local business leaders, etc. Graded P or F.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Advance social, economic and cultural knowledge in a global setting.
- 2.Adapt to local business practices to enhance leadership capabilities.
- 3.Integrate learnings of global student peers from partner business schools around the world.
- SBMT 5710Artificial Intelligence[2-0-0:2]Previous Course Code(s)SBMT 6010UDescriptionThis course discusses the fundamentals of Artificial Intelligence (AI), and how AI technologies are applied to various applications including computer vision, image processing, speech processing, natural language processing, and e-commerce. The course will also cover how to enable the AI models to be explainable and understandable. Finally, it will also cover ethical issues related to the design, fairness and biases in AI system. The goal of the course is to provide students with a basic set of skills to understand, apply and interpret AI concepts and technologies in various real-world applications.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Execute AI in computer vision and image processing, speech processing, Chatbot and e-commerce in different models.
- 2.Use AI Visual Analytics for data understanding and model development.
- 3.Judge ethical issues related to the design, fairness and biases in AI systems.
- 4.Develop business plans using AI to solve business problems.
- SBMT 5720MBA Accelerator – Accounting[1-0-0:1]DescriptionThis pre-program course aims to provide elementary or refreshing knowledge in financial accounting, managerial accounting and finance to prepare students for the academic demands and rigor of MBA courses. The course will also cover the basic business concepts, financial statement analysis, cost classifications and how to do managerial decisions. Graded P or F.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Apply fundamental knowledge in both financial and managerial accounting.
- 2.Generate a better sense of MBA learning momentum and minimize the gap in knowledge level among students from different background to assist smooth transition to learning.
- 3.Recognize the level of techniques and skills required for accomplishing the study plan ahead.
- 4.Evaluate cost-volume-profit analysis and apply core managerial accounting information to strategic decision making.
- SBMT 5730MBA Accelerator – Python[1-0-0:1]DescriptionThis pre-program course aims to provide elementary or refreshing knowledge in technical skills to prepare students for the academic demands and rigor of MBA courses. Python is used for creating high-level abstractions for well-written and well-optimized frameworks, where business applications rely on. The course will cover Python programming language for developing business applications, the practical libraries and packages. Graded P or F.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Apply fundamental knowledge in business programming and Python syntax.
- 2.Generate a better sense of MBA learning momentum and minimize the gap in technical knowledge level among students from different background to assist smooth transition to learning.
- 3.Recognize the level of techniques and skills required for accomplishing the study plan ahead.
- 4.Design and debug Python programs.
- 5.Develop business applications with Python.
- SBMT 5740MBA Accelerator – Data Analysis[1-0-0:1]DescriptionThis pre-program course aims to provide elementary or refreshing knowledge in quantitative and analysis hard skills to prepare students for the academic demands and rigor of MBA courses. It will cover data and variation, probability model and association between random variables at introductory level. Graded P or F.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Apply fundamental knowledge in quantitative skills and statistics analysis.
- 2.Generate a better sense of MBA learning momentum and minimize the gap in knowledge level among students from different background to assist smooth transition to learning.
- 3.Recognize the level of statistics and hard skills required for accomplishing the study plan ahead.
- 4.Recognize and describe statistical methods typically used in the analysis of business data.
- SBMT 5760Financial and Money Markets from Macroeconomic Perspectives[2-0-0:2]Previous Course Code(s)SBMT 6010WDescriptionThe course will discuss the main financial markets, their characteristics and how they are linked to the economy. It starts by explaining how global financial markets are structured and how this structure services both borrowers and investors. Asset classes for investor funds are reviewed before the focus turns to the macroeconomic environment. Fixed income, equities, commodities and real estate are also covered in detail and students will explore how hedge funds and private equity firms create value for their stakeholders.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Analyze the impacts from the release of economic data.
- 2.Compare the key derivative products which are relevant to most major securities markets.
- 3.Evaluate time value of money, yield curves, the price/yield relationship and market quoting conventions.
- 4.Recognize the process of investing in real estate assets.
- SBMT 5770From MBA to Stock Market: Applied Value Investing[1-0-0:1]Previous Course Code(s)SBMT 6010XDescriptionThis course will deliver the frameworks and processes of value investing that some of the most successful investors in the world employ to manage and preserve capital. Students will learn to use quantitative valuation techniques, such as asset-based, earning power, and the value of growth, to develop a strategic methodology for estimating a company's franchise value. A number of case studies will be used throughout the program to improve students’ ability to manage a value portfolio. Graded P or F.
- SBMT 5780Wealth Management for Working Professionals[2-0-0:2]Previous Course Code(s)SBMT 6010YDescriptionThe course aims to focus on several major financial products which are widely traded, but not widely understood, such as stock, foreign exchange, bonds, insurance and other derivatives. Students will learn managing clients’ and own personal wealth by using technical analytics skills to breakdown different common investment products and examine the impacts of behavioral psychology in the trading market. The course will also systematically introduce how the macro-economic cycles and megatrends affect businesses and markets. Students will acquire how to identify and analyze the investment opportunities, manage risks and articulate their views in portfolio construction. An overview of common insurance products available in the retail market will be discussed, with an emphasis on finding the right insurance coverage for individual needs, as part of one’s wealth management strategy.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Execute the portfolio construction.
- 2.Recognize the foreign exchange (FX) market, the commonly traded FX derivatives and the reasons for trading them.
- 3.Evaluate appropriate insurance package for different individual needs.
- 4.Apply technical skills to analyze different investment products.
- SBMT 6010-6090Special Topics[1-4 credit(s)]Previous Course Code(s)SBMT 601-609DescriptionSelected topics in business and management. May be graded by letter or P/F for different offerings.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Analyse current hot topics relevant to the business world
- 2.Address the challenges and opportunities from the selected business topics
- SBMT 6100Field Study Project[1-4 credit(s)]Previous Course Code(s)SBMT 610, SBMT 601FExclusion(s)MIMT 6200DescriptionThis is a supervised study of a real-life issue faced by an organization, including identification of strategic questions, design of studies, collection and analysis of data, development and reporting recommendation. The projects selected should bring a meaningful economic performance impact to the sponsoring companies. May be graded by letter, PP or P/F for different offerings.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Develop a consulting project effectively.
- 2.Combine therotical knowledge and analytical skills to formulate solutions to practical business problems in real world settings.
- 3.Organize clear and engaging business presentations for a senior management audience.
- 4.Produce professional quality project deliverables including agendas, briefs, proposals, models and reports.
- SBMT 6200Independent Study[1-4 credit(s)]DescriptionStudy of selected issues from various departments under the supervision of a faculty member from SBM. (Special permission from the Associate Dean is required for MBA students to take this course.)Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Identify a certain business issue.
- 2.Apply the knowledge learnt in tackling real business issue.
- 3.Analyse different aspects of the business issue.
- 4.Generate feasible, sensible and practial recommendations / solutions.
- SBMT 6300-6310Global Study Tour[2-3 credits]DescriptionThe course aims to expand students' horizon and understanding on the social, economic and business context of different cultures. Led by HKUST faculty, the study tour provides students with the opportunity to learn from leading professionals in selected locations globally through visits to partner universities or corporates, as well as meetings with local business leaders or alumni. Course duration will range from one week to multi-weeks. Students are allowed to repeat this course for credit if the locations of the study tours are different. May be graded by letter or P/F for different offerings.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Advance social, economic and cultural knowledge in a global setting.
- 2.Adapt to local business practices to enhance leadership capabilities.
- 3.Recognize core concepts of business functions required for global business leaders.
- 4.Communicate effectively through oral presentations and paper writing.
- SBMT 6320-6330DBi Study Tour[2 credits]DescriptionThis course is hosted by partner schools in different countries. The tour gives an overview of doing business, including an introduction to the economy, history, culture and legal framework of the visiting country. Typically, it will include lectures on-campus and off-campus, corporate visits and meeting with local business leaders upon a range of industry sectors which will offer students a unique synthesis between state of the art academic studies and practical, hands-on experience. It is suitable for those who are specifically interested in doing business in the visiting place in future or in international business and enhancing their international experience. Graded P or F.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Identify implications for the economy and business of different government and tax policies.
- 2.Identify the drivers of the economy, economic condition and global position.
- 3.Recognize the local market condition and impact of culture on business operation.
- 4.Develop top management perspective and design competitive business-level strategies for the industry.
- 5.Explain the role of local government policies with respect to international trade.
- SBMT 6340Career Trek[1-2 credit(s)]DescriptionCareer Trek is an overseas tour for participants to expand their business horizon and to explore the latest career opportunities in other countries. It mainly involves company visits to give students a practical understanding of day-to-day-operations in different fields of interest through meeting prospective employers to discuss specific jobs and career paths within each organization. Students can expand their networks, learn about the countries’ cultures and understand the hiring landscape in different regions across industries. The duration of the treks will range from several days to a full-week. Students are allowed to repeat this course for credits if the locations of the treks are different. Consent of instructor is required. Graded P or F.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Analyze the professional culture of the organization they visit and explain how their skills potentially relate to a particular profession.
- 2.Identify regional job markets and the best way to successfully find a career in a specific field.
- 3.Develop professional connection with organizations and other professionals visited during the trek.
- 4.Apply knowledge about the world of work and career development to their lives.
- SBMT 6350MBA Practical Internship Experience[1-4 credit(s)]DescriptionThis course is to provide students with practical work experience. Internships provide entry-level, career-related experience, and workplace competencies that employers value when hiring new employees. It is also an opportunity to explore career fields. Students can gain a clearer sense of what they still need to learn and to build professional networks. The experience will enhance students’ knowledge and likelihood of success in post-MBA job search. Course duration and credits depend on the cumulative working hours. Students are allowed to repeat this course for credits if they have more than one internship. Consent of instructor is required. Graded PP, P or F.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Generate practical experience, insights and knowledge in a field relevant to their major of studies.
- 2.Apply major and academic specific knowledge in a workplace setting.
- 3.Develop connections with industry professionals which lead to more job offers.
- 4.Acquire technical and soft skills which only come with experience, including skills important for time management, discipline and self-learning.
- 5.Execute practically teamwork, effective communication, collaboration and leadership.
- SBMT 6360MBA Career Development Program[1-4 credit(s)]Previous Course Code(s)SBMT 5750DescriptionThe course provides students access to practical and customized learning opportunities to be equipped with knowledge, skills and attributes to further advance in their careers. Workshops and training sessions such as recruitment talks and executive sharing can keep students exposed to valuable career connections, abreast with the latest development in the commercial world and trends in the job market. Through these career development activities, students will get to evaluate their own strengths and weaknesses, identify areas for improvement, collect feedback on interview techniques, further improve and formulate a personalized strategy to develop their career goals. Consent of instructor is required. Graded PP, P or F.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Confidently and professionally present themselves to potential employers via their professional resumes and profiles.
- 2.Identify resources and collaborators among staff, trainers, alumni, and peers who can help them in their career development process.
- 3.Plan their career timeline, options and goal, and accelerate their job search progress.
- 4.Analyze one’s career strengths and weaknesses, and essential continuous improvements which drive career growth.
- SBMT 6380GNAM Small Network Online Courses[2-0-0:2]Mode of Delivery[BLD] Blended learningDescriptionThe Small Network Online Courses (SNOC) enroll a select group of students engaged in a common effort to build management skills. They are offered virtually by a member school of the Global Network for Advanced Management (GNAM), connecting students online for lectures and discussions, and collaborative team projects, developing teamwork skills and cross-cultural perspectives. The course may be repeated for credits if the SNOCs taken are offered by different schools. Graded PP, P or F.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Develop international connections with the GNAM member schools’ students.
- 2.Recognize the member schools’ counties market condition and impact of culture on business operation.
- 3.Apply top management perspective and design competitive business-level strategies for the GNAM member schools’ local industries.
- 4.Analyze the first-hand case studies from different countries to investigate the global business problems.
- SBMT 6770Professional Development in Academia for Business[0-1-0:1]DescriptionThis one-credit course aims at providing research postgraduate students with basic training in ethics, teaching skills, research management, career development, and related professional skills. This course is composed of a number of mini-workshops, some of which are compulsory. Graded PP, P or F.
- SBMT 6780Professional Development in Ethics, Innovation and Technology for Research Postgraduate Students[0-1-0:1]DescriptionThis one-credit course is intended to provide basic professional training to research postgraduate students in the School of Business and Management. The course will begin with lectures and a workshop on ethics in research, which is designed to enable students to keep abreast of current issues in research and trends within the corporate, private and government sectors, as it relates to the impact and usage of technology. Students will be provided with the opportunities to interact with individuals in the corporate sector to engage in discourse of a practical nature. The mode of delivery will consist of lectures given by faculty and/ or guest speakers, students reading groups, discipline-specific workshops on various topics. Graded PP, P or F.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Explain ethical issues in regards to research for human subjects.
- 2.Recognize such ethical issues as it relates to private information of clients in industry.
- 3.Identify new research techniques employed in their discipline.
- 4.Exemplify various impacts of new technology in business sector.
- 5.Consult and comment on matters relevant to the academic and lay communities.
