Master of Philosophy in Physics
Doctor of Philosophy in Physics
MPhil(PHYS)
PhD(PHYS)
Both full- and part-time
MPhil
Full-time: 2 years
Part-time: 4 years
PhD
Full-time: 3 years (with a relevant research master’s degree), 4 years (with a bachelor’s degree only)
Part-time: 6 years
PG Programs Coordinator:
Prof Jensen LI, Professor of Physics
The Master of Philosophy (MPhil) Program is designed to train students to conduct independent research in Physics, and to prepare students for teaching, further postgraduate studies, or advanced work in industry. A candidate for an MPhil degree is expected to demonstrate knowledge in the discipline and to synthesize and create new knowledge, making a contribution to the field.
The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Program is designed to train students to conduct significant original research, and the degree is conferred primarily in recognition of breadth of scholarship, depth of research, and power to investigate problems independently and efficiently. A candidate for a PhD degree 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.
The programs are offered by the Department of Physics with the following research foci and state-of-the-art facilities providing students with necessary interdisciplinary knowledge to contribute to the long-term nanoscale research and development.
Research Foci
The Department concentrates its resources on condensed matter physics with potential relevance to the technological industry. Faculty and postgraduate research focus on optical, condensed matter and statistical physics, and include the physics of lasers, solid state, mesoscopic systems, devices, nanomaterials, thin films, surfaces, interfaces, liquid crystals, polymers and composites.
An area of interdisciplinary collaboration that has emerged over the years is that of nanomaterials and nanotechnology and the Department is closely linked with HKUST’s front-running William Mong Institute of Nano Science and Technology. The followings are main research areas that the Department is presently focusing on:
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Atomic, Molecular, and Optical (AMO) Physics
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Biophysics
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Computational Physics
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First Principles Studies of Material Properties
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Information Physics
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Nano Materials
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Physics of Semiconductors
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Soft Condensed Matter Physics
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Strongly Correlated Electron Systems
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Surface Physics
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Particle Theory and Cosmology
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Ultrafast Photonics and Nonlinear Optics
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Wave Phenomena and Wave Functional Materials
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Minimum Credit Requirement
MPhil/PhD: 12 credits
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Required Courses
Students are required to complete at least 12 credits of approved Physics postgraduate courses.
Full-time students are expected to complete the coursework requirements during the first two regular terms.
Students with a first degree in an area other than Physics may be required to take additional courses.
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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 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.
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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 School.
Students are required to complete PHYS 6771. The 1 credit earned from PHYS 6771 cannot be counted toward the credit requirements.
PhD students who are HKUST MPhil graduates in Physics and have completed PHYS 6000 Physics Seminar or PHYS 6700 Professional Development in Science (Physics) before may be exempted from taking PHYS 6771, subject to prior approval of the Department Head or PG Coordinator.
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English Language Requirement
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.
Students are required to complete LANG 5010 in the first year of study. The 1 credit earned from LANG 5010 cannot be counted toward the credit requirements.
PhD students who are HKUST MPhil graduates may be considered for exemption from this requirement, subject to approval from the Department Head and PG Coordinator.
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PhD Qualifying Examination
PhD students are required to sit for a qualifying examination set by the Department and pass it within the first two years of study. After passing the qualifying examination, students with satisfactory academic records are admitted to PhD candidacy.
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Thesis Research
MPhil:
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Registration in PHYS 6990; and
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Presentation and oral defense of the MPhil thesis.
PhD:
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Registration in PHYS 7990 after passing the qualifying examination; and
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Presentation and oral defense of the PhD thesis.
Last update: 31 July 2019
Scientific Computation Concentration
In addition to the existing program requirements, students who opt for the Scientific Computation concentration are required to:
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MPhil:
Complete a minimum of 7 credits from the following course lists.
PhD:
Complete a minimum of 10 credits from the following course lists.
Only credits earned from physics postgraduate courses under this concentration will be counted toward the total credit requirements of the program.
Core Courses
MPhil: at least 3 credits
PhD: at least 6 credits
All students must take MATH 6915 and MATH 6916. Credits earned from MATH 6915 can be repeated for up to 2 credits.
Elective Courses
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Conduct research in the area of scientific computation.
Last update: 29 August 2023
To qualify for admission, applicants must meet all of the following requirements. Admission is selective and meeting these minimum requirements does not guarantee admission.
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Applicants seeking admission to a master's degree program should have obtained a bachelor’s degree from a recognized institution, or an approved equivalent qualification;
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Applicants seeking admission to a doctoral degree program should have obtained a bachelor’s degree with a proven record of outstanding performance from a recognized institution; or presented evidence of satisfactory work at the postgraduate level on a full-time basis for at least one year, or on a part-time basis for at least two years.
Applicants have to fulfill English Language requirements with one of the following proficiency attainments:
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TOEFL-iBT: 80
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TOEFL-pBT: 550
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TOEFL-Revised paper-delivered test: 60 (total scores for Reading, Listening and Writing sections)
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IELTS (Academic Module): Overall score: 6.5 and All sub-score: 5.5
Applicants are not required to present TOEFL or IELTS score if
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their first language is English, or
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they obtained the bachelor's degree (or equivalent) from an institution where the medium of instruction was English.
