While advancements in science and technology have been rapidly expanding the range of solutions for tackling global challenges such as climate change and population ageing, science and technology innovations have also given rise to a complex set of ethical, institutional and legal issues for governments, non-profit and private entities. Public policy will play an increasingly important role in unlocking the full potential of science and technology in improving the human condition and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

The Master of Public Policy (MPP) Program is an interdisciplinary program that equips students with knowledge of the full impact of science and technology innovations, and professional skills in the formulation and implementation of innovative solutions to current and emerging global challenges. It provides students with complete professional training that focuses on problem-solving skills with real-world cases and examples, such as information technology and telecommunications, environment, energy, health care, transportation and finance.
 

Designed for students with diverse educational backgrounds, including social science, science, engineering, business, and other fields of study, this two-year full-time program consists of a core curriculum, a client-based policy analysis project, and elective courses allowing students to develop their areas of specialization.

The program places an emphasis on knowledge, analytic skills and management capacities that are highly transferable across sectors, issue areas and global regions. Graduates of the MPP Program may work as analysts, managers, researchers and consultants in a wide variety of organizations, including government agencies, non-profit organizations and private businesses. The training provided by the program is particularly relevant for policy professionals seeking to advance their careers in industries at the frontline of science and technology advancements, such as information technology and telecommunications, environment, energy, health care, transportation and finance.

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

1. Adopt interdisciplinary perspectives on global policy challenges and innovative solutions;
2. Competently apply appropriate analytical tools for problem-solving in the real world;
3. Establish and employ professional expertise in specialization areas of their choices;
4. Develop and apply managerial acumen essential for future leaders in public and private sectors. 

1. Minimum Credit Requirement

   48 credits 
    

2. Credit Transfer  

   Subject to the approval of the Program Director, students may apply for credit transfer or course substitution of no more than 12 credits. Students admitted to the dual degree program with the University of Washington (UW) may transfer up to 24 credits from UW to fulfill the program requirements with prior approval of the Program Director.
    

3. Core Courses

24 credits
 

4. Elective Courses

24 credits

i. PPOL Electives

     At least 12 credits 

    Students can take any PPOL postgraduate courses to meet the elective course requirement.
 

ii. Other Electives

    Up to 12 credits

* For the highly technical course(s), students will be approved to take the course(s) with advice sought from the Program Director to cover both the policy and technical aspects.

Subject to the approval of the Program Director, a maximum of two postgraduate courses outside the above lists may be taken as Other Electives.

5. Professional Development Course Requirement

Students are required to complete PPOL 5770.
 

6. Remarks

Students should take a minimum of 12 credits and up to a maximum of 15 credits of coursework per regular term.

Last update: 11 November 2021

Students are given an option to complete one of the following concentrations. Double-concentration is not allowed.

1. Environmental and Sustainability Policy Concentration

Students who opt for the Environmental and Sustainability Policy (ESP) Concentration are required to take at least 12 of the 24 elective credits from the approved lists of ESP Concentration Electives, including at least 6 credits of PPOL ESP Concentration Electives as part of the 12 credits of PPOL electives. The remaining 12 elective credits can be selected from any PPOL Electives or Other Electives from the curriculum.
 
i. PPOL ESP Concentration Electives

ii. Other ESP Concentration Electives

* For the highly technical course(s), students will be approved to take the course(s) with advice sought from the Program Director to construct a concentration that will cover both the policy and technical aspects of a particular area.

Subject to the approval of the Program Director, a maximum of two postgraduate courses outside the above lists may be taken as ESP Concentration Electives.

2. Science and Technology Policy Concentration

Students who opt for the Science and Technology Policy (STP) Concentration are required to take at least 12 of the 24 elective credits from the approved lists of STP Concentration Electives, including at least 6 credits of PPOL STP Concentration Electives as part of the 12 credits of PPOL Electives. The remaining 12 elective credits can be selected from any PPOL Electives or Other Electives from the curriculum.
 
i. PPOL STP Concentration Electives

ii. Other STP Concentration Electives

* For the highly technical course(s), students will be approved to take the course(s) with advice sought from the Program Director to construct a concentration that will cover both the policy and technical aspects of a particular area.

Subject to the approval of the Program Director, a maximum of two postgraduate courses outside the above lists may be taken as STP Concentration Electives.

Last update: 11 November 2021

  [The Dual Degree Program is currently suspended until further notice.]

Students admitted to the dual degree program with the University of Washington (UW) may pursue their first year at UW, and second year at HKUST, or their first year at HKUST and second year at UW.

During their year at UW, students will enroll in the Global Master of Public Administration (GMPA) Program of UW and complete 50 units of approved coursework, which may be transferred back to HKUST to count toward up to 24 credits of the MPP program requirements with approval of the Program Director.
 

During their year at HKUST, students will complete at least 24 credits of coursework of the MPP Program as follows:
 

   i. Core Course

Students are required to take at least 12 credits of core courses at HKUST.
 

    ii. Elective Courses

Students are required to take 12 credits of elective courses, including at least 6 credits of PPOL Electives, and up to 6 credits of Other Electives from the curriculum.

Last update: 15 September 2020

To qualify for admission, applicants must meet all of the following requirements. Admission is selective and meeting these minimum requirements does not guarantee admission.