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

1. Have up-to-date and in-depth knowledge in Economics, leading to independent substantive scholarly research;
2. Have an in-depth understanding of contemporary business and organizational issues, within the field of Economics; and
3. Be equipped to perform all aspects of the role of faculty in academia, including pedagogical skills.

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

1. Have up-to-date and in-depth knowledge in Economics, leading to independent substantive scholarly research;
2. Have an in-depth understanding of contemporary business and organizational issues, within the field of Economics; and
3. Be equipped to perform all aspects of the role of faculty in academia, including pedagogical skills.

1. Minimum Credit Requirement

MPhil: 23 credits
PhD: 36 credits
 

2. Credit Transfer

PhD students who have taken the HKUST MPhil Program in Economics will be granted credit transfer to the PhD Program. Students who have taken an MPhil program or equivalent in other universities may be granted credit transfer on a case-by-case basis, up to a maximum of 32 credits.
 

3. Introductory Quantitative Requirement

Unless students have clearly demonstrated sufficient knowledge in the area, students entering the MPhil or PhD Program are required to take the following two mathematics-oriented courses in the first regular term of study. The credits earned from these two courses cannot be counted toward the degree requirements.
 

4. Course Requirement

MPhil: At least 23 credits including the following, with at least 8 credits of MPhil/PhD level courses in the major field.

PhD: At least 36 credits including the following.
 

Students may need to take additional courses related to their research topics, as requested by their thesis supervisors.
 

5. 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.
 

6. 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 SBMT 6780. The 1 credit earned from SBMT 6780 cannot be counted toward the credit requirements.

PhD students who are HKUST MPhil graduates and have completed SBMT 6780 or other professional development courses offered by the University before may be exempted from taking SBMT 6780, subject to prior approval of the School.
 

7. 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.
 

8. MPhil Theory Examinations

MPhil students who intend to proceed to the PhD Program in Economics are required to take and pass four theory examinations during their first year of MPhil study. Students are allowed two attempts to pass the four theory examinations. The two attempts must be completed by the end of the first year of the MPhil study. If a student does not pass all four theory examinations in the first attempt, in the second attempt, the student only needs to take those theory examinations failed in the first attempt.

Students who fail to pass the four theory examinations in two attempts may continue their MPhil study, but are not allowed to proceed to the PhD Program.
 

9. PhD Qualifying Examination

All PhD students must pass a qualifying examination. There are only two attempts for the qualifying examination, which take place in June and August of the same year.

Students admitted via the HKUST MPhil Program in Economics will take the qualifying examination during the Summer of the first year of MPhil study. Students who fail the qualifying examination in the two attempts may continue their MPhil study, but are not allowed to proceed to the PhD program.

Students admitted without an HKUST MPhil degree in Economics will take the qualifying examination in the Summer of the first year of PhD study. They will take the same qualifying examination as the HKUST MPhil students. Students who fail the qualifying examination after two attempts in the first year of their PhD study are required to withdraw from the PhD Program.
 

10. Research Paper Requirement

PhD students are required to submit a research paper by the Summer of the second year of PhD study. Students admitted with an HKUST MPhil degree in Economics or equivalent will be exempted from this requirement.
 

11. Thesis Research

MPhil:

1. Registration in ECON 6990; and

2. Presentation and oral defense of the MPhil thesis.

PhD:

1. Registration in ECON 7990; and
2. Presentation and oral defense of the PhD thesis.

Last update: 1 June 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.