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

1. Demonstrate a sound grasp of the literature in financial economics;
2. Apply their specialized knowledge to solve related business problems in an innovative fashion; and
3. Have an in depth understanding of contemporary business and organizational issues, within finance.

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

1. Demonstrate a sound grasp of the literature in financial economics;
2. Apply their specialized knowledge to solve related business problems in an innovative fashion;
3. Have an in depth understanding of contemporary business and organizational issues, within finance; and
4. Equipped to perform all aspects of the role of faculty in academia, including pedagogical skills.

1. Minimum Credit Requirement

MPhil: 40 credits

PhD: 46 credits
 

2. Credit Transfer

PhD students who have taken the HKUST MPhil Program in Finance 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 27 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 40 credits in the sequence suggested below. Students may need to take additional courses related to their research topics, as requested by their thesis supervisors.
 

Year 1 – Fall Term

Year 1 – Spring Term

Year 2 – Fall Term

Year 2 – Spring Term

or A PhD level course as approved by the MPhil/PhD Programs Coordinator

PhD:
At least 46 credits including the following. Students may be required to take additional courses related to their research topics, as requested by their thesis supervisors.
 

1. Required Courses

or A PhD level course as approved by the MPhil/PhD Programs Coordinator

2. General Management Courses

Any one of the following:

3. Cross-discipline Research Courses

Any one of the following:

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. PhD Qualifying Examination

All PhD students must pass a qualifying examination which will be conducted at the end of Spring term or at the beginning of Summer term every year. HKUST MPhil students who have been admitted to the PhD study may be allowed to take the qualifying exam at the end of Spring or the beginning of Summer in their second year of study. Students who fail the qualifying examination in the first attempt can retake the examination once, subject to the approval of MPhil/PhD Program Coordinator. Students must pass the examination at a time as determined by the MPhil/PhD Program Coordinator.
 

9. Research Paper Requirement

PhD students are required to submit a research paper in Year 2 Summer. Students admitted with an HKUST MPhil degree in Finance or equivalent will be exempted from this requirement.
 

10. Thesis Research

MPhil:

1. Registration in FINA 6990; and

2. Presentation and oral defense of the MPhil thesis.

PhD:

1. Registration in FINA 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.