The Master of Philosophy (MPhil) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Programs in Individualized Interdisciplinary Program (Research Area) are designed for students who have well-articulated research goals which cannot be reached through established research postgraduate programs. They aim to create an organic study curriculum pattern to facilitate students’ intellectual growth, exploration into novel research direction, and a long term commitment in an interdisciplinary research field.  

The programs offer students a broad academic freedom to create a unique research postgraduate program focused on a specialized area of research in ways that best suit their own intellectual interests and passions, by working on an interdisciplinary research topic and using courses from different Departments/Divisions to fulfill the curriculum. Students have to develop a research plan and framework which allow them to explore their unique research interests and to work with their supervisors from different research areas to pursue and complete their degree.

On completion of the program, students will be conferred an MPhil/PhD degree in Individualized Interdisciplinary Program. The chosen area of research will also be specified in the degree title (e.g. PhD in Individualized Interdisciplinary Program (Bionics Engineering)).

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

1. Generate an advanced degree curricula that interrelates knowledge and skills from selected academic areas, and proficiency in the areas of quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods of research;
2. Develop knowledge and understanding of appropriate concepts, methods, and materials in disciplines which appropriately constitute the framework of their studies;
3. Demonstrate curricular understandings and proficiency of research skills through a comprehensive examination, group interaction and evaluation, professional presentations, and the successful completion of thesis defense;
4. Develop multi-dimensional perspectives and innovative problem-solving skills to existing and emerging problems; and
5. Develop distinctive skill mix that enables them to communicate effectively with people of different levels and disciplines within and across organizations.

1. Minimum Credit Requirement

MPhil: 12 credits 
PhD: 21 credits 
 

2. Credit Transfer

Subject to the approval of the Primary Supervisor, Co-supervisor(s) and the Program Director, students may be granted credit transfer on a case-by-case basis. The maximum number of credits transferrable is 6.

3. Required Courses

MPhil: 

A minimum of 12 credits of postgraduate courses at HKUST, approved by the Primary Supervisor, Co-supervisor(s) and the Program Director.

PhD: 

A minimum of 21 credits of postgraduate courses at HKUST, approved by the Primary Supervisor, Co-supervisor(s) and the Program Director.

4. 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.
 

5. 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 Primary Supervisor, Co-supervisor(s) and the Program Director.

MPhil students must register and pass IIMP 6090 for one term before they graduate. PhD students must register and pass IIMP 6090 for two terms before they graduate. The 1 credit earned from IIMP 6090 cannot be counted toward the credit requirements.

PhD students who are HKUST MPhil graduates and have taken and passed IIMP 6090 may be exempted from taking IIMP 6090, subject to prior approval of the Primary Supervisor, Co-supervisor(s) and the Program Director.

6. 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 5005 and advised to complete it in the first year of study. The 1 credit earned from LANG 5005 cannot be counted toward the program credit requirements. Students may be considered for exemption from this course, subject to the recommendation by Center for Language Education and approval of their department.

7. PhD Qualifying Examination

PhD students are required to submit a thesis proposal to the Qualifying Examination Committee who will examine the students’ general background knowledge and knowledge related to the topic of the research. Students must pass the qualifying examination no later than the forth regular term of study for full-time students, or the sixth regular term of study for part-time students.

8. Thesis Research

  MPhil:

1. Registration in IIMP 6990; and
2. Presentation and oral defense of the MPhil thesis.

PhD:

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

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