Master of Philosophy in Nano Science and Technology
Doctor of Philosophy in Nano Science and Technology
MPhil(NSNT)
PhD(NSNT)
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 (without a relevant research master’s degree)
Part-time: 6 years
PG Programs Coordinator:
Prof Yi WANG, Associate Professor of Physics
The MPhil program aims to train students to conduct interdisciplinary research in Nano Science and Technology. It will prepare students to pursue further postgraduate studies or apply their technical skills for careers in high-tech industry and entrepreneurship in areas of advanced/smart materials, nano-electronics, medicine and healthcare, environment, energy, chemicals and biotechnology.
The PhD program seeks to train students to conduct original research in the interdisciplinary area of nano-science and technology and to cultivate innovative and problem-solving thinking. It will provide students interdisciplinary research skills and
knowledge for a successful career in academic institutes and R&D industry in areas of advanced materials, nano-electronics, energy, microfluidics and biotechnology.
On successful completion of the MPhil program, graduates will be able to:
- Explain the principles in nano science and technologies (such as nano material process, nano material characterization, nano device design and fabrication, nano structural observation and manipulation) and apply to problems at the postgraduate level;
- Demonstrate competence in the concepts and literature of a specific sub-discipline of physics;
- Conduct a successful program of supervised research; and
- Communicate scientific results effectively, both orally and in writing.
On successful completion of the PhD program, graduates will be able to:
- Explain the principles in nano science and technologies (such as nano material process, nano material characterization, nano device design and fabrication, nano structural observation and manipulation) and apply to problems at the postgraduate level;
- Demonstrate a mastery of the concepts and literature of a specific sub-discipline of physics;
- Conduct a successful program of independent research; and
- Communicate scientific results effectively, both orally and in writing.
Research Foci
Research in the Department covers a broad range of topics, from the smallest to the largest scale. Faculty members work both independently and collaboratively and they are also linked to HKUST’s front-running William Mong Institute of Nano Science and Technology and the HKUST Institute for Advanced Study.
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Cold atoms, Optics and Quantum Information: Matter-matter and light-matter interactions at atomic and molecular levels, precise control of quantum systems at the level of single photons, atoms, and molecules. Studies of physics in this scale lead to the next revolution of quantum technologies.
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Condensed matter experiments and advanced materials: To study the properties of matters and the emerging quantum materials, such as graphene, transition metal dichalcogenides, topological matters, nanostructures, superconductors, and organic artificial structures with advanced experimental techniques.
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Condensed matter theory, statistical and computational physics: Understanding collections of particles using quantum mechanics, statistical mechanics and electromagnetism lead to the prediction and manipulation of many novel materials including topological insulators, Dirac semimetals, Weyl semimetals, unconventional superconductors and two-dimensional materials.
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Particle physics and cosmology: Studies of elementary particles help explaining the observed cosmological structures and vice versa. To answer the most fundamental scientific questions, such as: What everything around us is made of and interact? What is the origin of our Universe and how does it evolve? These questions are deeply interconnected.
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Soft Matter and Biological physics: Colloids, polymers, complex fluids, granular materials and biological systems from the scale of biological molecules to whole organism. These mechanically soft systems have significant thermal effects. Understanding their behaviors in the mesoscopic scale is both challenging and technologically important.
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Metamaterials, Photonic and Phononic Crystals: Metamaterials and artificial crystals derive their properties from structures rather than the constitute materials, allowing us to explore optical and acoustic wave phenomena in ways not possible before, such as invisibility cloaking, negative refractive indices, non-Hermitian physics and nontrivial topological phases.
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Minimum Credit Requirement
MPhil: 12 credits
PhD: 15 credits
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Credit Transfer
PhD students entering the program with a relevant master’s or equivalent degree may be granted credit transfer of up to 6 credits based on their background in the related subject areas, subject to prior approval from the PG Coordinator. They must complete at least 3 credits of NANO courses. Students’ course selection must be agreed by their thesis supervisors and approved by their respective Thesis Supervision Committee.
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Required Courses
MPhil: 12 credits of postgraduate courses, including at least 4 credits of NANO courses.
PhD: 15 credits of postgraduate courses, including at least 4 credits of NANO courses.
Full-time students are expected to complete the coursework requirements during their first four regular terms of study.
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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 Nano Science & Tehnology and have completed PHYS 6770 Professional Development in Science (Physics), PHYS 6000 Physics Seminar or other equivalent course(s) 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 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. PhD students who are HKUST MPhil graduates may be considered for exemption from this course, subject to the approval of their department.
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PhD Qualifying Examination
PhD students must pass a qualifying examination specified by the Qualifying Examination Committee of the NANO postgraduate program.
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Thesis Research
MPhil:
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RRegistration in NANO 6990; and
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Presentation and oral defense of the MPhil thesis.
PhD:
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Registration in NANO 7990; and
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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.
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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
* refers to the total score in one single attempt
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.
