Master of Science in Technology Leadership and Entrepreneurship
MSc(TLE)
Both full- and part-time
Full-time: 1.5 years
Part-time: 3 years
HK$220,000
Program Director:
Prof Ajay JONEJA, Professor of Integrative Systems and Design
Program Associate Director:
Prof Erwin HUANG, Adjunct Professor of Integrative Systems and Design
Jointly offered by the Academy of Interdisciplinary Studies and the School of Business and Management, this unique Master of Science (MSc) program seeks to nurture engineering talents with entrepreneurial spirit and design and system thinking mindset so they can start their own business using innovative technologies or to initiate innovation within companies.
The program empowers students with background and skills required to successfully initiate innovative products or services. The degree is centered around the project – each student, working independently or in a team, will conceptualize and develop a product/service idea during their study period. Along the way, they can enroll in technical courses to build in-depth knowledge about the product domain, helping them to discriminate their ideas and build a market edge. In parallel, they learn foundations for design, entrepreneurship, leadership, and business via a rich selection of courses. Project supervisors can be selected from among any faculty in HKUST. Students are equipped with practical details of launching a startup in the Hong Kong and/or The Pearl River Delta (PRD) area via a startup workshop. Successful graduates are expected to make a positive impact towards the development of better society and the world.
On successful completion of the program, graduates will be able to:
- Identify a product or service that can make a positive impact in some segment of society;
- Use design principles to design the product;
- Apply entrepreneurship knowledge to launch a company, if applicable, providing a product/service; and
- Work effectively as an entrepreneur, in particular, as product developer or project manager in a product design unit of a corporation.
- Minimum Credit Requirement
30 credits
- Credit Transfer
Subject to the prior approval of the Program Director, students may be granted credit transfer to the program on a case-by-case basis.
- Core Courses
9 credits
- Elective Courses
12 Credits
Students are required to complete at least 6 credits of Entrepreneurship and Leadership courses and 6 credits of Technology and Science courses.
A list of pre-approved Entrepreneurship and Leadership electives offered in a particular year will be announced at the beginning of each academic year. The elective courses are a selection of entrepreneurship and leadership related courses chosen from the portfolio of the School of Business and Management (SBM), the School of Engineering (SENG), the School of Science (SSCI) and the Division of Public Policy (PPOL).
Students will select the Technology and Science electives related to their projects by consultation with their project advisors.
Students may also take any other relevant courses approved by the Program Director.
- Project
9 Credits
Students are required to conduct a 9-credit project throughout the program, which includes developing a product or service at a level that is sufficiently advanced to form the basis of a startup company.
- Remarks
- Part-time students may take a maximum of 9 credits in each term.
- Students failing to meet the graduation grade average (GGA) requirement of 2.850 or above are required to repeat or take additional course(s) even if they attain passing grades for all courses.
Last update: 17 December 2019
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.
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 scores in one single attempt only. Test at home option is not accepted.
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.
- A bachelor’s degree in Engineering or Science area is highly preferred.
- Candidates who have completed a bachelor’s degree in other areas with outstanding academic performance may also be considered.
- GRE scores will be considered if available.
- Applicants need to demonstrate an ability in taking initiatives, such as having contributed to innovative/entrepreneurial projects.
- Applicants may be shortlisted for admission interviews.
