The Master of Philosophy (MPhil) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Programs are broad-based research postgraduate programs that embrace a wide spectrum of environmental interests. The programs serve as an innovative platform for interdisciplinary research involving scientific, technological, environmental socio-economic and policy challenges. The programs also provide students with the background to solve complex environmental problems and to engage in interdisciplinary environmental research that can have a high impact on Hong Kong and the world. Co-supervision on student thesis work is a core feature in the programs, an approach that enhances the interdisciplinary education experience for students. Currently, the research concentrations include:

• Air Quality and Built Environment
• Circular Economy and Waste Management
• Climate Adaptation and Resilience
• Energy Transition and Societal Change
• Environmental Economics and Sustainable Finance
• Environmental Health Technology
• Modeling and Assessment for Sustainable Urban Infrastructures
• Physical/Biophysical Oceanography and Ecosystem Modeling
• Smart Sustainable Healthy Cities and Society
• Transdisciplinary Solutions for Carbon Neutrality

The MPhil Program aims to train students to conduct independent interdisciplinary research in Environmental Science, Policy and Management. A candidate for an MPhil degree is expected to demonstrate knowledge in the discipline and to synthesize and create new knowledge, making a contribution to the field.

The PhD Program seeks to train students in original research and to cultivate the independent, interdisciplinary and innovative thinking that is essential for a successful career in research, management or policy formulation in this area. A candidate for a PhD degree is expected to demonstrate mastery of knowledge in the chosen discipline and to synthesize and create new knowledge, making an original and substantial contribution to the discipline.

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

1. Demonstrate up-to-date and in-depth knowledge of areas of their specialization and in environmental science, policy and management in general;
2. Apply experimental or modeling techniques/skills for investigations of problems in environmental science, policy and management;
3. Conduct directed research, develop experimental/modeling/data analysis protocols and interpret results; and
4. Communicate effectively the results of scientific research in writing and by oral presentation.

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

1. Demonstrate up-to-date and in-depth knowledge of areas of their specialization and in environmental science, policy and management in general;
2. Apply experimental or modeling techniques/skills for investigations of problems inenvironmental science, policy and management;
3. Conduct independent research, propose laboratory/field/modeling experiments, develop protocols, evaluate results and formulate hypotheses;
4. Communicate effectively the results of scientific research in writing and by oral presentation; and
5. Evaluate and critique current research, approaches and methodologies in environmental science, policy and management.

1. Minimum Credit Requirement

MPhil: 9 credits 
PhD: 12 credits 
 

2. Credit Transfer

Subject to approval of the PG Coordinator, PhD students who have taken the HKUST MPhil Program in Environmental Science, Policy and Management will be granted credit transfer of up to a maximum of 9 credits. Students admitted to the MPhil/PhD program with a relevant master’s degree may be granted credit transfer on a case-by-case basis. In such case, the maximum number of credits transferrable is 6.
 

3. Core Courses

MPhil/PhD: 6 Credits
 

4. Elective Courses

MPhil: 3 Credits

PhD: 6 Credits

Students may take other postgraduate course(s) approved by the supervisor and the PG Coordinator.

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 Academy of Interdisciplinary Studies.

Students are required to complete ENVR 6770. The 1 credit earned from ENVR 6770 cannot be counted toward the credit requirements.

PhD students who are HKUST MPhil graduates and have completed ENVR 6770 or other professional development courses offered by the University before may be exempted from taking ENVR 6770, subject to prior approval of the Academy of Interdisciplinary Studies.

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.
 

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.

8. Postgraduate Seminar

Students must take ENVR 6010 whenever it is offered.
 

9. 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.
 

10. Thesis Research

MPhil:

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

PhD:

1. Registration in ENVR 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.

Apply online before the application deadlines.

 * Applicants are considered as non-local students if they hold (i) student visa/ entry permit; or (ii) visa under the Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates (IANG); or (iii) dependent visa/entry permit who were 18 years old or above when they were issued with such visa/ entry permit by the Director of Immigration. For details on student visa/ entry permit requirements, please click here.