The Master of Philosophy (MPhil) Program focus on strengthening students’ knowledge of environmental engineering and to expose them to issues in environmental pollution and conservation, and sustainable development. 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 Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Program aims at developing and strengthening students’ skills in identifying key issues related to environmental engineering, in formulating original research plans and methodologies, and in implementing those plans and methodologies to produce results that are useful for reducing environmental pollution and advancing environmental conservation and sustainable development. 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. Acquire advanced knowledge in science on which environmental engineering research and practice are based;
2. Acquire the ability to independently and ethically plan and conduct experiments, produce original experimental data and analyze and interpret the results;
3. Acquire and further enhance an ability to develop and apply modern engineering and scientific tools effectively and efficiently for analysis, design, research and communication;
4. Develop an ability to identify and formulate environmental engineering problems, and propose feasible solutions with an appreciation of their underlying assumptions, uncertainties, constraints, and technical limitations within a multidisciplinary research environment;
5. Develop technical competency to analyze and design environmental engineering components and systems, with an in-depth understanding of the principles behind the design methodologies;
6. Contribute cutting edge knowledge in environmental engineering and demonstrate the ability to evaluate one’s own contribution to the field; and
7. Develop an ability to teach a subject, communicate and present ideas effectively, including oral, written, and technical writing skills, and to function effectively within and among teams with a variety of backgrounds and interests.

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

1. Acquire advanced knowledge in science on which environmental engineering research and practice are based;
2. Acquire the ability to independently and ethically plan and conduct experiments, produce original experimental data and analyze and interpret the results;
3. Acquire and further enhance an ability to develop and apply modern engineering and scientific tools effectively and efficiently for analysis, design, research and communication;
4. Develop an ability to identify and formulate environmental engineering problems, and propose feasible solutions with an appreciation of their underlying assumptions, uncertainties, constraints, and technical limitations within a multidisciplinary research environment;
5. Develop technical competency to analyze and design environmental engineering components and systems, with an in-depth understanding of the principles behind the design methodologies
6. Contribute cutting edge knowledge in environmental engineering and demonstrate the ability to evaluate one’s own contribution to the field; and
7. Develop an ability to teach a subject, communicate and present ideas effectively, including oral, written, and technical writing skills, and to function effectively within and among teams with a variety of backgrounds and interests.

1. Minimum Credit Requirement

MPhil/PhD: 15 credits

2. Credit Transfer

PhD students with a master’s degree in an Environmental Engineering or a closely related field may be granted credit transfer by the Program Director on a case-by-case basis.

3. Required Courses

1. Students are required to complete at least 15 credits of approved coursework taken from more than one department, including at least 9 credits from the following courses offered by the School of Engineering. A maximum of 6 credits of 4000-level undergraduate courses may be taken.
    

2. Students may take the following courses or other courses outside the School of Engineering to count toward the program requirements, subject to the prior approval from their thesis supervisors and the final endorsement of the Program Director.
    

3. Students who do not have sufficient exposure to environmental courses need to take CIVL 3420 and/or CIVL 4470, or equivalent courses as advised by the EVNG Program Committee.
    

4. PhD students admitted to the program without a master’s degree may be required to take additional credits to fulfill the program requirements.

4. School Requirements on PhD Programs

In addition to the program requirements, all full-time and part-time PhD students are required to complete the school requirements, which aim to help students gain a wider exposure to multidisciplinary areas, and attain all-rounded learning by broadening their knowledge base.

PhD students are required to take at least a 3-credit course at 5000-level or above outside their programs offered by the School of Engineering. The 3 credits may be satisfied by courses from other Schools upon approval.

In some exceptional cases where students can provide sufficient justifications and obtain prior approval from their supervisors, PG Coordinators, and Heads of Department/Program Directors or designees, they are allowed to take the 3-credit course within their home departments/programs but the course must be in areas outside their specialty.

Details of the requirements are available on the website of the School of Engineering.

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 ENGG 6780. The 1 credit earned from ENGG 6780 cannot be counted toward the credit requirements.

PhD students who are HKUST MPhil graduates and have completed ENGG 6780 before may be exempted from taking ENGG 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.
 

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 approval of the Department Head and/or PG Coordinator/Program Director.

8. Postgraduate Seminar

MPhil:

Students are required to complete EVNG 6050 for at least two regular terms, and present at least one seminar during their study.

PhD:

Students are required to complete EVNG 6050 for at least four regular terms, and present at least two terms during their study.

9. PhD Qualifying Examination

To become a doctoral candidate, the student must pass a qualifying examination within the first 18 months of study. The qualifying examination involves the submission of a research proposal and an oral/written examination given by the Thesis Supervision Committee. The purpose of the qualifying examination is to establish the student’s ability to formulate and conduct original research in the chosen field of study.

10. Thesis Research

MPhil:

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

PhD:

1. Registration in EVNG 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.

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.