Master of Philosophy in Mechanical Engineering
Doctor of Philosophy in Mechanical Engineering
MPhil(MECH)
PhD(MECH)
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 Qing CHEN, Associate Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Applicants may apply for individual concentration(s) specified in the “Concentration” tab.
The Master of Philosophy (MPhil) Program focuses on strengthening students' background in the fundamentals of mechanical and aerospace engineering and exposing them to the environment of academic research and 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 equipping the students with the capability of identifying and solving academic and/or real problems creatively. 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:
- Review, analyze, and interpret specialized topics in the scientific literature;
- Creatively and innovatively design and develop basic research methodologies applied to scientific research in Mechanical Engineering;
- Professionally and ethically conduct scientific research/development in Mechanical Engineering;
- Analyze and interpret data, and find solutions for scientific and engineering problems;
- Effectively communicate ideas and disseminate the research outputs; and
- Pursue advanced studies such as a PhD or undertake an R&D position in industry.
On successful completion of the PhD program, graduates will be able to:
- Review, analyze, and interpret specialized topics in the scientific literature;
- Conduct high-impact research to solve the most fundamental problems in Mechanical Engineering;
- Professionally and ethically conduct scientific research/development in Mechanical Engineering;
- Actively seek to learn the most advanced methodologies and techniques;
- Design, implement, and evaluate state-of-the-art research to solve complex problems in Mechanical Engineering; and
- Work effectively with others as team members or leaders and make constructive contributions.
The program is offered by the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering with the following research foci, providing rigorous academic and professional training in a wide range of areas.
Research Foci
The Department's research concentrates on energy and environmental engineering, mechanics and materials, mechatronics and manufacturing, and aeronautical engineering. Research covers several major areas:
Solid Mechanics and Dynamics
These are two of the fundamental pillars of Mechanics research. The Department has a diverse faculty with expertise in these fields. Research activities range from applied issues to theoretical problems, and have a marked multidisciplinary nature. They involve: applied mathematics, solid mechanics, nonlinear dynamics, computations, solid state physics, material science and experiments for various kinds of solid materials/ systems and mechanical behaviors. Faculty members work on problems of both static and dynamic natures with different types of evolutions. These problems also involve multi-field coupling on different scales of time and length, from micro-second to long time creep processes and from a very small carbon nanotube or a cell to macroscopic scale composite materials and electro-mechanical devices/ systems.
Materials Technology
Materials engineering focuses on characterizing and processing new materials, developing processes for controlling their properties and their economical production, generating engineering data necessary for design, and predicting the performance of products. Research topics include: smart materials, biomaterials, thin films, composites, fracture and fatigue, residual life assessment, materials issues in electronic packaging, materials recycling, plastics flow in injection molding, advanced powder processing, desktop manufacturing, and instrumentation and measurement techniques.
Energy/ Thermalfluids and Environment Engineering
Research in energy, thermalfluids and environmental engineering includes fuel cells and batteries, advanced renewable energy storage systems, thermoelectric materials and devices, nanoscale heat and mass transfer, transport in multicomponent and multiphase systems, innovative electronics cooling systems, energy efficient buildings, and contaminant transport in indoor environments.
Design and Manufacturing Automation
These elements lie at the heart of mechanical engineering in which engineers conceive, design, build, and test innovative solutions to "real world" problems. Research is being conducted in the areas of geometric modeling, intelligent design and manufacturing process optimization, in-process monitoring and control of manufacturing processes, servosystem control, robotics, mechatronics, prime-mover system control, sensor technology and measurement techniques, and bio-medical systems design and manufacturing.
Microsystems and Precision Engineering
Micro ElectroMechanical Systems (MEMS) is a multidisciplinary research field which has been making a great impact on our daily life, including various micro sensors used in personal electronics, transportation, communication, and biomedical diagnostics. Fundamental and applied research work is being conducted in this area. Basic micro/ nanomechanics, such as fluid and solid mechanics, heat transfer and materials problems unique to micro/nanomechanical systems are studied. New ideas to produce microsystems for energy, biomedicine and nanomaterials, micro sensors and micro actuators are explored. Technology issues related to the micro/ nanofabrication of these devices are being addressed.
Aerospace Engineering
Aerospace engineering is a major branch of engineering concerned with research, development, manufacture and operation of aircraft and spacecraft. Within the aerospace engineering group, fundamental and applied research is being conducted in areas such as aerodynamics, aeroacoustics, aircraft and engine noise and performance, combustion dynamics, thermoacoustics, atomization and sprays, and aircraft design and optimization. Advanced experimental facilities and high-fidelity computational methods are being developed and used. The group boasts two world-class anechoic wind tunnels for aerodynamics and aeroacoustics research, and is home to a major research center on aircraft noise technology.
Facilities
The Department has well-equipped laboratories for teaching and research activities, include:
Automation Lab; Control & Robotics Lab; Laboratory for Energy Storage & Conversion; Manufacturing Lab; Smart Green City Lab; MEMS Lab; Thermal Systems Lab; Complex System Modeling & Design Lab; Aeroacoustic Lab; Aerodynamics Lab; Mechanics & Materials Lab; Aerospace Design & Computational Lab; Sample Preparation Lab; Anechoic Wind Tunnel Lab; Solid Mechanics Lab; Multifunctional Composites & Structures Lab; Combustion Research Lab; Thermo-acoustic Lab; Energy/Environment Technology Lab; Energy Test Facility and Fabrication Shop.
- Minimum Credit Requirement
MPhil: 12 credits
PhD: 24 credits (without a master’s degree)/ 12 credits (with a master’s degree)
- Credit Transfer
PhD students who are HKUST MPhil graduates in Mechanical Engineering may be granted credit transfer of up to 12 credits on condition that these credits have not been used in their MPhil degree or any other academic qualification. Subject to the approval of the departmental PG Committee, students who obtained master’s degree from other universities may be granted credit transfer of up to 6 credits on condition that these credits have not been used to earn another academic qualification, and that the courses must be at 4000-level or above.
- Required Courses
MPhil:
Students are required to complete 12 credits of postgraduate courses, excluding courses from School of Business and Management and School of Humanities and Social Science, of which 9 credits must be from MECH courses.
PhD:
Students without a master’s degree are required to take 24 credits of postgraduate courses, excluding courses from School of Business and Management and School of Humanities and Social Science, of which 18 credits must be from MECH courses.
Students with a master’s degree are required to complete 12 credits of postgraduate courses, excluding courses from School of Business and Management and School of Humanities and Social Science, of which 9 credits must be from MECH courses.
PhD students deemed to be missing relevant background in Mechanical Engineering may be required to take extra MECH courses, which will be specified by the departmental Admissions Committee.
- 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.
- 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 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.
- 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.
- Postgraduate Seminar
MPhil:
Students are required to complete MECH 6090 for at least three terms. Subject to the approval of the Department, students can take MECH 6090 for less than three terms.
PhD:
Students are required to complete MECH 6090 for at least four terms. Subject to the approval of the Department, students can take MECH 6090 for less than four terms.
- PhD Qualifying Examination
PhD students are required to pass an oral qualifying examination (QE) which can be attempted twice at most.
- PhD students admitted with only a bachelor’s degree should attempt the first QE within the first four regular terms of study, or if failed, the second QE within the fifth regular term of study.
- PhD students admitted with a master’s degree should attempt the first QE within the first three regular terms of study, or if failed, the second QE within the forth regular term of study.
- A student who fails the second attempt of QE is not allowed to continue with the PhD study. Subject to approval, he/she may be recommended for transfer to the MPhil program.
- Thesis Research
MPhil:
- Registration in MECH 6990 every regular term; and
- Presentation and oral defense of the MPhil thesis.
PhD:
- Registration in MECH 7990; and
- Presentation and oral defense of the PhD thesis.
Last update: 1 June 2023
- Energy Technology Concentration
In addition to the existing program requirements, students who opt for the Energy Technology concentration are required to:
- MPhil:
Take one ENEG course, which can be counted toward the credit requirements of MECH courses.
PhD:
Take one ENEG course, or up to two ENEG courses for PhD students without a master’s degree, which can be counted toward the credit requirements of MECH courses.
- Complete ENEG 6010 for one term. They can use ENEG 6010 to replace one term of registration of MECH 6090.
- Conduct research in energy area.
- Nanotechnology Concentration
In addition to the existing program requirements, students who opt for the Nanotechnology concentration are required to:
- MPhil:
Take one NANO course, which can be counted toward the credit requirements of MECH courses.
PhD:
Take one NANO course, or up to two NANO courses for PhD students without a master’s degree, which can be counted toward the credit requirements of MECH courses.
- Complete NANO 6010 for one term. They can use NANO 6010 to replace one term of registration of MECH 6090.
- Conduct research in nano area.
- Scientific Computation Concentration
In addition to the existing program requirements, students who opt for the Scientific Computation concentration are required to:
- MPhil:
Complete a minimum of 7 credits from the following course lists. Students must complete 3 credits of CSIC courses, which can be counted toward the credit requirements of MECH courses.
PhD:
Complete a minimum of 10 credits from the following course lists. Students must complete 3 credits of CSIC courses, or up to 6 credits of CSIC courses for PhD students without a master's degree, which can be counted toward the credit requirements of MECH courses.
The credits earned under the concentration will be counted toward the total credit requirements of the programs.
All students must take MATH 6915 and MATH 6916. Credits earned from MATH 6915 can be repeated for up to 2 credits. Students may use MATH 6915 to replace one term of registration of MECH 6090.
All students must take at least one course of other departments (excluding MATH 6915 and MATH 6916) or one CSIC course.
Elective Courses
- Conduct research in the area of scientific computation.
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 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.
Apply online before the application deadlines.
HK$180
For Hong Kong PhD Fellowship (HKPFS) Application (for PhD studies only):
Step 1 deadline at RGC (to obtain an HKPFS reference no. from RGC):
1 Dec 2024 (12noon, GMT+8)
Step 2 deadline at HKUST:
1 Dec 2024 (11:59pm, GMT+8)
Details please refer to https://fytgs.hkust.edu.hk/hkpfs
For 2025/26 Fall Term Intake (commencing in Sep 2025):
Non-local Applicants*
Full-time: 1 Jun 2025
Local Applicants
Full-time: 15 Jul 2025
Part-time: 15 Jul 2025
For 2024/25 Spring Term Intake (commencing in Feb 2025):
Non-local Applicants*
Full-time: 1 Nov 2024
Local Applicants
Full-time: 15 Dec 2024
Part-time: 15 Dec 2024
Applicants who would like to apply for the following concentration(s) should apply for the respective program choice(s) in the Online Admission System:
Mechanical Engineering - Energy Technology Concentration
Mechanical Engineering - Nanotechnology Concentration
Mechanical Engineering - Scientific Computation Concentration
* 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.
