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Postgraduate Programs 2025/26
Master of Science Program in Intelligent Building Technology and Management
GENERAL INFORMATION
Award Title

Master of Science in Intelligent Building Technology and Management

Program Short Name

MSc(IBTM)

Mode of Study

Both full- and part-time

Normative Program Duration

Full-time: 1 year
Part-time: 2 years

Program Fee

Full-time: HK$188,300
Part-time: HK$164,000

New students admitted with credit transfer are also required to pay the full program fee. Students who take additional courses or need to retake any courses are required to pay additional fee.

Offering Unit

Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Program Advisor

Program Director:
Prof Baoling HUANG, Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Website

https://seng.hkust.edu.hk/msc/ibtm

Enquiry

mscibtm@ust.hk

INTRODUCTION

Ever since the first appearance of the term ‘Intelligent Buildings’ in the US in the early 1980s, it has grown into a major area of study for design and management professionals involved in major modern urban building projects. Building services engineers have to deal with complex multi-disciplinary building projects that involve the provision of effective and efficient solutions to an ever-evolving urban built environment.

The Master of Science (MSc) Program in Intelligent Building Technology and Management helps to enhance the knowledge and competencies of professionals who are engaged in intelligent building projects in modern metropolises such as Hong Kong and major cities in Mainland China. It aims to contribute toward the sustainability of today’s urban built environment.

This program is designed for professionals in the building services industry, including mechanical engineers, electrical engineers, building services engineers, civil engineers, architects and other building operation professionals who wish to pursue comprehensive studies in intelligent building design, operation and facilities management.


The program is accepted as Top-up Master Degree Program for the Building Services Discipline in the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (HKIE) for Corporate Membership Admission Requirement.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

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

  1. Apply a holistic interdisciplinary approach in Intelligent Building Technology and Management;
  2. Creatively and innovatively design and develop useful technologies and/or services for society based on mathematical and scientific principles;
  3. Handle the rapid change in building industries;
  4. Analyze, design and find solutions for building services problems; and
  5. Effectively communicate analysis and design ideas to peers, clients and customers.
CURRICULUM

  1. Minimum Credit Requirement

    30 credits 
     

  2. Credit Transfer  

    Subject to the approval of the Program Director and the University regulations governing credit transfer, a maximum of 6 credits can be transferred to the program.
     

  3. Core Courses

    At least 6 credits
     

IBTM 5050
IBTM 5060

 

  1. Elective Courses

Students are required to complete 24 credits of IBTM courses.

Subject to the approval of the Program Director, students may take the following as partial fulfillment of the graduation requirements of the program:
 

  1. A maximum of 9 credits of non-IBTM courses, which may include:
  • a maximum of 6 credits of CIEM courses offered by the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering to replace two 3-credit IBTM elective courses; and
  • a maximum of 6 credits of MECH or MESF courses offered by the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering to replace two 3-credit IBTM elective courses.
     
  1. A maximum of 6 credits of IBTM 6010 Special Topics in Intelligent Building Systems;
     
IBTM 6010

 

  1. A maximum of 6 credits of IBTM 6950 Independent Studies which may be taken once only.
     
IBTM 6950

 

  1. 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.
     

 

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

To qualify for admission, applicants must meet all of the following requirements. Admission is selective and meeting these minimum requirements does not guarantee admission.
 

1. General Admission Requirements of the University

  • 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.

2. English Language Admission Requirements

Applicants have to fulfill English Language requirements with one of the following proficiency attainments:

  • TOEFL-iBT: 80 *

  • TOEFL-pBT: 550

  • TOEFL-Revised paper-delivered test: 60 (total scores for Reading, Listening and Writing sections)

  • 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

  • their first language is English, or

  • they obtained the bachelor's degree (or equivalent) from an institution where the medium of instruction was English.

3. Program-Specific Admission Requirements

  • A bachelor's degree with second class honors in Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Building Services Engineering, Architectural Science, Physical Science or a related area

4. Additional Information

Integrated Bachelor-Master Pathway

  • Only for HKUST students in Year 3 or above who are studying a bachelor's degree in engineering, science or related area with academic performance equivalent to second class honors or above.
  • Successful applicants will receive a conditional offer for admission to MSc(IBTM) and need to pay a deposit at the prevailing deposit rate.
  • They will be allowed to start taking MSc(IBTM) courses in their final year of undergraduate study, and will enter the MSc(IBTM) Program upon successful completion of the undergraduate degree.
  • Upon entering MSc(IBTM), they can transfer up to 9 credits taken during the undergraduate study to fulfill the MSc(IBTM) program requirements. They will pay tuition fee for the remaining credits on a pro-rata basis, with a minimum payment for 21 credits.
APPLICATION

Apply online before the application deadlines.

 

Application Fee

HK$450

Application Deadlines

For 2025/26 Fall Term Intake (commencing in Sep 2025):

Non-local Applicants*
Full-time: 1 Jan 2025 (Round 1); 1 Apr 2025 (Round 2)
Part-time: 1 Jan 2025 (Round 1); 1 Apr 2025 (Round 2)

 

Local Applicants
Full-time: 1 Jan 2025 (Round 1); 1 Apr 2025 (Round 2); 1 Jun 2025 (Round 3)
Part-time: 1 Jan 2025 (Round 1); 1 Apr 2025 (Round 2); 1 Jun 2025 (Round 3)

 

For 2024/25 Spring Term Intake (commencing in Feb 2025):

Non-local Applicants*
Part-time: 1 Nov 2024
 

Local Applicants 
Part-time: 15 Dec 2024


 * 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.

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