Postgraduate Programs 2017/18
Master of Philosophy Program in Technology Leadership and Entrepreneurship
Award Title

Master of Philosophy in Technology Leadership and Entrepreneurship

Program Short Name

MPhil(TLE)

Mode of Study

Full-time

Normative Program Duration

2 years

Program Advisor

Director of MPhil(TLE) Program:

Prof King Lun YEUNG, Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering and Professor of Environment and Sustainability

Enquiry

The Master of Philosophy (MPhil) Program seeks to develop students' entrepreneurial spirit so they can initiate innovation within companies or start their own business using innovative technologies. It aims to play a catalytic role in developing an innovative educational culture and entrepreneurship ecosystems on the University campus and to accelerate knowledge transfer to impact society.
 

Students are required to undertake coursework in technology, business and entrepreneurship, participate in business plan competitions, and undergo an industrial internship. Students must also successfully complete and defend a thesis that demonstrates their research capabilities for product development and understanding of the commercial aspects on how to make the product successful in the marketplace.

The program is offered by the School of Engineering emphasizing on development of technical innovation, leadership skills and capabilities for entrepreneurship. It is supported by the state-of-the-art research facilities at HKUST.
 

Research Foci

For their research, students can select the development of a product based on their own idea or work on one of the current ideas from a professor within the university. Either case, students are matched with a leading research professor who can help them develop their research skills and make the idea into a marketable offering.
 

During the program, students can form partnership with others on campus to develop their product and start up their own company.
 

Facilities

HKUST provides strong infrastructural support to foster leading-edge research and innovations. The institutes and research centers at the university create an interdisciplinary environment, helping generate fresh ideas and enabling these ideas to be tested and realized.
 

The School of Engineering also has centers to support our students on entrepreneurship, intellectual properties protection, and technology transfer. Workshops, working space and facilities are available to help students develop and test prototypes.

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

  • IELTS (Academic Module): Overall score: 6.0 and All sub-score: 5.5


Applicants don't need 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.

  1. Minimum Credit Requirement

11 credits
 

  1. 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.
 

  1. Technology Leadership and Entrepreneurship Course

ENGG 5001


Students are required to complete ENGG 5001 offered by the School of Engineering.
 

  1. Technology Courses

9 credits

Students are required to complete at least two technology courses (6 credits) from their host department, and one technology course (3 credits) outside their host department within the School of Engineering/School of Science.

Under the circumstances that no technology courses are available in their host department, the 6 credits could be fulfilled by two technology courses within the School of Engineering/School of Science.
 

  1. Leadership, Management and Entrepreneurship Courses

To gain exposure to leadership, management and entrepreneurship, students are required to take two courses (minimum 4 credits and maximum 6 credits) from the following list offered by the School of Business and Management, the School of Humanities and Social Science and the School of Engineering.
 

ACCT 5150
ELEC 5540
ISOM 1380
ISOM 5200
ISOM 5480
MGMT 4220
MGMT 5650
SOSC 3110

 

Exact courses to be offered will be announced at the beginning of each term. Students are required to obtain grade B or above in these courses. The credits earned from these courses cannot be counted toward the credit requirements.
 

  1. Industrial Internship

ENGG 6100


Students are required to undertake ENGG 6100 for at least 2 months during the Summer Term of their first year of study or during their second year of study. The industrial internship can be conducted in Hong Kong, Mainland China, or other places within the industry or research centers. Industrial internship opportunities will be provided through research centers of the Fok Ying Tung Research Institute, or other mainland enterprises. During the practicum periods, students will maintain their regular full-time student status. The 1 credit earned from ENGG 6100 cannot be counted toward the credit requirements.
 

  1. Professional Development Course Requirement

PDEV 6770


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

  1. English Language Requirement

LANG 5000


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.
 

LANG 5032


Students are required to complete LANG 5032 while they are stationed at the Clear Water Bay campus. They are required to obtain grade B or above in the course. The 3 credits earned from LANG 5032 cannot be counted toward the credit requirements.
 

  1. Technology Leadership and Entrepreneurship Seminar

ENGG 6000


Students are required to complete ENGG 6000 for two terms during their first year of study. The 2 credits earned from ENGG 6000 cannot be counted toward the credit requirements.
 

  1. Thesis Research

ENGG 6990

 

  1. Registration in ENGG 6990; and

  2. Presentation and oral defense of the MPhil thesis.


Students must submit an MPhil thesis related to their industrial internship experience which forms an integral part of the thesis. Students should also demonstrate their understanding of the commercial and application aspects of their industrial internship experience in the MPhil thesis, and defend it before the Thesis Examination Committee at HKUST Clear Water Bay campus. The thesis examination should also include a demonstration of a product, service and impact, etc.

 

Last update: 31 July 2018