Postgraduate Programs 2021/22
Master of Philosophy and Doctor of Philosophy Programs in Environmental Science, Policy and Management
Award Title

Master of Philosophy in Environmental Science, Policy and Management
Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental Science, Policy and Management

Program Short Name

MPhil(ESPM)
PhD(ESPM)

Mode of Study

Both full- and part-time

Normative Program Duration

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

Program Advisor

PG Programs Coordinator (RPg program):
Prof Jianzhen YU, Chair Professor of Environment and Sustainability and Professor of Chemistry

Enquiry

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
  • Climate change and adaptations
  • Environmental data analysis
  • Environmental economics
  • Environmental microbiology
  • Environmental policy and management
  • Environmental pollution and health
  • Physical/Biophysical oceanography and ecosystem modeling
  • Planning and design for sustainable development
  • Sustainability, energy and environment

 

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.

Offered by the Division of Environment and Sustainability, the programs are supported with the following research foci and state-of-the-art facilities. It aims to provide students with a deeper understanding of environmental science and related policies so as to help increase their abilities in tackling the environment and generating meaningful solutions.
 

Research Foci

The Division’s main areas of focus are:

  • Atmospheric science and air pollution
  • Climate change policy and adaptations
  • Sustainability and environmental economics
  • Healthy living environment


We also work at the points where these areas intersect, such as the scientific understanding of management strategies and policy formulations.
 

Facilities

HKUST has excellent central facilities and equipment to support the Program's teaching and learning. These include: the Environmental Central Facility, environmental monitoring facilities, real-time air quality and meteorological forecasting systems, satellite receiving systems and Geographical Information System.

  1. Minimum Credit Requirement

MPhil: 9 credits 
PhD: 12 credits 
 

  1. 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 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.
 

  1. Core Courses

MPhil/PhD: 6 Credits
 

ENVR 5290
orSOSC 5770
ENVR 5360
orSOSC 5620

 

  1. Elective Courses

MPhil: 3 Credits

PhD: 6 Credits

 

ENVR 5210
ENVR 5250
ENVR 5260
ENVR 5310
ENVR 5320
ENVR 5330
ENVR 5340
ENVR 5350
ENVR 5370
ENVR 5380
ENVR 5390
ENVR 5410
ENVR 6040
ENVR 6050
ENVR 6090
EVSM 5270
EVSM 6070
EVSM 5280
RMBI 4000B


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

 

  1. Graduate Teaching Assistant Training
PDEV 6800

 

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.
 

  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.

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.

 

ENVR 6770


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.

 

  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 5080
LANG 5081

 

MPhil students are required to complete LANG 5081. PhD students are required to complete LANG 5080 and LANG 5081.
 

The credits earned from LANG 5080 and LANG 5081 cannot be counted toward the credit requirements. Students can be exempted from taking LANG 5080 and/or LANG 5081 with the approval of the supervisor and the PG Coordinator.

 

  1. Postgraduate Seminar
ENVR 6010


Students must take ENVR 6010 whenever it is offered.
 

  1. 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.
 

  1. Thesis Research
ENVR 6990
ENVR 7990

 

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.

 

Last Update: 20 May 2021

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;

  • 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.

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 the total score in one single attempt


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.