Postgraduate Programs 2021/22
Master of Philosophy and Doctor of Philosophy Programs in Financial Technology
Award Title

Master of Philosophy in Financial Technology
Doctor of Philosophy in Financial Technology

Program Short Name

MPhil(FinTech)
PhD(FinTech)

Mode of Study

Full-time

Normative Program Duration

MPhil
2 years

PhD
3 years (with a relevant research master’s degree), 4 years (without a relevant research master’s degree)

Offering Unit

Financial Technology Thrust Area

Society Hub

Program Advisor

Program Director:
Prof Yingying LI, Professor of Information Systems, Business Statistics and Operations Management

Enquiry

Financial Technology (FinTech) is an important emerging area that has been developing rapidly in recent years. It refers to the application of cutting-edge technologies and advanced analytics on various financial services, such as mobile banking, peer-to-peer lending, digital payments, blockchain, and cryptocurrencies, aiming to improve service efficiency, promote financial innovations, and increase end-user satisfaction.

The Master of Philosophy (MPhil) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Programs in Financial Technology provide training and education for students to undertake advanced research and have a sound grasp of developments in FinTech. Students graduating from these programs should be able to conduct and apply high-quality research that makes an impact on FinTech research and practice in academia and/or industry. The programs focus on advanced research with an aim to place graduates in academia, research institutes, and industry jobs that appreciate research capability and quality.

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

  1. Identify and synthesize current research in FinTech;
  2. Compare and contrast state-of-the-art knowledge in FinTech and relevant reference disciplines (e.g., accounting, finance, computer science, mathematics), and apply such knowledge in driving FinTech research, practice, and innovation;
  3. Analyze, design, and execute FinTech research by utilizing proper research methodologies; and
  4. Communicate the developed FinTech knowledge and research with the academic and practitioner community.

 

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

  1. Identify and synthesize current research in FinTech;
  2. Compare and contrast state-of-the-art knowledge in FinTech and relevant reference disciplines (e.g., accounting, finance, computer science, mathematics), and apply such knowledge in driving FinTech research, practice, and innovation;
  3. Analyze, design, and execute FinTech research by utilizing proper research methodologies;
  4. Communicate the developed FinTech knowledge and research with the academic and practitioner community; and
  5. Create original, substantive, and impactful knowledge to advance the state of FinTech research and practice.

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.

  1. Minimum Credit Requirement

    MPhil: 15 credits 
    PhD: 21 credits 
     

  2. Credit Transfer 

    Students who have taken equivalent courses at HKUST or other recognized universities may be granted credit transfer on a case-by-case basis, up to a maximum of 3 credits for MPhil students, and 6 credits for PhD students. 
     

  3. Cross-disciplinary Core Courses

2 credits
 

IIMP 6010
IIMP 6020
IIMP 6030
IIMP 6040

 

All students are required to complete either IIMP 6010 or IIMP 6030. Students may complete the remaining courses as part of the credit requirements, as requested by the Program Planning cum Thesis Supervision Committee.

 

  1. Hub Core Courses

4 Credits

 

Students are required to complete at least one Hub core course (2 credits) from the Society Hub and at least one Hub core course (2 credits) from other Hubs.

 

  Society Hub Core Course

SOCH 5000

 

  Other Hub Core Courses

FUNH 5000
INFH 5000
SYSH 5000

 

  1. Courses on Domain Knowledge

MPhil: minimum 9 credits of coursework 
PhD: minimum 15 credits of coursework 
 

Under this requirement, each student is required to take a required course and other elective courses to form an individualized curriculum relevant to the cross-disciplinary thesis research. To ensure that students will take appropriate courses to equip them with needed domain knowledge, each student has a Program Planning cum Thesis Supervision Committee to approve the courses to be taken soonest after program commencement and no later than the end of the first year. Depending on the approved curriculum, individual students may be required to complete additional credits beyond the minimal credit requirements.

 

  Required Course List

FTEC 5040

 

  Sample Elective Course List

To meet individual needs, students will be taking courses in different areas, which may include but not limited to courses and areas listed below.
 

FTEC 5030
FTEC 5050
FTEC 5100
FTEC 5110
FTEC 6000
ACCT 7720
ACCT 7730
ACCT 7740
COMP 5211
COMP 5212
COMP 5221
COMP 5631
COMP 6211
COMP 6613
ECON 5040
ECON 5130
ECON 5210
ECON 5300
FINA 7900A
FINA 7900B
FINA 7900C
FINA 7900D
MATH 5470
MATH 5471
MATH 6510
MFIT 5001
MFIT 5002
MFIT 5003
MFIT 5004
MFIT 5005
MFIT 5007
MFIT 5008

 

  1. Additional Foundation Courses

Individual students may be required to take foundation courses to strengthen their academic background and research capacity in related areas, which will be specified by the Program Planning cum Thesis Supervision Committee. The credits earned cannot be counted toward the credit requirements.

 

Students who need to acquire a stronger quantitative background may be required to take relevant fundamental course(s) in probability and statistics, and software packages in the first regular term of study. The following are examples of such courses:

FTEC 5010
FTEC 5020
ISOM 5540

 

  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 Program Planning cum Thesis Supervision Committee.

 

SOCH 6780


Students are required to complete SOCH 6780. The 1 credit earned from SOCH 6780 cannot be counted toward the credit requirements.


PhD students who are HKUST MPhil graduates and have completed SOCH 6780 or other professional development courses offered by the University before may be exempted from taking SOCH 6780, subject to prior approval of the Program Planning cum Thesis Supervision Committee.

 

  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 5001
LANG 5002
LANG 5010

 

Students are required to take one of the above three courses. The credit earned cannot be counted toward the credit requirements. Students can be exempted from taking this course with the approval of the Program Planning cum Thesis Supervision Committee.

 

  1. Postgraduate Seminar
FTEC 6101


Students are required to complete FTEC 6101 or its equivalent. The credit earned cannot be counted toward the credit requirements.

 

  1. PhD Qualifying Examination

PhD students are required to pass a qualifying examination to obtain PhD candidacy following established policy.

 

  1. Thesis Research
FTEC 6990
FTEC 7990

 

  MPhil:

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

PhD:

  1. Registration in FTEC 7990; and
  2. Presentation and oral defense of the PhD thesis.

 

Last Update: 24 July 2020