Postgraduate Programs 2021/22
Master of Philosophy and Doctor of Philosophy Programs in Intelligent Transportation
Award Title

Master of Philosophy in Intelligent Transportation
Doctor of Philosophy in Intelligent Transportation

Program Short Name

MPhil(INTR)
PhD(INTR)

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

Intelligent Transportation Thrust Area

Systems Hub

Program Advisor

Program Director:
Prof Hai YANG, Chair Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering

Enquiry

Since early 1990's, Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) have been evolving in developed countries to cope with transportation problems such as traffic congestion and road safety issues caused by a growing population and continuous urban development. ITS combines leading-edge information and communication technologies used in transportation and traffic management systems to improve the safety, efficiency, and sustainability of transportation networks, reduce traffic congestion and enhance drivers’ and passengers’ experiences.

The Master of Philosophy (MPhil) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Programs in Intelligent Transportation aim to provide a well-rounded education as well as rigorous research training to prepare students to become versatile and knowledgeable professionals in intelligent transportation engineering and technologies. Areas of research may include acquisition, analysis and applications of traffic big data; shared mobility, mobility as a service (MaaS); analysis, modelling, and optimization of transportation system with connected and autonomous vehicles (CAV); testbed and traffic simulation of connected and autonomous vehicles (CAV); operations and management of urban rail transit systems; safety and security of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV); green aviation technologies; automated port operations and shipping logistics.

MPhil graduates should be able to demonstrate a good mastery of knowledge in transportation technology, system design and public policy aspects, making contributions to the industry.

PhD graduates should be capable of conducting high-quality original research, creating new knowledge, deriving valuable insights, and making tangible impacts to academia and the field.

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

  1. Demonstrate mastery of knowledge in traffic management systems and transportation engineering and technologies;
  2. Identify scientific and engineering significances in intelligent transportation technologies including computational and analytic models, tools, solutions, and techniques;
  3. Demonstrate critical thinking and analytical skills that are essential for traffic management;
  4. Translate and transform fundamental research insights effectively into practical applications in industry; and
  5. Apply cross-disciplinary knowledge and skills to enhance the transportation systems and develop new technologies.

 

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

  1. Demonstrate mastery of knowledge in traffic management systems and transportation engineering and technologies;
  2. Identify scientific and engineering significances in intelligent transportation technologies including computational and analytic models, tools, solutions, and techniques;
  3. Demonstrate critical thinking and analytical skills that are essential for traffic management;
  4. Conduct high-quality original research independently in areas of transportation engineering and technology and provide substantial scientific contribution to the discipline;
  5. Translate and transform fundamental research insights effectively in academic fields and industry; and
  6. Apply cross-disciplinary knowledge and skills to enhance the transportation systems and develop new technologies.
  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 Systems Hub and at least one Hub core course (2 credits) from other Hubs.

 

  Systems Hub Core Course

SYSH 5000

 

  Other Hub Core Courses

FUNH 5000
INFH 5000
SOCH 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 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.

 

  Sample 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.
 

INTR 5100
INTR 5200
INTR 5300
INTR 5400
INTR 5500
INTR 6000
AESF 5610
AESF 5640
CIVL 5610
CIVL 5620
CIVL 5630
COMP 5212
ELEC 5650
IEDA 5230

 

  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.

 

  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.

 

SYSH 6780


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


PhD students who are HKUST MPhil graduates and have completed SYSH 6780 or other equivalent professional development courses offered by the University before may be exempted from taking SYSH 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
INTR 6800


MPhil: 

Full-time students must take and pass INTR 6800 at least twice, and present at least one seminar during their study, in addition to the oral defense of their MPhil thesis. Part-time students must take and pass INTR 6800 at least once, and present at least one seminar during their study, counting the oral defense of their MPhil thesis.

 

PhD: 

Full-time students must take and pass INTR 6800 at least four times, and present at least two seminars during their study, in addition to the oral defense of their PhD thesis. Part-time students and students entering with an HKUST MPhil degree must take and pass INTR 6800 at least twice, and present at least one seminar during their study, counting the oral defense of their PhD thesis.

 

  1. PhD Qualifying Examination

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

 

  1. Thesis Research
INTR 6990
INTR 7990

 

  MPhil:

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

PhD:

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


 

Last Update: 24 July 2020

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.