Postgraduate Programs 2021/22
Master of Philosophy and Doctor of Philosophy Programs in Life Science
Award Title

Master of Philosophy in Life Science
Doctor of Philosophy in Life Science

Program Short Name

MPhil(LIFS)
PhD(LIFS)

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:
Prof Zilong WEN, Professor of Life Science

The Master of Philosophy (MPhil) Program aims to train qualified students by providing research training in major areas of life science. It enables students to acquire the knowledge, skills, and experience required for research. 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 Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Program aims to cultivate doctoral graduates who are capable of the design, initiation and execution of original research, who can independently conduct advanced research projects, who possess both a broad knowledge of modern life science and an in-depth knowledge of specialized areas, and who can also contribute original knowledge to the field of life sciences by publishing their findings in peer-reviewed international journals.
 

 

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

  1. Demonstrate sound knowledge in both board and advanced aspects of life science;
  2. Acquire the skill(s) and experience(s) in conducting research;
  3. Analyze and interpret research results/data effectively;
  4. Synthesize knowledge of life science to formulate solutions of academic, research, experimental ,or technical problems;
  5. Communicate clearly and concisely both in writing and presentation;
  6. Work independently and collaborate effectively in teams and partnerships to accomplish laboratory-based or problem-based tasks;
  7. Exhibit professional awareness and vigilance in upholding ethical conduct in science and technology; and
  8. Draw on scientific knowledge in developing a principled worldview and apply this to persuading and influencing others through informed discussion of the impact of science, both as a force for progress and as an agent of harm.

 

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

  1. Examine and apply knowledge of modern life science and in-depth knowledge of specialized areas in Life Science;
  2. Design, initiate and execute original scientific research independently;
  3. Apply and develop proper approaches to address scientific problems and make a contribution to the knowledge of the field;
  4. Evaluate experimental data by applying scientific methods to reach a critical analysis, draw appropriate conclusions, and offer sound arguments to justify a position;
  5. Communicate effectively (written and verbal) the research output to both specialists and peers in their field as well as to a lay audience;
  6. Work independently and collaborate effectively in teams and partnerships to accomplish laboratory-based or problem-based tasks;
  7. Exhibit professional awareness and vigilance in upholding ethical conduct in science and technology; and
  8. Draw on scientific knowledge in developing a principled worldview and apply this to persuading and influencing others through informed discussion of the impact of science, both as a force for progress and as an agent of harm.

The programs are offered by the Division of Science with the following research foci and state-of-the-art facilities, providing students with an inspirational environment for learning and tackling the challenges in modern life science.

 

Research Foci

  • Cellular Regulation and Signaling

  • Cancer Biology

  • Developmental Biology

  • Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience

  • Macromolecular Structure and Function

  • Biotechnology and Medicinal Biochemistry


Faculty members working in these areas form a coordinated research team. Such coordination takes full advantage of the faculty’s expertise in generating innovative development and productive research. At the same time, it creates a stimulating atmosphere in which students experience the challenge of modern research through direct participation.

 

Facilities

The Division is excellently equipped for research in a broad range of areas. The Animal Care and Plant Care Facility provides a centralized and modern facility for animals and plants. Centralized state-of-the-art facilities for biochemical and cellular studies are provided by the Biosciences Central Research Facility. The Division also has the following facilities:
 

Cell Culture

Facilities for the cultivation, maintenance, characterization and cold storage of animal and plant cells.
 

Molecular and Cellular Biology

Major equipment includes fluorescence-activated cell sorters, real-time PCR machines, ultracentrifuges, spectrophotometers and spectrofluorimeters, MALDI-TOF/ TOF and LC-MS mass spectrometers, GC, optical tweezers, patch clamp, gamma and liquid scintillation counters.
 

Modern Microscopy

The Division has an array of state-of-the-art imaging facilities including several fluorescence microscopes, confocal laser scanning microscopes, atomic force microscope, total internal reflection fluorescence microscope, STED and STORM superresolution microscopes.
 

Biomolecular Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectrometers

Our state-of-the-art NMR facility consists of 500, 750 and 800 MHz NMR spectrometers equipped with cryoprobes for structure-function studies. NMR is used to study structure, dynamics and function of proteins, nucleic acids and other bio-molecules in solution. In addition, NMR can also facilitate drug screening and design.

  1. Minimum Credit Requirement

    MPhil: 11 credits 
    PhD: 18 credits 
     

  2. Credit Transfer 

    No credit transfer will be allowed for MPhil students. 
     

  3. Required Courses

MPhil: 6 credits
PhD: 9 credits
 

LIFS 4060
LIFS 4090
LIFS 4140
LIFS 4150
LIFS 4190
LIFS 4360
LIFS 4370
LIFS 4380
LIFS 4540
LIFS 4550
LIFS 4580
LIFS 4620
LIFS 4630
LIFS 4760
LIFS 4888
LIFS 4950
LIFS 5001
LIFS 5070
LIFS 5120
LIFS 5240
LIFS 5260
LIFS 5310
LIFS 5710
LIFS 6000
LIFS 6170
LIFS 6660
LIFS 6800
OCES 5320
OCES 6012

 

No more than 3 credits of 4000-level courses can be used to fulfill the requirement.
 

Students with a first degree in an area not directly related to life science may be required to take additional courses.
 

  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 School.

 

LIFS 6410


Students must complete LIFS 6410 throughout the residency. The maximum number of credits to be earned from this course is 2 for MPhil students and 4 for PhD students.

 

  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 5010


Students must complete LANG 5010 in the first year of study.

PhD students who are HKUST MPhil graduates may be considered for exemption from this requirement, subject to prior approval from the Division Head and PG Coordinator.
 

  1. Postgraduate Seminar

MPhil: 2 credits
PhD: 4 credits
 

  1. MPhil students are required to complete one of the courses listed below in each regular term throughout the residency.

    PhD students admitted without an HKUST MPhil degree in Life Science are required to complete one of the courses listed below in each of the first four regular terms of study.
     

LIFS 6112
LIFS 6113
LIFS 6114
LIFS 6115
LIFS 6116
LIFS 6117


Each course can be taken repeatedly in different terms. Students who fail a course are required to retake the course in a subsequent term. LIFS 6111 taken before the 2017/18 academic year can be used to replace any of these courses.
 

  1. PhD students admitted without an HKUST MPhil degree in Life Science are required to complete LIFS 6111 starting from the fifth term in each regular term throughout the residency. PhD students admitted with an HKUST MPhil degree in Life Science are required to complete LIFS 6111 in each regular term throughout the residency.
     

LIFS 6111


Students with research focus in Marine and Environmental Science may take OCES 6011 to substitute LIFS 6111/LIFS 6112/LIFS 6113/LIFS 6114/LIFS 6115/LIFS 6116/LIFS 6117.

OCES 6011

 

  1. PhD Qualifying Examination

PhD students are required to pass a comprehensive qualifying examination.
 

  1. Thesis Research

LIFS 6990
LIFS 7990

 

MPhil:

  1. Registration in LIFS 6990; and

  2. Presentation and oral defense of the MPhil thesis.

PhD:

  1. Registration in LIFS 7990; and

  2. Presentation and oral defense of the PhD thesis.


Last update: 22 Mar 2024

  1. Molecular Medicine Concentration

In addition to the existing program requirements, students who opt for the Molecular Medicine concentration are required to:
 

  1. MPhil:
    Take LIFS 6660 as part of the 6 credits of required coursework.
    PhD:
    Take LIFS 5260 and LIFS 6660 as part of the 9 credits of required coursework.
     

LIFS 5260
LIFS 6660

 

  1. Conduct research in the area of molecular medicine.
     

  1. Scientific Computation Concentration

In addition to the existing program requirements, students who opt for the Scientific Computation concentration are required to:
 

  1. MPhil:
    Complete a minimum of 7 credits from the following course lists.
    PhD:
    Complete a minimum of 10 credits from the following course lists.

    The credits earned under the concentration will be counted toward the total credit requirements of the programs.

    Core Courses
    MPhil: at least 3 credits
    PhD: at least 6 credits

    All students must take MATH 6915 and MATH 6916. Credits earned from MATH 6915 can be repeated for up to 2 credits.
     

COMP 5112
CIVL 5390
orMECH 5930
CSIC 5011
CSIC 5031
MATH 5311
MATH 6915
MATH 6916

 

Elective Courses

CHEM 5210
CHEM 5220
CIVL 5510
COMP 5212
COMP 5213
COMP 5331
COMP 5421
CSIC 5190
ELEC 5140
ELEC 5810
LIFS 4320*
MATH 5312
MATH 5350
MATH 5411
MATH 5431
MECH 5230
MECH 5280
MSDM 5004
PHYS 5120
PHYS 5310
* LIFS 4320 can be counted as an elective course subject to approval of the Scientific Computation Concentration.

 

  1. Conduct research in the area of scientific computation.

 

Last update: 29 August 2023

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.