PhD in Social Science

HKUST takes pride in offering what considered to be a “student-centered” education. The curriculum has been developed to give students the best education possible, both in terms of broadly educating the whole person and providing students with the specific skills and knowledge they need to succeed in pursuing their inspiration. The four pillars of our educational platform that accomplish these goals are: flexible based admission, a four-year curriculum, Common Core Education, and personal academic advisor scheme.

For more information, please visit HKUST Undergraduate Admissions .

Research Postgraduate Education

To achieve its mission ‘to advance learning and knowledge through teaching and research, particularly at the postgraduate level’, HKUST offers postgraduate programs leading to graduate diplomas, and masters and doctoral degrees.

The University seeks to train its research postgraduates to develop sound research skills, to acquire the latest theoretical knowledge and become critical thinkers in their chosen fields of study, and to conduct enquiries in their areas of specialization in a professional, expert and ethical manner.

The Master of Philosophy (MPhil) and the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees involve the completion of coursework in addition to the preparation of research theses. The MPhil thesis reports work on a significant topic; the PhD dissertation entails original research that contributes to a specific field and expands the frontiers of knowledge.

The coursework and thesis components provide research postgraduate students with both generalist knowledge of their subject discipline and mastery of their specialized research areas. Students are guided to organize, communicate and disseminate research results to both expert and lay audiences, in a coherent and professional manner.

On completion of their degrees, MPhil graduates will have attained advanced knowledge in their chosen fields of study, as well as training in research techniques for dealing with complex issues. They will also be prepared to pursue research degrees at the doctoral level.

PhD degree holders will leave the University with up-to-date expertise in their specialist areas, and superior understanding of research techniques for resolving scholarly and practical problems. They will also be prepared to embark on academic or professional careers, and to teach university-level courses in their areas of specialization.

For more information, please visit: https://pg.ust.hk/prospective-students/about-fytgs/aims-and-objectives-of-rpg-education . 

Taught Postgraduate Education

HKUST was founded with a mission to advance learning and knowledge, especially at the postgraduate level, and to assist in the economic and social development of Hong Kong. HKUST’s vision is to be a world-leading university with significant international impact and strong local commitment.

Taught postgraduate (TPg) education is, therefore, an integral part of the structure of the University’s academic provision. To achieve the institution’s vision and mission in the area of postgraduate education, the planning and development of TPg programs take into consideration the research strengths and resource priorities of the University, as well as the prevailing community and market needs. These represent the overall strategic context within which senior management annually reviews the full range of academic programs to ensure alignment with the mission and strategic direction of the University.

A. Vision and Mission

The University’s vision for TPg education is to offer the highest-quality, advanced-level study opportunities to the Hong Kong community, as well as candidates from around the world. The mission for TPg education is to benefit students and practitioners in both their personal and professional development by offering carefully designed curricula that reflect the latest developments in the respective fields of study.

B. Strategic Goals

TPg programs at HKUST

• exemplify academic excellence through the provision of top-quality, advanced-level education in specific disciplines, with the aim of preparing successful practitioners, professionals and leaders for Hong Kong and beyond;
• attract a diverse body of the best students and practitioners to promote an interactive and dynamic learning environment;
• enhance the student learning experience through innovative pedagogy and active engagement;
• generate resources for and promote the reputation of the University in support of institutional advancement in their respective areas; and
• provide opportunities to connect the University with academic, governmental, business and industrial partners, through whom collaborations conducive to the relevance and impact of the work of the University can be established.

C. Guiding Principles

Guiding Principles for the Development and Implementation of Taught Postgraduate Programs have been provided to facilitate faculty, Schools and Departments in the design, resourcing, approval, delivery, monitoring and review of TPg programs.

For more information, please visit: https://pg.ust.hk/prospective-students/about-fytgs/strategic-framework-for-tpg-education .