PhD

Introductory Quantitative Requirements

Unless students have clearly demonstrated sufficient knowledge in the area, students entering the M.Phil. and Ph.D. programs are required to take the following two mathematics-oriented courses in the first regular term of study. The credits earned from these two courses cannot be counted toward the degree requirements: ECON 5100 Mathematics for Business and Economics and ISOM 5540 Introduction to Probability.

Graduate Teaching Assistant Training

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.

RPg Professional Development Course Requirement

Students are required to complete PDEV 6770 and SBMT6780. The 1 credit earned from PDEV 6770 and SBMT6780 cannot be counted toward the credit requirements.

PhD students who are HKUST MPhil graduates and have completed PDEV 6770/ SBMT6780 or other professional development courses offered by the University before may be exempted from taking PDEV 6770/SBMT6780 , subject to prior approval of the School.

English Language Requirement

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.

First Year Summer for M.Phil and Ph.D. Students

First Year Critical Survey Paper Requirement: The students are required to complete a critical survey paper in the summer of their first-year. The papers are due by September 1 following the first year summer. The papers will be presented to the faculty in a 30-minute presentation in September of their second year. The paper must be single-authored work. The Ph.D. committee will evaluate survey papers against the rubric and evaluate both written and oral performance. A Pass/Fail grade is given.

To Proceed to the Next Stage

• A minimum grade of B in each of the courses.
• Passing the first year survey paper.

SECOND YEAR PAPER and COMPREHENSIVE EXAM

A Single-Authored Original Research Paper

For M.Phil Students

This paper is called the M.Phil. Thesis. An intention to defend the M.Phil. Thesis has to be made by the student by mid-May. A Thesis Examination Committee (TEC), which consists of the chairperson, a thesis supervisor, and another faculty member, is formed. The first draft has to be submitted by the end of June of the second year to the TEC. The thesis is defended orally by the end of July. The final draft of the thesis is submitted by the middle of August. The TEC will make a pass-fail decision. For further details, see https://fytgs.hkust.edu.hk/academics/Academic-Regulations-and-Requirements/Handbook-for-Research-Postgraduate-Studies/preface .

A M.Phil degree is awarded to the student after successful completion of the M.Phil thesis.

For Ph.D. Students

This paper is called the Second Year Written Paper. It is due in May of the second year. The second-year paper will be read by the Ph.D. committee members who will give pass-fail recommendations.

Both M.Phil and Ph.D. students will present their papers to the faculty in a 30-minute presentation in May of their second year.

A Written Comprehensive Examination

For Ph.D. students and M.Phil or other equivalent master's degree students applying to enter the Ph.D. program:

A written comprehensive examination, based on FINA7900 courses will be conducted in June of the second year. Exam questions will be given and graded by the faculty who taught the above Ph.D. courses. The Ph.D. committee will make pass-fail decision upon recommendations of the faculty who grade these questions.

To Proceed to The Next Stage

• A minimum grade of B in each of the FINA 7900 courses and MBA courses. An average grade of B+ in the MBA courses (FINA 5120, FINA 5210, FINA 5290 and FINA 5360)
• passing the single-authored original research paper
• Passing the written comprehensive examination

Third Year for Ph.D. Students

An average grade of B in the above courses is required to proceed to next stage

Fourth Year For Ph.D. Students

Fifth Year for Ph.D. Students