More about HKUST(GZ)
URBAN GOVERNANCE
PHD OVERVIEW
Program Name
- Master of Philosophy in Urban Governance and Design
- Doctor of Philosophy in Urban Governance and Design
Program Short Name
- MPhil(UGOD)
- PhD (UGOD)
Mode of Study
- Full-time
- Part-time
Normative Program Duration
-
MPhil
Full-time: 2 yearsPart-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
- Program Director: Prof Ge Lin KAN
Introduction
By 2050, two out of every three people are likely to be living in cities or other urban centers, and most of the increase is expected to be highly-concentrated in a handful of countries, including China. Rapid urbanization and growth of cities call for high-quality public services and effective governance to make urban places more livable. The study of cities becomes an increasingly cross-disciplinary enterprise. The Master of Philosophy (MPhil) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Programs in Urban Governance and Design employ cross-disciplinary perspectives to analyze the data on cities from different sources (including population census, surveys, administrative and big data) to address critical issues in contemporary urban governance and design.
The MPhil Program aims to train students to conduct independent research in urban governance. An MPhil graduate is expected to acquire cross-disciplinary knowledge of cities and employ quantitative skills to integrate and analyze the data from different sources, to write research reports addressing various audience in academia, think tanks, government, or industry, and to contribute to urban governance and design in practice.
The PhD Program seeks to train students in original research with cross-disciplinary approach to urban governance and design, and to cultivate independent and innovative thinking for knowledge creation in the field. A PhD graduate is expected to demonstrate mastery of knowledge in the chosen area of research and to synthesize and create new knowledge making an original and substantial contribution to the cross-disciplinary studies of cities.
Learning outcomes
On successful completion of the MPhil program, graduates will be able to:
MPhil
01
Identify and synthesize current research on cities, especially those in the Chinese context;
02
Compare and contrast state-of-the-art knowledge in urban science and relevant referenced disciplines (e.g., data science, demography, economics, geography, public administration, and sociology), and apply such knowledge to drive research, practice, and innovation in the field;
03
Analyze, design, and execute research by utilizing proper research methodologies; and
04
Communicate the developed knowledge and research on cities with the academic and practitioners’ community.
On successful completion of the PhD program, graduates will be able to:
PhD
01
Identify and synthesize current research on cities, especially those in the Chinese context, to demonstrate mastery of knowledge in the chosen area of research;
02
Compare and contrast state-of-the-art knowledge in urban science and relevant referenced disciplines (e.g., data science, demography, economics, geography, public administration, and sociology), and cultivate independent and innovative thinking for knowledge creation in the field;
03
Analyze, design, and execute research by utilizing proper research methodologies to make an original and substantial contribution to the cross-disciplinary studies of cities; and
04
Communicate the developed knowledge and research on cities through publications and teaching.
Note:
For MPhil in UGOD, please visit https://vptlo.hkust-gz.edu.cn/ or contact rbm@hkust-gz.edu.cn for details.
PHD PROGRAM SPECIFICS
Program Progression
First 3-semester coursework
Demonstrate competence
PhD Qualifying Exam
Written proposal with oral defense
PhD candidacy
Other required coursework
Thesis and oral defense
PhD degree conferred
Core Courses
Minimum Credit Requirement
MPhil: 15 credits
PhD: 21 credits
* 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.
1
Cross-disciplinary Core Courses
2 Credits
All students are required to complete either UCMP 6010 or UCMP 6030. Students may complete the remaining courses as part of the credit requirements, as requested by the Program Planning Committee.
2
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
Other Hub Core Courses
3
Courses on Domain Knowledge
MPhil: minimum 9 credits of coursework
PhD: minimum 15 credits of coursework
Required Course List
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.
4
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.
5
Graduate Teaching Assistant Training
PDEV 6800
Introduction to Teaching and Learning in Higher Education
0 Credit(s)
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.
6
Professional Development Course Requirement
PDEV 6770
Professional Development for Research Postgraduate Students
1 Credit(s)
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 Committee.
SOCH 6780
Professional Development in Innovation, Technology, and Social Responsibility
1 Credit(s)
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 Committee.
7
English Language Requirement
Full-time RPg students are required to take an English Language Proficiency Assessment (ELPA) Speaking Test administered by the Division of 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.
Students are required to take DLED 5001. 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.
8
Postgraduate Seminar
Students are required to complete UGOD 6101 and UGOD 6102 or their equivalent in two terms in sequence. The credit earned cannot be counted toward the credit requirements.
9
PhD Qualifying Examination
PhD students are required to pass a qualifying examination to obtain PhD candidacy following established policy.
10
Thesis Research
UGOD 7990
Doctoral Thesis Research
0 Credit(s)
MPhil:
- i.Registration in UGOD 6990; and
- ii.Presentation and oral defense of the MPhil thesis.
PhD:
- i.Registration in UGOD 7990; and
- ii.Presentation and oral defense of the PhD thesis.
PHD ADMISSION
Admission Requirements