Handbook for Prospective Postgraduate Students 1999-2000

Abstract

COVER 1999-2000 Handbook for Prospective Postgraduate Students Principal Officers A Message from the President Contents The University Admission of Students Fees, Scholarship and Financial Assistance Academic Regulations Academic Services Central and Interdepartmental Research Units Student Services Additional Information Index Location Map Campus Plan This online Handbook for Prospective Postgraduate Student is in PDF file format which requires Acrobat Reader to view. Please download Acrobat Reader by clicking HERE if your browser is NOT downloaded from CCST's server. This online Handbook for Prospective Postgraduate Student is in PDF file format which requires Acrobat Reader to view. Please download Acrobat Reader by clicking HERE if your browser is NOT downloaded from CCST's server. PRINCIPAL OFFICERS Chancellor The Chief Executive, the Honourable TUNG Chee Hwa ( 行政長官董建華) Chairman of the Council Dr the Honourable Sze-Yuen CHUNG ( 鍾士元議員 ), GBM, JP Vice-Chairman of the Council Dr Vincent H. S. LO (羅康瑞博士), GBS Treasurer of the University Dr LAU Wah-Sum (劉華深博士), JP President Professor Chia-Wei WOO (吳家瑋教授 ), BS, MA, PhD, DLitt, DSc Vice-President for Academic Affairs Professor Leroy L. CHANG (張立綱教授), BSc, MSc, PhD DSc honoris causa, NAS, NAE, CAS, Academic Sinica Vice-President for Administration and Business Mr P. A. BOLTON ( 卜誼隆教授 ), BA, MA Vice-President for Research and Development Professor Otto C. C. LIN (林垂宙教授), BSc, MS, PhD Over the last two decades, the meaning of “higher education” has changed in Hong Kong. Today, a baccalaureate degree gives a young person entry into the business and professional world, but a strong postgraduate education is fast becoming a necessity for those who wish to be truly competitive. This has been the experience in economically advanced countries, and it is becoming increasingly evident in all the newly industrialized economies, notably Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan. For Hong Kong, the first decade of the next century will be a time of great challenge and opportunity. As a postgraduate student at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, you can prepare yourself to take on a leadership role in a world of high technology and global management. And with an advanced degree, you will be ready to help as Hong Kong builds the dynamic, technologically advanced economy that will carry itself and China past the recent Asian financial crisis into a prosperous 21st century. The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology was created to assist Hong Kong in this transition. The University awards postgraduate degrees in four schools Ñ Science, Engineering, Business and Management, and Humanities and Social Science Ñ and can accommodate all full-time postgraduate students in residential halls on our beautiful, state-of-the-art campus. We are justifiably proud of our academic staff Ñ all of whom possess the doctoral degree, an overwhelming majority from the best universities in North America and Europe. This outstanding concentration of talent is led by distinguished scholars who have served as senior professors in major research universities worldwide, or in equivalent posts in industry. They all possess rich experience in directing postgraduate A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT THE HONG KONG UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY and postdoctoral studies, they have published extensively in leading professional journals, and they are highly respected internationally. They are precisely the kind of teachers and mentors sought by Hong Kong students who have gone overseas to study through the years. We welcome applications from graduates of our fine sister institutions in Hong Kong, as well as from graduates of strong institutions elsewhere. Students from other parts of China and overseas help not only to broaden our vistas, but to enhance the intellectual and cultural blend that makes Hong Kong one of the great cities of the world. We also invite applications from those who are currently employed. Mature and already contributing members of society are an important component of our postgraduate student body, bringing real-world experience to enrich the perspective of their fellow students. At HKUST, postgraduate degrees can be earned through part-time, as well as full-time study. Friends, if you share our love for learning, our faith in the future of Hong Kong as a Special Administrative Region of China, and our sense of mission and excitement, please join us. Professor Chia-Wei WOO President THE HONG KONG UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY CONTENTS 1. THE UNIVERSITY 1 Introduction 1 Academic Faculty 2 Students 2 Postgraduate Programs. 3 II. ADMISSION OF STUDENTS 7 Postgraduate Admission Requirements 7 Application for Admission 7 Students from Outside Hong Kong 8 Visiting Overseas Students 9 III. FEES, SCHOLARSHIPS AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE 11 Fees for 1999-2000 Academic year 11 Scholarships 13 Financial Assistance 13 IV. ACADEMIC REGULATIONS 17 Regulations Governing Postgraduate Studies 17 Program Registration 17 Full-time and Part-time Study 17 Study Commitment 18 Leave from Study 18 Double Registration 18 Late Registration 18 Adherence to the Curriculum 18 Duration of Study 19 Course Registration 19 Course Requirements 20Course Repeats 20 Course Registration Changes 21 Co-requisites, Pre-requisites, Exclusions and Background 21 Co-listed Course 22 Course Auditing 22 Course Exemption 22 Advanced Standing 22 Transfer of Course Grade and Credits on Resumption of Studies ......... 23 Assessment 23 Course Grading 23 Absence from Final Examinations 23 Postgraduate Grades 24 Grade Reports 25 Grade Review 25 Grade Averages 25 Thesis Format 26 Conduct of Thesis Examinations 26 THE HONG KONG UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Outcome of Thesis Examination 27 Post-thesis Examination Arrangements 27 Submission of the Final Thesis 28 Academic Standing - Progress of Postgraduate Students 28 Residency Requirements 28 General Requirements of Taught Master’s Programs 29 MSc and MA Programs 29 MBA Program 29 EMBA Program 29 General Requirements of Research Degree Programs 29 MPhil Programs 29 PhD Programs 30 Inter-departmental / Program Transfer 31 Program Withdrawal 31 V. ACADEMIC SERVICES 33 University Library 33 Language Center 33 Center of Computing Services and Telecommunications 35 Educational Technology Center 35 VI. CENTRAL AND INTERDEPARTMENTAL RESEARCH UNITS 38 Research Institutes 38 Advanced Manufacturing Institute 38 Advanced Materials Research Institute 39 Biotechnology Research Institute 39 Hainan Institute 40 Hong Kong Telecom Institute of Information Technology 41 Institute for Environment and Sustainable Development 41 Institute for MicroSystems 42 Sino Software Research Institute 42 Transportation Institute 43 Applied Technology Center 43 Center for Coastal and Atmospheric Research 44 Central Research Facilities 45 Advanced Engineering Materials Facility 45 Animal Care Facility 45 China Light and Power Wind/Wave Tunnel Facility 45 Computer Aided Design and Manufacturing Facility 46 Electrical and Mechanical Services Facility 47 Geotechnical Centrifuge Facility 47 Glassblowing Facility 48 Liquid Helium Facility 48 Materials Characterization and Preparation Facility 49 Microelectronics Fabrication Facility 49 Plant Growth Facility 50 THE HONG KONG UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY VII. STUDENT SERVICES 52 Student Housing 52 Student Counseling Service 53 Physical Education and Sports 53 Student Health Service 53 Student Activities 53 Student Amenities 54 VIII. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION 56 Academic Year 1999-2000 56 Academic Calendar for 1999-2000 56 Admission Enquiries 57 Index 59 Location Map 63 Campus Map 64 THE HONG KONG UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 1 THE UNIVERSITY I. THE UNIVERSITY Introduction The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) opened in October 1991 as a technological university dedicated to the advancement of learning and scholarship, with special emphasis on research, postgraduate education, and close collaboration with business and industry. The University occupies an impressive 60-hectare site on the northern end of Clear Water Bay Peninsula at Tai Po Tsai. Situated on the slopes along the shore, the campus grounds are terraced to afford buildings on all levels with unobstructed panoramic views of the sea. The campus has been built in two phases. Phase I was completed in July 1991 and has a capacity of 2,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) undergraduate and postgraduate students. Phase II, bringing capacity to about 7,000 FTE students, was completed in January 1993. The major source of financial support for the University is the Government of Hong Kong through the University Grants Committee (UGC) and its Research Grants Council (RGC). Student fees, other sources of research support and donations are also significant contributors to the University’s budget, which will exceed $1.8 billion in 1998-99. Construction of Phases I and II of the campus was assisted by a grant from the Hong Kong Jockey Club of almost $2 billion towards the cost of over $3.2 billion. The President is the chief executive officer and the three principal branches of the University are Academic Affairs, Administration and Business, and Research and Development, each headed by a Vice-President. Within Academic Affairs are the four schools which comprise the academic heartland of HKUST, each school divided into departments or divisions. There are a number of academic service units and research units located administratively within the branch as well. Administration and Business is concerned with the non-academic administrative and financial operation of the University, and Research and Development focuses on research administration and contractual and applied research relevant to Hong Kong’s technological and socio-economic development. 2 THE UNIVERSITY Three of the University’s schools - Science, Engineering, and Business and Management - provide both undergraduate and postgraduate education. The School of Humanities and Social Science offers postgraduate education and general education for all undergraduates. As the medium of instruction is English, classes aimed at improving English language skills are available to students, as needed. To complement the schools and their constituent academic departments, the University has set up interdisciplinary research institutes and centers, the Applied Technology Center and the Technology Transfer Center to facilitate collaboration among the different schools and partnerships between the University and the public and private sectors. Academic Faculty The University recruits worldwide for faculty who have achieved excellence in their fields and are highly respected as both teachers and researchers. These include both established academics and promising younger scholars. More than 85% have experience at the world’s leading research universities, either as PhD graduates, or through postdoctoral studies or teaching appointments. These men and women care about Hong Kong, its people and its future. They have broad intellectual interests, and wish to work collaboratively with colleagues in other fields and interact with professionals in industry, commerce and the public services. Most importantly, they care about their students. The University began instruction in 1991 with some 100 faculty, a large percentage of whom were in senior positions. By the end of 1997, more than 400 academics had been appointed. Students The University seeks highly qualified and motivated young men and women with wide interests who have received a well-rounded secondary education. In addition to having achieved good grades, they should be active participants in diverse activities and possess great potential. The University’s goal is to engage its students in a continuous dialogue, to challenge them intellectually, and to encourage them to think on their own and to learn how to learn. Thus the University’s graduates will become competent professionals, innovative leaders in their fields, adaptable and versatile generalists, and sensitive, caring citizens. 3 THE UNIVERSITY Postgraduate Programs The University offers postgraduate programs leading to master’s and doctoral degrees in all four Schools, as indicated below: Program Code SCHOOL OF SCIENCE Master of Science (MSc) Biotechnology# M511 Environmental Science M521 Materials Science and Engineering# M517 Mathematics M141 Physics M151 Master of Philosophy (MPhil) Biochemistry M110 Biology M120 Chemistry M130 Mathematics M140 Physics M150 Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Biochemistry D110 Biology D120 Chemistry D130 Mathematics D140 Physics D150 # Also available to students in the School of Engineering. 4 THE UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING Master of Science (MSc) Chemical Engineering M211 Civil Engineering M222 Computer Science M231 Electrical and Electronic Engineering M241 Environmental Engineering M519 Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management M252 Mechanical Engineering M261 Master of Philosophy (MPhil) Chemical Engineering M210 Civil Engineering M223 Computer Science M230 Electrical and Electronic Engineering M240 Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management M253 Mechanical Engineering M260 Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Chemical Engineering D210 Civil Engineering D221 Computer Science D230 Electrical and Electronic Engineering D240 Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management D251 Mechanical Engineering D260 5 THE UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) A300 Master of Business Administration (MBA) M300 Master of Science (MSc) Economics M331 Investment Management M341 Information Systems Management M321 Master of Philosophy (MPhil) Accounting M310 Economics M330 Finance M340 Information Systems M320 Operations Management M373 Management of Organizations M350 Marketing M360 Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Accounting D310 Economics D330 Finance D340 Information Systems D321 Operations Management D323 Management of Organizations D351 Marketing D360 SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCE Master of Arts (MA) Chinese Studies M513 Humanities M413 Social Science M423 Master of Philosophy (MPhil) Humanities M410 Social Science M420 Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Humanities D410 Social Science D420 7 ADMISSION OF STUDENTS II. ADMISSION OF STUDENTS Postgraduate Admission Requirements Applicants seeking admission to a master’s degree program should have obtained a first degree from this University or a recognized institution, or obtained an approved equivalent qualification; and satisfied the school and department concerned as to their fitness as well as their English ability to pursue the postgraduate program. To be eligible for admission to a PhD degree program, applicants should normally have obtained a master’s degree from this University or an approved 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; and satisfied the school and department concerned as to their chosen subject of research, as well as their fitness and English ability to undertake the research. Selected applicants may be invited for interview. Successful applicants will receive an offer of admission from the school or department concerned, and may be required to satisfy specified conditions. Applicants receiving an offer will be expected to accept or decline by a specified date. Application for Admission Application forms for admission to postgraduate programs are available directly from : Admissions, Registration and Records Office The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Clear Water Bay Kowloon Hong Kong Applicants can also download the application form from the University’s homepage on the World Wide Web at address: Ò http:// www.ab.ust.hk/arro under the topic Postgraduate Studies - How to Apply. The application fee for 1999-2000 is HK$120. Applications for admission to postgraduate programs in September of the year are normally invited from January onwards. Interested persons are strongly advised to apply well before the program closing dates. In order to allow sufficient time to obtain a visa to study in Hong Kong, non-local applicants are encouraged to submit their applications as early as possible and not to delay submission until the closing date. Late applications may be considered, subject to availability of places. 8 ADMISSION OF STUDENTS Items to be submitted with the completed application form include a one-page statement on study plans and career goals; two letters of recommendation mailed directly to the Director of Admissions, Registration and Records; and officially certified academic transcripts of undergraduate studies (and postgraduate studies, if any); and a copy of the bank pay-in-slip confirming that the application fee of the HK$120 has been paid into the University bank account. For non-local applicants, if official transcripts are in a language other than English or Chinese, a certified translation into English must be provided. In lieu of the bank pay-in slip confirming payment of application fee, non-local applicants may submit a bankdraft of an amount equivalent to US$16.00 with the completed application form. Students from Outside Hong Kong The University welcomes applications from non-local students who are seeking admission to full-time studies at the postgraduate level. Applicants should be aware, however, that competition for admission is such that only very well-qualified candidates will gain admission. Certified true copies of all degrees, diplomas, certificates and other qualifications held should be submitted with the application form. Applicants accepted for admission will be required to produce the original documents on arrival at the University. Non-local students should carefully consider the financial aspects of their studies in Hong Kong before applying for admission. Non-local students should note that they are not allowed to work in Hong Kong, part-time or full-time. The provisional tuition fee for 1999-2000 academic year (except for MBA and EMBA programs) will amount to HK$47,300 per annum and accommodation in on-campus postgraduate housing will involve approximately HK$16,500 - HK$29,500 per residential year (280 days). In addition monies will be needed for subsistence, textbooks, local travel, sports equipment, clothing, and other personal needs. A total of at least HK$117,000 - HK$130,000 per academic year (9 months) is likely to be required for postgraduate study. 9 ADMISSION OF STUDENTS Non-local students, including those from the Chinese Mainland must obtain a student visa in order to study in Hong Kong. Applications should be made well in advance at a Chinese Embassy or Consulate, or by writing directly to the Hong Kong Immigration Department, 2/F, Immigration Tower, 7 Gloucester Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong. Applicants will be required to show sufficient financial resources to cover expenses for their period of study. Applicants must also nominate a sponsor who is a resident of Hong Kong, aged over 21, to whom they are known personally. Applicants who have difficulty in nominating a sponsor in Hong Kong may indicate on their visa applications that the University’s Director of Admissions, Registration and Records is willing to act in this capacity. Visiting Overseas Students Students from overseas institutions who wish to study at the University on a shortterm basis, i.e. a minimum of one semester and a maximum of two, may apply for admission to the University as visiting overseas students. The application fee for 1999-2000 is HK$120. Visiting overseas students may take courses but are not enrolled on specific programs of the University. Details on the application procedures for visiting overseas students can be obtained from the Admissions, Registration and Records Office. 11 FEES, SCHOLARSHIPS AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE III. FEES, SCHOLARSHIPS AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE This section deals with tuition and other fees, and financial assistance available for students. Fees for 1999-2000 Academic Year There are a variety of fees as described below. Except for caution money, fees described below are not refundable. 1. Application Fee An application fee of HK$120 is charged for each application for admission in 1999-2000 to the University. This fee, payable at the time of submission of the application form, is not refundable. 2. Tuition Fee The tuition fee for postgraduate students admitted for the academic year 1999-2000 (except for those in the MBA and EMBA programs) is expected to be HK$47,300 per annum for full-time students and HK$23,650 per annum for part-time students. The fee is to be paid in two equal installments before the beginning of each semester. 3. Fee structure for full-time and part-time MBA students The fee structure for full-time and part-time MBA students is described in the MBA brochure of the School of Business and Management. 4. Fees for visiting overseas postgraduate students Application fee HK$120 Tuition fee for visiting overseas HK$23,650 (to be confirmed) postgraduate students for one semester of full-time mode of study; or HK$1971 per credit (to be confirmed) for studies during the Winter or Summer Session. 5. Partial fees Taught postgraduate students studying HK$1971 per credit (to beyond the normal duration confirmed) Research postgraduate students studying 50% of the tuition fee paid for beyond the normal period that semester will be refunded if all program and residency requirements of the University have been met within the first three calendar months of a semester. 12 FEES, SCHOLARSHIPS AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE 6. Caution money Each new student is required to pay a deposit of $300 as caution money on first registration. Charges will be made against this deposit if there are any unpaid claims against the student, such as outstanding library dues. The balance will be transferred towards the graduation fee, or refunded if the student leaves the University before graduation. 7. Students’ Union fee Students joining the Students’ Union are required to pay an initial entry fee and thereafter an annual subscription. These fees are set by the Union and collected by the University on behalf of the Union. 8. Late charges Students may be required to pay late charges for failure to complete certain University procedures by stipulated deadlines. These include overdue library books. Late charges are levied in accordance with the rules and regulations set by the respective offices. 9. Charges per person for on-campus student accommodation (Charges are subject to confirmation) Postgraduate Hall : Single rooms; HK$16,500 per residential year* University Apartments : Single rooms; HK$3,280 per calendar month (excluding utility charges) All rooms are air-conditioned and the charges do not include electricity charges for air-conditioning. All charges are paid in advance by installments. (*The 1999-2000 residential year covers 281 days from 27 August 1999 to 3 June 2000.) 10. Other small fees and charges Transcript fee per copy# (excluding registration mail charges) $50 Replacement of Student I/D Card $50 Graduation fee $300 Testimonial fee $20 (# A free copy will be issued to students upon graduation or withdrawal from the University.) 13 FEES, SCHOLARSHIPS AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE Scholarships Scholarships and Prizes The University administers a number of scholarships and prizes on behalf of individual and corporate donors. Most are awarded to students, without application, on the strength of academic merit and the recommendations of a school or department. Other scholarships may have conditions specified by the donor. Further details are available at the Student Affairs Office. Postgraduate Studentships The University awards postgraduate studentships (PGSs) to selected full-time research postgraduates who consequently engage in ancillary teaching and/or research duties. In 1998- 99, the rate of PGSs was $15,500 per month. Financial Assistance Government Student Financial Assistance Full-time students who have the right of abode in Hong Kong or have resided or have had their home in Hong Kong continuously for three complete years immediately prior to the commencement of their year of study are eligible to apply to the Government Student Financial Assistance Agency for financial aid. Assistance is offered through two schemes : Means-tested scheme : Under this scheme, means-tested awards are offered in the form of grants and/or loans. Grants are given for tuition fee and academic expenses while loans are for living expenses. The amount awarded is related to family income and financial status. Grants need not be repaid; loans are to be repaid at a relatively low interest rate of 2.5% per annum within a specified period after graduation or upon leaving the University. Non-means-tested loan scheme : This scheme offers loans up to the amount of tuition fee to applicants who do not apply for assistance or who fail to receive assistance from the means-tested scheme. It also allows students who receive assistance from the means-tested scheme to top up the grant and loan amount to its maximum level, subject to the non-means-tested loan maximum (equivalent to the amount of tuition fee) not being exceeded. Loans awarded are not means-tested. Students are expected to repay the loans at a cost recovery interest rate within a specified period after graduation or upon leaving the University. 14 FEES, SCHOLARSHIPS AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE Students may apply for assistance from both schemes or either one. Application forms and further details may be obtained from the Government Student Financial Assistance Agency at 9/F, National Mutual Centre, 151 Gloucester Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong, or from the Student Affairs Office of the University. Students with financial difficulties are urged to apply for Government assistance as soon as it is open for application. University Loans and Bursaries Students with additional financial needs may apply for loans and bursaries administered by the University. In general, these funds are used to supplement, but not substitute for, Government financial assistance. Details of loans and bursaries are available at the Student Affairs Office. 17 ACADEMIC REGULATIONS IV. ACADEMIC REGULATIONS REGULATIONS GOVERNING POSTGRADUATE STUDIES 1. Program Registration Program registration involves payment of tuition and other prescribed fees where appropriate and confirms students’ enrollment at the University. Failure to enroll in the program in any one semester will result in automatic withdrawal from the program and the University, unless a formal approval of Leave from Study has been obtained from the student’s major department. Moreover, a student must be officially registered in the program in the semester when he/she is being considered for graduation from that program. Each student enrolled in a specific program is subject to the requirements of the major department and the University. Exemption from specific requirements is possible, but only in well justified circumstances and with written permission from the major department. As a registered full-time student, one may apply for hall residence and financial aid, as well as acquire information about student life and the University. 1.1 Full-time and Part-time Study Most postgraduate degrees are available on both part-time and full-time basis. The taught programs leading to the MSc, MA and MBA degrees are suitable for students interested in part-time study. The MPhil and PhD are research degrees, and students in some disciplines may be required to participate in research on a full-time basis. Postgraduate students may apply to their department, prior to the beginning of any semester, for transfer from full-time to part-time status or from part-time to full-time status. When such a transfer is allowed, the remaining degree requirements will be determined. Full-time students in taught programs are expected to be in attendance during those semesters and sessions for which their programs are scheduled. Research students are expected to be in attendance on a year-round basis. For part-time students, attendance shall be as above except on a part-time basis as defined by the requirements of their programs. 18 ACADEMIC REGULATIONS 1.2 Study Commitment Students admitted to a full-time program of study are expected to study fulltime for their degrees, and are cautioned that outside work commitments may impede their academic performance. 1.3 Leave from Study Students are discouraged from interrupting their program of study. With sufficient justification, a student’s major department may approve a Leave from Study of one semester. Requests for Leave from Study for two consecutive semesters require the approval of the relevant Dean. Leave from Study for more than two consecutive semesters will normally not be considered. Any exceptions to this policy require the approval of the Office of the Vice-President for Academic Affairs. 1.4 Double Registration Unless prior permission from the Director of Admissions, Registration and Records is obtained, students are not permitted to concurrently register for another program at this University or at another tertiary institution. Student enrollment lists are compared with those of other tertiary institutions from time to time. If students are found to be registered elsewhere, they will normally be required to discontinue their studies at this University. 1.5 Late Registration Non-local postgraduate students admitted to the University in a particular academic year must complete registration in their programs by the end of the add-drop period in the Fall or Spring Semester. The period of deferment for admission is granted for a maximum of two semesters, but this would still be subject to the approval of the major department. The admission offers made to prospective students who are not able to adhere to the above deadlines will become void. They will have to re-apply for admission to the University as new applicants. 1.6 Adherence to the Curriculum Beginning 1996-97 academic year, all new postgraduate students must adhere to the curriculum of the year of entry throughout their program of study. Departments should, as far as possible, deliver the curriculum advertised unless due to special circumstances, changes to the original curriculum are necessary or advantageous. 19 ACADEMIC REGULATIONS 1.7 Duration of Study Taught master’s programs For full-time MSc and MA students, the normative periods for completing the degrees may be one or one and a half years as specified by individual programs. Part-time students may expect to take twice the time of full-time students. The normal period for completing the MBA program is two years for both full-time and part-time students. Research degree programs The normal period for completing the PhD degree in full-time mode is four years after the first degree with a reduction of one and a half years if a relevant master’s degree is earned prior to entering the PhD program. For MPhil degree in full-time mode, the normal period of study is two years. Time restrictions on degree completion The maximum time allowed for degree completion is five years for the master’s degree and eight years for a doctoral degree, with a one-and-a halfyear reduction if a relevant master’s degree is earned prior to entering the PhD program. These time limits are in effect whether or not the student is in continuous registration. Time limits for part-time study are the same as for full-time study. 2. Course Registration Course registration deals with the selection of and enrollment in appropriate courses for a specific semester. Course registration for a semester requires approval from the major department. The student’s program registration will be revoked without formal course registration. Students should ensure that they have properly registered in the courses specified for a semester. Students whose names are not on the class enrollment list will not be allowed to sit for examination(s) of the specific course(s) concerned and will not be awarded any grades for the course(s). Students should acquaint themselves with the general rules for postgraduate course registration and departmental course requirements for the program. They should also read the course description and requirements carefully before selecting a course. Other than courses that are graded Pass or Fail as indicated in the course description, students from the School of Engineering may make request at course registration time (up to the end of add/drop period) for a course to be graded Pass or Fail provided that the course is not counted towards their graduation requirements. Special approval must be obtained from the major department and the course instructor concerned. 20 ACADEMIC REGULATIONS 2.1 Course Requirements Credit requirements for postgraduate degrees apply only to courses and project work, not to thesis research. For students on taught postgraduate programs, unless restricted by departmental requirements, a maximum of nine credits of undergraduate courses at the 300-level may be used for postgraduate credit. Of the nine credits, no more than six may be from the student’s major department. For students on research degree programs, unless restricted by program regulations, a maximum of six credits of undergraduate courses at the 300-level may be used for postgraduate credit. Of the six credits, no more than three may be from the student’s major department. Additional stipulations on the use of 300-level courses to gain advanced standing credits can be found under Section 4. For all postgraduate programs, the average course grade obtained for satisfying degree requirements must at least be ÔB’. The study load requirements for postgraduate programs are as follows: Taught master’s programs The normal study load for full-time students on taught master’s programs is twelve credits per semester, with nine credits being the minimum. The MBA and the MSc programs offered by the School of Business and Management, however, have a heavier study load than other taught postgraduate programs. For part-time students, the maximum study load is eight credits per semester. Research degree programs The normal study load of full-time research degree students is ten credits per semester whereas the maximum study load for those in part-time mode is eight credits per semester. 2.2 Course Repeats A course with a grade less than C shall not be credited towards a degree although it will be reflected in the student’s record. Only two courses (excluding audited courses) in a degree program may be retaken, and each may be repeated only once. The new grade obtained after repeating a course will replace the previous grade in the calculation of the cumulative and graduation grade averages. 21 ACADEMIC REGULATIONS 2.3 Course Registration Changes (a) Course add/drop Students may make changes to their course enrollment during the add/drop period which is scheduled at the beginning of each semester. Changes made in this period will not be reflected in the student’s record. Requests for adding or dropping courses after the add/drop period will not be accepted except under extenuating circumstances. (b) Course withdrawal After the add/drop period, requests to withdraw from courses will not be considered unless the withdrawal is due to extenuating circumstances beyond the control of the student. Students wishing to request for course withdrawal after the add/drop period will be required to provide the department with full justification for making the application. The request is first considered by the head of the department, and if supported, then by the dean of the school concerned, and finally the Office of Academic Program Administration. Once the approval is given, the Withdrawal without Penalty Grade ÔW’ is recorded as the course grade. 2.4 Co-requisites, Pre-requisites, Exclusions and Background For a course with a co-requisite designated, both courses should be taken concurrently; alternatively the co-requisite may be taken and passed previously. If a course designates other courses as its pre-requisites, students must have taken and passed the pre-requisite(s) before they may register in the course, unless exemption is granted by the department offering the course. If a course has exclusions specified, students are not allowed to register in the course if they have already taken and passed any of the stated exclusions. Also students are not allowed to enroll in a course together with any of its stated exclusions in the same semester. A course may require a certain general level of desired prior knowledge as background. Students should ensure that they have the necessary background to undertake a course, and may seek help from their departmental advisors. 22 ACADEMIC REGULATIONS 2.5 Co-listed Course A co-listed course is a course offered under more than one course code. There may be different assessment schemes or assignments for the different course registration, which will be explained to students at the beginning of the semester. Students may only register for one of the co-listed versions of the courses, and can only earn the credits of the course for which they are registered. 2.6 Course Auditing With the permission of the course instructor, a full-time student may register in a course as an auditor, that is, to attend a course and to participate in activities up to and including writing the final examination but not receiving a formal grade. Subject to satisfactory completion of requirements set at registration by the instructor, the course will be designated AU on the student’s transcript. Otherwise the course will be removed from the registration record. No course credit is given for audited courses. 3. Course Exemption Course exemption may be granted if the student can produce evidence, such as a transcript and course syllabus, that a course is equivalent in content to another course taken elsewhere, for which a satisfactory grade has been obtained. No credits will be given for the exempted course, and the student may be required to take an approved alternative course. 4. Advanced Standing Advanced standing may be granted to students in recognition of studies completed successfully elsewhere. Application must be made to their major department during their first semester after admission. Late applications will not be considered. Conditions on the granting of advanced standing credits are as follows : a. No more than one-third of the required course work for students on taught postgraduate programs can be granted advanced standing credits; b. Credits earned at the undergraduate level can only be used for advanced standing purpose if the credits had not been used for the award of another academic qualification and that the course must be at the 300-level, and c. Advanced standing credits cannot be granted in recognition of non-course work experience or research work completed either at the University or at other institutions. 23 ACADEMIC REGULATIONS The amount of advanced credits to be granted will be determined by the major department on review of past academic records and the level of equivalence to HKUST courses required. Advanced standing credits granted will not be included in the calculation of grade averages. 5 Transfer of Course Grade and Credits on Resumption of Studies Students who had previously withdrawn from their program of study at the University but who, after a period of time, are re-admitted to a program of study at the University, may be allowed to transfer their previous course grades and credits to the new program of study. Such a transfer of course grades and credits is restricted to courses which had been completed within five years prior to the resumption of studies at the University. In addition, these credits must not have been used to earn any academic qualifications either at the University or elsewhere. 6. Assessment 6.1 Course Grading Grades given in each course are based on student performance in the final examination, tests, essays and reports, presentations and other forms of classroom participation, assignments, and laboratory exercises, although not all these elements may be present in each course. A failing grade in the laboratory component, if any, of a course may result in a failure in the whole course. The instructor in each course will announce the course grading scheme to the class in the first week of lectures. Students will not be given any grades for the course nor be allowed to sit for the examination of that course if their names are not on the class enrollment list. Final examinations are scheduled following the end of lectures. 6.2 Absence From Final Examinations Students who fail to attend a final examination as scheduled will be given zero mark for that examination. If the absence is due to extenuating circumstances beyond the student’s control, such as medical emergencies, he/she may apply to the Admissions, Registration and Records Office (ARRO) within one week from the missed examination for a make-up examination to be held. For absence due to medical reasons, the student is required to submit certification issued by a registered medical practitioner. Appropriate documentation would be required for absences due to other reasons. 24 ACADEMIC REGULATIONS The ARRO will decide, in consultation with the Office of Academic Program Administration (OAPA) and the Department/Course Instructor concerned, whether or not the student’s application should be approved. The student will be notified of the result of the application within one week from the date the application is lodged with ARRO. The make-up examination will be held within five weeks after the regular examination period. The format of the make-up examination will be decided by the course instructor concerned. 6.3 Postgraduate Grades Students receive a letter grade in each course in which they are enrolled. Grades range in equal increments from A+ to F, with F carrying zero credit. The grades C- to D-, and E, are not used in postgraduate courses. The grades used are shown in the following table. Letter Grades Definitions A+, A, A- Excellent Performance B+, B, B- Good Performance C+, C Marginal Performance F Failure Other Designations Definitions AU Audited I Incomplete W Withdrawal without Penalty P Pass, Ungraded PP Permitted to Proceed The Audited (AU) designation will be assigned when an auditing student has completed, to the satisfaction of the instructor, any conditions established at registration as an auditor. If the conditions are not met, the course will be deleted from the student’s record. An Incomplete (I) grade is used when work is necessarily delayed through no fault of the student, such as a medical problem or an equipment breakdown. This grade must be converted to a regular grade at the beginning of the next semester; otherwise it is converted to F. The Withdrawal without Penalty (W) grade is given when a student withdraws from a course after the add-drop period. The Pass, Ungraded (P) grade is given for courses which are indicated in the course description in the Academic Calendar that they will be graded as such. 25 ACADEMIC REGULATIONS A failed course (graded F) cannot be credited towards a degree. When progress on thesis or project work is satisfactory but not scheduled for completion at the end of a semester, the Permitted to Proceed (PP) grade is used. 6.4 Grade Reports After the examination period, students are required to check their own course grades which are available on the web-based student records system. Course grades will be posted on this web-based system as soon as they become available, but not later than six working days from the last day of the examination period for the semester. Printed grade reports are no longer issued to students. 6.5 Grade Review A student may apply for a grade review in a course in which the student was enrolled in the semester just completed. This request should be made to the department offering the course within two weeks from the day on which grades are posted. If a review is granted, the grading will be reviewed by the course instructor or another member of the departmental faculty within three weeks after the date of grade posting. Any subsequent appeal against the departmental decision must be made to the dean of the school concerned within two weeks of receiving the decision. The dean’s decision is final. 6.6 Grade Averages A grade average (GA) is the average weighted grades obtained in a group of courses where each course is given a weight equal to its credit value. Advanced credits, exchange credits and courses graded P, I, W, PP and AU are omitted from this calculation. There are three grade averages. The semester grade average (SGA) is the combined grade average covering all courses taken in both the semester and the session immediately following. The cumulative grade average (CGA) is based on all the courses taken by the student which are expected at the time of calculation to be applied towards the degree requirements in the current program. At graduation, a graduation grade average (GGA) will be calculated from the courses that are presented for the award of a degree. All GAs are reported using the closest letter grade, including C- to D- although they are not course grades. 26 ACADEMIC REGULATIONS 7. Thesis Format The thesis shall conform in layout, binding and presentation to the requirements prescribed by the Department. General University guidelines require that a thesis should : ¥ be written in English; ¥ have a title page giving the thesis title, the student’s name and academic degree(s), the name of the department, the name of the degree for which the thesis is presented, and the month and year of submission; ¥ contain a paginated table of contents and a list of references; ¥ be printed on one side only of international size A4 80 to 90gsm woodfree paper (297mm x 210mm); ¥ have all textual materials double-spaced, although long quotations, references and footnotes may be single-spaced; ¥ be adequately referenced and clearly punctuated; and ¥ include an abstract of not more than 300 words summarizing the content of the thesis. Students in the School of Humanities and Social Science who are pursuing research work in the areas of Chinese Studies, and who can demonstrate a need to use Chinese to write their theses should seek prior approval from the Committee on Postgraduate Studies of Senate via their supervisors and the divisional head. If approved, students are also required to produce a translation of the abstract into English. 8. Conduct of Thesis Examinations A student wishing to appear before a thesis examination committee must so indicate to the major department at least six weeks before the examination, and have delivered to the department a sufficient number of examination copies at least four weeks before the examination. For a PhD thesis, the number of copies is seven, and for the MPhil four. One of these copies will be put on display prior to the examination for perusal by departmental faculty and students and other members of the University community and members of the public. The thesis examination takes place in a single session and comprises four parts, the first two of which are open to all members of the University and to departmental guests. The third part is closed to all but the student and the committee, and the fourth is a closed session of the examiners in the absence of the candidate. 27 ACADEMIC REGULATIONS The first part is an oral presentation by the student, emphasizing the major elements of the research and the results obtained. Next is an open questioning period, involving first members of the thesis examination committee, and subsequently, others in attendance. During this part of the examination, all questions are addressed through the chairman and any dialogue limited to the student and the individual questioner. The third is a closed session involving a less formal discussion between the student and the examination committee on his research. At the end of this part of the examination, the candidate must leave the examination venue. The fourth and final part is a closed session involving only the committee to assess the thesis, and the performance of the candidate. In arriving at a decision, the votes of members of the thesis committee carry equal weight. The chairman is responsible for advising the committee the vote of the external examiner in absentia, if applicable. A report on the thesis examination is then prepared by the chairman, together with members of the thesis examination committee. 9. Outcome of Thesis Examination A thesis examination can have one of the following results : Passed* Passed* subject to minor corrections Passed subject to major corrections Failed but may be resubmitted Failed * The Passed with Distinction’ category is no longer used from Spring Semester 1995/96 onwards. 10. Post-thesis Examination Arrangements If a thesis has been graded Passed subject to minor corrections’, the corrections are to be made to the satisfaction of the supervisor. The final version of the thesis should be submitted to the supervisor for checking and verification before it is submitted to the department to complete the degree requirements. A thesis graded Passed subject to major corrections’ when re-submitted, requires the approval of the full examination committee. The result Failed but may be resubmitted ‘ requires that the entire examination process be repeated, including the reestablishment of an examination committee. At least six months must pass before the thesis can be re-submitted for examination. Students can apply for transfer to part-time mode of study during the re-writing process of the thesis. A Failed’ grade results in the automatic withdrawal of the student from the program of study and the termination of registration at the University. 28 ACADEMIC REGULATIONS 11. Submission of the Final Thesis On successful completion of the thesis examination, an MPhil student must, within one week, submit three clean unbound original copies of the thesis to the department, which will arrange for the appropriate signatures of approval, and forward the signed copies to the Admissions, Registration and Records Office for their action. When bound, two copies will be retained by the Library and one by the department. For PhD students, the arrangement is the same as that for MPhil students, except that four original copies of the thesis are required, instead of three. 12. Academic Standing - Progress of Postgraduate Students The academic standing of all postgraduate students is periodically reviewed by their departments. Unsatisfactory performance may result in students being denied the opportunity to continue their studies. In order for postgraduate students to attain good academic standing, they must (i) obtain a cumulative grade average (CGA) of B or better, and (ii) show a reasonable progress towards degree completion at the end of each semester. Students who fail to maintain good academic standing in a semester will be issued a letter of warning by the Head of Department. Students who fail to maintain this standing in two consecutive semesters will have their records reviewed by the Department and may be required to take academic leave and have their study at the University suspended. The suspension period will last from one to three semesters during which students may apply for re-enrollment in their program of study at the end of their suspension. If this application is approved, certain conditions may apply and the student must regain good academic standing in the semester immediately following re-enrollment. Students will be required to withdraw from the University if the conditions are not met. If re-enrollment in the program is not granted by the expiry of the suspension period, the suspension will be converted to a required withdrawal from the University. 13. Residency Requirements Normally, a full-time research student is required to be on campus full-time and consequently in such geographical proximity as to be able to participate fully in University activities associated with the program. Residency provides the student with an opportunity to become immersed in the intellectual environment of the University. Also included in residency are periods during which the student’s research requires off-campus field or non-HKUST laboratory work. 29 ACADEMIC REGULATIONS Normally, the residency requirement for an MPhil degree is four full-time semesters and that for a PhD degree is eight. In many departments, the semester may include all or part of the subsequent session. A semester of residency of a part-time student counts as a one-half semester of residency. Students who have not completed their thesis work should continue registration on a full or part-time basis, without interruption. These residency requirements do not apply to taught postgraduate programs which are defined by the semesters and sessions in which the programs are scheduled. 14. General Requirements of Taught Master’s Programs 14.1 MSc and MA Programs These are course work degrees for which students must fulfill a minimum course requirement of 30 credits. Students may also undertake a project described in the departmental Calendar entries. Projects require the submission of a written report, as specified by the department, and carry a maximum of nine credits. Each report will be read by two faculty members, one of whom is the supervisor. Letter grades instead of Pass’ or Fail’ grades are used for grading projects from Fall Semester, 1996/97 onwards. 14.2 MBA Program Requirements for the full-time and part-time MBA program are described in the MBA brochure of the School of Business and Management. 14.3 EMBA Program An EMBA degree awarded jointly by Northwestern University and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. It is a one-and-a-half-year parttime program for executives at leadership positions with at least 10 years of work experience. Further details of the program are described in the Kellogg- HKUST EMBA brochure. 15. General Requirements of Research Degree Programs 15.1 MPhil Programs In addition to course work requirements, MPhil students will undertake a program of thesis research under the direction of a supervisor appointed by the department. 30 ACADEMIC REGULATIONS On commencement of study, each MPhil student is assigned an interim supervisor. This supervisor works with the student to map out a tentative program of study and research, and to identify a research supervisor. The research supervisor, when appointed, replaces the interim advisor. MPhil research is conducted under the general supervision of a thesis committee of at least three faculty members, one of whom is the designated thesis supervisor and committee chairman. When the thesis is ready for examination, to the satisfaction of both the student and the supervisor, the department head appoints an examination committee consisting of three faculty members. One is the supervisor and another is appointed as chairman. The committee examines the thesis and conducts an oral thesis examination. Theses are graded Pass or Fail. 15.2 PhD Programs PhD programs focus on original research by the student, but most also require course work. Doctoral students proceed from admission to the program, to candidacy for the degree, and then to defense of the thesis. Each has a thesis supervisor who oversees the student’s research. Candidacy is obtained by the successful completion of qualifying examinations specified by the department. PhD research is conducted under the general supervision of a thesis committee of at least three faculty members, one of whom is the designated thesis supervisor. The five-member thesis examination committee is appointed by the Senate Committee on Postgraduate Studies on the recommendation of the department. The committee is chaired by an individual from outside the school, who is appointed by the Committee on Postgraduate Studies upon recommendation by the dean. This person presides over the examination, but is not one of the five members who are: the thesis supervisor, two academic staff members from the department, one academic staff member from outside the department, and one member external to the University who has expertise in the field being examined. Theses will be graded Pass or Fail. 31 ACADEMIC REGULATIONS 16. Inter-departmental / Program Transfer A student may change from one program of study to another with the permission of the major department to which the student wishes to transfer. If a transfer is approved, that department will determine which credits from the student’s former program apply to the new program. Normally, the transfer will not be effected until the following semester. Students who wish to transfer to another program of study in the middle of a semester should obtain the prior approval of the major department and the relevant Dean’s Office. Unless there are extenuating circumstances, requests for program transfers to be effected in the middle of a semester are not supported. 17. Program Withdrawal Students who withdraw or are required to withdraw from the University must complete the clearance procedures with the Admissions, Registration and Records Office, the Library, the Student Affairs Office, the Finance Office and the department. 33 ACADEMIC SERVICES V. ACADEMIC SERVICES Teaching and research at the University are supported by a number of academic service units. University Library The Library is an integral component of the academic programs, supporting the University’s teaching and research in science, engineering, business and management, the humanities and social sciences. As of 1998, the Library’s book, periodical, and microform collections total approximately 480,000 volumes, plus 24,000 media materials. Its electronic collections contain over 9,500 discs, including thousands of full-image journal subscriptions and conference proceedings. In addition, the Library offers its users a learning environment rich in electronic information and services. In a sense the Library is always open in that its extensive array of electronic resources can be accessed from every corner of the campus, including all student and staff housing, twenty-four hours a day. Users can search the Library’s catalog of holdings in both English and Chinese using a telnet or Web interface. The Library Web server (http://library.ust.hk) has developed into a central information hub for access to Library information, services, and resources; instructional materials; pathfinders; and Internet sites. An experienced library staff assists users in a variety of ways, from the selection, acquisition, and cataloging of materials to making use of the collection, online searches, and interlibrary loans. There is also a fully-equipped classroom and a computer laboratory for group instruction. The University Library has a strong service orientation in order to effectively meet the information needs of its academic community. Language Center The Language Center has a pan-University role in the provision of language courses. Its postgraduate programs have three main objectives : ¥ To provide language support for students in order that they might realize their full potential as members of an international academic community. ¥ To provide language skills enhancement for academic purposes on a regular basis in order to facilitate the improvement of students’ overall abilities in the skill areas of reading, writing, listening and speaking. ¥ To help students to realize their own individual language learning goals with reference to their academic disciplines and/or individual research interests. 34 ACADEMIC SERVICES The Language Center has designed the following courses to meet these objectives : Group Communication Skills Development, a course in English for Academic Purposes, focuses on the development of academic reading, writing, listening and speaking skills, as well as some intensive work on pronunciation, grammar and vocabulary. This course is compulsory for postgraduates in Computer Science and Civil Engineering and is taken on a voluntary basis by students from all other Departments. A Postgraduate Self-Access Language Learning Program offered during Spring Semester provides students with an opportunity to work intensively on a self-access project, which aims to develop language skills specific to their individual needs as well as their ability to direct their own learning. Postgraduate English for Academic Purposes is an intensive course offered during the Summer Session, focusing on the development of academic listening and speaking skills. The Language Center also offers courses in written Chinese, Putonghua, Cantonese, Japanese, Korean, French, German and Russian. The courses in Putonghua have so far proved especially popular, reflecting the growing recognition of its importance in the job market. The Language Center has three 24-booth language laboratories, complete with advanced audio-visual and computer equipment, which are used by class groups to practice their listening, speaking and writing. For students who need further help with their writing, the English Writing Center (a service provided by the Language Center) organizes workshops and gives individual consultations. The Language Center also runs the Self-Access Center, a well-equipped facility that provides a wide variety of materials, activities and services to aid self-directed learning of English, Putonghua and many other languages. The Self-Access Center is open to staff and students on weekdays (9am - 8pm) and Saturday mornings. 35 ACADEMIC SERVICES Center of Computing Services and Telecommunications The Center of Computing Services and Telecommunications develops and manages the computing and networking infrastructure of the University. It provides computing support to undergraduate and postgraduate teaching, and research applications in all Schools. The HKUST computing environment is based on a distributed client-server architecture. The cornerstone is an advanced high-speed switched FDDI (Fiber Distributed Data Interface) network backbone, with maximum aggregate throughput of 3.6 gigabits per second. International Internet connection is provided via multiple high speed links. Most of the laboratories and offices are provided with switched Ethernet or fast Ethernet connections. The network covers not only all the academic buildings but also reaches out to staff quarters and student halls. Staff and students can also access network services via a number of Express Stations at various campus locations, or they can connect their home computer to the campus network via dialup modem pools. The Center operates powerful servers to provide campus-wide network services such as e-mail, network printing, World-Wide Web and electronic notice board. One important characteristic of the University’s computing environment is its multimedia and Chinese- English bilingual capability. Increasingly, more network services will have these features. All microcomputers and scientific workstations are connected to the campus network, providing desktop computing power as well as windows to a vast array of information and computing resources such as Library systems, administrative systems, academic software packages and audio/video broadcasting programs. The Center also manages a number of central computing laboratories, providing PC, Macintosh and Unix workstation facilities for teaching and students use. Extensive software training programs are also provided to assist users to get the most out of their computers. Educational Technology Center The University is committed to high standards and up-to-date methods in undergraduate and postgraduate teaching, research and publication. To this end, the Educational Technology Center sustains a comprehensive service for all academic and research staff. The Audio Visual Unit looks after centrally-provided AV (Audio Visual) facilities in all common teaching venues, including 8 lecture theaters, some 70 classrooms and 30 teaching laboratories. The Unit maintains an AV Loan Counter and a Self-Access Production area to facilitate the use of AV equipment and resources for modern teaching. The AV Production team assists in the planning, video-taping, editing and duplication of AV, digital and multimedia materials for teaching, research, evaluation or promotional purposes. 36 ACADEMIC SERVICES The Graphics Unit assists in the graphic design and production of university publications, teaching, research and promotional materials. Its also offers a wide range of multimedia support services including web page design, CD-ROM production, computer graphics output and large-format plotting. Meanwhile, its Photo team supports flat-copying, location, portrait and event photo-taking together with image editing to produce slides, transparencies and prints for academic and publicity purposes. In addition, the Unit’s Print Shop provides highspeed, high volume reprographic and offset printing services. Through its Instructional Development Unit, the Center organizes workshops and seminars for faculty, teaching assistants, and tutors on educational issues and instructional methodologies in higher education. Topics have included learning theory, classroom delivery and management techniques, selection, utilization and production of instructional materials, assessment of student progress and evaluation of teaching effectiveness. The Center serves as a resource for information on teaching methods, instructional formats and materials related to research on teaching. As part of the University’s quality assurance process, the Center helps collect and process course evaluation data for all credit courses and English language enhancement courses. 38 CENTRAL AND INTERDEPARTMENTAL RESEARCH UNITS VI. CENTRAL AND INTERDEPARTMENTAL RESEARCH UNITS To both support and supplement research based in academic departments, the University has established a number of research institutes and centers to identify and provide focus for research at HKUST. All operate across traditional disciplinary boundaries, and provide a full range of research and specialized research services from developmental and applied activities to basic investigations. Together with disciplinary research in academic departments, these specialized research organizations provide undergraduate and postgraduate students with a wide range of opportunities for participation in exciting programs and projects that deal with the extension and application of knowledge. Several hundred research projects have been funded and are in operation. These research units are described briefly in this section of the Handbook. RESEARCH INSTITUTES Each research institute is managed by a Director who is responsible for programs, projects, facilities and personnel. Faculty, staff, students and visitors should contact the director if they wish to become involved in a particular program. At present, the following institutes have been established or are being established: Advanced Manufacturing Institute The mission of the Advanced Manufacturing Institute is to enhance the competitiveness of manufacturing enterprise in Hong Kong. By building a synergy among the existing strengths in Automation Technology, Design Technology and Systems Integration Technology in the University and by leveraging on the unique location of Hong Kong in an area of rapid industrialization, HKUST is well positioned to be a major international center in global manufacturing. The research and development of AMI focus on : ¥ Automation Technology (including Motion Control, Sensor, Actuator, Instrumentation and Rapid Prototyping), ¥ Design Technology (CAD/CAM, Concurrent Engineering, Human Modeling, Design Modeling and Virtual Reality Technology), and ¥ System Integration Technology (Mass Customization, Supply Chain Management, System Engineering, and Environment Policy Compliance). 39 CENTRAL AND INTERDEPARTMENTAL RESEARCH UNITS Advanced Materials Research Institute The Institute aims to promote and enable basic and applied research in advanced materials, and to provide for postgraduate degree programs and the incorporation of materials science into the undergraduate curriculum. Its research emphasis is on materials performance, structure and composition, properties, and synthesis and processing in (a) thin-films, solid state clusters, laser and photonic materials, and magnetic materials; (b) liquid crystals, ceramics and polymers; and (c) bulk polymers, composites and biomedical materials. Included within the scope of the Advanced Materials Research Institute are the Materials Modeling Laboratory, the Zheng Ge Re Thin Film Science Laboratory providing epitaxial growth technology, the Joyce M. Kuok Laser and Photonics Laboratory, the William Mong Solid State Laboratory, and a proposed Magnetic Materials Laboratory. A proposed Composite and Synthetic Materials Center will be concerned with the design and synthesis of entirely new materials with enhanced properties, and with the development of new processes to produce existing materials. It will include a Polymer Synthesis Laboratory, Composites Laboratory and Biomaterials Laboratory with emphasis on biomedical materials. Biotechnology Research Institute Globally, biotechnology continues to represent one of the most rapidly growing industries as a result of its propensity to provide innovative and state-of-the-art solutions to many complex issues facing the future well-being of the world and its population. As we enter the 21st Century, exciting and historical breakthroughs in basic and applied research await us just over the horizon. These critical advancements and their immediate applications to the medical, agricultural, food, energy and environmental sciences will ensure the continued outgrowth of the biotechnology industry. Noting the rapid pace by which biotechnology products are being developed, the future growth and expansion of this industry will most assuredly have a profound impact on the future health and well-being of humankind, as well as the world’s economy. In light of these developments, many countries have begun to recognize the importance of building-up their existing biotechnology base. From its inception, HKUST has made development and advancement of biotechnology one of the primary research initiatives of its faculty. With intuitiveness, HKUST in 1990 established the Biotechnology Research Institute (BRI) using a generous donation of $130 million from the Hong Kong Jockey Club. 40 CENTRAL AND INTERDEPARTMENTAL RESEARCH UNITS The mission of the BRI is to assist Hong Kong in developing a strong biotechnology industry through recruitment of outstanding and motivated faculty, training of professionals, expansion and continued development of state-of-the-art research facilities, support of basic and applied research in relevant areas of science, and further development and enhancement of existing biotechnology products. The focus of BRI research and development interests and expertise include : ¥ Neuroproteins ¥ Traditional Chinese Medicine ¥ Protein Engineering and Design ¥ Plant Biotechnology Additionally, BRI actively sponsors several research facilities essential for conducting cutting edge biotechnology research : ¥ Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Facility ¥ Microscopy Facility ¥ Drug Screening Facility ¥ Animal Care Facility ¥ Plant Growth Facility ¥ Molecular Biology Laboratory ¥ Cell Culture Laboratory ¥ Fermentation Laboratory Currently, BRI maintains numerous worldwide affiliations with universities, research institutes and industrial entities, as well as serving as a supporting institution for the newly formed International Molecular Biology Network for Asia and the Pacific Rim (IMBN). BRI’s web site address : (http://www.ust.hk/~bri) Hainan Institute The Institute has been established to use Hainan Province in China as a base for academic work and applied research and development, in order to strengthen these areas of activity at the University, contribute to the economic development of Hong Kong and its region, and enhance Hong Kong’s involvement in the development of Hainan. Its objectives are: (a) to obtain a profound understanding of the natural, social, technological, and economic conditions and prospects of Hainan; and 41 CENTRAL AND INTERDEPARTMENTAL RESEARCH UNITS (b) to undertake applied research and executive education in: agriculture and mariculture, behavioral sciences, environmental studies, finance and economics, infrastructure development, and technology transfer. The Institute was established in January 1994. A liaison office in Haikou and a joint laboratory in Sanya have been set up. Projects being initiated include applications of biotechnology in mariculture, introduction of modern agricultural technology, air pollution monitoring, satellite monitoring of the marine environment, collaborative research on economic and socio-cultural development, infrastructure system consultations, technology transfer in industrial development zones, executive education for government and business leaders, and joint organization of international conferences. Hong Kong Telecom Institute of Information Technology This Institute was founded with a grant of $100 million from Hong Kong Telecommunication Limited. The concept of the Institute is based on the recognition that in future there will be no economic development, no industry or commerce, no service or manufacturing capability of any significance without the full utilization of telecommunication and information technology. All Schools at the University are involved in the research activities of this Institute. At present, the Institute is sponsoring four major research programs, namely lightwave technology, network technology, wireless communication, and video technology. Undergraduate scholarships and postgraduate research assistantships are also offered through the Institute, and certain members of the academic faculty are designated as Institute Fellows. Institute for Environment and Sustainable Development Hong Kong has made the improvement of its environment a high priority to ensure sound future development. HKUST has contributed to this effort over the past five years through its Institute for Environmental Studies and through the collaborative efforts of the staff and students in the participating departments. Over 35 projects have been carried out for a total funding of over $30 million in collaboration with governments and industries in Hong Kong, China and Southeast Asia. The projects cover air and water pollution, marine coastal zone management, cleaner production for Hong Kong and China’s industries, eco-labeling for Hong Kong, remote sensing and environmental GIS studies, to name but a few. 42 CENTRAL AND INTERDEPARTMENTAL RESEARCH UNITS The change of name to Institute for Environment and Sustainable Development (IESD) as of April 1, 1997 is deliberate. It emphasizes that the philosophy of the Institute is to support development necessary for a growing population and an increasing standard of living, but to ensure as much as possible that such development is carried out in a Òsustainable way, that is, in harmony with our environment. The new emphasis of the Applied Technology Center (ATC) will likely be to increase even further collaboration with industry, to the extent that this is possible in the environmental field in Hong Kong and China. IESD looks forward to meeting these new challenges. IESD does not have any graduate role directly. It does not enroll graduate students. Academic staff and graduate students are able to contribute to IESD projects, when schedules and other conditions allow it. Institute for MicroSystems The Institute has been formed to promote research in crucial areas of microelectronics and to transfer the technologies developed to the local electronic industry to raise its competitive edges and to spawn new business. Five areas have been designated as core areas; they are receive centers for : Micro Electro Mechanical and Sensor Systems Circuits and Systems Advanced Display Technology Materials, Devices and Fabrication Technology Electronic Packaging The University’s facilities for electronic fabrication, the Microelectronics Fabrication Facility, is central to the activity of the Institute. More than 40 faculty members from the Departments of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Physics, Chemistry, Mechanical Engineering, and Chemical Engineering are expected to participate in research projects under the Institute. Sino Software Research Institute The Sino Software Research Institute (SSRI), established in July 1992 with a $20 million grant from the Sino Land Co., Ltd., has the dual aims of supporting software research that can lead to practical applications, and providing assistance in transforming those applications into useful products. 43 CENTRAL AND INTERDEPARTMENTAL RESEARCH UNITS The Institute sees its primary role as that of a catalyst, helping software research projects reach the critical phase in which ideas may be translated into prototypes that can be evaluated using large-scale trails. The Institute also encourages development efforts in areas that are relevant to the economic and social development of Hong Kong. One such project is the Hong Kong SuperNet, which makes full Internet access available to the public, an important step to maintaining Hong Kong’s status as a regional communications center. Beyond its interest in software research and development, the SSRI also provides technical and consultative help to local businesses as they seek to implement the latest software technologies. As part of this effort, the Institute sponsors conferences, workshops, seminars and lectures on software topics related to the needs of businesses and public institutions. One such example was the 16th IEEE International Conference on Distributed Computing Systems, which was held in Hong Kong in May 1996. This is IEEE’s flagship conference in distributed computing. Some two hundred researchers from local and international organizations attending the conference. Transportation Institute Hong Kong must continually upgrade and build new transportation infrastructure to maintain mobility of people and freight and to remain competitively linked to the world for business, commerce and tourism. The Transportation Institute is making a contribution through human resource development and R & D partnerships. Its missions is to become an acclaimed world-class Institute, offering educational, training and research programs to international standards of excellence while, at the same time, providing human resources and services for the development of the transportation infrastructure in Hong Kong and the region. In consideration of the needs and opportunities of the region, the Transportation Institute is strategically focusing on : ¥ passenger transportation systems (urban, regional and international) ¥ freight systems and logistics (regional and international) ¥ economics of transportation (passenger and freight) APPLIED TECHNOLOGY CENTER One of the objectives of the University is to assist in economic and social development of Hong Kong. Too often, there is a gap between the results of academic research and an opportunity that industry recognizes, accepts and can use for commercial benefit. 44 CENTRAL AND INTERDEPARTMENTAL RESEARCH UNITS The Applied Technology Center is intended to facilitate the process by which technology is transferred across the interface between University and industry. The staff of the Center provide project management and technical skills and draw upon both the human and physical resources of the University and funding opportunities to develop and add value to the results of research that have commercial potential for Hong Kong. Technology will be transferred both to enhance existing businesses and to assist new start-up companies. CENTER FOR COASTAL AND ATMOSPHERIC RESEARCH The Center for Coastal and Atmospheric Research is more than a place to collect the existing relevant facilities and to get together faculties and researchers with common interests in coastal and atmospheric research. The main objective is to develop additional capabilities based on the existing strength. The Center strives to achieve the following specific objectives: ¥ To facilitate the generation of high quality and interdisciplinary research by bringing together collaborators from various internal and external units and disciplines. ¥ To develop science application at the highest quality for the benefit of society. ¥ To act as a focal point for HKUST for relevant external matters. ¥ To provide leading-edge infrastructure support for field data collection, data communication and analysis relevant to the research and development tasks. ¥ To seek institutional and external support for manpower, equipment and general expenses. Major research activities will include, but not limited to, the following: ¥ Coastal environmental studies ¥ Large scale modeling for coastal water and estuaries ¥ Coastal engineering ¥ Meteorology and society: aviation meteorology, real-time application for coastal and atmospheric research ¥ Coastal and atmospheric research data center for remote sensing, radar meteorology, analysis and data assimilation ¥ Numerical simulation and prediction of regional and local circulation ¥ Marine natural products and marine ecotoxicology 45 CENTRAL AND INTERDEPARTMENTAL RESEARCH UNITS CENTRAL RESEARCH FACILITIES Advanced Engineering Materials Facility Established in 1994, the Advanced Engineering Materials Facility is a multi-disciplinary central research facility located at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. Its mission is to provide state-of-the-art research equipment and technical expertise for HKUST as well as Hong Kong industries to develop advanced engineering materials technology and their applications. Research areas of the Facility include processing, microstructural design and new materials development, non-destructive testing and failure analysis, applied mechanics and testing methodology. The Facility engages in the training of graduate students and researchers in advanced materials technology, and in international exchanges. It also organizes seminars, workshops and conferences to disseminate knowledge of recent developments in the latest materials technology to the industry. Animal Care Facility Animal Care Facility (ACF) is located on the seventh floor of the Laboratory Wing occupying a total area of about 600 square meters. It is a facility for breeding conventionally reared laboratory animals and holding of these animals for experiments. The air-conditioned Facility contains ten animal holding rooms, an operation theater, a quarantine room, a nude mice room, a procedure room, a cage washing room, a bedding dispensing room and a diet store. ACF provides professional and humane handling of animals selected for biomedical research activities at HKUST. The animals held in ACF are receiving the highest standard of health care and compassionate treatment, and all the experimental protocols on animals are approved by the Animal Care Advisory Committee of the University. ACF supplies and maintains several common strains of mice, rats, rabbits, chicks and piglets. ACF’s technical staff are well trained and they are prepared to provide support and advice to researchers on their animal experiments including surgery, drug administration, antigen immunization and antibody production. China Light and Power Wind/Wave Tunnel Facility The Wind/Wave Tunnel Facility was established with a substantial donation from China Light and Power Company Limited. The Facility will be operational in late 1998. Its mission is to provide a physical modeling capability to Hong Kong for designing tall buildings and bridges against wind induced vibrations; prediction of air pollutant dispersion in complex terrains and studies of wind/wave effects on off-shore structures. 46 CENTRAL AND INTERDEPARTMENTAL RESEARCH UNITS The tunnel consists of two main sections: high speed and low speed sections. The high speed section will be used for wind engineering work. The maximum wind speed attainable is 25 m/s. The dimensions of the test section are 29.2m X 3m X 2m (length x height x width) with computer controlled turntable and roughness elements. The low speed section is to be used for atmospheric dispersion studies and bridge model tests. The dimensions are 41m X 5m X 4m. The lowest steady wind speed attainable is less than 1 m/s. By raising the tunnel floor of the low speed section, the tunnel is converted to a wind-wave facility. The water tank has the same length and width as the low speed section while the water tank has the same length and width as the low speed section while the water depth is 3m. Wave makers will be installed. An up-to-date array of flow velocity, pressure, force, concentration and wave measurement equipment are available. With a long test section the behavior of a neutral atmospheric boundary layer wind can be accurately simulated. The Facility will also be used to train undergraduate and postgraduate students for use of physical modeling techniques in the field of wind, environmental and off-shore engineering. Fundamental research on generic (as opposed to site specific) problems in the above areas will also be engaged by faculty and postgraduate students. Workshops and seminars will be organized to train practicing engineers in using physical modeling to assist their planning and development of infrastructures. Computer Aided Design and Manufacturing Facility The Computer Aided Design and Manufacturing Facility (CAD/CAM Facility) is a central facility to support research and teaching in design and manufacturing. It focuses on multidisciplinary and application-oriented research programs that will create impact on the design and manufacturing industries in Hong Kong and the neighboring region. The Facility provides stimulus for collaboration and interaction between HKUST, local industries and international bodies. The Facility maintains a range of state-of-the-art equipment to promote research in the area of design and manufacturing. These include measurement equipment such as Co-ordinate Measuring Machine (CMM), three-dimensional laser scanning system, Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machines, rapid prototyping machine, robots and state-of-theart computer-aided design and analysis packages for providing a platform for CAD/CAM integration and concurrent engineering. The Facility supports a number of research programs that has made impact internationally: 3D garment design, CNC controller design, rapid prototyping and laser measurement. The Facility is also developing new research programs in human modeling, concurrent engineering, and electronic packaging. New equipment for BGA and flip-chip prototyping are available. 47 CENTRAL AND INTERDEPARTMENTAL RESEARCH UNITS Electrical and Mechanical Services Facility The role of the centrally based Electrical and Mechanical Services Facility (EMSF) is to provide technical expertise and support for the development, maintenance and repair of equipment used in teaching, research and operational activities throughout the University. EMSF performs repair and maintenance of scientific apparatus, educational equipment, audio/ visual equipment and building services related electronic systems. Staff are trained in repairing all common electronic equipment, and selected staff have received specialized training in more sophisticated apparatus. Preventive maintenance programs on some equipment are developed to optimize and extend their lifetime. The unit works closely with the Safety and Environmental Protection Office to provide the necessary engineering to ensure safe operation of equipment within the University. A reporting system for repair and maintenance has been set up under the campus computer network. All requests for service are logged and followed through to completion by appropriate technical staff. EMSF also fabricates special mechanical parts/items and special-purpose circuits for both teaching and research activities, which are not commonly available in the market. The Mechanical Workshop of EMSF has a number of manual and computer controlled machines for fabricating high precision mechanical parts. The requests for fabrication are arranged on job queue basis. The staff of the unit will interact with the users to arrive at the final design so that their needs can be met. Geotechnical Centrifuge Facility The Geotechnical Centrifuge Facility (GCF) is a unique facility in Hong Kong. It is built and established partly through funding by a UGC Central Allocation Grant and partly through funding from the University. Therefore, this Facility is dedicated to serve not only the University but also the geotechnical community at large in Hong Kong. Centrifuge modeling is a powerful research tool to study geotechnical problems such as rain-induced landslides in Hong Kong, consolidation settlement of reclaimed land, pollutant transport in porous media, tunneling, deep excavation, liquefaction, and many other soil-structure interaction problems under both static and dynamic loading conditions. Geotechnical related research can be carried out, using a large centrifuge which has a rotating arm of approximately 9 meters in diameter, and is capable of creating an elevated gravity field 150 times that of the Earth’s gravity. Geotechnical structures are built in model boxes with maximum dimensions of 1.5m X 1.5m on plan, and 1.0m high. The maximum payload capacity of the model package is 400 g-ton. More importantly, the centrifuge is equipped with a bi-axial (2-D) shaking table so that models can be tested dynamically in flight. This 2-D shaking table is a unique feature and it is the only one in the world. 48 CENTRAL AND INTERDEPARTMENTAL RESEARCH UNITS Demands from the industry (oil companies, major consulting firms, water resources agencies, etc.) are anticipated to take advantage of the newest and the unique geotechnical centrifuge to perform applied research. It is also expected that this Facility will be visited by researchers from all over the world to conduct state-of-the-art research, particularly by those who are interested in earthquake related areas. The Facility is expected to be in operation early 1999. Glassblowing Facility The Glassblowing Facility (GBF) is a central facility to provide glassblowing services to all units of the University. The services offered include design, fabrication and repairing of glassware and custom apparatus. In addition, technical advice on the design of special glass apparatus pertaining to research projects is provided by the glassblowers. A good stock of common glassware, glass and quartz tubings and spare-parts, which can be checked out by all users of the University, is maintained at the GBF. The GBF is equipped with a range of equipment and tools and has a capability for glassblowing at temperature up to 3000°C. These include temperature-programmed annealing ovens, grinding mills, belt linishers, diamond sanders and glassblowing lathes with various types of burners. Liquid Helium Facility The Facility is established by the University to provide liquid helium to academics and research units to obtain low temperature environments (4°K and below) that are required for research and/or operation of specialized equipment. The Facility has a state-of-the-art computer controlled helium liquefier module equipped with a built-in automatic purification system and two compressors. It has a total liquefying capacity of 240 liters of liquid helium per day without using liquid nitrogen for pre-cooling (480 liters with pre-cooling). The Facility also operates a helium gas recovery system for retrieving helium boil-off from user’s instruments for recycling. 49 CENTRAL AND INTERDEPARTMENTAL RESEARCH UNITS Materials Characterization and Preparation Facility The Materials Characterization and Preparation Facility (MCPF) is a central facility for the synthesis, study and testing of new materials and materials needed for in-house or collaborative research projects. The Facility constitutes an important resource which houses state-of-the-art instrumentation, organizes workshops and training, and is a focal point for interdisciplinary research. The Facility serves academics in all the science and engineering departments and is also available to external clients from other tertiary institutions, government bodies, and private industry. The MCPF occupies about 4000 square meters of purpose-built laboratories and offers a wide range of sophisticated multdisciplinary equipment needed for in-house and collaborative materials research projects, and for performing materials analysis. Laboratories dedicated to particular facilities and processes are accessible to authorized clients of the MCPF. Tasks requested by occasional users are served by the Facility’s own trained staff. The scope of the facilities in the MCPF is sufficiently broad to meet many of the demands of the still-growing community of staff and postgraduate students. For example, instrumentation is available for various types of thermal, spectroscopic and electrical characterization, and for the preparation of materials by sputtering and evaporation. Equipment for microanalysis includes a field emission scanning electron microscope, a dedicated high-resolution transmission electron microscope, imaging SIMS systems for surface and depth profiling analysis, and a multitechnique surface analysis system (XPS, Auger, SIMS, etc.). These are supported by more standard types of electron-beam analytical instrumentation. The Facility makes such equipment available to other tertiary institutions and local industries either by offering analytical and failure analysis services at prescribed cost or, where appropriate, through collaborative research projects. Microelectronics Fabrication Facility The Microelectronics Fabrication Facility (MFF) provides functional fabrication laboratories for teaching and research, particularly in new semiconductor devices, microsensors and microactuators, advanced microelectronics process technology and technologies for flat panel display. 50 CENTRAL AND INTERDEPARTMENTAL RESEARCH UNITS The MFF phase I laboratory provides about 247 square meters with Class 1,000 clean room (containing fewer than 1,000 particles per cubic foot of air larger than a half micrometer) and basic fabrication modules which provide photolithography, thermal diffusion, thin-film disposition, dry/wet etching and metallization. The laboratory has also developed MOS and bipolar base line processes to provide microelectronics fabrication at the discrete device and small scale integrated (SSI) circuits level, with the possibility to upgrade to LSI and VLSI level in its phase II development. Since April 1997, the technical capabilities of MFF has been further upgraded with the completion of its Phase II laboratory, which occupies an area of 750 square meters with some sections providing Class 100 environment. State-of-the-art microelectronics processing equipment has been installed. These include an E-beam Direct Write System which facilitates sub-quarter-micron patterning and enables nano-structure research. The new laboratory also provides support to the newly established Centre for Display Research. With the additional capabilities and capacity, MFF will extend its service to other tertiary institutions and the private sector through various technical collaborations. Plant Growth Facility The Plant Growth Facility provides support for various research project using plants or components derived from plants. It will be used for growing and conditioning of whole plants, tissues or cells in research as well as teaching. The Facility has a greenhouse with a total covered area of 538 square meters and twelve environmental chambers of various sizes. The greenhouse was specially designed and built to meet the local weather conditions in providing a suitable environment for plant growth. There are five individual compartments of 6.4 X 10 square meters equipped with rolling benches to maximize growing area for potted plants. Each compartment has its own separate control for shading screen, ventilation, lighting and watering systems. In addition, the environmental chambers with sophisticated control and regulation systems will provide a range of plant growth environments to meet the critical requirement of different research projects. Overall, the Facility will serve areas of research and teaching in plant biotechnology, plant diversity, plant physiology, botany, environmental studies, and ecology. 52 STUDENT SERVICES VII. STUDENT SERVICES The Student Affairs Office offers a range of services to students for the purpose of promoting the quality of campus life and assisting students in solving problems affecting their studies. Extra-curricular educational activities are also organized with the aim of broadening students’ cultural and intellectual outlook as well as enhancing their social and interpersonal skills. Student Housing On-campus accommodation is sufficient to meet the needs of all full-time postgraduate students. Postgraduate students live in the University Apartments which can accommodate up to 756 students. Each apartment comprises 4 single rooms, a sitting room, a kitchenette, and toilet and shower facilities. The apartments are fully furnished and the kitchenettes are equipped with gas stoves, refrigerators and micro-wave ovens. All bedrooms and living rooms are provided with air-conditioners. There is also a postgraduate hall of residence with 120 air-conditioned rooms. The rooms are for single occupancy. Common facilities on each floor of the hall include shower and toilet facilities, and a lounge area with an adjoining pantry. There are no cooking facilities. Hall residents may use the central dining facilities on campus. Laundry facilities are provided in both the Apartments and the hall. There are no facilities in the apartments or hall for married students with or without children. Student Counseling Service The Student Counseling Service offers assistance in many areas of student interests and concern, such as personal growth, adjustment to campus life, personal problems and study-related issues. It also operates a Career Center which provides students with education, guidance and assistance in job search and career development. 53 STUDENT SERVICES Physical Education and Sports Developing physical health and fitness is as important as broadening one’s mental capacity and horizons. The University expects all students to participate in at least one organized sport or physical education activity during their years at the University. Professional coaches are available to organize and provide instructions in these activities. Indoor facilities include a large multi-purpose sports hall with 1,600 square meters of floor space for such sports as badminton, volleyball, basketball, handball and indoor soccer, four squash courts, fitness room, weight-training room, table-tennis room, and other areas for fencing, martial arts, aerobics, and other exercises. Outdoor facilities include a 50-meter swimming pool, an Astroturf soccer pitch, a 400-meter track with eight lanes, a hard surface mini-soccer pitch, outdoor basketball courts and tennis courts. Facilities are also available for throwing activities such as discus, javelin and shot-putt, softball and archery. Student Health Service The Student Health Service provides out-patient health and dental care for students. Health education workshops and seminars are organized and presented for the benefit of students and staff. Student Activities Extra-curricular activities are organized by the Students’ Union and student societies associated with academic disciplines, sports, arts and other social interests. Students are encouraged to take part in activities as organizers and/or participants. The Student Affairs Office also organizes extra-curricular activities and programs such as formal dinners, competitive sports, talks and seminars. 54 STUDENT SERVICES Student Amenities The campus, on a site of great beauty enhanced by landscaping, terraces, and pavilions, has been designed with great emphasis on the quality of life of both resident and non-resident students. Amenities for personal as well as organized student activities are provided. These include facilities for (i) the pursuit of hobbies such as photographic dark rooms and music rooms, (ii) the organization of activities such as conference room, meeting rooms, workshop, office space and exhibition areas, and (iii) leisure activities for students such as common rooms and quiet room. Catering facilities include self-service cafeterias, restaurants serving Chinese and Western cuisine, a food court, a coffee shop and a snack shop. Commercial facilities include a bookstore, banking services, a supermarket and a hair salon. 56 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION VIII. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Academic Year 1999-2000 The academic year of the University begins on 1 September and ends on 31 August of the following year. It includes two semesters and two sessions. Normally, the Fall Semester commences in early September and the Spring Semester begins around early February. Each semester has fourteen weeks for scheduled classes. Immediately following the end of the 14th week there is a short study break followed by a week devoted to examinations. There is a one-week break in the Spring Semester around Easter. The Winter Session is scheduled between the two semesters for special academic programs, research symposia, and other activities. The Summer Session bridges the end of the Spring Semester and the beginning of the following Fall Semester. For most students, attendance for the Winter and Summer sessions is not required. Provisional dates for the 1999-2000 academic year are: Fall Semester 1 September 1999 - 22 December 1999 Winter Session 3 - 29 January 2000 Spring Semester 31 January 2000 - 31 May 2000 Summer Session 5 June 2000 - 12 August 2000 Study breaks 8 - 11 December 1999 and 17 - 20 May 2000 Academic Calendar for 1999-2000 Detailed information about the University will be contained in the Academic Calendar for 1999-2000 which will be published in Summer of 1999. Each newly-registered student will be provided with a free copy of the Calendar. 57 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Admission Enquiries Students requiring copies of the postgraduate handbook, School/ departmental brochures, application forms, advice or assistance on application procedures, admission requirements or other related matters are welcome to visit the Admissions, Registration and Records Office, Rm 1376 during the following hours : Mondays - Fridays 9 am - 12:30 pm 2 pm - 5 pm Saturdays 9 am - 12 noon All enquiries should indicate the degree program(s) of interest and be addressed to: Director of Admissions, Registration and Records The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Clear Water Bay Kowloon Hong Kong Telephone : (852) 2623-1120 Fax : (852) 2358-2463 E-mail : gradmit@ust.hk Information on the University can also be found at the following address on the World Wide Web : http://www.ust.hk while information related to postgraduate admissions can also be found at : http://www.ab.ust.hk/arr 59 A Campus Map 64 Academic Academic Standing 28 Caution Money 13 Calendar 56 Faculty 2 Central Research Facilities 45 Regulations 17 Services 33 Center for Coastal and Atmospheric Research 44 Year 56 Center of Computing Services and Admission Enquiries 57 Telecommunications 35 Admission Requirements 7 China Light and Power Wind/Wave Tunnel Facility 45 Admissions Office, University 7 Computer-Aided Design and Manufacturing Facility 46 Advanced Engineering Materials Facility 45 Counseling Service, Student 53 Advanced Manufacturing Institute 38 Conduct of Thesis Examinations 26 Advanced Materials Research Institute 39 Co-requisites, Pre-requisites, Exclusions and Background 21 Advanced Standing 22 Course Auditing 22 Animal Care Facility 45 Co-listed Course 22 Exemption 22 Application for Admission 7 Grading 23 Pre-requisites and Exclusions 21 Applied Technology Center 43 Registration 19 Registration Changes 21 Assessment 23 Repeats 20 Requirements 20 Assistance, Financial 13 Curriculum, Adherence to 18 B D Biotechnology Research Institute 39 Double Registration 18 Bursaries, University 14 Duration of Study 19 C Calendar, Academic 56 60 E H Educational Technology Center 35 Hainan Institute 40 Electrical and Mechanical Services Facility 47 Health Service 53 Enquiries, Admission 57 Hong Kong Telecom Institute of Information Technology 41 Examinations, Absence from Final 23 Housing, Student 52 Executive Master of Business Administration 29 I Exemption, Course 22 Immigration Department, Address of 9 F Institute for Environment and Sustainable Fee 11 Development 41 Financial Assistance 13 Institute for MicroSystems 42 Full-time and Part-time Study 17 Inter-departmental/Program Transfer 31 G L Late Registration 18 Geotechnical Centrifuge Facility 47 Language Center 33 Glassblowing Facility 48 Leave from Study 18 Government Student Financial Assistance Agency 13 Library, University 33 Grade Liquid Helium Facility 48 Average 25 Postgraduate 24 Loans, University 14 Report 25 Review 25 Location Map 63 61 M R MSc and MA Programs 29 Registration Course 19 MBA Program 29 Double 18 Late 18 MPhil Program 29 Program 17 Materials Characterization and Preparation Regulations, Academic 17 Facility 49 Repeats, Course 20 Microelectronics Fabrication Facility 49 Requirements P General Requirements of Taught Master’s Programs 29 PhD Programs 30 EMBA Program 29 MBA Program 29 Physical Education and Sports 53 MSc and MA Programs 29 General Requirements of Research Degree Programs 29 Plant Growth Facility 50 MPhil Programs 29 PhD Programs 30 Postgraduate Admission Requirements 7 Reports, Grade 25 Grades 24 Studentships 13 Requirements, Course 20 Programs 3 Research Institutes 38 Post-thesis Examination Arrangements 27 Residency Requirements 28 Pre-requisites, Co-requisites, Exclusions and Background 21 Review, Grade 25 Program Registration 17 Transfer 31 Withdrawal 31 62 S T Scholarships 13 Applied Technology Center 43 Services, Academic 33 Thesis Conduct of Thesis Examinations 26 Sino Software Research Institute 42 Outcome of Thesis Examinations 27 Post-thesis Examination Arrangements 27 Standing Thesis Format 26 Academic 28 Submission of the Final Thesis 28 Advanced 22 Transfer of Course Grade and Credits on Resumption Student of Studies 23 Affairs, Office of 53 Activities 53 Transportation Institute 43 Amenities 54 Counseling Service 53 Tuition Fee 11 Health Service 53 Housing 52 U Services 52 Union 12 University, an introduction 1 Visiting Overseas Student 9 V Students from Outside Hong Kong 8 Visiting Overseas Students 9 Study Commitment 18 Duration 19 Leave from Study 18 Study Load Taught master’s programs 20 Research degree programs 20 LOCATION MAP THE HONG KONG UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Lantau Island Hong Kong Island Kowloon Lam Tin Prince Edward Lai King Hong Kong International Airport Olympic Kowloon Tsuen Wan Line Kwun Tong Line Island Line Tung Chung Line Interchange Airport Express Hunghom Railway Terminal To Lo Wu Tung Chung MTR Station Diamond Hill Central Mass Transit Railway ( MTR ) routes To Kowloon To Lantau Island Ying Yip Rd Po Fung Rd Tseung Kwan O Tunnel Clear Water Bay Road Lei Yue Mun Rd Prince Edward Rd East Lung Cheung Rd Choi Hung HKUST Chek Lap Kok Tsing Yi Quarry Bay Admiralty Kowloon Tong Kowloon-Canton Railway ( KCR ) Bus routes to HKUST Main Entrance Mongkok Hints for transportation from airport to HKUST: For passengers with bulky luggage, taking a taxi to HKUST direct is recommended. Those with simple luggage may take Airport Bus A22 to Lam Tin, and change for Bus 298 or taxi to HKUST. Hong Kong route no. A22 298 91 91M Port Shelter Indoor Swimming Pool Coastal Research Lab. UG Hall IV PG Hall I UG Hall I UG Hall II UG Hall III Swimming Pool SQ Towers 5-7 Staff Quarters (SQ) Tower 3 President's Lodge To Kowloon / Sai Kung University Road Bus Station Car Park Indoor Sports Complex Entrance Piazza Library PG Hall II Jockey Club Atrium Bridge Link Amphitheatre Main Building NMR Building UST Annex Wind Wave Tunnel & Geotechnical Centrifuge SQ Towers 12-14 SQ Towers 8-11 University Center & Apartments SQ Car Park Towers 15-19 Staff Quarters (Houses 1-8 & Apts 1-48) Staff Quarters Blocks A - D SQ Tower 4 Towers C & D Tower B Existing Buildings Tower A Buildings under construction or planning Outdoor Sports Complex Visitor Center & Staff Quarters Towers 1-2 Main Entrance CAMPUS MAP THE HONG KONG UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Clear Water Bay Rd To Tseung Kwan O & Clear Water Bay Clear Water Bay Rd