The program has a technology management perspective with a focus on economic modeling and behavioral research into the management, design, use, and socio-economic impact of information technology on individuals, organizations, and societies. Students intending to do a PhD degree in IS at HKUST should consider entering the MPhil (IS) program to acquire the training necessary for a PhD degree.
Program Requirements
Introductory Quantitative Requirement
Unless students have clearly demonstrated sufficient knowledge in the area, students entering the MPhil program are required to take the following two mathematics-oriented courses in the first regular term of study. The credits earned from these two courses cannot be counted toward the degree requirements.
| COURSE CODE |
COURSE TITLE |
| ECON 5100 |
Mathematics for Business and Economics |
| ISOM 5540 |
Introduction to Probability |
Introductory Management Requirement (for 2023-24 intake and after)
Unless students have clearly demonstrated sufficient knowledge in management, students are required to take 4 credits of general management courses chosen from the list below. These credits cannot be counted toward the degree requirements.
| COURSE CODE |
COURSE TITLE |
Credit(s) |
| ACCT 5150 |
Accounting Foundations |
2 |
| FINA 5120 |
Corporate Finance |
2 |
| or FINA 5210 |
Investment Analysis |
2 |
| ISOM 5270 |
Big Data Analytics |
2 |
| ISOM 5320 |
Digital Business and Web Analytics |
2 |
| ISOM 5460 |
Project Management |
2 |
| ISOM 5700 |
Operations Management |
2 |
| MARK 5120 |
Marketing Strategy and Policy |
2 |
| or MIMT 5010 |
Market Research for Business Applications |
2 |
| or MIMT 5310 |
Understanding Consumers: A Strategic Approach |
2 |
| MIMT 5120 |
Strategic Management in Asia |
2 |
Course Requirement
Students are required to take at least 32 credits. Students may need to take additional courses related to their research topics, as requested by their thesis supervisors.
Students who have taken the HKUST MPhil(IS) program will be granted credits transfer to the PhD program. Students who have taken an MPhil or equivalent in other universities may be granted credits transfer on a case-by-case basis. In such a case, the maximum number of credits transferable is 21.
Required Courses (14 credits)
| COURSE CODE |
COURSE TITLE |
Credit(s) |
| ECON 5130 |
Microeconomic Analysis |
4 |
| or ECON 5210 |
Microeconomic Theory I |
4 |
| or ECON 5300 |
Econometrics |
4 |
| ISOM 5100 |
Information Strategy and Management |
2 |
| ISOM 5400 |
Information Systems Research Methodologies |
4 |
| ISOM 5550 |
Statistical Methods for Business and Economics I |
3 |
| LANG 5005 * |
Communicating Research in English |
1 |
* Students are advised to complete LANG 5005 in the first year of study.
Elective Courses (at least 18 credits)
| COURSE CODE |
COURSE TITLE |
Credit(s) |
| ECON 5130 |
Microeconomic Analysis |
4 |
| or ECON 5210 |
Microeconomic Theory I |
4 |
| or ECON 5300 |
Econometrics |
4 |
| ECON 5630 |
Empirical Industrial Organization |
4 |
| ISOM 5535 |
High Dimensional Statistics with Business Applications |
2 |
| ISOM 7000 # |
IS Doctoral Seminar |
3 |
| MARK 5410 |
Seminar in Quantitative Modeling |
3 |
| MARK 5520 |
Experimental Design and Analysis for Behavioral Research |
3 |
| MARK 5710 |
Analytical Modeling in Marketing |
3 |
Other Research courses approved by the MPhil/PhD Programs Coordinator *
# The course can be repeated for credits.
* Students need to select postgraduate level courses offered by but not limited to the following programs: Information Systems, Management, Economics, Finance, Marketing, or Operations Management programs.
Graduate Teaching Assistant Training
All full-time RPg students are required to complete PDEV 6800 Introduction to Teaching and Learning in Higher Education. The course is composed of a 10-hour training offered by the Center for Education Innovation (CEI), and session(s) of instructional delivery to be assigned by the respective departments. Upon satisfactory completion of the training conducted by CEI, MPhil students are required to give at least one 30-minute session of instructional delivery in front of a group of students for one term. PhD students are required to give at least one such session each in two different terms. The instructional delivery will be formally assessed.
Professional Development Course Requirement
Students are required to complete and pass PDEV 6770 Professional Development for Research Postgraduate Students and SBMT 6780 Professional Development in Ethics, Innovation and Technology for Research Postgraduate Students. PhD students who are HKUST MPhil(IS) graduates and have completed PDEV 6770 and SBMT 6780 or other professional development courses offered by the University before may be exempted from this requirement, subject to prior approval of the School. The 1 credit earned from each of these two courses cannot be counted toward the credit requirements.
English Language Requirement
Full-time RPg students are required to take an English Language Proficiency Assessment (ELPA) Speaking Test administered by the Center for Language Education before the start of their first term of study. Students whose ELPA Speaking Test score is below Level 4, or who failed to take the test in their first term of study, are required to take LANG 5000 Foundation in Listening & Speaking for Postgraduate Students until they pass the course by attaining at least Level 4 in the ELPA Speaking Test before graduation. The 1 credit earned from LANG 5000 cannot be counted toward the credit requirements.
Thesis Requirement
Registration in ISOM 6990 MPhil Thesis Research; and presentation and oral defense of the MPhil thesis
