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. The PhD (IS) program is intended to be taken as the follow-up part of the MPhil (IS) program.

The PhD (IS) program does not admit directly a student from a UG program. The program only accepts students with the following qualifications:

• Satisfactory course performance in HKUST MPhil (IS) program, letter of recommendation from faculty, etc; or

• MPhil/Research Masters degrees equivalent to HKUST MPhil (IS) program, or

• Bachelor's degree with excellent academic performance coming on the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS)

Program Requirements

Introductory Quantitative Requirement

Unless students have clearly demonstrated sufficient knowledge in the area, students entering the PhD 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.

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 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)

* Students are advised to complete LANG 5005 in the first year of study.

Elective Courses (at least 18 credits)

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 Introducation 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.

PhD Qualifying Examination

All PhD students must pass a qualifying examination.

Students admitted via the HKUST MPhil Program in Information Systems will take the qualifying examination in the Summer of the second year of MPhil study. Students who fail the qualifying examination in the first attempt can retake the examination once and must pass the examination no later than December of the first year of PhD study.

Students admitted with an equivalent research master's degree will take the qualifying examination in the Summer of the first year or the second year of PhD study. Students who fail the qualifying examination in the first attempt can retake the examination once and must pass the examination no later than December of that same year of PhD study.

Students admitted without an equivalent research master's degree will take the qualifying examination in the Summer of the second year of PhD study. Students who fail the qualifying examination in the first attempt can retake the examination once and must pass the examination no later than December of that same year of PhD study.

A thesis proposal presentation will be scheduled after the Thesis Supervision Committee concludes that a suitable topic has been chosen and sufficient amount of preliminary work has been completed. Once the thesis proposal is approved, the student is then admitted to candidacy and can proceed to complete the thesis in accordance with the agreement.

Research Paper Requirement

Students are required to submit a research paper by the end of the Summer Term of the second year of study. Students admitted with an HKUST MPhil(IS) degree or equivalent will be exempted from the requirement.

Thesis Research

Registration in ISOM 7990 Doctoral Thesis Research;

Completion of a thesis under the supervision of the thesis supervision committee comprising at least two faculty members, one of whom is designated as the thesis supervisor and committee chairperson. A thesis proposal presentation will be scheduled only after the thesis supervision committee concludes that a suitable topic has been chosen and sufficient amount of preliminary work has been completed. Once the thesis proposal is approved, the student is then admitted to candidacy and can proceed to complete the thesis in accordance with the agreement; and

Presentation and oral defense of the PhD thesis.