MPhil in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

Working at the cutting edge of the field with top international scientists, our postgraduate programs seek to ensure that each student:

attains an in-depth understanding of fundamental yet advanced chemical engineering topics;
exercises intellectual curiosity in probing chemical engineering subjects at the frontiers of chemical engineering;
develops skills to pursue new knowledge, both basic and applied, independently; and
engages in pioneering research in this and related disciplines.

The Department emphasizes both academic excellence and industrial relevance and, wherever possible, programs are set in the context of local industrial needs and explore the potential of creating demand for new technologies.

The MPhil program aims to strengthen students’ fundamental knowledge of Chemical Engineering, with specialization in the areas of chemical processing, materials, environment, energy and bioengineering. Students will be exposed to relevant issues involved in the scientific research, technology development and commercial applications in the field. Those on the program are required to undertake coursework and successfully complete a thesis to demonstrate competence in research.

Research Foci

Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering is a highly diversified engineering and science discipline. The Department’s research can be classified into four major areas:

Advanced Materials

Nanomaterials, zoelites, novel polymers, polymer composites, polymer interfaces and surfaces as well as polymer/ceremic membranes. In-depth studies are being carried out in: rheology, non-Newtonian flow, heat and mass transport, and process control associated with the injection-molding process.

Bioprocess Engineering

Environmental biotechnology, Chinese traditional medicine (novel extraction, drying, packaging), biosensors (applications to wastewater treatment, genechips), food industries (batch processing), mathematical modeling/simulation, and process control. Research activities are supported by HKUST’s Biotechnology Research Institute.

Environmental Engineering

Air pollution formation and abatement, aerosols, deodorization of indoor air, catalytic and advanced oxidation, electrocoagulation and electrooxidation, advanced methods for wastewater treatment, hazardous wastes and micro-contamination, waste minimization and cleaner technologies.

Product and Process Design

Chemical processes, biochemical processes, environmental fate and transport, and surface phenomena and effects. The design of high value-added products, such as fuel cells, food additives, pharmaceuticals, is also an active research area.

Admission Requirements

i. General Admission Requirements

Applicants seeking admission to a master's degree should have:

obtained a bachelor’s degree from a recognized institution, or an approved equivalent qualification;

ii. English Language Admission Requirements

You have to fulfill English Language requirements with one of the following proficiency attainments*:

TOEFL-iBT 80
TOEFL-pBT 550
IELTS (Academic Module) Overall score: 6.0 and all sub-scores: 5.5

*If your first language is English, and your bachelor’s degree or equivalent qualification was awarded by an institution where the medium of instruction was English, you will be waived from fulfilling the above English Language requirements.