Research Postgraduate Programme | Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology

Research Postgraduate Programme

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Drug Discovery and Cancer (D&C)

Synthetic and Medicinal Chemistry (SMC)

Molecular Design for Functional Materials (MDFM)

Chemical Biology and Healthcare (CBH)

Materials and Sustainable Chemistry (MSC)

Student Experience & Opportunity

Research Student Attachment Programme

The Research Student Attachment Programme provides invaluable research experience and an opportunity for full-time MPhil and PhD students to add a global dimension to university life.

Studentship and Scholarship

Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme, Research Studentship, and Scholarships

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Studentship and Scholarship

Meet our Students

Read our student story to find out more about scholarship opportunity, learning experience and student life of research postgraduate student.

Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme

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Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme

Admissions Requirements

General Admissions Requirements

Programme	Entrance Requirements
MPhil (2-year full-time/ 4-year part-time)	At least hold a Bachelor’s degree with Second Class Honours or above (or equivalent qualification) conferred by a recognised university.
PhD (3-year full-time/ 6-year part-time)	Normally hold an MPhil or equivalent (a research postgraduate degree with a dissertation as an award requirement) and a Bachelor’s degree, conferred by a recognised university.
PhD (4-year full-time/ 8-year part-time)	Normally hold: A Master’s degree and a Bachelor’s degree, conferred by a recognised university; OR A Bachelor’s degree with First Class Honours (or equivalent qualification), conferred by a recognised university.

PolyU may accept other equivalent qualifications. The decision is made on an individual basis.

English-language Requirements

The requirements for those who do not have a degree for which English was the language of instruction at a recognised university are:

An overall score of at least 6.5 in the International English Language Testing System (IELTS); OR
A Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score of 80 or above for the Internet-based test.

And all English language test scores are considered valid for two years after the date of the test.

Application Information

Important Notes to Applicants

Tuition Fee & Registration Fee

Online Application

Programme Information

Programme Leader: Prof. Franco Leung

For detailed information on the programme offered by the Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology (ABCT), please click for Definitive Programme Documents below.

Programme Information

Programme Documents (Login Required)

RPg Student Handbook

Programme Curriculum

Subject Code	Subject Title^	Number of Credits	Compulsory (C)/Elective (E)
ELC6011	Presentation Skills for Research Students	2	C*
ELC6012	Thesis Writing for Research Students	2	C*
ENGL6016	Advanced Academic English for Research Students: Publishing and Presenting	3	C*
HTI6081	Ethics: Research, Professional & Personal Perspectives	1	C
ABCT604A	Attendance in research seminars/workshops/conferences I	1	C**
ABCT604B	Attendance in research seminars/ workshops/ conferences II	1	C**
ABCT604C	Attendance in research seminars/ workshops/ conferences III	1	C**
ABCT604D	Attendance in research seminars/ workshops/ conferences IV	1	C**
ABCT605	Practicum I	1	C***
ABCT606	Practicum II	1	C***
ABCT610	Frontier Catalysis: An Approach Towards Cutting-Edge Sustainable Chemistry	3	E
ABCT611	Analytical Biochemistry	3	E
ABCT612	Advanced Chemical Instrumentation for Research	3	E
ABCT613	Advanced Interdisciplinary Research in Biological and Chemical Sciences	3	E
ABCT6805	Guided Study on Frontier Research Topics in Chemistry	3	E#
ABCT6806	Guided Study on Frontier Research Topics in Biology	3	E#
ABCT6807	Guided Study on Frontier Research Topics in Chemical Technology	3	E#
ABCT5R07	Academic Integrity and Ethics in Science	1	C

Remarks:
^Subject to Chief Supervisor’s approval, students are allowed to take research postgraduate subjects provided by other departments at PolyU or other universities as elective subjects.
* Students could be exempted for English enhancement subjects based on their performance of the RLSA. The recommendation will be made by the ELC.
** Students are recommended to complete one credit per year (for full-time students) or per two years (for part-time students) to fulfil the above-mentioned requirement, with an overall assessment grade of Pass or Fail. However, as deemed appropriate by the Chief Supervisor, they are allowed to complete at most two credits per year (for full-time students) or per two years (for part-time students to fulfil the research seminar credit requirement.
*** Students are required to complete two credits in two separate semesters at any time before they graduate. To earn one credit, students are required to engage in laboratory demonstration and report marking, lead tutorial class and related teaching activities, for 6 hours/week in any 13-week semester. For students who are required to undertake teaching supporting activities, they should be required to complete the training programmes organised by the EDC and ELC before the commencement of any teaching supporting activities.
# No more than 10 credits for 4-year full-time PhD/8-year part-time PhD. No more than 6 credits for 3-year full-time PhD/6-year part-time PhD. No more than 4 credits for 2-year full-time PhD/4-year part-time PhD.

Got a question? Contact the postgraduate administration team

Administration Team