Minor in Research and Innovation

Students are normally expected to have a Cumulative GPA of 3.50 or above by the end of Semester 2 of Year 1. Students with a CGPA slightly below 3.50 are still welcome to apply, and applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

No. One of the entrance requirements is the submission of a Preliminary Proposal Form, which must be approved by a supervisor before application.

Generally, students may pursue a Major plus a Minor.
However, the following students are not eligible: 

• Students admitted to the advanced stage on senior year status;
• Students admitted to articulation degree programmes; or
• Students enrolled in Majors that preclude the pursuit of a Minor.

Your supervisor must be a full-time PolyU tenure-track academic staff member at the level of Assistant Professor or above. Students are encouraged to approach academic staff whose research interests match their own. Supervisors may come from any department at PolyU, and students may also explore interdisciplinary research opportunities through different departments and research centres (e.g. PAIR).

There are no restrictions on research topics. Students should discuss with their supervisor and develop a project that matches their interests, capabilities and academic goals.

The requirements are outlined in the Preliminary Proposal Form. After admission, students will enrol in CUS3000 Research Project and work with their supervisor to further develop the research proposal.

Yes. Students should maintain regular communication with their supervisor. If necessary, the research topic may be changed, but it should normally be confirmed by the end of the first semester of CUS3000 Research Project.

Students who fail to complete the project in the final semester will most likely receive an “F” grade and be required to retake CUS3000 Research Project. Students are strongly advised to discuss their progress regularly with their supervisor to ensure timely completion.

This Minor provides a structured research training pathway led by active researchers across PolyU. Students have opportunities to participate in interdisciplinary research, work with researchers from different disciplines, and develop research capabilities beyond those typically offered in a standalone Final Year Project.

The Minor in Research and Innovation and Undergraduate Research and Innovation Scheme (URIS) are separate programmes. However, students may use the same research proposal or project for both applications. However, admission to one programme does not guarantee admission to the other. Applications are assessed separately by the respective units.

This Minor does not provide funding support. However, some supervisors may have research grants available to support project-related expenses, such as research materials or consumables. Students are encouraged to discuss this directly with their potential supervisor.

Students are generally expected to complete their approved Minor as part of their graduation requirements. Students wishing to withdraw must obtain approval from the College of Undergraduate Studies (CUS) before the end of the add/drop period of their final semester of study. Upon graduation, the title of the Minor will not appear on the award parchment. It will be recorded on the student's academic transcript, while the award parchment will show the Major programme only.