Sept 2026 Entry
1.5 years (Full-time)
3 years (Part-time)
52 (including 12 credits recognised by credit transfers and 40 credits delivered by PolyU)
Early Round: 2025-10-15
Main Round: 2026-01-15
Extended Round: 2026-04-30
Early Round: 2025-10-15
Main Round: 2026-01-15
Extended Round: 2026-04-30
What's New
- MPhil
- PhD
- Taught Postgraduate
- Undergraduate
- Undergraduate
Programme Aims and Objectives
The programme provides specialist knowledge in business excellence technology and administration to a doctoral degree level. There are three major components in this programme, including management theory, technology methods and an industry-based research approach within the domain of quality science and business excellence. Upon completion of this programme, students will be able to adopt advanced business excellence philosophies and methodological approaches for organisational innovation and quality improvement.
The objectives of the programme are to:
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equip senior executives and technical professionals with advanced knowledge in business excellence technology and management, including business excellence frameworks, management philosophies and methodological approaches within the domain of quality science.
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develop advanced skills for solving complex, multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural organisational problems through business excellence models and total quality methodological approaches.
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understand both qualitative and quantitative methodologies for industry-based research, and create knowledge with both academic value and industrial applications.
To be eligible for the Doctor of Quality Management award, students are required to meet all the requirements of the University and the programme. The programme requirements are as follows:
25 credits of Coursework:
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1 credit of Academic Integrity and Ethics (AIE)
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8 taught Compulsory and Elective Subjects (3 credits each)
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3 credits of Residentials: Residential I (1 credit) and Residential II (2 credits)
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24 credits of Thesis: Thesis I (8 credits) and Thesis II (16 credits)
There is a possible exit award of Master of Science in Quality Management Research Studies for students who have completed 25 credits of taught subjects, 3 credits from the two compulsory Residentials and gained the 8 credits from Thesis I (thesis proposal presentation) (a total of 36 credits).
Students can apply for a credit transfer of 4 relevant Zhejiang University (ZJU) executive training subjects (or equivalent qualifications) upon admission to, and official registration in, this programme. No more than 4 subjects can be exempted (12 credits transferred). An application for credit transfer must be submitted before the end of the subject add/drop period in the first semester of the first year of study. If approved, a credit transfer fee of HK$145 per credit will be charged.
For details and fees of the executive training at ZJU, and other equivalent qualifications, please contact the universities concerned.
Taught Subjects (25 credits)
Academic Integrity and Ethics / Ethics Subject (1 credit)
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Academic Integrity and Ethics in Business
Compulsory Subjects (3 credits each)
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ESG and Sustainable Operations*
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Business Analytics for Performance Excellence*
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Advanced Quality Technology and Innovation Management*
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Action and Quantitative research methods in business
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Strategic Quality Management
Elective Subjects (3 credits each)
(any 1 of the following subjects)
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Strategic Supply Chain and Logistics Management*
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Research Project Management*
(any 2 of the following subjects)
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Business Research Analysis and Design
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Frontier of International Trade and Supply Chain Compliance
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AI Applications for Quality and Operations Management
Remarks:
* Credit transfer, for a maximum of 12 credits, applies to these subjects.
Programme structure and the subject details (e.g. subject description form, offering pattern, class timetable etc.) are subject to review and change from time to time.
Subject to factors such as staff availability, student enrolment, programme resources and so on, not all subjects will be offered during the 1.5-year or 3-year study. And, registration is subject to the availability of quota. In case the student enrolment number in any subject falls below 5 after the add/drop period of the semester concerned, the subject(s) may be cancelled and the students concerned will be notified.
DQM Residentials (3 credits)
Attendance at the two DQM Residentials is compulsory.
DQM Residential 1 is a mandatory orientation workshop scheduled for the beginning of the programme.
DQM Residential 2 is a research workshop normally held after students have completed all of the required subjects. The main purpose of the workshop is to give students an opportunity to present their thesis proposals and to prepare them for writing their theses.
DQM Thesis (24 credits)
The thesis involves two subjects – DQM Thesis I and DQM Thesis II. The independent research requires students to critically and rigorously examine a topic of interest in the field of quality management. It is a critical learning activity in which students apply the knowledge and skills that they have acquired in the programme. They are challenged to make an innovative contribution to the practice of management. Students must have passed the required taught subjects before registering for the DQM Thesis. Students can choose to write their theses in Chinese or English.
The most recent information on the subjects offered can be obtained at LMS website.
52 (including 12 credits recognised by credit transfers and 40 credits delivered by PolyU)
Programme Director
Prof. Chris K.Y. LO
B.Comm, PhD
(This programme is offered subject to approval)
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- Candidates should have at least 6 years of managerial experience and a Master’s Degree.
or
- Candidates who have over 12 years of managerial experience, currently hold a senior management position in a sizable organisation and possess a recognised Bachelor’s degree will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
AND
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- Candidates with the above qualifications should complete all assessment requirements of the Zhejiang University’s Executive Training Course and achieve a GPA of 2.7 (out of 4.3) or above or the equivalent academic performance at the end of the programme.
or
- Candidates without Zhejiang University’s Executive Training Courses qualification, but can produce evidence of success in equivalent programme(s) from their recognised previous studies may also be considered on a case-by-case basis.
AND
- If a candidate is not a native speaker of English, and does not possess a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree or equivalent qualification awarded by institutions where the medium of instruction is English, he/she is expected to fulfil the University’s minimum English language requirement or pass an English written test organised by the English Language Centre (ELC) under the Faculty of Humanities of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University.
For further information, please contact:
Tel: (852) 2766 4608
Email: doctorqm.lms@polyu.edu.hk
For academic matters, please contact:
Prof. Chris K.Y. LO, Programme Director (tel: (852) 2766 7414; email: chris.ky.lo@polyu.edu.hk);
or Prof. Raymond WONG, Deputy Programme Director (tel: (852) 3400 3619; email: raymond-lm.wong@polyu.edu.hk).
Interview
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Departments will consider applications on a rolling basis. Shortlisted candidates may be invited to attend admission interviews.
Class Arrangement
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Classes are normally scheduled on weekday evenings in three semesters (including an optional Summer Term) within an academic year.
Student visa and other information for non-local students
- Non-local students must obtain a valid student visa issued by the Immigration Department of the HKSAR before being allowed to register as students or commence study with PolyU. Please refer to https://www.polyu.edu.hk/sao/student-resources-and-support-section/non-local-student-services/living-in-hong-kong/student-visa/.
- For information on living costs and related expenses in Hong Kong, please refer to https://www.polyu.edu.hk/sao/student-resources-and-support-section/non-local-student-services/living-in-hong-kong/off-campus-accommodation-information/.
Please click here to download.
HK$758,550 per programme (HK$19,450 per credit) collected by PolyU in 2026/27 stage for local and non-local students
Optional
Required. Your academic qualifications (such as graduation certificates, transcripts of studies, etc,) that are not in English should be accompanied by an official certified English- translation.
Required.
Proof of employment (at least 6 years of managerial experience)
Provision of additional documents may be required if deemed necessary.
An incomplete application cannot be processed promptly and will reduce your chance of admission. Please complete all relevant fields on the application form and enclose all necessary documents.
