Sept 2026 Entry
1.5 years (Full-time)
3 years (Part-time)
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This programme is offered within the Postgraduate Scheme in Health Technology.
We have a limited quota for admissions. Early applications are strongly encouraged.
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
This programme is offered within the Postgraduate Scheme in Health Technology, which aims to provide professionals in medical imaging, radiotherapy, medical laboratory science, health technology and others interested in health technology, with an opportunity to develop advanced levels of knowledge and skills in information technology and medical science.
A. Advancement in Knowledge and Skills
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To advance students’ specialisation in their respective professional disciplines to enhance their career paths
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To broaden students’ exposure to health science and technology, enabling them to cope with the ever-changing demands of work
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To provide a laboratory environment for testing problems encountered at work
Students will develop intellectually, professionally and personally while improving their knowledge and skills in medical data science. The specific aims of this award are as follows.
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To introduce students to different aspects of medical data science, including bioinformatics, genetics and genomics, medical imaging etc.
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To broaden and deepen students’ knowledge and skills in selected areas of medical data science
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To develop in students an integrative and collaborative team approach to handling complicated medical and clinical data
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To develop students’ skills in communication, critical analysis and problem solving
B. Professional Development
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To develop students’ ability to perform critical analysis and evaluation in their professional practices
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To cultivate within healthcare professionals the qualities and attributes that are expected of them
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To acquire a higher level of awareness and reflection within the profession and the healthcare industry to improve the quality of healthcare services
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To develop students’ ability to assume a managerial or scientific level of practice
C. Evidence-based Practice
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To equip students with the research skills necessary to perform evidence-based practice in the delivery of healthcare services
D. Personal Development
- To provide channels for practising professionals to continuously develop themselves while at work
- To allow graduates to develop themselves further after graduation
Characteristics
The MScMDS focuses on developing skills for
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formulating biological and medical problems into computational problems;
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integrating multimodal omics data (e.g., sequence, image and text) from diverse sources; and
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developing efficient data analytic systems for medical applications such as modelling aetiology, predicting disease susceptibility and suggesting therapeutic strategies.
With the rapid advancements in AI, genomics and biomedical fields, young talents with a solid background in medical data analytics are in high demand.
Large quantities of clinical and medical data are now collected in clinical settings and need to be analysed to improve healthcare services. However, the lack of capable personnel is a significant obstacle to healthcare advances using new technologies. MScMDS will fill this immense void in the healthcare sector.
Some of our subjects will be recognised by the Hong Kong Medical Laboratory Technologists (MLT) Board as continuing professional development (CPD) credits for registered MLTs.
Programme Structure
The Postgraduate Scheme in Health Technology consists of the following awards.
- MSc in Medical Data Science (MScMDS)
- MSc in Medical Imaging and Radiation Science (MScMIRS)
- MSc in Medical Laboratory Science (MScMLS)
- MSc in Medical Physics (MScMP)
The accumulation of 31 credits is required for graduation, including the following.
- 1 Compulsory Subject (3 credits)
- 7 Core Subjects (18 credits)
- Elective Subjects (9 credits)
- 1 Academic Integrity and Ethics Subject (1 credit)
Core Areas of Study
Compulsory Subject
- Research Methods & Biostatistics
Core Subjects
- Advanced Molecular Biology and Genetics in Medical Science
- Algorithms in Bioinformatics and Genomics
- Bioinformatics in Health Sciences
- Data Structures and Database Systems
- Ethical Issues in Medicine and Research
- Principles of Data Science
- Systems Biology
Elective Subjects (Non-HTI subjects 3 credits at most)
- Advanced Medical Image Analysis with Deep Learning
- Advanced Technology and Clinical Application in Computed Tomography/ Advanced Technology and Clinical Application in Magnetic Resonance Imaging
- Artificial Intelligence and Big Data Computing Programming/ Big Data Computing (non-HTI subjects)
- Clinical Applications of Molecular Diagnostics in Healthcare
- Dissertation
- Epidemiology
- Genomic Technology and Functional Genomics
- Latest Advances in Computational Biology
- Machine Learning and Data Analytics (non-HTI subject)
- Medical Artificial Intelligence and Data Analytics (non-HTI subject)
- Molecular and Functional Imaging: From Body System to Molecules (non-HTI subject)/ Digital Imaging and PACS
- Molecular Technology in Clinical Laboratory
- Probability and Stochastic Models (non-HTI subject)
- Workshops on Advanced Molecular Diagnostic Technology
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Programme Leader
Prof. Zhang Weixiong
PhD
Hong Kong Global STEM Professor
Deputy Programme Leader
Prof. Li Hoi Yee, Gloria
BSc (Bioinformatics), MPhil, PhD
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A Bachelor’s degree in bioinformatics, computer science, computer engineering, electronic engineering, biomedical engineering, physics, applied mathematics, natural sciences, life sciences, biomedical sciences, biology, biochemistry, biotechnology, medical laboratory science, data science, big data analysis, public health or healthcare-related disciplines from PolyU or a recognised institution. Other qualifications may be considered on an individual basis.
If you are not a native speaker of English, and your Bachelor's degree or equivalent qualification is awarded by institutions where the medium of instruction is not English, you are expected to fulfil the University’s minimum English language requirement for admission purpose. Please refer to the "Admission Requirements" section for details.
For further programme information, please contact:
The General Office (tel: (852) 3400 8578; email: hti.tpg@polyu.edu.hk)
or visit our website at https://www.polyu.edu.hk/hti/study/programmes/taught-postgraduate-programmes_list/
Please click here to download.
HK$8,200 per credit for local and non-local students
(Note: There is no tuition charge for the 1-credit AIE subject.)
HTI Entry Scholarships for Taught Postgraduate Programmes are available. Please visit here for details.
PolyU reserves the right to change or withdraw the scholarship at any time. In case of any dispute/disagreement, PolyU’s decision is final.
I am honoured to belong to the first cohort of the Medical Data Science programme at PolyU.
This is an interdisciplinary course that integrates subjects from various departments. Although it is challenging, it has allowed me to acquire a wealth of new knowledge. The programme accommodates students from diverse backgrounds, and the lecturers have put considerable effort into the course structure to help each student adapt and improve. If you plan to pursue a career in industry, you can choose from a range of cutting-edge courses, such as the application of AI in medical data. If, on the other hand, you are interested in academic research, you can join a lab and work with a supervisor on innovative research projects - I am currently involved in a study of the association between the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genes and mental disorders.
At PolyU, you will find a wide range of resources, including lectures, workshops, and skills training sessions, which can enhance your capabilities. Further, the programme mentors are very attentive to each student's learning journey, so you are encouraged to reach out to them at any time if you have any issues or difficulties.
I firmly believe that this programme will greatly enrich your academic experience and professional development.
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