FAQ - Engineering Undergraduate Program

Engineering involves the acquisition and application of scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge to solve problems in our daily lives.  Engineers are therefore problem-solvers who make things work more efficiently and effectively at lower costs.  Engineering helps to improve our modern life, as exemplified by great engineering inventions such as computer chips, satellites, medical devices and renewable energy technologies, etc.  The work of engineers can be experienced in all parts of our daily life, which include making a call with mobile phone, playing internet games, managing investments, shopping online, riding on a vehicle, walking across a bridge and even wearing body lotion.  Engineering is everywhere in the world around us.

To learn about the various disciplines of engineering, click here.

Scientists explore the laws of nature to discover new knowledge.  Engineers apply the knowledge drawn from science to solve practical problems.  Scientists explain observed phenomenon and prove something right or wrong to make scientific discoveries.  Engineers apply the scientific and math knowledge to solve problems faced by humanity and improve their quality of life, through a creative, systematic and exciting process.

All students who love science or engineering, and eager to solve problem for a better living of human beings.

Unique features of HKUST:

1. HKUST is consistently ranked among the BEST universities in the field of Science and Technology                            

                                    More about HKUST engineering rankings 

2. HKUST School of Engineering (SENG) is recognized for its research and education excellence with significant impact locally and globally
3. The Engineering curriculum is carefully designed to enhance students' academic and personal development, nurture their professional and career development, and broaden their community and international outlook
4. Internationalization – HKUST boosts its internationalized student population with its comprehensive exchange programs and non-local student intake

It is the study of subjects in emerging areas or technologies.  It is not a major by itself but can enrich the major program pursued by students.  Extended Major is a practical balance for students to receive solid training in one discipline (e.g. civil engineering, mechanical engineering, etc.) while diving into an emerging area at the same time. 

For more details, please refer to the Extended Major website.  

The School of Engineering offers: —

- Extended Major in Artificial Intelligent (AI)

Applicable to all engineering programs

- Extended Major in Digital Media and Creative Arts (DMCA)

Applicable to the following engineering programs:

Aerospace Engineering                                    Decision Analytics

Civil Engineering                                               Electronic Engineering

Civil and Environmental Engineering             Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management  

Computer Science                                             *Integrative Systems and Design 

Computer Engineering                                     Mechanical Engineering

* Applicable to 2023 Intake and before.  Students of 2024 intake and after should consult the Academy of Interdisciplinary Studies.

AI has wide applications in almost every industry, including all engineering fields.  Our program empowers engineering students to apply AI and related computing technologies to their careers and society. The additional knowledge and skill can sharpen students’ competitive edge in the job market.  With a training in AI, students will also be able to catch up with new developments in AI applications on their own even after graduation.

The HKUST AI curriculum is cross-disciplinary and practical.  Students will learn solid knowledge in an engineering discipline (i.e. the student's major program) PLUS innovative application of AI in their major domains.  In addition, students will gain cross-disciplinary problem-solving skills and professional insights through a Design Thinking course and Professional Seminars in AI.  Students are also required to complete a Capstone Project with strong AI components and sponsorship from industry, which enables students to practice AI applications on real world problems.

The workload will only be slightly heavier than that without the Extended Major.  On average, students take only one additional course per term throughout the 4 years of studies in comparison with students without an Extended Major.  According to our normative study pathway, students should have no problem in finishing both the degree requirements for their major and the Extended Major in AI or DMCA within 4 years.

The School of Engineering offers 2 routes of School-based admission – Engineering, and Engineering with an Extended Major in AI.  Students who are admitted to Engineering can apply for opting in to the Extended Major in AI at the end of Year 1.  Similarly, students who are admitted to Engineering with an Extended Major in AI can also choose to opt out from the Extended Major during their studies if they find that they are no longer interested.

Interested students should apply to the School of Engineering for admission.  At the end of Year 1 study, students can apply for the Extended Major in DMCA, and start their studies in DMCA from Year 2 onwards. 

In general, most courses carry 3 to 4 credits. When you take a course and meet its requirement (e.g. get a pass in the exam), you will earn the credits.  In the Engineering program, students have to complete a minimum of 120 credits for graduation.  Dividing 120 credits into 4 years, students will take 30 credits each year or 15 credits each semester on average.  For students enrolled in the Extended Major, they will take one more course per term on average.

Among the 120 credits, the University Common Core curriculum will take up 30 credits. On average, the engineering introduction courses and fundamentals will take up about 30 credits.  The major program will take up about 40 - 50 credits.  If students wish to take a minor program, it will require 18 credits (6 subjects).  Some programs allow double counting of credits between major programs and minor programs.  They can also earn credits through research or other enrichment programs, e.g. Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP), experiential learning courses, etc.

Most of our students can catch up with the university curriculum without problem.  We will provide professional advising for students who encounter academic difficulties.  Courses intended for students from diverse academic backgrounds are provided.  E.g. There are several versions of mathematics courses that are tailor-made for students with different levels of preparation in the subject.

We understand that students' academic preparation can be quite diverse and the subjects they have followed in pre-university studies can be at different levels.  We therefore prepare a range of fundamental courses so as to bring up students' academic attainments to the same level at the end of the first year of study.  By this, students will be able to follow their major programs on equal footing.

During the first year, students should follow the Engineering fundamentals which comprise Engineering introduction courses, basic science courses, language courses, computing courses and the University Common Core.  To offer professional advices and counseling to engineering students, SENG has exclusively established the Centre for Engineering Education Innovation (E2I) to take care of all first-year engineering students.

Students may choose different engineering introduction courses to get a taste of different engineering disciplines in their 1st year of study.  Regardless of which engineering major to pursue in the 2nd year, the credits will be counted towards the 120-credit requirement for graduation.  To help students plan their own study, there is a recommended pathway that students may refer to and customize a study path to meet their own needs.

The University Common Core requirements aim to broaden the UG education by including courses on communication, critical thinking, student well-being, and subjects outside a student's major program. It also includes elements of experiential learning which seeks to apply students' learning in an interdisciplinary context.  The HKUST Common Core framework consists of 30 credits. These 30 credits cannot be used to fulfill any other requirements at HKUST except the 120-credit graduation requirement that applies to all HKUST UG programs.

Bioengineering is broader than biomedical engineering. The latter is more focused on medical applications. Our Bioengineering program also has a significant portion of biomedical content, but it also prepares students for careers in other bioengineering fields, such as synthetic biology (i.e. designing and modifying living cells to make products we want). Offered by the only chemical engineering department in Hong Kong, our Bioengineering program has a stronger emphasis on molecular design and biochemical engineering (e.g. pharmaceuticals, biomaterials, genetic and metabolic engineering, food, etc.), and less emphasis on biomechanics and medical devices and instruments (e.g. bioelectronics, hardware, etc.), compared to similar programs in Hong Kong.  Moreover, our Bioengineering program also recognizes the emerging importance of Big Data in Health.  Therefore, our curriculum emphasizes students’ ability on data analytics in the context of life science and medicine. 

Computer Science – Emphasis on computer structure and applications as well as all kinds of software and web technologies development.  Computer Engineering – Interface between the software and hardware models.  Electronic Engineering – Hardware design as well as modern technologies used in different electronic products and network systems cooperating with computing technology.

The Data Science and Technology program aims to equip students with a solid foundation in various mathematical and statistical tools, machine learning algorithms, data analytical skills and computing technologies which enable them to make sense of massive data obtained from various sources.  It is suitable for students who have a keen interest in big data analytics and applying them to real life situations.  The Decision Analytics program equips students with portable decision analytic skills and domain specific expertise in the knowledge economy. Decision analytic skills include statistics, machine learning algorithms, simulation, stochastic processes, and optimization.  Students take elective courses in domain specific areas of the knowledge economy to add significant value to many industries including financial and consulting services among others.  While both programs have statistical learning in common, the focus of the data science and technology program is on big data and computing technologies, while that of decision analytics is on modelling and decisions supported by optimization and data.

BSc in Computer Science (COSC) is designed for students who are pursuing dual majors.  Students in COSC are required to take an additional major, e.g. Accounting, Chemistry, Global Business, Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering, etc..  On graduation, the student with 1st major in COSC will be awarded a single degree (i.e. BSc) with two majors.  Students outside the Department of Computer Science can also apply to declare COSC as a 2nd major. There are many possible combinations, e.g. BEng program (1st major) + COSC (2nd major), BSc program (1st major) + COSC (2nd major), BBA program (1st major) + COSC (2nd major). The awarded degree is determined by the 1st major.  

On the other hand, students who wish to attain professional status as an engineer should choose BEng in Computer Science (COMP), which is accredited by the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (HKIE).  Students do not need to make the choice upon admission.  Students are admitted to the School of Engineering, and declaration of COSC/COMP is done at the end of their first year of study through the major selection exercise.

Environmental engineering is an interdisciplinary area.  You can pursue the study of environmental engineering with the following three major programs, which are available for students' selection upon completion of their first year of study. (Note: Students of all Schools, not just SENG, can apply for BSc in Environmental Management and Technology.)

1. BEng in Civil and Environmental Engineering (offered by Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering)

This program provides a sound and long-lasting foundation on civil engineering with a particular focus on environmental technology. Graduates of this program are qualified to join the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (HKIE) Scheme “A” training and become professional engineers in Environmental discipline, Civil discipline or other related disciplines.

2. BEng in Chemical and Environmental Engineering (offered by Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering)

This program enables students to understand various industrial processes and realize where environmental control measures can be implemented.  Graduates of this program are qualified to join the HKIE Scheme “A” training and become professional engineers in Environmental discipline, Chemical Engineering discipline or other related disciplines.

3. BSc in Environmental Management and Technology (offered by Academy of Interdisciplinary Studies)

This program encompasses sustainable development, environmental management, environmental law and regulation.  This is not an engineering program and is not meant for students who aspire to be professional engineers after graduation.

Dual degree means two degrees while double major is one degree with two majors.  A degree at the undergraduate level refers to a bachelor's degree, e.g. Bachelor of Engineering (BEng), Bachelor of Science (BSc), Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA), etc. Currently, HKUST offers one Dual Degree Program, which takes students 5 years to finish.  Upon completion of the program, students are awarded two degrees – a Bachelor of Engineering (BEng) plus a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA).

For double major, on the other hand, students are expected to finish two majors in a single degree in 4 years. Students who wish to take a 2nd major will need to achieve a certain level of academic performance and develop a feasible study plan, which enable them to fulfill the requirements of 2 majors within 4 years.  

No, apart from General Business Studies, students can also apply for other BBA programs including Global Business.  Please see the full list of programs available from the Dual Degree Program homepage.

The School of Engineering jointly offers a few programs in collaboration with other Schools, e.g. Data Science and Technology, Risk Management and Business Intelligence, Environmental Management and Technology, etc.  Engineering students can apply to enrol into these programs through major selection that takes place at the end of their first year of study. 

Our Engineering program allows flexibility and room for students to take minors or even additional major(s).  Students can declare a minor program starting from the 2nd year of study (but there may be variations in timeline for some minor programs).  Some minor programs will have specific enrollment conditions which would be listed in the program curriculum.

Students will select their major departments at the end of the 2nd semester.  There is no fast track for any student as we see it necessary for students to grasp a good understanding of various engineering disciplines during their first year of study before deciding on their choice.  We would greatly value students' choices and interest.  It is our target that around 90% of the students will get one of the 1st or 2nd departmental choices.  We review our major selection quota for each major department/program annually, and make adjustments to meet the demand as far as practicable.  At the same time, engineering students can also choose any interdisciplinary programs or joint-school programs that SENG offers in collaboration with other Schools at HKUST.  These students will be assessed by the program offering units, including interviews.

We do not only consider the students' preference, but also make use of the first year to help students to find out their own interests and passion so that they can make informed choices of the majors, rather than just following the crowd.  To allow as many students as possible to enter their preferred department, we would open up the largest number of places in each program at the departments' full capacity.

Students will need to take Engineering fundamentals which comprises Engineering introduction course, basic science courses, language courses, computing courses and the University Common Core.  These courses, including engineering introduction courses, help broaden students' general education and also let students have a taste of different engineering majors.  The students can better understand their strength and interest in studying these courses which help students make an informed choice during department selection.

Among all subjects taken in Year 1, departments will consider the best attained subjects for assessment.  The subjects considered may vary among departments.

While there is a common set of courses offered to Engineering Year 1 students, students have flexibility in deciding their pattern of study by choosing their preferred courses from the list.  They are not required to follow a fixed pattern in each semester.

Students who wish to broaden their study can choose to do additional majors or minors.  Additional major can be from the same School or another School.  No matter how many additional majors a student has completed, s/he will nevertheless be awarded one single degree only (e.g. BEng or BSc). 

Besides, the School of Engineering offers a dual major program in BSc with other Schools at HKUST - BSc in Computer Science (COSC).  Students in the COSC Program have a first major in Computer Science and select a second major from another BSc program, usually offered by other Schools.  For more details, please refer to the Q.21 above.

No worry, the Dual Degree Program Office has reserved sufficient places for major selection. Students who enter HKUST in any of the participating Schools (e.g. SENG) through school- based admission can still apply for the Dual Degree Program through major selection at the end of their first year of study.

After students join a major department, they may apply for program transfer should they wish to take other major programs.  The transfer criteria will be determined by the receiving School/department.

Undergraduate Exchange Program is the flagship enrichment program of HKUST.  Students in the School of Engineering have the opportunity to study at one of the 130+ exchange partners of HKUST located in 20+ countries and regions around the world.  Besides regular terms, students can also choose to participate in credit-bearing exchange at one of the School’s exchange partners in the summer term.  All students who meet the selection criteria have the chance to participate in the program.

In addition to no-fee exchange, HKUST has also developed a number of fee-paying summer study abroad programs to suit the interest and needs of students.  With the rapid development of virtual courses around the globe, HKUST has also established partnership with a number of overseas institutions to provide virtual exchange/ study abroad opportunities to its students.

Students usually go for internship during Year 2 or Year 3 summer, either in Hong Kong or overseas.  Some students may also choose to take leave from study during term time to take up internships.  To promote internship among students, the School of Engineering has established the Center for Industry Engagement and Internship, which provides a platform to facilitate students’ exposure to industrial experience and internship opportunities.

Experiential learning is a new pedagogical approach by which students reinforce and enrich their knowledge and skills by hands-on experience through activities like design projects, competitions, community service, etc.  The School of Engineering is a pioneer in experiential learning.  Students are strongly encouraged to participate in various competitions around the globe. Our robotics teams, which are organised under the auspices of the Center for Global and Community Engagement (GCE), for example, have had their presence in many well-known robotics competitions, locally and internationally.  The team has also won many awards (including the championship for 11 times) at the ABU Robocon – HK Contest, which is a major annual robotics competition in HK. 

With a strong belief in the educational value of experiential learning, the School launched an innovative experiential learning program – the USEL Program (Undergraduate Student-initiated Experiential Learning Program) a few years ago.  USEL provides a platform for students to try out project ideas of their own and realise their dreams through the support of designated maker-space that are fully furnished with equipment and offer 24-hour access to eligible users, and the guidance of our professors.    

Many of our Departments/Units also offer credit-bearing experiential learning courses on a wide range of themes to cater for different students’ interest, e.g. electric vehicles, food science, mobile app development, environmental quality control, aerospace engineering, health care (under the auspices of SIGHT), etc.

Certainly.  HKUST is a research university.  Students are encouraged to be engaged in research as early as they wish.  Undergraduate students who are interested in doing research under the supervision of faculty members can participate in the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP), which is a platform to facilitate matching of supervisors and students.

Students can become a qualified professional engineer 4 years after their graduation the soonest.  After students obtain a recognized degree, they need to receive 2-3 years of formal training under the Graduate Scheme “A” Training of The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers.  Students will learn through practical experience in their companies under this scheme.  After this, students need to gain 1-2 years of responsible experience.  After the 4 years of training and experience, students can then apply for Professional Assessment to become a qualified professional engineer.

Professional skills of engineering are worldwide applicable. All Bachelor of Engineering (BEng) programs offered by HKUST are accredited by the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (HKIE).  Through the Washington Accord and the Seoul Accord, HKUST BEng degrees are also widely recognized around the world, including the US, UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Singapore, etc., thus opening up an international spectrum of jobs and career prospects.

Our graduates have no problem in securing employment. Over 60% of our graduating class of 2022 had received more than one job offer at the time of graduation.  While the majority of our graduates work in the engineering field and relevant industries, around 40% choose to embark on careers in the commerce and business sector, which also has a huge demand for engineering and IT talents.  Our engineering graduates are popular among employers because of their good quantitative skills and logical thinking.  Some others choose to go on with graduate studies, and are widely welcomed by top-notch overseas universities. 

Our graduates take up a wide variety of positions across many industries. Students may learn about the career prospects of each discipline in greater details from the following:

BEng in Bioengineering

BEng in Chemical Engineering

BEng in Chemical & Environmental Engineering

BEng in Sustainable Energy Engineering

https://cbe.hkust.edu.hk/files/download/academic/cbe-brochure.pdf

BEng in Civil Engineering

https://www.ce.ust.hk/sites/ce.prod01.ust.hk/files/CIVL%20Leaflet.pdf

BEng in Civil & Environmental Engineering

https://www.ce.ust.hk/sites/ce.prod01.ust.hk/files/CIEV%20Leaflet.pdf

BEng in Computer Engineering

http://www.cpeg.ust.hk/eng/admission/career_prospects.html

BEng in Computer Science

BSc in Computer Science

https://cse.hkust.edu.hk/ug/comp/

BSc in Data Science and Technology

https://dsct.ust.hk/career-prospects

BEng in Decision Analytics

https://www.ieda.ust.hk/eng/detail.php?catid=3&sid=64&tid=89

BEng in Electronic Engineering (Please scroll down to the paragraph on “Career Prospects”)

https://ece.hkust.edu.hk/programs/4yr_ug_beng_elec 

BEng in Industrial Engineering & Engineering Management

https://www.ieda.ust.hk/eng/detail.php?catid=3&sid=64&tid=90

BEng in Aerospace Engineering

BEng in Mechanical Engineering

http://mae/hkust.edu.hk/en/alumni-careers/mae-careers/career-prospects 

Large engineering corporations look for engineers from various disciplines rather than one single discipline.  Even for civil engineering companies, they do not only need civil engineers but also mechanical or electrical engineers, etc.

The Extended Major in AI is not a major by itself and is not intended to train specialists in AI technologies.  Rather it is designed to equip students with additional knowledge and skills in the host emerging area AI which they can apply to their engineering major field.  E.g. Civil engineers can make use of AI to help them monitor the progress of construction work, manage workers at construction sites, etc.

An education at SENG helps students to develop into skilled communicators, analytical and inventive researchers, and adaptable problem-solvers capable of continuous learning and taking up a range of roles in different types of organizations or running their own business.  SENG emphasizes developing students’ logical thinking, analytical skills and creativity.  These transferable skills enable them to excel in various positions in many industries and to adapt to the continuously evolving working environments in today’s fast-changing world.

Engineers fall into many disciplines, from chemical engineers to civil engineers, electronics engineers to mechanical engineers.  Whether an engineer needs to work at construction sites depends on their disciplines, the nature of their work, the level of their positions, etc.

Graduates may further their studies by enrolling into Master of Philosophy (MPhil) or Master of Science (MSc) programs.  The former one is research-based, while the latter one is a course-work program.  Outstanding students may be admitted directly into PhD programs too.  Apart from HKUST, some students may choose to study abroad with top-notch universities.  Because of the high quality of our graduates, they are often sought after by many of these world-class universities.