While AI is a hot topic, studying a new program solely on a new emerging knowledge may not be the most effective for students, as such knowledge should be best integrated into existing system so students could make sense of such novel technologies in real-life applications – for example how to use AI to develop new vaccines, repurpose existing drugs, identify the most optimal location and material for a building project, or analyse billions of fast-disappearing data for different scientific purposes.

This is why HKUST blended its top-ranking science and engineering programs with AI – taught by some of the sector’s most seasoned experts. Students enrolled in the two programs will have the flexibility to choose their major – Physics, Computer Science, Mathematics, Civil Engineering or Ocean Science and Technology from either science (group A) or engineering before the second year begins, while taking AI courses as an extended major. Students will have to complete a capstone project on applying AI in the area of their major studies.

The two programs are set within a four-year timeframe with a well-defined study pathway, the graduates will earn a title bearing both the traditional major subject they selected, as well as the extended major which now only covers AI, but will be extended to cover data science, FinTech and digital media and arts in the near future.

High-calibre Faculty

All faculty members at HKUST have a doctoral degree from distinguished universities around the world. Among whom, 142 were recently rated by Stanford University as the world’s top 2% scientists and 42 were elected Fellows of the prestigious Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). They have extensive industry experience and had worked in world-renowned corporations before joining HKUST. On AI alone for example, we have faculty like Prof. ZHANG Tong, who was a founding director of the AI Lab in China tech giant Tencent, Prof. KIM Sunghun, head of Korea’s leading internet company Naver Clover AI., and Prof. Mordecai J. GOLIN, visiting researcher at the AT&T Labs-Research.

Graduates’ employability

HKUST is ranked 26th worldwide in the Global University Employability Survey 2020 and topped Greater China for many years. Our Indian graduates in the class of 2019 were placed in organizations like Deloitte, EY, Goldman Sachs, IBM, JP Morgan, Morgan Stanley, PwC, etc with an average salary of HK$27,649 (approx. INR 2 lakh 67 thousand monthly)

Competitions, entrepreneurship and career opportunities

For those who wish to realize their innovation and skills by starting a business, HKUST offers many opportunities, including HackUST and other entrepreneurship competitions which offer the winners up to a million dollars in funding; as well as platforms that help match startup-ers with investors, mentors and potential partners. The university has incubation bases in key mainland cities including Shenzhen and Foshan, on top of its brand-new campus in Nansha, Guangzhou, planned to open next year. The new campus is just minutes away from a high-tech park to be built there, which is set to provide strong support to HKUST students who wish to tap opportunities in the Greater Bay Area (GBA).

The Hong Kong government has also recently launched a Greater Bay Area Youth Employment Scheme, where all HK students – both local and foreign, will be entitled to a monthly salary of no less than HK$18,000, if they are hired by the enterprises participated in the scheme.

Eligibility Criteria for the courses:

Students who wish to apply HKUST must fulfil the General Admission, School/Program-Specific and English Language requirements. The university reviews each application holistically, considering both academic performance and non-academic achievements. For students using Indian Boards exams, the requirements are “Pass Certificates obtained on completion of Standard XII (State and National boards)” and reference score of previous students admitted to HKUST is “Overall average of 85% or above”.

Tuition Fee and Scholarship criteria at HKUST for India students

The tuition fee is HK$14,0000 (INR 13,22,664) per academic year. The university awards academic scholarships to outstanding students on competitive merit basis. These awards may be one-off or renewable, full, or partial tuition waivers.

The highest amount of scholarship is equivalent to Full Tuition Fee plus an allowance of HK$55,000 (INR 5 lakh 13 thousand approx.) per academic year – renewable for the normal duration of study subject to satisfactory academic performance. For more details about HKUST’s Admissions Scholarship Scheme for IB Diploma Holders & GCEAL/ International AL Qualification Holders, please visit https://join.ust.hk/fees-and-scholarships.