Department of Ocean Science - PhD qualifying examination requirements:

1.    All students who are enrolled in the PhD program are required to pass the PhD Qualifying Examination as part of the requirements for the PhD degree.

2.    With effect from the 2025/26 intake cohort, all full-time PhD students (no matter with or without an MPhil) are required to pass the qualifying examination by the end of the second year (i.e. before the 5th regular term of study). In case a candidate fails the first attempt, he/she is required to make the second attempt and must pass before the end of the 30th month after the commencement of their PhD.

3.    Full-time PhD students who fail to meet the requirement of passing the qualifying examination by the end of the second year will be issued a letter of warning by the department and may have their PGS suspended. Those who fail to pass the qualifying examination by the end of the 30th month will either be dismissed from the University or required to apply for transfer to the MPhil program, following the university guidelines attached at the end of the document.

4.    With effect from the 2025/26 intake cohort, all part-time PhD students are required to pass the qualifying examination by the end of the 60th month after the commencement of their PhD. In case a candidate fails the first attempt, he/she is required to make the second attempt and must pass before the same deadline stated above.

5.    Part-time PhD students who fail to meet the requirement of passing the qualifying examination by the end of the 60th month will either be dismissed from the University or required to apply for transfer to the MPhil program, following the university guidelines attached at the end of the document.
 

Application procedure about the PhD qualifying examination arrangement with effect from Fall 2025/26:

1.    To improve the quality of PhD Qualifying Examination (PQE) report, PG students must submit the written PQE reports to their supervisor(s) for comment and approval. After approval by the supervisor, the PG Coordinator needs to endorse the PQE report before the student can schedule a date for PQE.

2.    Students have to find 3 panel members (i.e. his/her supervisor and 2 supervisory committee members) and email to our general office for applying the qualifying exam arrangement at least 4 weeks before the proposed exam date.

3.    Students have to submit E-copies or 3 hard copies of the dissertation research (i.e. progress report) to all committee members via our general office at least 3 weeks before the proposed exam date.
 

HKUST PhD qualifying examination requirements:

1.    In order to obtain PhD candidacy, full-time doctoral students are required to pass the qualifying examination within 30 months after the commencement of their PhD program, and part-time doctoral students within 60 months after the commencement of their PhD program. In cases where students transfer from an MPhil or PhD program to a different PhD program, the timeframe will be calculated from the commencement of the new PhD program. Each student is allowed a maximum of two attempts within the above-stipulated timeframes, which will apply to all doctoral students regardless of the length of the normative period of studies.

2.    Within the University-wide framework, individual programs may set an earlier timeline for the qualifying examination that meets the specific program needs.

3.    The period of approved Leave from Study will not be counted toward the maximum time allowed for qualifying examination. However, any suspension period will be included in the calculation of the maximum time.

4.    In exceptional cases where students require an extension of the University timeline, for example due to medical reasons, they are required to submit the request to the Committee on Postgraduate Studies for consideration of approval prior to exceeding the designated timeline. The request should be supported by the respective Departments and Schools.

5.    Supervisors’ consent is not a mandatory requirement for taking qualifying examination. However, doctoral students should consult their supervisors before requesting to take the examination.

6.    The qualifying examination may be conducted through the oral or written mode, or both.

7.    Students who fail to take or pass the qualifying examination within the stipulated timeframe will be considered as failing the qualifying examination, and will either be dismissed from the University or required to apply for transfer to the MPhil program.