MSc in Advanced Materials Science
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Introduction
Advanced materials substantially contribute to enhancing the competitiveness, resilience and strategic autonomy of modern industries. They are intentionally designed and engineered to display superior performance or special functions, which can be developed with unprecedented speed owing to the profound understanding of scientific principles and artificial intelligence-based computing power. Advanced materials are fundamental for innovation in energy, electronics, construction, and mobility, and therefore crucial for the green and digital transformation. The government of Hong Kong SAR aims to develop Hong Kong into a knowledge-based economy and an innovation hub for high technology, leverage Hong Kong’s advantages to complement national development, and integrate Hong Kong into the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. To achieve this target, the studies and development of advanced materials science will play an essential role.
CUHK is committed to advancing innovation and research, particularly in the field of Materials Science, aligning closely with the University’s overarching strategic goals. As a globally recognized research-intensive institution, CUHK continuously fosters collaboration between academia and industry, aiming to cultivate forward-thinking professionals capable of addressing the complex challenges of modern society. The establishment of the Master of Science in Advanced Materials Science programme, co-organized by Graduate Division of Chemistry and Graduate Division of Physics, directly responds to the growing demand for the development and application of advanced materials in Hong Kong, Greater Bay Area, mainland China, Asia and the global.
Objectives
- To train next-generation talents and prepare them for careers in materials science related industry, research institutions or academia;
- To disseminate knowledge and skill set for generating innovative solutions for nowadays challenges in materials science;
- To promote the development of materials science education and research in Hong Kong and the Greater Bay area.
Expected Learning Outcomes
- Understanding the fundamental principles of materials science, including synthesis, characterization, microstructures, properties, and functional applications of various materials;
- Acquiring research methodologies and experimental techniques in materials science;
- Solving complicated material-related problems using scientific principles and approaches.
- Graduates will be well-prepared to excel in diverse career paths associated with Materials Science, including being materials scientists, R&D engineers, technical consultants, and entrepreneurs in industries such as manufacturing, energy, healthcare, electronics and advanced technologies. Graduates will also possess the foundational knowledge required to pursue PhD studies or specialized research careers in academic institutions, in the field related to Materials Science.
Programme Structure and Requirements
This is a coursework-based master degree programme co-hosted by Department of Physics and Department of Chemistry.
Study Modes and Duration
- Full-time: 1 year
- Part-time: 2 years
Coursework Requirement
Students are required to complete a minimum of 24 units of courses at 5000-level for graduation. They must enroll in 2 required courses (6 units) and complete a minimum of 18 units of elective courses.
Required Courses
AMSC5710 Advanced Materials Characterization
AMSC5720 Advanced Materials Synthesis
Elective Courses
The elective courses are divided into two groups. Students are required to take a minimum of 6 units from each group to ensure that the expected learning outcomes are achieved. The elective courses list may be subject to adjustments.
Group A: Fundamentals of Materials Science
AMSC5731 AI-Driven Materials Design and Simulations
AMSC5733 Properties of Advanced Materials
AMSC5738 Surface Science and Thin Film Technology
CHEM5642 Supramolecular Chemistry
PHYS4050 Solid State Physics
Group B: Functional Materials
AMSC5730 Frontiers in Advanced Materials
AMSC5735 Functional Molecules for Optoelectronics
AMSC5737 Biomaterials for Healthcare
AMSC5739 Functional Materials for Clean Energy and Sustainability
AMSC5750 Electronics and Photonics
ELEG5753 Solar Cells and Beyond for Low-carbon Energy
ELEG5762 Neuromorphic Electronics: Materials, Devices and Circuits for Brain-Like Computation
Other Requirement
Students must achieve a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.0 in order to graduate.
Admission Requirements
General requirements:
Applicants should hold, or expect to hold by the time of admission, a Bachelor’s degree in science or engineering, normally with Second Class Honours or overall average result of B or above.
English language requirements:
Applicants should have either
- obtained a degree from a university in Hong Kong or taken a degree programme of which the medium of instruction was English, OR
- achieved scores in one of the following English Language tests as indicated:
– TOEFL: Overall 550 (Paper-based) / Overall 79 (Internet-based/Home Edition)
– IELTS (Academic): Overall 6.5 (Test Centre based/Online)
– GMAT: Band 21 (Verbal) / Band 78 (Focus Edition Verbal): , OR - obtained a pass grade in English in one of the following examinations:
– Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination (AS Level)
– Hong Kong High Level Examination
– CUHK Matriculation Examination
– General Certificate of Education Examination (GCE) Advanced Level (A-Level)/Advanced Subsidiary Level (AS-Level), OR - achieved Level 4 or above in the English Language subject of the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) Examination, OR
- obtained a recognized professional qualification, provided that the examination was conducted in English.
Admission Scholarship (subject to approval)
All students who submit their application on or before 15 December 2025 will automatically be considered for the scholarship; no separate application is required.
Amount for each award is HKD5,000-10,000 and a certificate.
Application Procedures
- Completion of application form on Internet via CUHK’s online application system.
- Required supporting documents:
- Recommendation form from two referees, to be completed online (if you choose submission by “online”) or sent directly by the referees by email to ams-admin@cuhk.edu.hk (if you choose submission by “hardcopy”);
- Copy of official transcripts (of all tertiary level studies) and official explanatory notes indicating the grading scheme of the University (e.g. A = 90-100 = 4.0, B = 80-89 = 3.0, etc);
- Copy of degree certificate(s) of academic qualifications (if graduated);
- Curriculum vitae;
- Copy of TOEFL, IELTS or GMAT test score report for preview purpose (if available) (if the applicant does not have a degree from a university in Hong Kong or an English-speaking country); and
- Copy of identity document as input on your online application.
- Admission notification will be sent to successful applicants via e-mail.
Application Period
- Applications can be made starting from 5 November 2025
- Application Deadline: 15 December 2025 (deadline for admission scholarship) and 15 May 2026 (clearing round)
- Applications will be processed on a rolling basis until all places have been filled. Therefore, early applications are strongly encouraged.
Tuition Fee
- Full-time: HK$228,000 (per annum)
- Part-time: HK$114,000 (per annum)
Enquiries
Email: ams-admin@cuhk.edu.hk