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Doctor of Philosophy in Neuroscience
Programme
Doctor of Philosophy in Neuroscience
神經科學哲學博士
Award Title
Doctor of Philosophy
哲學博士
Offering Academic Unit
Department of Neuroscience
Mode of Study
Full-time, Part-time

Credit Units Required for Graduation

14 and SG8001

Programme Aims

This programme aims to train and produce graduates with an understanding of advanced developments and highly marketable specialist skills in the field of neuroscience.  Graduates of this programme will meet international standards with regard to their knowledge, technical expertise and communication skills, both written and oral.  So prepared, graduates will be highly competitive for professional positions in the academic, commercial, and technical sectors where demand for well-trained neuroscientists is steadily increasing.

Programme Intended Learning Outcomes (PILOs)

Upon successful completion of this Programme, students should be able to:

1. exhibit intellectual competence necessary for successful academic or relevant professional work;
2. contribute to the discovery, expansion and communication of novel knowledge in the broad field of neuroscience through independent, original, and innovative research;
3. demonstrate specialist subject knowledge and a high level of transferrable skills with an emphasis on discovery-based science.



Programme Requirements



1. Research Area(s) in which research students will be admitted to:
Neuroscience (discovery-oriented, disease-oriented), Neuropsychology, Biomedical Engineering (nervous system related) and Neurogenetics.
 
Programme Core Courses: (11 credits)
Course CodeCourse TitleCredit Units
BMS8103Advanced Cell and Molecular Biology3
BMS8108Advanced Neuroscience3
and any two of the following courses:
Course CodeCourse TitleCredit Units
BMS8102Frontiers in Biomedical Sciences2
BMS8106Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine3
BMS8107Cancer Biology and Precision Medicine3
BMS8110Genomics and Bioinformatics3
BMS8111Immunology and Infectious Diseases3
PH8001Computational Biology, Experimental Design and Data Science3
PH8003 Communication Skills-Conference Organisation3

Remarks:
Courses will be offered subject to sufficient enrolment. 
Students are normally not allowed to apply for credit transfer for core courses.

Research Methodology and Ethics Course(s): (2 credits)
Course CodeCourse TitleCredit Units
BMS8001Research Ethics and Methodology2

Remarks:
Students are normally not allowed to apply for credit transfer for BMS8001.
 
Programme Electives: (1 credit)
Course CodeCourse TitleCredit Units
BMS8102Frontiers in Biomedical Sciences2
BMS8106Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine3
BMS8107Cancer Biology and Precision Medicine3
BMS8110Genomics and Bioinformatics3
BMS8111Immunology and Infectious Diseases3
PH8001Computational Biology, Experimental Design and Data Science3
PH8003 Communication Skills-Conference Organisation3

Remarks:
Courses will be offered subject to sufficient enrolment.
A course can be taken as either a core course or an elective only.
Students may also take postgraduate level courses offered by other academic units as electives upon approval from their supervisors and the course offering units. A list of approved courses is available on Chow Yei Ching School of Graduate Studies (SGS) website.

 
Other Requirements
Course CodeCourse TitleCredit UnitsRemarks
SG8001Teaching Students: First Steps1The credit unit will not be counted towards the 14 credit units of minimum coursework requirements. To be completed in the first year of study.
-Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) programme-An online training course on research integrity. Compulsory for RPg students who admitted in 2018/19 and thereafter. To be completed in the first year of study. Details are available in SGS website.

Qualifying Examination (for PhD only):

PhD Students are required to pass a written Qualifying Examination within 10–24 months (full-time) or 20–48 months (part-time). It is an additional requirement on top of the existing Qualifying Report and Annual Progress Report assessment. A maximum of two attempts are allowed. Those students who cannot pass the Qualifying Examination will result in termination of study. A fixed timetable is set for students to take the Qualifying Examination. No schedule change is allowed under normal circumstances.

Qualifying/Annual Report Submission:

Students are required to submit
i. Qualifying Report, of which assessment includes a compulsory oral examination, within 6–12 months (full-time) or 9–18 months (part-time) after commencement of their studies, and

ii. Annual Progress Reports
on an annual basis after the qualifying period
in compliance with the regulations and guidelines set by SGS accessible via the Guidebook for Research Degree Studies on SGS website.

A Qualifying Panel shall be established for each student upon his/her admission. The Panel should consist of at least three faculty members including the student’s supervisor who should be the chair. During the entire study period of the student, the Panel will monitor the student’s performance and progress through the supervisor, assess the Qualifying Report and Annual Progress Reports submitted by the student at regular intervals, and make a recommendation to SGS about the student’s suitability and capability to continue his/her research study.

Thesis:

A PhD thesis should present the results of research investigation, give evidence of a sound understanding of the area of study, its context and applicability, make a contribution to knowledge and make a substantial original contribution to knowledge in the subject areas concerned. Students must submit a thesis for examination by the end of their normal study period or the stipulated study period. The thesis examination should include thesis assessment, an oral examination, and any other assessment arrangements required by the Panel of Examiners.

Additional Notes:

Students should always refer to the Guidebook for Research Degree Studies available on SGS website for administrative and operational procedures related to research degree studies at the University. The Department may stipulate a higher standard on the requirements.