1

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Faculty of Engineering
An Opportunity to Earn Two Masters Degrees in One Year
A concurrent enrolment scheme leading to a Master of Science (MSc) degree awarded by
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University; and a Master of Engineering (MEng) degree
awarded by University of Cincinnati in the U.S. state of Ohio@


1. Introduction
1.1 The Faculty of Engineering (FENG) of PolyU and The University of Cincinnati (UC) College
of Engineering & Applied Science (CEAS) jointly deliver a concurrent enrolment scheme
allowing credit transfers between FENG and CEAS and contributing to the award of a
Master of Science (MSc) degree from PolyU and a Master of Engineering (MEng) degree
from UC.
1.2 Under the arrangement, students joining the following PolyU programmes in 2014-15 and
beyond can apply to enroll concurrently for a Master of Engineering (MEng) programme
offered by UC.
Postgraduate Scheme in Engineering (Code: 05002)
Postgraduate Scheme in Computing (Code: 61030)
MSc in Biomedical Engineering (Code: 47002)

2. Admissions requirements for the University of Cincinnati
2.1 To be eligible for admissions to UC, students must have a bachelors degree in a
corresponding engineering programme recognized as high quality by UC, and graduate
with a minimum GPA of 3.0 or QPA of 75 % or equivalent. No GRE is required. Students
also have to satisfy the minimum English Language requirement as follows:
(i) A Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score of 85 for the Internet-based test;
OR
(ii) An overall Band Score of at least 6.5 in the International English Language Testing
System (IELTS), OR
(iii) A Pearson Test of English (PTE) score of 59.
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2.2 Students who have received a baccalaureate or higher degree in English from Hong Kong
are exempted from the English proficiency requirement.

3. Structure of the PolyU-MSc and UC-MEng programmes

3.1 The UC-MEng degree requires a minimum of 30 credits (including a capstone project as
described under para. 3.2 below); a thesis is not mandatory. Likewise, the PolyU-MSc
degree requires a minimum of 30 credits (including the requisite number of
compulsory/core subjects stipulated for individual awards); a thesis is not mandatory.
Both programmes are designed to provide students with advanced knowledge and
experience in their fields of interests along with subjects covering new developments in the
respective disciplines.

3.2 A key component of the UC-MEng programmes is a capstone project which carries 3 credits.
It can be a written paper, project with an advisor, or a curricular practical training
(internship) in the students field of study. The project can be undertaken at UC or PolyU,
business workplace, industry, or a government institution. The capstone project provides a
mechanism to demonstrate a synthesis of knowledge and application of concepts to a
specific problem. Academic staff members or professionals in the workplace will oversee
the capstone experience. The capstone project will include a written report and a
presentation.
3.3 For the award of the UC-MEng, students must have completed a minimum of 5 subjects (15
credits) at UC which includes the capstone project. Up to 15 credits earned from the PolyU-
MSc (attained with Grade B or above for each subject taken) can be credit-transferred
toward the UC-MEng.

3.4 For the award of the PolyU-MSc, students must have completed a minimum of 5 subjects
(15 credits) at PolyU which include three compulsory/core subjects specified for the MSc
award concerned. Up to 15 credits earned from the UC-MEng (attained with Grade B or
above for each subject taken) can be credit-transferred toward the PolyU-MSc. Besides, for
students enrolling on the Postgraduate Scheme in Engineering, they must complete a
minimum of 6 subjects at PolyU if they are to be considered for the award of a Distinction
for their PolyU-MSc.
3.5 Typical study pattern for FENG students admitted to the scheme The structure of the
scheme is such that typical FENG students will complete their first semester at FENG to
earn 15 or more credits from FENG. In the second (Spring) semester, students will enroll in
UC to complete 15 or more credits (including the capstone project). Students will be
awarded the UC-MEng if the total recognized credits earned from FENG and CEAS are no
less than 30 credits. The minimum of 15 credits of the UC-MEng must be completed as a
matriculated CEAS student. These students can also be awarded the PolyU-MSc once they
satisfy the degree award requirements at FENG if their subjects studied at CEAS are credit-
transferred back to FENG.
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3.6 Upon completion of no less than 30 credits from FENG and CEAS, and subject to satisfying
the academic regulations of the programmes/universities concerned, students can qualify
for two masters degrees; one from PolyU (MSc) and one from UC (MEng) in the following
disciplines. Both degrees are recognized by the Ministry of Education in China.

PolyU-MSc awards UC-MEng awards
Biomedical Engineering
E-Commerce
Electrical Engineering*
Electronic and Information Engineering*
Information Systems
Information Technology
Mechanical Engineering*
Technology Management
Software Technology

*and the various specialism of study options
Aerospace Engineering
Biomedical Engineering
Civil Engineering
Chemical Engineering
Computer Engineering
Computer Science
Electrical Engineering
Environmental Engineering or
Environmental Science
Materials Science or Metallurgical
Engineering
Mechanical Engineering

3.7 Students do not need to obtain the PolyU-MSc before they qualify for the UC-MEng and
vice versa. For example, a student can obtain the PolyU-MSc by studying 5 subjects at
PolyU and credit transfer 5 subjects from UC, irrespective of whether he/she has obtained
the UC-MEng.

3.8 Table 1 depicts the programme structure of the PolyU-MSc and UC-MEng under this
concurrent enrolment scheme.

PolyU MSc degree UC-MEng degree
Credit
Requirement
30 credits
(i.e. 10 subjects)
30 credits
(i.e. 10 subjects)
Requirement for
dissertation/thesis
optional optional
Maximum number
of transferrable
credits earned
from PolyU/UC
15 credits earned from UC which
are recognized for credit transfer
to the respective PolyU-MSc and
attained with Grade B or above
for each subject
15 credits earned from PolyU
which are recognized for credit
transfer to the respective UC-
MEng and attained with Grade B
or above for each subject
Other
requirements
(a) A minimum of FIVE subjects
must be taken at PolyU which
include THREE compulsory/
Core subjects specified for the
award concerned.

(b) To be considered for the
award of a Distinction for the
MSc awards hosted under the
A minimum of FIVE subjects (15
credits) must be taken at UC as a
matriculated CEAS student
which includes the capstone
project as described in para. 3.2
above.)
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PolyU MSc degree UC-MEng degree

Postgraduate Scheme in
Engineering, students must
have completed no less than 6
subjects (18 credits) at PolyU.


3.9 Students should refer to the individual programme document for the detailed programme
structure and award requirements of the respective PolyU-MSc and UC-MEng
programmes.
















@ University of Cincinnati is a public institution that was founded in 1819. It has a total undergraduate
enrollment of 21,598 and its setting is urban. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. University of
Cincinnati's ranking in the 2014 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, 135. http://www.uc.edu/
Note: Information presented in this document is subject to changes without prior notification.

June 2014