Your Unique Study Path
At HKUST, we give you the flexibility to design your own study path by letting you choose from a myriad of program combinations. Would you like to take more than one major? What about an extended major with one or two minors? Or even a dual degree program? HKUST gives you these and many more options to choose from.
Although Saras SUTEDJA and Connie CHOW come from different backgrounds, both developed a shared interest in sustainability while studying at HKUST. For Saras, a student from Indonesia majoring in accounting, her interest was sparked by the many green activities available on campus, such as a food sharing project and plastic waste reduction campaign. For Connie, a local student, it was the chance to study urban planning, a passion she had developed at an early age.
Early taste of academic research
What especially excited Saras was the rare opportunity to participate in one of HKUST’s signature programs — the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) — in Year 2 Summer. Launched in 2005, UROP allows undergraduate students to engage in tailor-made research projects under the supervision of world-class researchers. Saras ultimately took part in six research projects, including an analysis of corporate sustainability reports and a sustainable fashion research project.
Minor in Psychological and Behavioral Science & Sustainability, Class of 2022
“In the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP), I was able to participate in six research projects led by Prof. Meike Sauerwein. Her expertise in sustainable consumption, sustainability education and environmental chemistry has really motivated me to continue a career in this field!”
Design your own program
Connie CHOW knew from the beginning that she wanted to study urban sustainability. She also knew HKUST offers good sustainability programs. It was only natural Connie decided to join the HKUST School of Engineering with the aim of studying urban planning.
The only problem, however, was that few universities in Hong Kong offer a major program in urban planning. But after enrolling in HKUST’s Engineering School, she discovered our Individualized Interdisciplinary Major (IIM) program, which allows her to create her own major and follow her passion for urban sustainability.
Through our IIM program, students have the academic freedom to combine courses from different Departments and Schools at HKUST, and even different local and overseas universities, to develop their own interdisciplinary major. After a semester of discussing her academic direction with professors, Connie finally declared an IIM in Built Environment Design — the only major of its kind in Hong Kong. The IIM program is currently the only one of its kind in the Greater China region.
“No sooner had I started my first year of study at HKUST than I stumbled upon the Individualized Interdisciplinary Major program. To my amazement, the University allows students to create their own major. I am totally overjoyed by this because it is indeed not easy to find a major program on urban planning in Hong Kong.”