Building services primarily include air-conditioning and ventilation, electrical distribution and lighting, active fire protection, plumbing and drainage, vertical transportation, security, telecommunication, and building automation systems. Satisfactory performance of these systems is crucial to providing a safe, healthy, comfortable and productive environment for people and processes in buildings.
Building Services Engineering (BSE) is a multi-disciplinary profession which entails the application of art and science in design, installation, commissioning, operation and maintenance of services systems for buildings. Given the ever-rising needs and expectations of users, building services systems have become increasingly sophisticated, leading to the mounting demand for competent building services professionals.
Worldwide there have been growing recognitions that the performance of buildings and their services systems has significant impacts on the environment. The prevalent pursuit of green and sustainable buildings further highlights the vital role that building services professionals have to play in enhancing such aspects as energy conservation, indoor environmental quality, resources recycling, waste minimization and pollution control associated with the use of buildings.
Building Safety and Resilience
With intelligent facilities in tall buildings, traditional aspects of building safety such as structural strength and fire resistance must also include newer concerns, such as interference of lightning bolts with electrical and electronic systems. The structural response to fire is simulated to facilitate an understanding of the progressive collapse mechanisms of tall buildings in large fires that may spread over multiple floors.
It covers:
*Price shown is for indicative purposes, please check with institution
Expected September 2026
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
ST305, 3/F, Ng Wing Hong Building,
Hung Hom,
Kowloon City, Hong Kong, Kowloon
3-year full-time PhD programme
Normally hold an MPhil or equivalent (a research postgraduate degree with a dissertation as an award requirement) conferred by a recognised university.
4-year full-time PhD programme
Normally hold:
A Master’s degree; OR
A Bachelor’s degree with First Class Honours (or equivalent qualification), conferred by a recognised university.
PolyU may accept other equivalent qualifications. The decision is made on an individual basis.
English Language Requirements
The requirements for those who do not have a degree for which English was the language of instruction at a recognized university are:
An overall score of at least 6.5 in the International English Language Testing System (IELTS); OR
A Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score of 80 or above for the Internet-based test or 550 or above for the paper-based test.
All English language test scores are considered valid for two years after the date of the test.
*There may be different IELTS requirements depending on your chosen course.
PolyU ranks 57th in the QS World University Rankings 2025 and 84th in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2025.
