The Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering (BEEE), originally named Building Services Engineering (BSE), was officially established in December 1981, and has become one of the largest BEEE departments worldwide. As a leading provider of trained professionals in building services for the unique environment of Hong Kong, BEEE engages in a wide range of research activities organised in three themes, namely Building Energy, Building Environment and Building Safety and Resilience, with focuses on enhancing the quality of the environment, energy efficiency, the use of renewable energy, and the safety and resilience of buildings to effectively address the contemporary concerns and future challenges of urban environments. Its core mission is to devise andimprove engineering systems to promote the health and well-being of building occupants by providing a sanctuary from the elements and the extremes of temperature, noise, light, toxins and pathogens at the lowest cost of energy and resources. BEEE offers a full range of programmes leading to the awards of Doctor of Philosophy, Master of Philosophy, Master of Engineering, Master of Science and Bachelor of Engineering serving the needs of the local industry.BEEE contributes to PolyU’s world ranking of 14th in QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024, Architecture and Built Environment and 14th in QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024, Civil and Structural Engineering. The expertise of BEEE academic staff spans a wide range of disciplines, including the aspects of sustainability building energy, heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems fire and safety engineering electrical technology public health indoor environmental engineering architectural engineering computer-aided design and facilities management.
Aims and Learning Outcomes
The Phd degree programmes aim to provide rigorous training to students who aspire to become researchers or scholars capable of conducting independent and original research, and producing research findings that are relevant and significant to their chosen field of specialisation. The objectives of the programme of study are to equip students with rigour and wit. To be awarded the degree, students must demonstrate their research competence by submitting a thesis and successfully defending it. This is to ensure that students have attained the appropriate/requisite standard and acquired ability to:
• fully understand and critically evaluate the literature related to their chosen area of study
• identify problems of relevance and significance worthy of investigation
• formulate the problems into testable pieces amenable to rigorous investigation
• apply appropriate research methodology to conduct the investigation
• perform careful and thorough analysis from which valid conclusions are drawn and
• present the findings in a clear, lucid and cogent manner.
Expected September 2026
Faculty of Construction and Environment, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
ZS1201, 12/F, South Tower, Block Z,
Hung Hom,
Kowloon City, Hong Kong, Kowloon
To register for the degree of PhD, a student must normally hold a postgraduate degree containing a significant research component, such as a dissertation, conferred by a recognized university.
In exceptional circumstances, applicants other than those stipulated above may be admitted directly to the PhD programme. For example, an applicant with a Bachelors degree with First Class Honours, or the equivalent. Such applicants may be required to pass an examination.
PolyU may accept other equivalent qualifications. The decision is made on an individual basis.
The requirements for those who do not have a degree for which English was the language of instruction at a recognised university are:
An overall score of at least 6.5 (with score for the writing component at 6.0 or above) 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 (with a writing score of 23 or above) or 550 or above for the paper-based test (with a score of 4 or above in the Test of Written English).
Alternatively, consideration will be given to acceptable scores in other internationally recognised public examinations, such as the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT).
All English language test scores are considered valid for five years after the date of the test.
