Doctor of Philosophy in Chinese Medicine (Study Plan)

I. Aims

This curriculum aims at nurturing talent to have solid foundation in theory and wide professional knowledge as well as independent ability to conduct advanced research in Chinese Medicine. 

II. Admission Requirements

Subjected to the completion of application procedure of Macau University of Science and Technology for doctor degree programs and the qualification from the entrance examination, applicants with master degree in Chinese or Western Medicine can be admitted in the program.

III. Academic Field

Chinese Medicine.

There are three different professional areas in this program, i.e.: basics research, clinical research and acupuncture research, with their own requirements. Basics research mainly focuses on literature and basic studies in traditional theory of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), Chinese Medicines, diagnostics of TCM, and formulation of TCM by using research methodology and technology in both TCM and modern biomedicine. Clinic research mainly focuses on the clinical treatments and mechanism studies of different kinds of diseases with Chinese medicine, including internal medicine, surgery, gynecology, pediatrics, orthopedics and traumatology, ophthalmology, otorhinolaryngology, dermatology, and rectum, etc. Acupuncture research mainly focuses on the clinical and experimental studies in acupuncture and manipulation.

IV. Program Duration

The normal study period of Doctor of Philosophy in Chinese Medicine program is 3 years. The maximum study period is 6 years. (For students who were enrolled in the academic year 2018/2019, please refer to the study plan for the year of admission.)

V. Medium of Instruction

This program is delivered mainly in Chinese and also supplemented with English.

VI. Course Structure

Table 1: Core Courses (6 Credits)

Table 2: Elective Courses* (6 Credits)

*The Faculty of Chinese Medicine has the ultimate right to decide which course or whether the course will be opened for all elective subjects

Table 3: Dissertation

VII. Teaching Requirements

1. Students are required to complete two core courses from Table 1 and two elective courses related to their research direction from Table 2 during their study period to gain 12 credits. For students from the basics research area of Chinese Medicine, they have to select the Current Topics in Basic Research of Chinese Medicine. For students from the clinical research area, they have to select the Current Topics in Clinical Research of Chinese Medicine. For students from the acupuncture research area, they have to select the Current Topics in Acupuncture.
2. Students can only submit his/her dissertation proposal for confirmation upon the completion of the aforementioned 12 credits under Table 1 and 2, within the first 18 months after Complete thesis proposal defense. The overall process should follow the dissertation composition flow established by the faculty.
3. Each student has to systematically and comprehensively conduct scientific research on basic or clinical Chinese medicine or acupuncture under the guidance of his or her supervisor. Also they have to develop the ability to conduct research independently, and write a complete and well-thought thesis with both theory and practical value. Based on the need of the research content, student may have to go to the partner laboratory or hospital in Mainland China, Hong Kong or other countries or regions to conduct research or clinical practice.
4. In order to achieve the minimum requirement for applying oral defense for graduation, students in the area of basics research of Chinese medicine have to publish at least two SCI-E papers (First author or co-first author in at least one paper). Students in the area of clinical research of Chinese medicine or acupuncture have to publish at least one SCI-E paper or one paper as first author in Grade I Chinese Journal accepted by MUST.
5. The dissertation should pass the assessment and be defended successfully.

VIII. Study Time

The duration for taking all courses is 6 months and the duration of dissertation composition is 30 months.

IX. Graduation Requirements

Upon approval from the Senate of the University, a Doctoral Degree will be conferred on a student when he or she has:

1. Completed and met the requirements prescribed in the study plan of his or her program within the specific study period, and achieved a cumulative GPA of 2.50 or above (excluding dissertation)
2. Abided by the regulations of the University
3. Cleared all fees and charges and returned all University’s property and equipment borrowed

Note: All curriculums and study plans are based on the newest announcement of the Boletim Oficial da Região Administrativa Especial de Macau.

Note: In case of any discrepancy, the Chinese version shall prevail.