DH Student Projects
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology currently offers a range of courses related to digital humanities. These courses provide students with world-class training in digital humanities and support their exploration of digital humanities technologies. These digital humanities programs are well integrated with new technologies such as AI and large language models, and they demonstrate the vitality of the digital humanities community at HKUST.
Our initiative is supported by a team of top instructors from Asia and invites guest lecturers from countries such as Japan and South Korea, providing students with cutting-edge education in Digital Humanities as well as the most practical technical knowledge.
About Our DH Courses
The Digital Humanities courses offers students an exciting opportunity to explore the intersections of technology, culture, history, and art. It combines practical computational skills with deep engagement in humanities research, enabling students to study texts, data, and cultural phenomena in innovative ways.
HUMA5630 Digital Humanities – Text Mining for Humanities focuses on using computational methods to analyze historical documents, literature, and other cultural texts. Students will gain hands-on experience with Python, applying tools like Optical Character Recognition (OCR) to turn scanned manuscripts into searchable data and using Natural Language Processing (NLP) to identify key themes, entities, and patterns. This course transforms traditional humanities research by combining technology and humanistic inquiry.
HUMA5632 Digital Humanities Seminar introduces students to the broader methods and tools of digital humanities. The course covers data acquisition, analysis, text mining, and visualization, helping students explore research questions related to the use, sharing, and presentation of humanities data. It emphasizes practical skills for handling humanities datasets and presenting insights in clear and effective ways.
HUMA1673 Art and Digital Culture examines the histories, concepts, and practices of digital culture. Students will study how digital technologies influence society, media, and artistic expression, including digital arts, publishing, photography, cinema, music, and video games. The course combines theoretical reading with case studies such as internet memes, digital relationships, and collective memories of popular music in Asia. By the end, students will understand how digital culture operates and how it continues to transform multiple forms of media.
Together, these courses provide a comprehensive understanding of digital tools, analytical methods, and cultural contexts. Students will leave the program with practical skills, theoretical knowledge, and a deeper appreciation of how technology can enrich humanities research and creative practice.
Students’ Projects
We’re proud to present our featured projects where students take center stage, contributing their talents to the exciting blend of teaching and learning. Take a look at a few of them below!
Postgraduate Conference on Digital Humanities
The South China Postgraduate Forum on Digital Humanities is jointly organized by our Division and the Yuelu Academy, Hunan University. Recognized as one of the leading postgraduate events in Asia, the forum has become a premier platform for digital humanities research and education in the region. It offers students from our Division’s digital humanities courses an exceptional opportunity to present their projects, exchange ideas with peers and experts, and engage in meaningful academic discussion. Through these activities, students gain valuable experience in scholarly communication and the practical application of digital methods in humanities research.
By showcasing cutting-edge projects and promoting academic dialogue, the forum strengthens the competitiveness and reputation of the participating universities’ digital humanities programs. It plays a vital role in maintaining their leading position in humanities education and interdisciplinary research, while cultivating top-quality talent who are fully prepared for the era of digitalization and AI. The South China Postgraduate Forum on Digital Humanities exemplifies the highest standards of academic excellence and innovation in Asia, making it a benchmark event for students and scholars alike.
Digital Humanities Public Lectures
We regularly invite world-leading scholars in Digital Humanities to teach courses and provide guidance on student projects. Currently, the Digital Humanities community at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology hosts the most academic activities in Digital Humanities across Asia.
Words from Students
...This project has provided me with a rare chance to engage with related topics, allowing a lively result of historical research instead of traditional papers and essays. The most rewarding part is being deeply involved in this field, where I have learned new ideas and ongoing projects presented by other scholars.
CHAN Ching, Crystal
Year 4, BEng in Computer Engineering
...My primary responsibilities in this project included scanning paper diaries into digital images, searching for relevant data and maps, and designing posters for price lists...As a Global China Studies (GCS) student, this was my first experience using GitHub. I learned how to modify the code on this platform...
PENG Wanwen
Year 4, BSc in Global China Studies
Past Projects Archive
Below is the archive of historical projects. These projects were completed by students in previous years and represent a wide range of research topics and methodologies. They showcase the development of digital humanities research over time and reflect the academic depth and practical skills cultivated through our courses.