MBA Compass 2027
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HKUST Business School

HKUST Full-Time MBA, 12-month Accelerator Mode

Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, ChinaShortlisted, fit #5Focus target 615+

Basics

Country
Hong Kong SAR, China
City
Hong Kong
Campus(es)
Clear Water Bay
Parent university
Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Selected programme
HKUST Full-Time MBA, 12-month Accelerator Mode
Programme type
One-year full-time MBA
Credential awarded
MBA degree
Format priority tier
One-year regular MBA (priority tier 2)
Language of instruction
English
Accreditations
AACSB, EQUISWeb, Oct 2026
Research round
Shortlisted (3 Oct 2026)
Alternatives considered and rejected
Kellogg-HKUST EMBA needs current employment and sponsorship
Selection rationale (full)
Read full evidence

The Kellogg-HKUST Executive MBA is for senior executives and is not a viable option for this candidate while resigned: the current EMBA FAQ says full-time employment is a prerequisite and company sponsorship/support is required. Its 10-year experience benchmark may be met by the 2027 start depending on her exact work dates, but employment and sponsorship remain barriers. HKUST offers an eligible 12-month regular full-time MBA, so it is selected under priority tier 2; no programme longer than one year is selected.[33][35]

Timeline and duration

2027 intake
July 2027 (online accelerators), early August immersion
Start date evidence
Official 2027
Approx. start date
15 Jul 2027
Orientation / immersion
Mandatory in-person immersion early August 2027
Start details (full)
Read full evidence

Officially published 2027 intake: online accelerators begin in July 2027 and mandatory in-person immersion is in early August 2027; the MBA FAQ says orientation begins in August. The exact first teaching day is not stated. The published Full-Time MBA Round 1 deadline is October 7, 2026; Round 2 is December 3, 2026.[32][33]

Selected duration
12 months
Duration (months)
12 months
Other durations offered
16-month Standard Mode
Expected finish
July 2028
Structure
Mode chosen after the programme starts
Internship possible
Better on 16-month mode
Duration details (full)
Read full evidence

12 months in the Accelerator Mode. HKUST also offers a 16-month Standard Mode, but the 12-month option is selected to match the requested duration limit.[32][33]

Application window

All deadlines
Round 1: 7 Oct 2026 (closed) Round 2: 3 Dec 2026 Round 3: 28 Jan 2027 [Web: HKUST deadlines page] Round 4: 25 Mar 2027 [Web: HKUST deadlines page] International rolling: 13 May 2027
Rounds already closed
1 of 5
Next open deadline
Round 2, 3 Dec 2026 (53 days)
Notes
Round 1 passed

GMAT plan

GMAT route
Required (GMAT or GRE)
Alternative tests
GRE
GMAT Focus accepted
Yes (no Focus-specific rule)
Minimum or recommendation
No minimum
Policy details (full)
Read full evidence

For the Full-Time MBA, HKUST’s current admissions table says GMAT/GRE is mandatory for all applicants; the school FAQ says a satisfactory score is generally required. The applicant can use the GMAT route (no CAT route is used for this India assessment). HKUST does not publish a Focusspecific threshold or separate edition-specific admissions rule. The EMBA is different: its FAQ says GMAT is not normally required; it may be requested in the stated exception for applicants without a bachelor’s degree, which does not describe this candidate.[32][34]

Strategic Focus target
615+
Basis of target
Legacy 660 maps to Focus 615 (GMAC concordance)
Target round
Round 2, 3 Dec 2026
Sit GMAT by (final attempt)
12 Nov 2026
First attempt by (with retake buffer)
1 Oct 2026 (passed, single attempt only)
Target reasoning (full)
Read full evidence

Provisional target: at least 615 GMAT Focus, not a minimum or guarantee. Basis: GMAC’s concordance maps legacy 660 to Focus 615, and HKUST’s FAQ reports a 660 average without identifying the scale or cohort. Thus 615 is only a transparent parity benchmark against an ambiguous historical average; a higher result can strengthen the academic signal, but HKUST publishes no Focus target or cutoff.[32][39]

Score statistics

Focus average
Not published
Focus range
Not published
Focus evidence (full)
Read full evidence

HKUST’s current Full-Time MBA policy requires GMAT/GRE but publishes no GMAT Focus-specific minimum or Focus cohort average, median, or range. GMAT Focus total scores use the 205–805 scale. GMAC’s Aug. 2024 concordance table maps legacy 660 to Focus 615 at the corresponding percentile; this is a scale comparison, not an HKUST cutoff or a Focus cohort result.[32][39]

Legacy average
660 (scale and year not stated)
Legacy range
570 to 710 (QS, undated, third party)
Legacy evidence (full)
Read full evidence

HKUST’s FAQ explicitly says there is no minimum GMAT/GRE score and reports a Full-Time MBA average GMAT of 660, but it does not state the exam edition, cohort year, or scale; it is a cohort average, not a cut-off, and should not be represented as a Focus score. QS TopMBA’s HKUST profile separately lists a typical class range of 570–710, but gives no cohort year or scale; treat it only as undated third-party context, not current official admissions policy. No school-published median or current edition-specific minimum/maximum/range was located.[38][39]

Costs

Tuition / programme fee
HKD 600,000
Tuition in INR (approx)
INR 67.8 L
Fee year
Fee page Oct 2026 (intake not labelled)
Application fee
HK$1,000Web, Oct 2026
Other compulsory fees
HK$65,000 deposit, credited to total
What the fee includes
Tuition, core textbooks, selected co-curricular activities
Fee details (full)
Read full evidence

As displayed on HKUST’s fee page on 3 October 2026: HK$600,000 total Full-Time MBA programme fee. The page does not separately label this amount by intake year, so confirm it for the 2027 intake. Includes tuition, textbooks and course materials for required core courses, and selected co-curricular activities; optional elective textbooks are excluded. The HK$65,000 non-refundable deposit is credited toward (not added to) the total; remaining balance is payable in two instalments. Housing and living costs are separate.[36][38]

Living cost estimate
HK$11,600 to 25,100 per month off campus (no MBA housing on campus)
Living per month (approx INR)
INR 2.0 L
Living cost basis (full)
Read full evidence

HKUST Off-Campus Housing’s estimate for one person living outside campus in Hong Kong in 2025/26 (last updated April 2026) is HK$11,600–25,100 per month: rent HK$4,500– 18,000, utilities HK$700, food HK$4,800, local transport HK$400 and miscellaneous HK$1,200. Full-Time MBA students do not have on-campus accommodation. Estimate excludes tuition and one-time rental expenses such as deposits/agent commission; 2027 costs may differ.[32][37]

Estimated total (approx INR)
INR 92.2 L
Scholarships
MBA Women Business Leader Award (amount not published)

Rankings and strengths

QS Global MBA
#45 (QS Global MBA 2027)
Ranking details (full)
Read full evidence

QS Quacquarelli Symonds / TopMBA, 2027 Full-time MBA Rankings, Global: HKUST Business School ranked #45 worldwide. This is a program-level global full-time MBA ranking, not a domestic rank or university-wide ranking.[38][39]

Known for
Technology, AI and innovation electives, Asia business focus
Known for (full)
Read full evidence

An Asia-focused business education with Hong Kong as a bridge between China and global markets; technology, AI, entrepreneurship and cross-border business are visible curriculum themes. The 52-credit Full-Time MBA allows more than half of credits to be electives. The published 2026 cohort profile reports average age 30, 37% women and 89% non-Hong Kong students , relevant signs of peer diversity, not admissions guarantees.[33][38]

Class profile

Average age
30
Average experience
6 years (range 2 to 14)
Women
37% (2026); 59% (2025)
International
89% non-Hong Kong (2026)

Placements and careers

Placement / offers
95% accepted an offer in 3 months (Class of 2025)
Career switching
63% changed industry, 42% function, 74% location
Report year
Class of 2025
Outcome details (full)
Read full evidence

HKUST reports for the Full-Time MBA Intake/Class of 2025 that 95% of graduates had accepted an offer within three months after graduation; 63% changed industry, 42% changed job function and 74% changed location. HKUST says the statistics follow MBA Career Services & Employer Alliance standards. The 95% figure is offer acceptance, not an employment-rate claim; the cited page does not publish salary statistics.[33]

Post-study work visa
IANG visa, 24 months, no job offer needed. Web: verify current rules before relying on this.Web, Oct 2026

Eligibility

Degree
Bachelor's degree
Minimum experience
2 years full-time (counted to 1 July 2027)
English
Exemption if degree taught in English
Current employment needed
Not required
Employer sponsorship
Not required
References
2 professional references
Eligibility details (full)
Read full evidence

Full-Time MBA requires at least 2 years of full-time work experience; the candidate’s nearly 9 years exceeds that minimum. HKUST says it counts full-time experience through July 1 of the commencement year. The published full-time MBA checklist does not list current employment or employer sponsorship as an admissions prerequisite, so her resignation is not a stated bar (confirm with admissions). By contrast, the EMBA requires at least 10 years of significant post-degree experience, company sponsorship/support, and, per its FAQ, current full-time employment. If she remains resigned, she cannot meet that EMBA employment/support prerequisite; exact work dates determine whether she reaches 10 years by 2027.[34][35]

My profile fit

Fit rank
#5 (International)
Eligibility verdict
Meets published criteria
Experience vs cohort
About 9 yrs vs 6 yr average; age matches
Main risks and trade-offs
12-month mode suits sponsored or same-field students; less pivot runway
Why it fits (full)
Read full evidence

Her B.E./engineering background and Accenture technology experience align with HKUST’s technology, AI and innovation electives, while its Asia business focus and Hong Kong network can support a move toward regional product, strategy or technology leadership. Her age matches the reported 2026 cohort average, and the full-time format avoids the EMBA’s employersponsorship/current-employment conditions. Important trade-off: HKUST describes the 12-month mode as especially suited to company-sponsored students, family-business leaders and people continuing in their field; it may offer less runway for a major career pivot than the 16-month route, which is outside this selection rule.[33][38]

Profile fit (earlier round)
Read full evidence

At age 30, she matches the 2025 cohort’s average age. Her 8 years 9 months at Accenture Technology India (Jul 2017–Mar 2026) is above the cohort’s 6-year average but within its published 2–14-year range; as of HKUST’s July 1, 2027 experience-count date, she has 8 years 9 months, not additional post-resignation experience. B.E. in engineering is a relevant quantitative/technology base. The profile can suit a technology-to-product, strategy, consulting or regional business pivot, but the fit depends on demonstrating leadership ownership and a credible post-MBA goal beyond technical delivery.[130][131]

Actions to strengthen
Read full evidence

1. Build a quantified CV and essays showing scope, outcomes and leadership from Accenture technology work (for example, team/client responsibility, delivery or business impact); explain the Senior Analyst title in context. 2. State a specific post-MBA role, target industry and geography, then connect the move to selected technology/AI, product, strategy or Asia-focused electives and HKUST’s career support; avoid a generic goal such as simply ‘move into management.’ 3. Address the March 2026 resignation directly: give a constructive, credible reason and a productive plan for the interval through the July/August 2027 start, and show readiness for full-time study and recruiting. 4. Prepare for GMAT Focus with a provisional 615+ goal, tracking Quantitative, Verbal and Data Insights section performance; do not treat 615 as a school threshold. 5. Secure two strong professional references from people who directly observed her work, ideally a former manager and a client or cross-functional leader, and brief them on her post-MBA goals. 6. If she can credibly evidence leadership and work advancing gender/viewpoint diversity, ask HKUST about the MBA Women Business Leader Award; the published page gives eligibility themes but no award amount. 7. Check transcripts, degree certificate and whether SVCE’s instruction language qualifies for HKUST’s English-test exemption. If ready, the official 2027 Round 1 deadline is October 7, 2026; otherwise plan around Round 2 on December 3, 2026.[32][34]

Open questions to confirm
Read full evidence

Research snapshot: 3 October 2026. HKUST’s fee page does not label the HK$600,000 amount by intake year, and the exact first 2027 class date is not posted. The applicant selects the 12- or 16-month mode after the programme commences, according to the FAQ; confirm availability and fit of the 12-month mode with admissions. The published 2026 cohort profile is not an admission promise. HKUST’s 660 GMAT average has no edition/year label, so it cannot safely be assumed to be a Focus average; no current Focus-specific cohort statistic or cutoff is published. The QS 570–710 range is undated third-party context only. The 16-month mode may better accommodate career switching but is not selected because the request excludes regular full-time programmes longer than one year.[36][38]

Full dossier

HKUST Business School (The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology), HKUST Full-Time MBA, 12-month Accelerator Mode

Country / location

Hong Kong SAR, China[32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39]

Program type

One-year full-time MBA[33][35]

Selected program

HKUST Full-Time MBA, 12-month Accelerator Mode[33][35]

Format-priority classification

one-year-regular[33][35]

Selection rationale / priority comparison

The Kellogg-HKUST Executive MBA is for senior executives and is not a viable option for this candidate while resigned: the current EMBA FAQ says full-time employment is a prerequisite and company sponsorship/support is required. Its 10-year experience benchmark may be met by the 2027 start depending on her exact work dates, but employment and sponsorship remain barriers. HKUST offers an eligible 12-month regular full-time MBA, so it is selected under priority tier 2; no programme longer than one year is selected.[33][35]

Next 2027 start / intake

Officially published 2027 intake: online accelerators begin in July 2027 and mandatory in-person immersion is in early August 2027; the MBA FAQ says orientation begins in August. The exact first teaching day is not stated. The published Full-Time MBA Round 1 deadline is October 7, 2026; Round 2 is December 3, 2026.[32][33]

Start-date evidence classification

official-2027[32][33]

Program duration

12 months in the Accelerator Mode. HKUST also offers a 16-month Standard Mode, but the 12-month option is selected to match the requested duration limit.[32][33]

GMAT route classification

required[32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39]

GMAT admissions policy

For the Full-Time MBA, HKUST’s current admissions table says GMAT/GRE is mandatory for all applicants; the school FAQ says a satisfactory score is generally required. The applicant can use the GMAT route (no CAT route is used for this India assessment). HKUST does not publish a Focusspecific threshold or separate edition-specific admissions rule. The EMBA is different: its FAQ says GMAT is not normally required; it may be requested in the stated exception for applicants without a bachelor’s degree, which does not describe this candidate.[32][34]

GMAT Focus score evidence

HKUST’s current Full-Time MBA policy requires GMAT/GRE but publishes no GMAT Focus-specific minimum or Focus cohort average, median, or range. GMAT Focus total scores use the 205–805 scale. GMAC’s Aug. 2024 concordance table maps legacy 660 to Focus 615 at the corresponding percentile; this is a scale comparison, not an HKUST cutoff or a Focus cohort result.[32][39]

Legacy GMAT score evidence

HKUST’s FAQ explicitly says there is no minimum GMAT/GRE score and reports a Full-Time MBA average GMAT of 660, but it does not state the exam edition, cohort year, or scale; it is a cohort average, not a cut-off, and should not be represented as a Focus score. QS TopMBA’s HKUST profile separately lists a typical class range of 570–710, but gives no cohort year or scale; treat it only as undated third-party context, not current official admissions policy. No school-published median or current edition-specific minimum/maximum/range was located.[38][39]

Profile-specific GMAT Focus target (advisory)

Provisional target: at least 615 GMAT Focus, not a minimum or guarantee. Basis: GMAC’s concordance maps legacy 660 to Focus 615, and HKUST’s FAQ reports a 660 average without identifying the scale or cohort. Thus 615 is only a transparent parity benchmark against an ambiguous historical average; a higher result can strengthen the academic signal, but HKUST publishes no Focus target or cutoff.[32][39]

Tuition, fees and included items

As displayed on HKUST’s fee page on 3 October 2026: HK$600,000 total Full-Time MBA programme fee. The page does not separately label this amount by intake year, so confirm it for the 2027 intake. Includes tuition, textbooks and course materials for required core courses, and selected co-curricular activities; optional elective textbooks are excluded. The HK$65,000 non-refundable deposit is credited toward (not added to) the total; remaining balance is payable in two instalments. Housing and living costs are separate.[36][38]

Living-cost estimate and basis

HKUST Off-Campus Housing’s estimate for one person living outside campus in Hong Kong in 2025/26 (last updated April 2026) is HK$11,600–25,100 per month: rent HK$4,500– 18,000, utilities HK$700, food HK$4,800, local transport HK$400 and miscellaneous HK$1,200. Full-Time MBA students do not have on-campus accommodation. Estimate excludes tuition and one-time rental expenses such as deposits/agent commission; 2027 costs may differ.[32][37]

Worldwide program ranking

QS Quacquarelli Symonds / TopMBA, 2027 Full-time MBA Rankings, Global: HKUST Business School ranked #45 worldwide. This is a program-level global full-time MBA ranking, not a domestic rank or university-wide ranking.[38][39]

What the school/program is known for

An Asia-focused business education with Hong Kong as a bridge between China and global markets; technology, AI, entrepreneurship and cross-border business are visible curriculum themes. The 52-credit Full-Time MBA allows more than half of credits to be electives. The published 2026 cohort profile reports average age 30, 37% women and 89% non-Hong Kong students , relevant signs of peer diversity, not admissions guarantees.[33][38]

Placement and career outcomes

HKUST reports for the Full-Time MBA Intake/Class of 2025 that 95% of graduates had accepted an offer within three months after graduation; 63% changed industry, 42% changed job function and 74% changed location. HKUST says the statistics follow MBA Career Services & Employer Alliance standards. The 95% figure is offer acceptance, not an employment-rate claim; the cited page does not publish salary statistics.[33]

Work, employment and eligibility conditions

Full-Time MBA requires at least 2 years of full-time work experience; the candidate’s nearly 9 years exceeds that minimum. HKUST says it counts full-time experience through July 1 of the commencement year. The published full-time MBA checklist does not list current employment or employer sponsorship as an admissions prerequisite, so her resignation is not a stated bar (confirm with admissions). By contrast, the EMBA requires at least 10 years of significant post-degree experience, company sponsorship/support, and, per its FAQ, current full-time employment. If she remains resigned, she cannot meet that EMBA employment/support prerequisite; exact work dates determine whether she reaches 10 years by 2027.[34][35]

Why this option could fit the profile

Her B.E./engineering background and Accenture technology experience align with HKUST’s technology, AI and innovation electives, while its Asia business focus and Hong Kong network can support a move toward regional product, strategy or technology leadership. Her age matches the reported 2026 cohort average, and the full-time format avoids the EMBA’s employersponsorship/current-employment conditions. Important trade-off: HKUST describes the 12-month mode as especially suited to company-sponsored students, family-business leaders and people continuing in their field; it may offer less runway for a major career pivot than the 16-month route, which is outside this selection rule.[33][38]

Caveats, open questions and verification points

Research snapshot: 3 October 2026. HKUST’s fee page does not label the HK$600,000 amount by intake year, and the exact first 2027 class date is not posted. The applicant selects the 12- or 16-month mode after the programme commences, according to the FAQ; confirm availability and fit of the 12-month mode with admissions. The published 2026 cohort profile is not an admission promise. HKUST’s 660 GMAT average has no edition/year label, so it cannot safely be assumed to be a Focus average; no current Focus-specific cohort statistic or cutoff is published. The QS 570–710 range is undated third-party context only. The 16-month mode may better accommodate career switching but is not selected because the request excludes regular full-time programmes longer than one year.[36][38]

Research status

qualified[33][35]

School

HKUST Business School (The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology)[32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39]

Earlier research round (29 Sep 2026)

Preserved as history; the revised round above takes precedence.

Country / location

Read full evidence

Hong Kong SAR, China[34][36][129][130][131][132][133][134]

Program title, format and credential

Read full evidence

HKUST Full-time MBA[34][129][130]

2027 start / intake

Read full evidence

August (HKUST confirms annual Full-time MBA orientation starts in August; exact 2027 start date is unannounced). 2027 application rounds are posted.[129][130][131]

Program duration

Read full evidence

12 or 16 months; students state their preferred option after the program starts. The 16-month option may include summer study/exchange; internship is optional.[34][130]

GMAT Focus admissions/statistical evidence

Read full evidence

Full-time applicants must submit GMAT/GRE; HKUST states no minimum GMAT/GRE score. No GMAT Focus mean, median, minimum, maximum or score distribution published. HKUST’s FAQ gives an average GMAT of 660 without cohort or edition; since 660 is on the retired 200–800 scale, treat as legacy-era context, not a cutoff. GMAC’s July 2025 percentile concordance maps legacy 660 approximately to Focus 615 (75.4th percentile); this is an approximate crossscale comparison, not an HKUST Focus result.[34][134]

Legacy GMAT admissions/statistical evidence

Read full evidence

HKUST FAQ publishes a GMAT average of 660 (cohort and test edition unspecified; apparently legacy 200–800 scale). No median, minimum, maximum or distribution located. HKUST explicitly says there is no minimum score; legacy GMAT is retired and 660 is not a current cutoff.[34][134]

Profile-specific score target (advisory)

Read full evidence

Strategic advice, not an HKUST admission rule: aim for GMAT Focus 625+ (or legacy 680+ only if reporting a still-valid old score), with strong Quantitative and Data Insights performance. This is a modestly-above-average benchmark inferred using GMAC concordance from HKUST’s un-dated legacy mean of 660; the school has published no Focus cohort results or target.[34][134]

Tuition, fees and included items

Read full evidence

Intended 2027 intake budget: HKD 600,000 total Full-time MBA program fee at HKUST’s current published rate (page does not identify it as a 2027-specific fee). Covers tuition, textbooks/core-course materials and certain selected co-curricular activities; optional elective textbooks excluded. HKD 65,000 non-refundable deposit is credited toward, not added to, the total; balance in two installments. Separate mandatory fees not specified on the page.[34][36][133]

Living-cost estimate and basis

Read full evidence

Estimate for Hong Kong, in HKD: roughly HKD 90,000–230,000 per year (about HKD 7,500–19,200/month), calculated from the Hong Kong SAR Government’s guide: off-campus rent HKD 5,000–15,000/month plus HKD 30,000–50,000/year for other living costs (food, leisure, transport, personal items). Rough guide, not an HKUST budget; excludes tuition and potentially travel/one-off costs. HKUST says Full-time MBA students do not have on-campus accommodation.[34][36][129][133]

Worldwide program ranking

Read full evidence

#24 worldwide, Financial Times Global MBA Ranking 2026 (HKUST official rankings page); #1 in Hong Kong. This is a global MBA ranking, not a general university rank.[132]

What the school/program is known for

Read full evidence

Asia-rooted, internationally oriented MBA; Hong Kong/ Greater China and wider Asia-Pacific access; tech, AI, innovation and entrepreneurship; strong corporate/ alumni connections and career transition support. 2025 Full-time cohort profile: average age 30 (range 24–39), average work experience 6 years (range 2–14), 59% women and 84% non-Hong Kong. Flexible 12/16-month pathways.[130]

Placement and career outcomes

Read full evidence

Newest official HKUST career page reports for Full-time MBA Intake 2025: 95% of graduates accepted an offer within 3 months after graduation; 42% changed job function, 63% industry and 74% location. HKUST says statistics follow MBA Career Services & Employer Alliance standards, but the page gives no denominator or salary and no sector/geography breakdown. It lists employers including Amazon, Bain, Citi, Google, J.P. Morgan, McKinsey and others, not destination shares.[34][36][129][130][131][132][133][134]

Profile fit and rationale

Read full evidence

At age 30, she matches the 2025 cohort’s average age. Her 8 years 9 months at Accenture Technology India (Jul 2017–Mar 2026) is above the cohort’s 6-year average but within its published 2–14-year range; as of HKUST’s July 1, 2027 experience-count date, she has 8 years 9 months, not additional post-resignation experience. B.E. in engineering is a relevant quantitative/technology base. The profile can suit a technology-to-product, strategy, consulting or regional business pivot, but the fit depends on demonstrating leadership ownership and a credible post-MBA goal beyond technical delivery.[130][131]

Caveats, open questions and verification points

Read full evidence

HKUST’s official 2027 page posts application deadlines, but the exact 2027 orientation date is not published; August is the confirmed annual orientation month per its FAQ. The current HKD 600,000 fee is not expressly tagged to Intake 2027. GMAT FAQ mean has no cohort/edition label; no Focus score distribution, GMAT min/max/median, employment denominator, salary, or detailed placement geography/sector distribution was located. 2025 cohort profile is historical, not a forecast of the 2027 class. Candidate’s academic grades, English medium of instruction, leadership scope, extracurricular impact, career target and actual test score are unknown; verify eligibility and English-test requirements with HKUST.[34][36][129][132][133][134]

School

Read full evidence

HKUST Business School[34][36][129][130][131][132][133][134]