Rules and Regulations for PhD by Research Degree Program

Admission Requirements

An applicant for admission to graduate work for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) by research must

Be a holder of a Master of Science (MS) degree from a recognized institution in the same area admission to the PhD degree is applied for;
Have a grade point average of 1.75 or better in the MS degree program;
Have at least 7 years experience in research beyond the MS degree; and
Have been sole or senior author of at least five published papers in the intended area of specialization (excluding the MS and BS theses) in reputable refereed journals.

A duly accomplished application form must be submitted to the Graduate School together with the following documents:

Certification from the immediate head of the agency that the applicant has at least 7 years of satisfactory research experience;
Reprints or copies of the applicant’s publications (at least five from reputable journals) wherein the applicant is the sole or senior author;
Official transcript of previous academic study and photocopy of BS and MS diplomas; and
Capsule research proposal not exceeding five pages which shall include the title, rationale, objectives, methodology, and references.

All applicants from countries where English is not the medium of instruction should take the English proficiency examination. Those who are classified Level A should enrol in the Level A Intensive English Course for a fee of P8000.

Admission Evaluation

The Evaluation Committee, appointed by the dean, and composed of a chair and at least three but not more than five graduate faculty members shall assess the potential of an applicant as a PhD candidate of the program.

The Evaluation Committee shall conduct the interview, qualifying examination, and defense of the research proposal of the applicant. The qualifying examination may be written or oral or both as unanimously approved by the Evaluation Committee. If the performance of the applicant is satisfactory the Evaluation Committee shall conduct the defense of the research proposal.

Acceptance (or nonacceptance) to the program shall be based on the overall performance of the applicant in the interview, qualifying examination, and in the defense of the applicant’s research proposal.

To be accepted to the program, the applicant must receive not more than one negative vote from the Evaluation Committee.

Notice of Admission

Letters of admission shall be sent out beginning 15 March for first semester admission and 15 August for second semester admission.

The admission process is not complete until the applicant acknowledges the admission through a letter of acceptance.

Registration

The student shall confer with the UPLB Registrar regarding his initial registration requirements only upon presentation of the letter of admission from the dean of the Graduate School.

Deferment of Registration

Deferment of registration for a period not exceeding 1 year may be granted upon written request. A student unable to register within 1 year of admission needs to reapply for admission to the Graduate School.

Residency and Time Limit

A student is in residence when he is registered for dissertation work on campus or work in absentia with due approval in advance by his Advisory Committee.

A minimum period of 3 but not more than 5 years is required for residency.

Advisory Committee

The candidate, in consultation with the chair/director of the major department/institute shall select his prospective major adviser who shall also be the chair of the student’s advisory committee. The student, together with his major adviser, shall form the committee which shall be composed of four or five members, with the major and related areas represented.

The chair of the advisory committee shall convene the committee not later than 1 month after the approval of its composition by the dean of the Graduate School. The candidate shall discuss with his advisory committee the details of the dissertation proposal including the place of work and its mechanics of monitoring, facilities needed, time required to accomplish the work, and the budget.

The candidate shall discuss with his advisory committee the approval of portions of the dissertation which are ready for presentation in a seminar, and to be written and submitted for publication.

Work in Absentia

The provisions for doctoral degree shall apply to the PhD by Research program.

Final Examination Panel

The final examination panel shall be composed of the student’s advisory committee and two external reviewers to be appointed by the dean of the Graduate School from among five nominees of the department or institute. The external reviewers shall serve as critics with voting power.

Final Examination

The candidate shall be given, by his Final Examination Panel, an oral examination which will be open to the public. The Graduate School shall publicize the schedule and place of the oral examination.
To pass the examination the candidate must not receive more than one negative vote from the Final Examination Panel.

A candidate who fails the examination may be given a reexamination not earlier than 1 month but not later than 1 year after the first examination only upon unanimous approval of his Advisory Committee. Failure to pass the reexamination shall disqualify the candidate from earning the degree.
A student who passes the final examination shall be given a numerical grade.

Requirements for Graduation

The candidate must register and satisfactorily complete 3 units of seminar and present a seminar three times. At least two of the seminar topics to be presented must include results of the dissertation.

Before the candidate can be awarded the degree, at least three articles from his dissertation work should have been published or at least accepted for publication in a refereed scientific journal.

Three (3) copies of the dissertation together with a soft copy (CD) in pdf file duly approved by the Advisory Committee members must be submitted to the Graduate School.