Admission Requirements

A master of science student in UPLB who has completed 18 units of 200-level graduate courses in two consecutive semesters during his first year in the graduate program, with a grade point average of 1.25, may shift to the straight PhD program.

The applicant shall undergo the following procedures prior to his admission to the straight PhD program:

1. Obtain a certification of his grade point average and record of his grades for each course he has taken at the 200-level from the Office of the UPLB Registrar. These documents must be attached to his application for a qualifying examination.
2. After securing the foregoing documents, apply for a Qualifying Examination to the department chair upon the recommendation of his guidance committee.
3. Take the Qualifying Examination before the opening of classes following his completion of the first 18 units of 200-level graduate courses. The Qualifying Examination shall determine whether the following criteria are met.

• Substantial scholarship and high attainment in a particular field of knowledge;
• Marked ability and scholarship in some relatively broad field of knowledge;
• High critical ability and powers of imagination and synthesis; and
• Knowledge in the use of research techniques.

Examination Committee

The department chair shall organize the Examination Committee after he has approved the application of the student for a qualifying examination. The Examination Committee shall perform the following tasks:

1. Assess the scholastic standing of the candidate;
2. Examine the subject areas taken by the student which will receive emphasis in the doctoral program;
3. Interview the candidate;
4. Prepare and administer the written qualifying examination;
5. Evaluate the result of the written qualifying examination and measure them against the criteria set forth in the foregoing; and
6. Submit to the department chair the results of the evaluation of the candidate’s performance in the written qualifying examination.

A student who passes the written qualifying examination shall be recommended by the department chair to the dean of the Graduate School who will issue the official letter of admission. An applicant who fails to meet the admission requirements retains his status in the master’s program.

Shifting Process

Upon admission to the Straight PhD degree program, the applicant must nominate his advisory committee following the general rules and requirements of the doctoral degree program.