Admission Criteria

The minimum requirement for admission to the doctoral degree programme is a Master’s Degree and a Thesis Proposal. Applicants with a computer science related Master’s Degree(*) and a strong Computer Science Bachelor’s Degree will also be considered.

In addition to the above, applicants must also satisfy the following requirements:

• Publications: Previous theses/dissertations and any published work of academic relevance (if any)
• Research work and published articles (if any);

• Statement of purpose: Applicants are required to submit a comprehensive research outline highlighting their academic and individual competencies and state why they believe they are suitable for admission to the programme, as well as their reflections regarding the expectations and value of the programme for their personal advancement and career development.
• Initial Research Proposal: An initial proposal (4,000 – 6,000 words) outlining the research topic, aims and objectives, research questions and proposed research methodology, substantiated by literature, as follows:
  • Title
  • Literature review (brief/well cited/substantiated)
  • Identifications of gaps in existing literature and rationale for proposed research
  • Aims and objectives
  • Research hypotheses
  • Research methodology
  • Ethical Considerations (if applicable)
  • Expected output
  • Time plan for completion
  • References

English Language Proficiency

Students satisfy the English requirements if their first degree was taught in English. Otherwise, they would need to present a minimum TOEFL score of 550 paper-based or 213 computer-based, GCSE “O” Level with minimum “C” or IELTS with a score of 6.5.

*An applicant may be admitted to the program subject to completing selected graduate courses offered by the Department, if so decided by the Department Graduate Studies Committee (DPPC). These courses will be in addition to the 180 ECTS required by the programme.

The Ph.D. programme entails the following stages:

• Attendance of a number of postgraduate courses which the Departmental Postgraduate Programmes Committee considers necessary for the student
• Writing of the research proposal
• Defence of the research proposal before the Supervisory Team
• Research work by the student under the guidance of the Supervisory Team and writing up of the Thesis
• Submission of the Thesis
• Defence of the Thesis before the Examinations Committee

The Ph.D. programme requires the completion of 180 ECTS out of which, 60 ECTS are allocated to the preparation of the research proposal, 90 ECTS are allocated to the research and writing up of the writing up of the Thesis and 30 ECTS for the defence of the Thesis.

The minimum number of years for completing the Ph.D. is three (3) and the maximum number of years is eight (8).

Ph.D. holders in Computer Science will:

• have deep understanding of the field and exhibit advanced skills and methods of research associated with the field
• be able to conceive, design, implement and adapt a substantial process of research
• have made a contribution through original research that extends the frontier of knowledge by developing a substantial body of work, some of which merits national or international refereed publication
• be capable of critical analysis, evaluation and synthesis of new and complex ideas
• be able to promote, within academic and professional contexts, technological, social or cultural advancement in a knowledge based society
• be able to work in Universities, Institutes of Higher Education and Research centers and organizations

Semester 2:

Semester 3:

Semester 4:

Semester 5:

Semester 6: