PhD Programme

The PhD programme at Syed Babar Ali School of Science and Engineering is designed to prepare students to think scientifically and independently conduct high-quality research. The school offers a PhD in six programmes:

• Biology
• Chemistry
• Chemical and Environmental Engineering
• Computer Science
• Electrical Engineering
• Mathematics
• Physics

To graduate, students must earn a total of 42 credit hours, i.e. 18 credit hours of coursework and 24 credit hours of research work/thesis. Major milestones that must be achieved for the successful completion of the PhD degree include the Comprehensive (Qualifying) Examination, Thesis Proposal Defense, at least one peer-reviewed journal article and PhD Thesis Defense. After admission, a student is “matched” to a faculty member according to the student’s research interests. This faculty member will be serving as the student’s PhD supervisor (thesis advisor). Students must start preparing for the PhD Comprehensive Examination immediately after admission.    

Although courses taken in the first semester may prove to be helpful, it is anticipated that full preparation of comprehensive examination requires extensive independent study.

Students enrolled in the PhD programme are expected to undertake original research work under the guidance of their thesis advisor. It is the responsibility of the student and the PhD supervisor to ascertain that the quality of the research work is high and that the results are published in at least one peer-reviewed scientific journal that covers the student’s field of specialization. The student must then complete the remaining coursework and expand his/her research work culminating in the submission of a written PhD Thesis followed by its defence.