1. General Conditions
1.1  The Institute will award the degree of Ph.D. to registered students who successfully complete approved programs of work carried out under our supervision in a suitable environment in the country for residence of the student.

 

1.2  Candidates must gain the backing and support of an establishment of higher or further education or its equivalent, or of an industrial, commercial, professional or research establishment that is able to meet the Institute’s conditions as set out below. The Institute encourages collaboration in programs of research between educational and industrial, commercial, professional or research establishments. Where no collaboration or joint supervision is appropriate, the reasons for this must be stated at the time of application for registration.

 

1.3  The supporting establishment must present the candidate’s application for registration and must be responsible for the general arrangements under which the candidate’s research is carried out, including arrangements for academic supervision and the provision of adequate facilities to enable the candidate to conduct and complete the research programs in an efficient and safe manner. 

1.4  The supporting establishment must certify annually (by 31^st October of each year) whether the Institute’s registered research degree candidates are still actively engaged on their research programs and are maintaining regular and frequent contact with their supervisors. 

2.  Further Regulations
2.1  The Institute strongly encourages collaboration od Ph.D. students with business organisations, including, where 
appropriate, universities; we do not, however, insist on such collaboration where genuine and effective collaboration cannot be arranged. In such cases reasons must be given by the sponsoring establishment. Underlying the Institute’s policy on collaboration is our desire to encourage candidates gain a broader view of the industry; thus, where suitable arrangements can be made, it is expected that one of the candidate’s supervisors will be from the collaborating establishment. If the personnel in the establishment are not qualified to act as supervisors, but have some appropriate technical expertise, it is expected that one of them may act either as supervisor or as advisor to the student. Even if no tradition of collaboration exists in either the subject or the institution, efforts should be made to seek possibilities of suitable collaboration between establishments.

2.2.  The objectives of collaboration for a research programme are to encourage outward-looking, socially relevant research, enriching the student’s own experience and contacts, as well as the range of expertise available to the student. Based on the concept of intellectual reciprocity, the student and sponsoring/collaborating establishments gain in this mutual arrangement. In certain newly developing areas of research, contact with outside bodies can be especially important because it can help to reduce the isolation of research candidates in colleges and establishments where there are few other workers directly concerned with the field of work. The development of the research programme itself can also be considerably aided by collaboration arrangements. Whether the sponsoring establishment is an academic institution or otherwise, opportunities must be sought through collaboration arrangement to provide these benefits for the advantage of the student. A letter from the collaborating establishment confirming the agreed arrangements should be submitted with the application. In cases where a university is involved, the Institute will accept collaboration with the university, provided the letter confirming the agreed arrangement is signed by one of the following:
- the Head of relevant Department
- the Registrar 
- the Secretary
- the Vice-Chancellor of the University.

2.3  Candidates employed by universities are eligible to apply for registration for a research degree, provided that they are sponsored by an establishment other than university and that the supervision is based substantially outside the university.

2.4  The sponsoring establishment is normally expected to be the organisation where the major part of the candidate’s work is to be undertaken. The Institute expects the sponsoring establishment to exercise due care for the safety of and proper control over the personnel working on its premises and on any fieldwork sites associated with the research programme, and to have in operation a code of safe practice complying with statutory regulations. Where as part of the approved arrangements the candidate undertakes sections of the research programme in other establishments, the Institute expects the sponsoring establishment to satisfy itself that the other establishments concerned exercise due care for the safety of the proper control over the personnel working on their premises, and that such other establishments have in operation a code of safe practice complying with statutory regulations. 

2.5  Candidates holding Master of Arts of Master of Science degrees awarded without a requirement to complete successfully a course of advanced postgraduate study or research are not eligible to apply under this Regulation. Such candidates must first complete the MBA of this Institute in a relevant area.

2.6  The Institute believes strongly in the value of the inclusion of programs of taught postgraduate study in postgraduate training leading to the award of M.Phil and Ph.D. degrees. Such programs may include attendance in the sponsoring establishment or elsewhere at postgraduate lectures, study groups, workshops and other relevant short courses, for example, on research methodology, as well as participation in seminars, colloquia and conferences throughout the registration period. Candidates who propose to undertake research in a subject outside the main area covered by their first degree, should be required to attend specific courses or parts of courses at first degree or higher degree to fill any gaps that may exist in their existing knowledge. 

3. Registration

3.1 Direct registration for the degree of Ph.D. is permitted for holders of a recognised Master degree in a relevant area. An MBA Degree from this Institute is strongly recommended for those who want to proceed to Ph.D.

 

4.1 A candidate for the degree of Ph.D. is required to investigate satisfactorily, evaluate and undertake a critical study of a chosen topic or topics, demonstrating lucidity in the presentation of the thesis and understanding of the context and significance of the work. A candidate for the degree of Ph.D. is expected to complete successfully a project that results in a significant contribution to knowledge.

 

4.2 The research project must enable the student to acquire competence in the methods of research and scholarship and to display sustained independent effort.

 

4.3 The application for registration should set out as systematically and as fully as is practicable the candidate’s intended research project. Where necessary, consideration will be given to any subsequent request to modify the title of the research or the program of work.

 

4.4 The area of study, the objectives of the investigation, its relationship to previous work in the same field and the methods of approach must in all cases be stated in the application. Normally, the topics within the program must also be defined in the application, but detailed specification of topics is not essential at this stage.

 

4.5  A candidate is normally expected to continue on the same topic throughout the registration period. Where new circumstances make a change or extension of topic desirable, a supplementary application by letter must be submitted.

 

5.1 A holder of a Master’s degree appropriate to the research programme who is registered directly as a candidate for the degree of Ph.D. may be permitted to complete the programme of work in not less than thirty-six consecutive months.

 

5.2  Where application is made for permission to extend the period within which the candidate may submit his Ph.D. Thesis, brief details of the candidate’s progress must be presented, together with reasons for the delay in completing the program and the expected date of completion. Where the Institute agrees to the extension it may set a limit to the period of registration of a maximum period of 12 months.

 

6.1 Normally two supervisors are appointed for each student, one from the Institute with responsibility to supervise the candidate on a regular and frequent basis and, where collaboration has been arranged with a local establishment, a second local supervisor. This second supervisor must be local and must normally haveexperience of the successful supervision of research candidates, in addition to suitable specialized experience. A statement must be submitted to the Institute showing the second supervisor’s experience of research, including publications, and of research supervision.

 

7.1 The Institute’s Research Degrees Committee must be satisfied that suitable facilities as regards environment, resources, accommodation, equipment and access to library facilities meet the needs of the program of work.


APPLICATION PROCESS and Ph.D. TIMELINE