UNIVERSITY OF MADRAS
DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (Ph.D.)
1. PREAMBLE :
The Degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) is awarded to a candidate who, as per these regulations, has submitted a thesis on the basis of original and independent research in any particular discipline or involving more than one discipline (inter-disciplinary), that makes a contribution to the advancement of knowledge, which is approved by Board of examiners as required.
2. ELIGIBILITY :
For purposes of admission to the Ph.D. programme, a candidate should have obtained a Master’s Degree with 55% marks in the qualifying examination. For SC/ST candidates and for candidates who have completed the PG degree before 1991, the minimum can be only 50% for admission to the Ph.D programme. Admissions for Ph.D. progra
mme can be made four times in a year, i.e., January, April, July and October. Applications can be downloaded from the University websie and submit the same with processing fee of Rs.500/- (fee exempted for SC / ST)The application forms will be available during the months of December, March, June and September every year for admitting the candidates for four sessions. Candidates should submit their applications on or before the first working day of a quarter, viz., January, April, July and October. Admission to Ph.D. programme shall be completed in the first month itself in each session. Registrations for Ph.D. may be done throughout the year.3. REGISTRATION FOR THE Ph.D. PROGRAMME :
There shall be the following categories of candidates registered for the Ph.D. programme:
a. Full-time scholar (with or without stipend or fellowship)
b. Part-time scholar (teacher or non-teacher, internal vis-à-vis external) The candidates belonging to any of the above categories may register at University Departments, Affiliated Colleges, Research Institutions, or R & D Centres/Laboratories coming under these regulations.
3.1. FULL-TIME :
The following candidates are eligible to register for the full-time Ph.D. programme. A candidate who has qualified for:
a. Master’s Degree in the faculties of Arts, Sciences, Fine Arts, Languages, Commerce, Education, Management Science of this University or equivalent thereto.
b. Master’s Degree in the faculties of Law, Engineering, Technology, Architecture and Medicine including the Degree of Doctor of Medicine (M.D. or M.R.C.P), or Master of Surgery (M.S. or F.R.C.S./M.R.C.S.), Indian Medicine, Veterinary Science, M.Pharm. and Agriculture of this University or equivalent thereto.
c. M.B.B.S. Degree with two years of Senior House Surgeoncy /Special training or equivalent thereof recognized by the Medical Council of India or competent authority.
d. Bachelor’s Degree in Veterinary Science, Ayurveda, Siddha, Homeopathy, Unani Medicines etc., with two years Senior House Surgeoncy/equivalent special training in related disciplines of two years duration.
e. ACA, FCA, AICWAI, ACSI qualifications of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, Institute of Cost and Works Accountants of India and Institute of Company Secretaries of India provided the candidates have secured: i) One of the above qualifications after the lapse of at least two years after obtaining a University UG degree from any recognized University and ii) 55% or more marks in the aggregate in the qualifying degree examination.
f. Research fellows/Research Assistants/Technical Assistants/Project Fellows/Project Assistants/Training Officers in extension departments approved by the University, appointed in the research projects funded by recognized agencies/Government are also eligible to register for Ph.D. on a full-time basis in the same department provided they satisfy the eligibility criteria stated above:
3.2. PART-TIME (INTERNAL)
A candidate, possessing any one of the qualifications prescribed under Regulation 2 supra and falling under any of the following categories, is eligible to conduct research on a Part-time basis (i.e., can conduct research while continuing as teacher, Executive etc.):
a. A teacher working in the Department of the University or in an affiliated College of the University, Higher Secondary School or High School or Polytechnic within the territorial jurisdiction of the University provided
b. Teachers of affiliated colleges holding NET/SLET qualification or M.Phil. degree with one year of teaching experience after M.Phil degree and Teachers of Higher Secondary Schools/High Schools and Polytechnic with two years of experience after the qualifying degree be allowed to register for Ph.D (part-time) programme.
c. Teachers of affiliated colleges in the following disciplines, with one year of teaching experience without M.Phil or SLET/NET are permitted to do part-time Ph.D i) Computer Science, ii) Media Arts, iii) English, iv) Management, v) Natya, vi) Communication and Journalism, vii) Hotel and Catering Management, viii) Interior Design, ix) BioTechnology and x) Bio-Informatics.
d. A candidate employed other than as a teacher in a permanent job in a registered firm/institution, within the territorial jurisdiction of the University with a minimum of FOUR YEARS of total working experience, after the qualifying degree and satisfying the rules framed separately by the Syndicate from time to time.
e. Research Assistants/Technical Assistants appointed on a permanent basis by the University are eligible to register for Ph.D. programme on Part-time basis after confirmation of service.
f. Candidate with M.L. Degree practicing as an advocate in any Court of Law or serving as a Legal Advisor to/in a registered firm/institution within the territorial jurisdiction of the University with a minimum of FOUR YEARS of total working experience after qualifying degree.
4. DURATION OF RESEARCH
4.1. FULL-TIME
A candidate registered as a full-time scholar for the Ph.D. programme possessing any one of the above qualifications as mentioned in Section 3 supra shall work continuously in the department under a supervisor for a minimum period of THREE YEARS after provisional registration and before submission of the thesis.
4.2. PART-TIME
A candidate registered for the Ph.D. programme as a part-time scholar (both internal and external) shall work for a minimum period of FOUR YEARS after provisional registration, before submission of the Thesis.
4.3. EXEMPTION
Exemption of ONE YEAR from the minimum duration required is permissible in respect of candidates who possess an M.Phil./M.Phil. on INTER-DISCIPLINARY basis or M.Litt. (in the relevant subject) or Master’s Degree in the faculty of Law, M.E and M.Tech.
4.4. CONVERSION OF FULL-TIME REGISTRATION INTO PART-TIME AND VICE-VERSA
Notwithstanding anything prescribed in these regulations, the University may permit conversion from Full-time research to Part-time research and vice-versa in respect of candidates registered, for valid reasons and subject to satisfying the regulations, rules and conditions in force. The period put in by the candidate will be worked out in the ratio of 2:3 for research put in before and after such conversion.
5. APPLICATION FOR PROVISIONAL REGISTRATION
A candidate applying for provisional registration shall furnish all the information inter alia in the form prescribed together with the fee prescribed.
Every applicant who satisfies all the conditions and procedures prescribed shall, after approval by the University, be provisionally registered for the Ph.D. programme.
Registration for the Ph.D. programme must be done by the candidate within TWO months after getting the permission from the University with all documents. A delay upto SIX months for registration can be accepted with a penal fee of Rs.3,000/- and reasons for the delay must be submitted. Also the delay in registration can also be accepted upto ONE year with a penal fee of Rs.10,000/- and the reasons for the late registration must be submitted. Exactly after ONE year from the date of permission, if the candidate fails to apply for provisional registration he/she should not be allowed to pursue the research.
For inter-disciplinary research, the proposal under inter-disciplinary research should be submitted in the prescribed format (Appendix A) duly approved by the departmental committee along with the minutes and forwarded by the supervisor and Head of the Department concerned.
A candidate seeking exemption for Methodology Examinations and reduction of one year in the duration of Ph.D. Research on disciplinary basis and exemption for Research Methodology Examination alone and reduction of one year in the duration of Ph.D. Research on inter-disciplinary basis should submit M.Phil. (Provisional & Convocation) Certificate while submitting application for Registration. If certificates are not submitted, registration will be processed based on only P.G. Qualification.
6.RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS
6.1. A candidate may be permitted to pursue research leading to the award of the Ph.D. degree in any one of the following institutions subject to satisfying conditions of eligibility, availability of supervisor and necessary facilities.
a. The departments/Centres of study and research of the University and Endowment Chairs in the University.
b. Postgraduate departments of colleges affiliated to the University and recognized as having necessary facilities for carrying out research leading to the award of the Ph.D. degree in the branch of study concerned by the due University procedures, even if the department does not offer an undergraduate course in the said branch/discipline provided that the department in an affiliated college should have been offering the Postgraduate course concerned for a minimum period of THREE years.
c. The departments of colleges affiliated to the University offering any branch of study as main subject for the first degree at the undergraduate level and recognized as having necessary facilities for carrying out research leading to the award of the Ph.D. degree in the branch of study concerned by the due University procedures even if the department does not offer a Postgraduate course in the said branch/discipline, provided that the department in an affiliated college should have been offering the undergraduate course concerned for a minimum period of THREE years.
d. All India Research Institutions and Regional Research Institutions duly recognized by the University. e. Well-equipped R&D Centers/Laboratories of public and private sector undertakings located in the territorial jurisdiction of the University recognized by the University as having necessary facilities for carrying out research at an advanced level. f. All India Research Institutions and Regional Research Institutions located outside the territorial jurisdiction of the University of Madras as having necessary facility for carrying out research at an advanced level will be considered based on request case by case on merit.
6.2 The Syndicate may permit candidates who are working as teachers or in other related capacity such as Research Assistants/Research Officers/Technical Assistants/Project Officers in a Department of an affiliated college recognized for research leading to the award of the Ph.D. degree to register for the Ph.D. programme under a supervisor in another institution in the neighbourhood within the territorial jurisdiction of the University and approved by the University for the purpose.
6.3 Teacher and Non-Teacher candidates can register for the part-time Ph.D. programme with a qualified supervisor in any affiliated college in non-laboratory courses in Humanities, Languages, Social Sciences, Commerce, Mathematics and Statistics.
10. EXAMINATION AND EVALUATION
10.1.1.
PART-I: COURSE WORK EXAMINATION AND EVALUATION
Every candidate provisionally registered for the Ph.D. programme shall undergo course work in the first year. The course work consists of the following: Paper I : Research Methodology Paper II : An advanced paper in the subject concerned Paper III : Background Paper relating to the candidate’s Ph.D. work. The syllabus for Paper-I will be framed by the respective Schools for each discipline (Languages, Arts, Humanities, Sciences and Basic Medical Sciences). The syllabi for the Papers II & III will be prescribed by the Doctoral Committee.
10.1.2. SCHEME OF EXAMINATIONS:
The Doctoral Committee will conduct the written examinations for all the three papers, each of three hours duration carrying 100 marks each and also the Viva-Voce. The results will be communicated by the Supervisor to the Dean/DIRECTOR (Research) with the answer scripts and questions along with the Minutes of the Meeting of the Doctoral Committee.
On the basis of these examinations, provisional registration of the candidate will be confirmed by the University. He/She shall be permitted to proceed with his/her research work and submit the thesis at the expiry of minimum total period of research prescribed after provisional registration. The candidate should give seminars periodically after the confirmation of registration in the general field and in the topics connected with his/her research work.
The Doctoral Committee will periodically have to monitor the progress of the work of the scholar and the report may be sent to the University without fail once in six months. Candidates who possess M.Litt. or M.Phil. or M.L., M.E., M.Tech., M.Arch., M.D., M.S., qualifications in the same discipline/field of research are eligible for exemption from undergoing the written examinations of all the three papers. If the degrees are not in the same discipline, they are exempted only from Paper-I Research Methodology and shall undergo written examinations for Paper-II and III. Like other candidates they should give seminars periodically in the general field and topics of his/her research work. Their research work will be periodically monitored by the Doctoral Committee, as in the case of other candidates.
Download FORMAT FOR INTER-DISCIPLINARY RESEARCH PROPOSAL Here
