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Structure of Programme
Coursework Requirements
PhD Qualifying Examination (QE)
QE modules
Graduate Research Paper (GRP)
PhD Thesis Proposal /Doctoral Seminar
PhD Defence
Duration of Programme
Language of Instruction
Structure of Programme
All graduate research students are admitted directly into a full-time graduate programme that leads to either:
PhD, if the candidate passes the Qualifying Examination (QE); or
MSc, if the candidate fails the Qualifying Examination but is allowed to complete as an MSc candidate.
Students from the two Departments will follow the programme structures as outlined below:
| Structure of PhD Programme (Computer Science) | ||
| Year 1 | Semester 1 | 2 PG Modules + Ph.D. Qualifying Examination I (QE I) + Elementary Research |
| Semester 2 | 2 PG Modules + Ph.D. Qualifying Examination I (QE I) + Research | |
| Year 2 | Semester 1 | 2 PG Modules + GRP (QE II) + Research |
| Semester 2 | 2 PG Modules + Research | |
| Year 3 | Semester 1 | Research |
| Semester 2 | Research + Thesis Proposal + Doctoral Seminar | |
| Year 4 | Semester 1 | Research |
| Semester 2 | Pre-Submission Presentation (before thesis submission) | |
| Ph.D. Defence (Seminar Presentation + Oral Defence) | ||
PhD students admitted to the Department of Information Systems (IS) will follow the structure for the IS PhD programme:
| Structure of PhD Programme (Information Systems) | ||
Year 1 |
Semester 1 |
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Semester 2 |
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Semester 2 |
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Year 2 |
Semester 1 |
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Semester 2 |
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Year 3 |
Semester 1 |
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Semester 2 |
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Year 4 |
Semester 1 |
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Semester 2 |
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Coursework Requirements
All PhD candidates must complete the number of courses as indicated in the above structures.
CS PhD candidates who are required to complete eight graduate modules will need to take at least one module each in any of the three clusters – Algorithm and Theory, Computer Systems, Knowledge Systems or Media Technologies. The cluster of modules can be found in this Annex (PhD). Out of the eight graduate modules, at least three must be at level 6000, and at least another three modules must be at level 5000. These modules may belong to the four clusters or may be offered by other departments. CS PhD students are allowed to take at most two level 4000 modules.
All IS PhD candidates are required to complete five common core modules, spanning the different streams of IS research. This is compulsory for all students so as to increase their breadth of knowledge. The five modules consist of three modules that cover the research methods, one module that covers theories, and one module for seminar on recent topics in all three IS research tracks: behavioral, technical, and economics.
Upon completion of the common core modules, students would be directed to a more structured set of modules in one of the three different tracks that they can choose from. Based on their choice of track, they will follow a logically structured curriculum of two track core and two electives modules that ensures breadth and depth of knowledge in their area.
In Year 2, all candidates are required to complete four more postgraduate modules.
PhD Qualifying Examination (QE)
The PhD Qualifying Examination consists of the PhD QE I (PhD QE modules) and PhD QE II (Graduate Research Paper (GRP)).
(i) QE Modules
CS students are required to take the Foundation in Theoretical Computer Science and Foundation in Computer Systems.
IS students are required to take one QE module which tests the integration of concepts from the common core modules that all students would have taken.
The QE is to be taken by all postgraduate students, and the PhD candidate must pass his/her QE within 18 months after admission. A maximum of two attempts will be allowed. Candidates are allowed to take the QE earlier than the specified period. There is no exemption of QE modules. The PhD QE will be offered twice a year, at the end of each semester for CS candidates and June/December for IS candidates. The research scholarship will be terminated the moment a student fails the QE. He/She will complete the rest of the degree requirements as an MSc candidate.
Computer Science (CS)
CS5201 Foundation in Theoretical Computer Science
This module tests the students on basic concepts in theoretical computer science. In particular, the students will be tested on the following areas:
A. Data Structures and Algorithms
B. Theory of Computation
C. Principles of Programming Concepts
D. Discrete Structures
CS5202 Foundation in Computer Systems
This module tests the students on basic concepts in computer systems. In particular, the students will be tested on the following topics:
A. Operating Systems
B. Computer Networks
C. Database Management Systems
D. Computer Organisation
Information Systems (IS)
IS6000 Qualifying Examination in IS
This module evaluates students on essential knowledge of IS research methodologies and application domains of management information systems. Students will be tested on their ability to integrate method (e.g., survey, experiment, qualitative, technical, or econometrics) and domain (e.g., knowledge management, electronic commerce) knowledge towards designing studies to investigate current phenomena in IS.
(ii) Graduate Research Paper (GRP)
Students of both Departments are expected to work on the Graduate Research Paper (GRP) with a faculty member immediately after the first semester's exam, and to participate in lab activities with the view of producing a quality paper that can eventually lead to at least a rank-2 and above publication/journal by the third semester.
The student is expected to show competence in embarking on the PhD research. The GRP presentation will be evaluated by a panel not later than the end of the 3rd semester.
PhD Thesis Proposal / Doctoral Seminar
The Thesis Proposal is an important component of the PhD programme. It should highlight the significance of the research topic, its goal, the approach adopted, and work to be done. It should be precise and convincing to the examiners that the candidate is proposing a novel area of research and the goal is achievable.
PhD candidates are encouraged to attempt the Thesis Proposal earlier than the specified period, eg by their 5th semester. A PhD candidate must pass his/her thesis proposal at the end of Year 3. The proposal will be examined by two faculty members of SoC familiar with the area of research in the proposal. A maximum of two attempts are allowed.
The PhD candidature of a student will be terminated if s/he fails to pass the Thesis Proposal. Such student, subject to the approval of the School, may proceed to obtain an MSc degree by completing a dissertation and meeting all the requirements of an MSc degree.
The Thesis Proposal comprises of an open seminar presentation (doctoral seminar), followed by a close-door oral examination.
The presentation is a public talk open to both staff and students, and should take about 30 to 40 minutes. The seminar, which should include any research findings or work from published papers, will be graded on a satisfactory/ unsatisfactory (S/U) basis.
A close-door oral examination will follow after the seminar presentation. The student is expected to answer satisfactorily any questions raised by the evaluators.
PhD Defence
The PhD Defence will be pre-scheduled when the candidate submits his/her thesis. It will comprise of an open seminar presentation, followed by a close-door oral examination.
Seminar presentation should take about 30 to 40 minutes. This will be a public talk open to both staff and students. After the presentation, a 10-minute Q&A session will be available for the public.
A close-door oral examination will follow after the seminar presentation. The student is expected to answer satisfactorily any questions raised on the subject matter pertaining to her/his research thesis and related subjects.
This oral examination will be conducted by a 3-member panel that is chaired by the Head or nominee.
Duration of Programme
The following maximum candidature periods are inclusive of periods of approved study leave:
Master's: 3 years
PhD: 5 years
Language of Instruction
The language of instruction for the graduate courses is English.