REVISED Ph.D.

RULES AND REGULATIONS

18 Credit Hours coursework

Research Proposal Submission

Revision/suggestions in
Proposal Defence
research proposal

No
Successful

Yes

Research
(Minimum two years from the
date of admission)

Minimum Two Papers Published in HEC recognized

Public defense

Thesis approved by two foreign relevant subject

Viva Voce

Award of degree

Submission of thesis copy to HEC for PhD country

2. Ph.D. Program
• Ph.D. Degree program of the University comprises of course work and research
• At least three (03) relevant full-time Ph.D. Faculty members required in a
department/Institute/Center to launch the Ph.D. program
3. Admission
3.1 HEC Rules and Regulations will be followed in letter and spirit approved by the Statutory
Bodies of this University. For pursuing a Ph.D. degree, a 30-credit hour M.S. / M.Phil.
degree(18-Year Education) with first division or CGPA of 3.00 on a scale of 4.00 or overall 60%
marks in annual system or equivalent in the relevant subject is a prerequisite from any HEC
recognized University. In case of foreign degree, it will be ascertained that it is equivalent to
Pakistani M.Phil. / MS degree from any recognized University/Institution.
3.3 Ph.D. degree program will be open for all candidates/incumbents meeting the admission
criteria. However, serving candidates will have to submit an N.O.C from their respective
departments with the application form. A study leave document from their respective
employer for a period of three years has to be submitted at the time of registration. The
 candidate will be a full time regular student for three years to cover the course work and the
research.
3.4 Selection shall be made based on cumulative merit determined from previous academic
degree(s) / certificate(s) CGPA/average (semester system/annual system), and marks
obtained in the written entry test and Interview with following weights.
i. ii. Academic Qualifications: 60%
ii. Interview: 40%
Degree Certificates Weight
M.S. / M.Phil. (18-year academic 40%
qualification)
BS/BE/BBA/B.Sc.(Hons.)/M.A., 20%
M.Sc.
(16-years academic qualification)
Interview 40%
Total 100%
3.5 Interviews for admission to Ph.D. programs will be conducted through Departmental
Interview Committee. The respective departments are required to sort and verify documents,
and determine suitability of the applicants.
4. Duration of Program
Full-time Ph.D.
Minimum requirement: 3 years
Maximum requirement: 5 years
Part-time Ph.D.
Minimum requirement: 5 years
Maximum requirement: 7 years
However, the Advanced Studies Research Board may extend the period up to two years on
account of any special circumstances on the recommendation of supervisor
5. Course Work
5.1 Every concerned Department/Center/Institute is responsible for designing Ph.D. course
including core and elective courses on semester system and get approval through proper
channel.
5.2 Courses of 18 credit hours shall be completed during the first year (two semesters) of Ph.D.
degree program
5.3 In case a Ph.D. candidate wants to switch university (HEC recognized) s/he will be required to
get his course work credit hours transferred to the new one. To achieve this aim, the
candidate will submit an application to the relevant department through Director Graduate
Studies and Research studies.
5.4 Transfer of credits earned in other Institutions may be approved in individual case
determined by the chairperson/director of the department/Institute/Centre which offers
Ph.D. program.
5.5 Course work of 18 credit hours includes core and electives and a semester shall not be more
than 12 CH.
5.6 A credit hour of a theory/lecture is of one-hour duration (including 10 minutes break) per
week during a Semester.
5.7 Faculty members having Ph.D. degrees will be eligible to teach the Ph.D. courses.
5.8 75% attendance is mandatory for appearing in semesters’ examinations for Ph.D. course work
5.8 The result of course work should be sent to controller of examination (semester) for
announcement and issuance of transcript through concerned Dean of the Faculty and
Director Graduate and Research Studies.
6. Ph.D. Research Proposal
6.5 Ph.D. candidates can submit research proposal after completion of 18 CH coursework with
Minimum 3.0 CGPA
6.6 The Ph.D. research proposal should not be more than 1000 words. It must be on prescribed
application form and submitted to the Director Graduate Studies through the research
supervisor, Director/ Chairperson of the Institute / Department / Centre and concerned Dean,
for processing and submission to Advanced Studies and Research Board.
6.7 The scrutiny committee shall examine the viability of the topic of research, its scope and the
facilities available. It shall also scrutinize application for appointment/change of guide and
co-guide, revision of topic as well as M.Phil. leading to Ph.D. cases
6.8 The Scrutiny Committee may consist of:
▪ The Dean of the Faculty
▪ Director / Chairperson of the institutes /departments / centers concerned (wherever
available).
▪ One Professor other than Chairperson from the concerned Institute / Department / Centre.
▪ One Professor of any relevant field from outside the institute / department / center to be
appointed by the Dean.
▪ Supervisor
▪ Director Graduate Studies
6.9 The scrutiny committee meeting shall be held at every last week of the calendar month
7. Ph.D. Research Supervision
7.1 The Advanced Studies and Research Board shall appoint a Supervisor (and co-supervisor
wherever deemed necessary) for research
7.2 Lecturer/Assistant professors in university of Sindh with Ph.D. degree can supervise Ph.D.
scholar if s/he is HEC approved supervisor.
7.3 A Ph.D. Supervisor can register maximum 08 research scholars at a time.
7.4 The supervisor shall submit progress report of the research scholar through the
director/chairperson to the concerned Dean and Director Graduate and Research Studies
after every six months.
8. Proposal Defense
8.1 After approval of research topic from scrutiny committee the Ph.D. candidate shall prepare
research proposal for defense
8.2 The proposal defense will be arranged for open discussion at the
department/institute/Centre where candidate is registered
8.3 Request for the conduct of Proposal defense may be sent to the concerned Dean of Faculty
8.4 Dean of the faculty will nominate the person to preside the proposal defense
9. Modification/Change of Research Topic
9.1 A candidate may within one calendar year can modify/change the topic of his / her research
with the approval of the Advanced Studies and Research Board by submitting an application
duly supported by the Supervisor, the Chairperson / Director, the concerned Dean and
recommended by the Scrutiny Committee.
9.2 The final title of the thesis shall be approved by the Advanced Studies and Research Board
not less than six months before the submission of thesis.
10. Change of Research Supervisor/Co-supervisor
In case the candidate desires to change his/her supervisor/guide, s/he shall have to apply
through Director/Chairperson of department/institute/Centre and the Dean concerned. The
written consent from the previous and new supervisor/s is essential to be attached with the
application.
11. Final Defense
11.1 After completion of research, the Ph.D. scholar will submit thesis and conduct final
defense.
11.2 The vice Chancellor shall appoint one Local Expert (within from Pakistan) for final defense
11.3 Date of the final public defense will be issued from the concerned Dean of faculty
11.4 Ph.D. final defense committee may comprise of:
• The Supervisor/ Co-supervisor/s
• Dean
• Local Expert
12. Thesis Evaluation and Examination
12.1 All the requirements of Ph.D. including course work and thesis should be completed
within stipulated time i.e. minimum 3 years and maximum five years
12.2 Ph.D. candidate will submit thesis along with two research papers published in any HEC
recognized journals (Category W,X,Y) from thesis. Candidate must be the first author of the
research paper with names of supervisor/s as co-author.
12.3 Eight copies of thesis with spiral binding along with softcopy on CD shall be submitted to
the Controller of examination (Annual) through the office of director graduate research
studies
12.4 A plagiarism test report of thesis is necessary and must be submitted along with the
submission of thesis.
12.5 A panel of examiners consisting of 12 names (6 names from the technologically advanced
countries and six from inland) in the relevant field.
12.6 The names will be selected from the list approved by the Board of Advanced Studies and
Research.
12.7 A The Vice Chancellor will approve four names of examiners (two from abroad and two
from inland) to examine the thesis
12.7B The thesis shall be sent for evaluation to 02 External Examiner and 02 Internal Examiners
by the controller of examination (annual).
12.8 In case of the adverse remarks by the External Examiners, the thesis will be sent (after
making necessary corrections and suggestions) to other Examiners whose evaluation will be
considered as final.
12.9 Viva will be arranged only when all reports from the external and internal examiners are
positive
12.10 Controller of Examination shall write to supervisor and co-supervisor/s for fixation of the
date for the Ph.D. viva voce
12.11 Viva voce committee may comprise of:
(a) The Supervisor/ Co-supervisor/s
(b) External examiner/expert
13. Award of Degree
13.1 The Controller of Examinations shall submit the evaluation reports of the examiners and
the viva-voce to the Advanced Studies and Research Board.
13.2 For approval of award of Ph.D. Degree both evaluation reports (external and internal) of
the thesis must be Positive
13.3 Subject test score is required to be submitted with the thesis evaluation reports for
further process in Advanced Studies and Research Board
13.4 Subject Test conducted by any one of the following
• International GRE (Graduate Record Examination) subject test. Qualifying score for
International GRE subject test will be minimum 50% cumulative score
OR
• NTS (National Testing Service) subject test GAT. Qualifying score for NTS subject test
will be minimum 60% cumulative score
 OR
• University Committee consisting of at least 3 Ph.D. faculty members in the subject area
and approved by the HEC will conduct the Test at par with GRE Subject Test and
qualifying score for this will be 70% score.
13.5 On the basis of submitted reports and confirmation of score obtained by Ph.D. candidate
in subject test, the Advanced Studies and Research Board will decide whether or not the
Ph.D. Degree be awarded to the candidate.
13.6 Four hard bound copies of final thesis (after incorporating all changes), along with the
softcopy on CD shall be submitted to the controller of examination (Annual) through the
office of director graduate and research studies
14. Ph.D. Thesis Guideline
• The language of the thesis in case of disciplines under the Faculties of Natural Sciences, Arts,
Education, Commerce and Business Administration, Social Sciences and Law shall be English
language only. In case of Islamic Studies and Languages, the thesis may however be written
in a language approved by the Advanced Studies and Research Board.
• In case of Natural Sciences, the final Ph.D. thesis should not be more than 80,000 words
(excluding Appendix) whereas, in case of Social Sciences and Humanities, the thesis should
not be more than 100,000 words
• The thesis which is submitted in a language other than English, e.g. in Islamic Culture and
Religion etc., must have a summary of the thesis written in English also.
15. Structure of Ph.D. Thesis:
• Title page
• Second Page (Intellectual Property and Publication Statements)
• Acknowledgement • Abstract • Table of Contents
• List of Tables • List of Figures • Abbreviations
• Chapters • References • Appendices
• Referencing styles:
• APA (American Psychologists Association): For social science and business
• IEEE (Institute of Electronics and Electrical Engineers): For Engineering, Science and IT.
• Formatting:
Page Margins:
• The page with 1.5″ margin on the left and 1″ margin on the other three sides
Page Numbers
• Page numbers must appear on each page preferably at the center of the bottom of the
page
Maximum three heading levels:
 • Main Heading 1 should be 16 in size and Bold, Main Heading 2 should be 14 in size and
bold and Main Heading 3 should be 12 in size and bold
Paragraphs:
• Time new roman, size 12 with 1.5-line spacing
Figures:
• Should be aligned in the center with caption below the figure of Time new roman, size
12.
Example: Figure 1. Map of Indus valley
Tables:
• Should be aligned in the center with label on above the table with Time new roman, size
12.
Example: Table 1. Comparison of Technologies