Regulations for the Doctor of Philosophy Degree Program

Service Science Institute, National Tsing-Hua University

Approved at the Institutes Faculty Meeting, 2014

1. Regulations
This regulation was established in accordance with the Study Regulations of National
Tsing Hua University, Regulations for Masters Students Applying Directly to Study
for a Doctoral Degree, Credit Exemption Regulations National Tsing Hua University,
Code of Practice for the Ph.D. Degree Examination, and Regulations Governing the
Format of Graduate Theses.
2. Admission
1) All those who have a masters degree from public universities, registered private
universities, or foreign graduate institutes that have been recognized by the Ministry
of Education, may enroll in this institutes doctoral program after passing the
universitys admissions examination. This process consists of both a written and oral
exam, and a document review.
2) Students who have been enrolled in the masters program with this institute for over
one year, and whose grades meet the criteria of the universitys Regulations for
Masters Students Applying Directly to Study for a Doctoral Degree, may enroll
directly into the doctoral program, subject to the institutes recommendation and
review approval. The period of study is calculated from the start of the Ph.D. degree
program.
3. Period of Study
The duration of study is from two to seven years. Students are allowed to apply for
a temporary suspension of one semester, and one or two academic years. The maximum
accumulation allowed is two academic years. In the case of a serious disease, military
service, etc., a student must provide proof in order to extend the period of study that is
less than four years, pending approval from the Institutes Director and after a Faculty
Meeting. Students who do not return to school after a temporary suspension, or do not
extend the period of study shall be considered to have withdrawn from the program.
4. Applying Directly to Study for a Doctoral Degree
Students in this institutes masters program, whose grades meet the criteria in the
universitys Regulations for Masters Students Applying Directly to Study for a
Doctoral Degree, can apply directly to the doctoral program before May 20 each year.

The application will be examined at a Faculty Meeting, and then forwarded to the
Academic Affairs Office and the President for approval, and shall be submitted to the
Ministry of Education for reference. Students need to submit the application form, which
must include transcripts of their masters degree, relevant compositions (research
project), two letters of recommendation, and other constructive documents.
5. Exit with Masters Degree
1) Graduate students who entered by Applying Directly to Study for a Doctoral
Degree who have failed the Ph.D. candidate qualification examination may study
for the Masters Degree instead, after a review at the Institutes Faculty Meeting and
receiving approval from the President.
2) Graduate students in the Masters program who entered by Applying Directly to
Study for a Doctoral Degree and who have failed the Ph.D. degree examination
may be granted a Masters Degree, if the Ph.D. dissertation presented is determined
to conform to the Masters degree standards by the Ph.D. examination committee.
6. Graduation Credits Requirement
Students who were admitted through the entrance examination must complete at least 24
credits of course work that are recognized by this institute. Students who were admitted
by Applying Directly to Study for a Doctoral Degree must complete 30 credits of
course work, and also take the required credits for their Dissertation.
7. Ph.D. Qualifying Examination
1) Ph.D. Qualifying Examination subjects:
(1) Service Science Theory (2) Research Methods
2) Students are allowed to waive the Ph.D. qualifying examination by passing the
following grading criteria in required courses:
(1) Service Science Theory (subject): Service Science Theory (course) A+
(2) Research Methods (subject): Research Methods (course) A+
Students who do not obtain these grades must take the Ph.D. qualifying examination.
3) The Ph.D. qualifying examination is held every year and committee members,
appointed by the Director, will decide upon the questions.
4) The grades for the qualifying examination will be announced after a committee
review, and submitted at the Institutes Faculty Meeting. Students who fail the Ph.D.
qualifying examination are only allowed to retake the examination once.

5) The Ph.D. qualifying examination (and any retakes) is held one week prior to the
start of each fall semester. Ph.D. students should apply for this examination before
the last day of the previous semesters final exam period.
6) Ph.D. students must pass the qualifying examination within three years (not
including temporary suspensions) after entering this institute.
8. Advancement to Candidacy Status
Ph.D. students who fulfill the following four requirements can apply for a Ph.D.
candidate review by submitting their application forms and relevant documents. A Ph.D.
candidacy must be approved at the Institutes Faculty Meeting with submission to the
Academic Affairs Office for registration.
1) Complete all required credits to comply with article six of this regulation.
2) Pass the Ph.D. qualifying examination.
3) Pass one of the following English proficiency tests: TOEFL iBT: 80 or
Computer-based TOEFL: 213; or IELTS (International English Language Testing
System): 6; or any other equal level of certification.
4) Present one paper at an international conference recommended by the advisor.
9. Dissertation Advisor
1) Ph.D. students are required to have one advisor before the beginning of the first
semester of their second year of study, and must submit their dissertation advisors
Confirmation Form to the Director for confirmation.
2) At least one advisor or co-advisor is required to be a full-time Professor or Associate
Professor from the Service Science Institute.
3) Any change of dissertation advisor must be registered with the Service Science
Institutes office. If the dissertation advisor is changed after the Dissertation Plan
Proposal Procedure is completed, the student must obtain the new advisors approval
of their dissertation.
10. Ph.D. Degree Examination Qualification
Students who have obtained a Ph.D. candidacy, have studied for over two years (or three
years, if they entered by Applying Directly to Study for a Doctoral Degree) and have
completed the two following requirements can apply for the Ph.D. degree examination.
Students are required to conduct an overseas study/internship for more than six months,
except for alternatives that have been approved by the institutes faculty committee.
1) Procedure for a Dissertation Proposal Plan

Every Ph.D. candidate should conduct a dissertation plan meeting with an advisory
committee, made up of three or more qualified professors including the candidates
advisor. Ph.D. candidates should submit a revised dissertation plan in response to the
advisory committee members suggestions, and have it approved by their advisor.
The Dissertation Proposal Plan can be accepted by completing this procedure.
2) One of following conditions for publishing in academic journals.
(1)
(2) Obtain, Revise and Resubmit qualifications from an A-class international
journal. (Journal levels are suggested by the Ministry of Science and
Technology)
(3) Have one publication in a SCI/SSCI/TSSCI journal, with three or fewer authors.
If the number of authors is four or more, then two publications are required.
11. Ph.D. Degree Examination
The Ph.D. degree examination must adhere to the regulations specified by the Code of
Practice for the Ph.D. degree examination.
12. This regulation is in effect after being approved by the Institutes Faculty Meeting. All
amendments shall be processed the same way.