National Chiao-Tung University, Social and Cultural Institute PhD students` regulations I study regulations

National Chiao-Tung University, Social and Cultural Institute PhD students` regulations
I Study regulations - National Chiao Tung University, Masters and Doctoral Degree operating rules, applicable from the year 97
II Admission Requirements

1. 
   Public or registered private Universities (including independent colleges) recognized by the Ministry of Education, approving foreign university graduates, must have a Master's degree, or equivalent degree (recognized by Ministry of Education) and entrance tests for student enrolling for doctoral degree.
   
2. 
   Applying procedure for Master or PhD programs needs to follow requirements formulated in detail in Regulations
   
3. 
   New students, who, due to major accidents (with prove submitted before deadline) have not entered school on time, are subjects to retention.
   

III Period of Study

1. 
   The maximum length of the doctoral program is seven years with a postgraduate extension to eight years.
   
2. 
   Students have a right to apply to leave or take a break for any reason. Approval is a subject to the supervising professor and the director of the Institute. Total period of absence cannot exceed four semesters (two years). If accumulated period of two year absence expires, and there is a medical need based on condition of serious illness or rehabilitation process, students may apply for an extension, which is subject to approval by the Senate. Students who completed a year or two year of absence and have not received prior military service may be permitted to return to school early, students who have received call-up orders are not allowed to return to school. If absence was caused by the military service, students must submit proof of service from military unit, to extend the deadline and soon after completion of military service, return to school.
   

3. 
   Doctoral study proposed schedule (Suggested Progress)
   

IV PhD grants
After the completion of the following conditions, with recommendation from the advisor and passing the doctoral degree examination, student will receive doctorate

1. 
   Requirements of credits and the second language.
   
2. 
   Qualification exams
   
3. 
   PhD thesis research project proposal and oral examination.
   

V Selecting an Advisor

1. 
   Doctoral students can select their own advisor. If they fail to do so, advisors will be selected by the random distribution of the office. Starting from the first semester, the advisor will serve as student academic counseling on course selection and support students` adaptation. Assistance will be offered till students will choose their own advisors. Doctoral students ought to select their advisors before the end of third semester ( advisor needs to be a full-time assistant professor or above). A proper application needs to be hand in. (Explanatory amendments apply to the 97` school year students).
   
2. 
   At the beginning of each semester, students must discuss with the teacher or advisor course selection plan, and the teacher or advisor ought to sign it.
   
3. 
   At the beginning of fall semester each year, students shall write a document concerning planned curse selection, tasks arrangement for the upcoming school year. An electronic copy as an annual progress report should be submit to advisor.
   
4. 
   Doctoral students are obliged to pass qualification exams under guidance of their advisor. If students decided to replace an advisor it must be preceded by proper application and sign by the head of institute.
   

VI Course attendance and credit collecting

1. 
   Students ought to complete 30 credits
   
2. 
   Required courses include; Introduction to Cultural Studies, Training Seminar, Individual Research, provide total of 9 credits, Social, Cultural, Political Thoughts provide 6 credits. "Individual Research" concerns research projects, papers, and thesis and progress discussions. It is designed as 1 credit for each semester - total of 3 required credits. Master students need to complete courses; Introduction to Cultural Studies, Academic Training Seminar. Alternative area of Social, Cultural and Political Thought," remains as elective credits.
   
3. 
   Elective Courses. Students are obliged to select courses related to their research and development. There are theory courses in the Social, Cultural and Political Thoughts, and three areas of interests; East Asian Modernity, Taiwan Cultural Studies, and A Comparative Study of Cultural History ─ provide at least 9 elective credits. Students can select elective courses outside the school and outside the, up to nine credits. There must be an agreement to open auxiliary credit record outside of the school curriculum courses. (Amendment to this provision also applies to 97 school year).
   
4. 
   Second foreign language requirement
   
5. 
   Master and Doctoral students need to complete a total of 48 credits (including master classes course credits, excluding credits second language)
   
6. 
   Conference credits should not exceed a maximum amount of 6
   

VII Second language skills identification

1. 
   Second language requirements follow three ways;
   

1. 
   Completion of two consecutive years of foreign language courses, each semester result must be above 70 %
   
2. 
   Second language proficiency must be confirmed by, for example; the Japan Exchange Association, the German Cultural Centre or French Cultural Center.
   
3. 
   Two or more foreign language school teachers must be present on the exam and results of the exam will be attached to the students files
   
4. 
   If the students’ mother tongue is English, then the first foreign language should be Chinese. Foreign language proficiency examination must be submitted before the application for a PhD thesis. After obtaining language proficiency, the certificate needs to be attached to the application for PhD thesis.
   

VIII Ph.D. candidacy exam

1. 
   PhD candidature: Doctoral candidates need to complete the following conditions;
   

1. 
   Complete the doctorate courses
   
2. 
   Complete qualification exams
   

2. 
   Examination schedule: Students can apply for examination in the second semester of second year not earlier then by the second year of their study. It is suggested to complete all the qualification examinations before the end of the third year.
   
3. 
   Examination Subject: two subjects of qualification exams. Social and cultural theory is a compulsory subject. Second subject is related to the field of students` interests, research and professional plans. Students should prepare two statements - each for about five thousand words, explaining and describing topics and justifying their choices. Statements should be presented together with a bibliographic note (annotated bibliography). Examiner may make a single proposal to require students to supplement the students made reference to the "theme shows" and the Amendment to single out the problem. Examiners may propose changes and adjustments within selected bibliography.
   
4. 
   Examination Committee: Convened examination committee must contain at least one member from outside the school. Composition of the Board of Examiners, the examination subjects, book lists and explanatory statements are the theme to be discussed by the committee.
   

(The amendment also applies to the school year 97). Written examination should include:

1. 
   The eligibility test should include the statement concerning: the importance of the subject area, ideas and define the scope of the topic (the proposed 3000 to 6000 words, excluding bibliography).
   
2. 
   Bibliographic notes
   
3. 
   The list of the qualification exam committee members
   

5. 
   Method. Exam is designed within space of 8hours for writing an essay as a form of the answer to the given questions. Students can choose one or two days (4hours each day) to formulate the answers.
   

Exams result. Exam can result in three ways;

• 
  completion of 70 points (or more) guarantees passing the exam,
  
• 
  student might be asked to fulfill and submit additional requirements ( within a month)
  
• 
  Not completing requirements and failure.
  

If students failed the first time, the reexamination can be made in the next semester. Selected subjects or fields can be replaced. In case of second failure of the exam, students will not become PhD candidates.
IX PhD thesis research project proposal

1. 
   Students, who pass the qualification exams, need to prepare proposal plan and present it to their advisor for approval. Proposal is the subject of oral examination.
   
2. 
   Dissertation proposal is suggested to be made after the beginning of the third year and before the end of the fourth year.
   
3. 
   Thesis Committee should include least five members (including at least two external members). Oral defense is open to public. Thesis Committee does not do ratings, but may provide comments on students` thesis project context and its feasibility and also suggest solutions.
   
4. 
   The PhD degree can be obtained in 3 months after dissertation defense
   
   
   

X PhD examination

1. PhD thesis examination includes thesis oral defense.

2. PhD thesis must be the original contributions to academic research. It should be

completed within the course of study, and through the oral thesis examination which is conducted as an open interview.
3. PhD thesis and Members of Defense Committee: There must be 5-9 members from inside and outside of the post-graduate studies composing a special team of experts. One third of the board should be from outside. Oral Defense Committee members should be suggested by students` advisor and agreed by the Council of the Department. The list of the selected names needs to be presented to the President of University who will assign one person from the list to be a Chair of the Defense Committee. Students` advisor is excluded from this function. Interviewers should have one of the following qualifications:

1. 
   needs to have and experience as a professor
   
2. 
   served as a research fellow at Academia Sinica
   
3. 
   needs to have and experience as an associate professor or an associate research fellow at Academia Sinica
   
4. 
   has received a doctoral degree and served as an assistant professor
   
5. 
   presents academic or professional achievement or knowledge of rare or special subjects
   The third paragraph of the preceding paragraph to five standards of qualification recognized by the service session set
   

The third to five paragraph (c, d, e) need to be recognize by Council of students` Department.
4. Oral defense: draft paper of the dissertation must be submitted three weeks before defense, and follow the school calendar period. Late submission will postpone dissertation defense to next semester. Oral test grades are presented within 100-point scale - receiving 70 points guarantees passing the exam. Evaluation is provided only once and it is based on average scores given by present members of committee. In case when 1/3 of committee members or more, decided to fail the PhD candidate, average scores from the all committee members are not taken under consideration. If students did not pass oral defense, they can re-apply for the second oral examination but not earlier next semester. Those who fail twice cannot receive doctorate degree.

5. 
   Paper Review: Any accusation of plagiarism or fraud by committee will result in failing. Students should submit revised papers after the examination, which needs to be agreed by at least 2/3 of committee members. Thesis defense committee approval letter must be signed by present members.
   
6. 
   After examination before 31 of January or 31 of July Thesis defense committee approval letter must be submitted within 2 weeks after next school semester begins. Late submission results in delay until next semester and new registration. In case of not submitting the Thesis defense committee approval letter within limited time of study, students will not receive degree and will be expelled form the school.
   
7. 
   The students who passed thesis defense and fulfill other requirements are obliged to complete the Education Course in NCTU Teacher Education Center. Students should submit the degree exam grade and the Thesis defense committee approval letter (photocopy) to the school administration office register. After they submit all the document then the graduated semester will be the payment semester. If students submit the thesis examination results and the Thesis defense committee approval letter to the office, but did not finish the whole procedure of graduation the school before the new semester begins, then the students will be treated as graduated student.
   

XI Graduate students, who may directly pursue a PhD, can do so through the PhD candidacy examination, but not by direct doctorate examination. Students Ph.D. dissertation, might be awarded a master degree instead if it fulfills master degree standards and does not fully meet doctorate standards.

XII PhD student who failed to pass the degree examination or failed to complete all required courses within the prescribed period of study should be ordered to leave.
XIII If the Master or Ph.D. thesis is found to be plagiarism or fraud, and it has been verified by investigation, the degree will be repealed.
XIV Ph.D. thesis (including Abstract) written in Chinese are subject to the National Chiao Tung University Dissertation format specification. Abstracts and full-text electronic files need to be provided within a month after the oral defense (in accordance with "National Chiao Tung University Library Thesis abstract and electronic file archiving standard). Four copies must be submitted; Two to the collection at the Department, one to a school library, one to the Office of Academic Affairs Unit of the Ministry of Education
XV The study regulations are set by the College Curriculum Review Committee and the School Curriculum Committee, after Academic Affairs Meeting
Study Period
Master Courses structure (27 credits)
Obligatory;
Introduction to Cultural Studies (3 credits)
Academic Training (first, second semester - 3 credits)
Individual research (first to second semester - 3 credits)


Required;
Social, cultural and political thoughts (3 credits)

Elective;


Taiwan Culture
Modernism in East Asia
Comparative Study of Cultural History



Note: 9 credits open for outside school elective courses
PhD Curriculum (30 credits)

Obligatory;

Introduction to Cultural Studies (3 credits)

Academic Training Discussion (first, second semester, 3 credits)
Individual Study (3 credits)

Required;

Social, cultural and political thought (6 credits)

Elective;

Taiwan Culture

Modern East Asia
Comparative Study of Cultural History


Notes:

1. 9 credits open for outside school elective courses

2. Complete a second language required