MHE-KRG Announced New Guidelines for Doctoral Studies…

For the public interest and the development of doctoral studies at public universities in the province of Kurdistan and in the light of the fourth item in the scientific affairs/ higher education, minister of higher education and scientific research has issued the decision no 5623/9 which announce the guidelines of doctoral study in the universities of kurdistan region according to the Minutes 02.22.2015 of the fourth meeting of the Council of the ministry in On 18/3/2015,

First : The conditions required to study for a doctorate in the Kurdistan universities (governmental) and organizing competitions among applicants, according to the metrics system Sort by percentages of Points.

1- The overall rate of Bachelor and master.

a- A general rate for a bachelor’s degree must be 60% with the exception of the Faculty of Medicine and all of (the College of Dentistry and Pharmacy), where the overall rate is not conditional, and points are awarded as follows. Applicant who has 60% will not receive points , while applicants with 65% will receive 5 points.

b- A general rate for master degree must be 70%), Applicant who has 70% will not receive points, while applicants with 75% will receive 5 points.

The applicant combines both rates of bachelor and master and should submit it as an overall rate.

Note: if there are points with the rate, it will be calculated a degree if it is half or more and neglected if it is less than that

2- Proficiency in the English language.

a-Minimum rate of English proficiency for the applicant of doctoral will be according to the following table, the applicant will receive 5 point for each level in the table which is at the same time is the minimum degree for passing ,and for 0.5 in IELTS,the applicant receive 2 points,

b- if the applicant has a certification from the governmental centers of learning English Language then he will get 5 more points.

c- In the first phase of the study, Ph.D., and before discussing his doctoral thesis, applicants should promote proficiency in English to 5 IELTS offset the Humanities and (6) correspond to the IELTS (pure, natural, and Applied Medical Sciences), Unlike the applicant will not be able to discuss his thesis

c- candidates who received courses of English language in public universities, ,their degree will equaled to the lowest rate required for doctoral study corresponding to 4 in IELTS for scientific competence and 3.5 of the terms of reference for humanity, similar to what mention previously ,candidates should implement one of English courses test ( (TOEFL-IBT, TOEFL-PBT, IELTS, PEARSON Academic-PTE)

Accordingly they should increase their degree to 5 for IELTS (humanities), and 6 IELTS for (pure, natural, and Applied Medical Sciences), Unlike the applicant will not be able to discuss his thesis.

Field of study

IELTS

TOEFL(IBT)

TOEFL(PBT)

PERSON ACADEMIC( PTE)

Each test

pure, natural, practical and medical science

Humanitarian

science

4

40

450

36

5

4.5

48

473

41

7

5

56

495

47

9

5.5

64

518

52

11

6

72

541

58

13

6.5

80

564

63

15

7

88

586

68

17

7.5

96

609

74

19

8

104

622

79

21

8.5

112

654

85

23

9

120

677

90

25

3.5

32

427

32

5

4

40

450

36

7

4.5

48

473

41

9

5

56

495

47

11

5.5

64

518

52

13

6

72

541

58

15

6.5

80

564

63

17

7

88

586

68

19

7.5

96

609

74

21

8

104

622

79

23

8.5

112

654

85

25

9

120

677

90

27

note:

a- In the case of an English language exam (TOFEL ILETS &) outside the Kurdistan region, and elsewhere in Iraq, it must be one of the branches of the TOFEL&ILETS center’s main office for exams, accordingly you should use the formal website of (TOFEL&ILETS).

b- For those who have taken English courses in public universities and have passed the exam, should be at least a duration of 160 hours, and the validity of the language’s degree in public universities starting from 1/1/2011, and will be lasting for four years, but the for computer exam must not exceed certification date two years from the date of issuance.

c- For graduates of bachelor’s and master’s degree in translation, Department of English, candidates must hold for the language test, and get the same above-mentioned level.

d- The first phase of the study for a doctoral degree in this year or next year, the efficiency of public universities certificate accepted, while new applicants for doctoral study, bound to test the IELTS for efficiency in accordance with international standards in languages acceptable to government universities centers, must be IELTS test human sciences (5) and (Medical Sciences, Pure, natural, and applied) is 6.

3- Scientific competency exam

a- Applicants should conduct scientific competency exam and must receive a passing grade of 50%, the degree exam is of 100%, 50%, half of any test in public information and 50% on the student’s field of competence.

b- If empty academic seats remained, the universities are not entitled to increase their seats since the plan approved by the ministry.

Note: It is necessary to submit with the questions of scientific competency exam, model answers.

4- Age requirement

a- Applicant age of professors and staff of higher education should not be more than 55 years, while for other people study will be in parallel system.

b- For the staff of higher education who are aged more than 55 years, will participate in the contest in the same parallel system standards.

5- Term of Service

The Applicants should have an actual service for a period of two years after the Masters, but will not be counted as a point, but if the service more than two years, each year of service calculated one point at the same time should not exceed ten years of service.

6- Scientific publications

If the candidate after the master’s degree has any research published in a scientific journal or approved for publication, then he will get five points.

Second –for those who are not Iraqis or living in other cities of Iraq

1- Iraqis living out of Kurdistan Region can apply for studying in Parallel System.

2- For those wishing to study for a doctorate and living outside Iraq and do not hold Iraqi citizenship can apply for the study of the parallel system

Third: how to study the PhD

1-The university must plan for the doctorate in the sections covered by a PhD, where they must have specialist professors and scientific supplies to any doctoral study, for instance there must be a professor and three assist professors.

2- The internal advisor submit a primary title and proposal to the student, at this stage there will be no need for external supervisor, ,in the rendering stage titles and proposals will be announced, after the acceptance of the applicants ,there will be coordination between student and the advisor.

3- During the study ,the student of humanitarian and scientific section can travel abroad for 3-6 months through getting formal approval of the external supervisor and university abroad

In order to recognize the quality of the study and to implement part of the research in the university abroad , the student leave to abroad according to sabbatical system while supervisor leave will be through delegation and should not be more than a month and through passport, besides both able not to go abroad.

Note: If the student does not need to go to study abroad at the University, it is not necessary for the supervisor to travel abroad

Duration of the study, according to this system is three years and the College Board can extend it for the first time to six months the second time the University Council can extend it for another six months and, if needed, the ministry may be extended it for fifth year.

Kurdistan Foundation for Strategic Studies and scientific research is entitled to submit proposals through the universities.

Fourth: Scientific requirements for a PhD

1-Receive courses: a candidate for the doctorate should receive in the first phase 12-15 units, in preparation for the research which is determined by the supervisor.

2-it is conditioned that the students pass all the courses with a rate not less than 60% and the overall rate for the whole courses 70%.

4-It is conditioned that the PhD student in the field of pure, natural, practical and medical science as well as humanitarian before discussing his thesis publish two research adapted from his thesis in an international scientific Journal according to Tomsn Roiter and have impact factor.

5-The doctoral thesis must have valuable contribution in the production of knowledge in its field, and the thesis will be discussed scientifically by a specialist committee

To evaluate it, and according to the guidelines of discussing thesis the units quantity will be between 45-50, thus the units should not be less than 60 units.

Fifth :General notes

1- The applicant’s specialization for both master and Bachelor must be in the same field.

2- All who have master degree in any ministries can apply for this system.

3- Candidates of development of human capabilities or envoy in the form of delegations and fellowships, who have been accepted, can apply for study if they submit a formal approval letter from the Ministry of Higher Education / Foundation of Scholarships and Cultural Relation confirming undo their program.

4- Candidates from the development of human capabilities and envoys in the form of delegations and fellowships and didn’t complete their study for any reason are not allowed to apply for study unless three year passes on their return

5- Presentation papers and documents must be completed, otherwise the student will not be able to participate in the competency exam, vice president for scientific affairs of the universities will be responsible for auditing the papers.

Sixth: Financial Maters

1- all the cost of the project will be on the account of the university that embrace the PhD study for the candidates who are employees of higher education and scientific research, if the student of PhD was an employee of one of the new universities, then bonus of the committee of discussion and the supervisors and cost of both research and printing of the research will be paid by the university.

2- Candidates who are employee of other ministries, the ministries responsible for finance the students, thus the students must bring a letter of approval for funding attached to a letter of support of their ministries when applying to study for a doctorate.

3- Candidates who are not employees can apply for studying in parallel system.

Note:

1- In this session PhD study for this year and the following year will be particularized for professors and staffs of the Ministry of higher education and scientific research, but for other sessions a letter will be issued.

2- When Ministry of higher education and scientific research approve the plan of PhD study of the universities, the university can receive the PhD student .

Resource :http://mhe-krg.org/ku/node/2035