Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) by Research – Structure (Six Semesters / Three Years)

The Faculty of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering Technology (FTKMA), Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA), provides a structured research pathway for postgraduate candidates to complete the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) within six semesters (three years). This structured framework guides students through systematic research development, academic evaluation, and high-quality scholarly publication.

In Semester 1, students focus on establishing the research foundation, including literature review, development of the methodology framework, and preparation of the research plan. Students are also required to complete all Research Methodology modules before proceeding to the Proposal Defense, while submitting progress reports and presenting research progress to their supervisors.

During Semesters 2 and 3, students actively conduct research work, model development, experimental setup, and data collection and analysis. Students are also required to begin producing research publications and register their outputs in the UMPSA Institutional Repository (UMPSA-IR). At this stage, students are expected to produce SCOPUS-indexed publications, with the candidate as the first author and the supervisor as the corresponding author with UMPSA affiliation.

In Semester 4, students begin draft thesis writing, present their research findings during Colloquium 1, and integrate research outcomes into high-impact publications. Continuous progress reporting and further publication activities are also emphasized to ensure steady research advancement.

During Semester 5, students continue with advanced data analysis, thesis writing, and preparation for Pre-Viva evaluation. At this stage, the full thesis draft is internally evaluated, and students must also submit the Notice of Thesis Submission (NOS) prior to the final examination stage.

Finally, in Semester 6, students complete the final requirements including Colloquium 2, thesis submission, and Viva Voce examination. The thesis must comply with UMPSA thesis guidelines, pass the plagiarism similarity check (below 25%), and undergo English proofreading. Upon successful completion of corrections and final hardbound submission, the thesis will be approved by the University Senate, marking the completion of the doctoral programme.

This structured research timeline ensures that FTKMA PhD candidates receive clear research direction, continuous supervision, and systematic progress monitoring, enabling them to produce impactful research contributions and high-quality publications.

Notes:

• For candidates with entry qualification in an irrelevant field, they must undergo a prerequisite course.

• All international student candidates must meet the IELTS Band score of 5.0 or equivalent, except for those pursuing these fields:

  1. Language (IELTS 6.0 or equivalent)

  2. Business Studies (IELTS 6.0 or equivalent)

  3. Computing (IELTS 6.0 or equivalent or additional requirements)

  4. Biotechnology (IELTS 5.5 and equivalent)

• International student candidates who do not meet the English language requirements may be granted conditional approval. Applicants are given a period of two (2) years from the registration date to fulfil their English language requirements. If the student FAILS to meet this English language competency requirement within the stipulated period, they will be discontinued from their study programmes.

• The validity period of the IELTS certificate obtained or equivalent must not exceed 2 years from the date of the examination until the candidate's registration.

• The TOEFL ITP and PBT certificates are not accepted for admission to this programme.

Exemptions from English language requirement may be granted to the following candidates:

• International student candidates who have academic qualifications from institutions that use English as the sole medium of instruction and are applying for a higher level of education at UMPSA. Candidates must submit supporting evidence duly authenticated by the previous university.
• International student candidates from countries that use English as their official language.
• International student candidates who have graduated from local universities.
• International student candidates from Indonesia, Brunei, Singapore, and Southern Thailand who are enrolled in study programmes that use languages which are cognate to the Malay language.
• International student candidates who have academic qualifications from institutions that use the Malay language as the sole medium of instruction and intend to pursue a higher level of education in Malaysia.