Master of Science (M.Sc.) by Research – Structure (Four Semesters / Two Years)

The Faculty of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering Technology (FTKMA), Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA), provides a structured pathway for postgraduate students to complete the Master of Science (M.Sc.) by Research within four semesters (two years). This structured timeline is designed to guide students through each stage of their research journey while ensuring academic quality and timely completion.

During Semester 1, students develop their research plan, present their progress to supervisors, and submit their progress report. Students are also required to complete the Research Methodology course modules before proceeding to the Proposal Defense.

In Semester 2, students focus on data collection and analysis, while also preparing and submitting at least one publication in a SCOPUS-indexed conference proceeding or equivalent. Research outputs must be registered in the UMPSA Institutional Repository (UMPSA-IR), accompanied by the submission of progress reports by both the student and supervisor.

During Semester 3, students undergo academic evaluation through colloquium and pre-viva sessions, allowing them to refine and improve their thesis before final submission. Students may also submit a Notice of Thesis Submission (NOS) up to six months before the minimum study duration, while continuing their research progress reporting.

In Semester 4, students complete all thesis submission requirements including publication verification, plagiarism checking (similarity index below 25%), compliance with UMPSA thesis guidelines, and English proofreading. The thesis will then be submitted for Viva Voce examination, followed by corrections and final hardbound submission subject to FTKMA and Senate approval.

This structured research timeline ensures that FTKMA postgraduate students receive clear academic guidance, strong supervision, and systematic progress monitoring, enabling them to successfully complete their research and contribute to high-quality scholarly publications.

• CGPA ≥ 2.75; OR

• 2.50 ≤ CGPA < 2.75 AND a rigorous internal assessment; OR

• 2.00 ≤ CGPA < 2.50, 5 years of relevant work experience in the field AND a rigorous internal assessment

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:

1. 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.

2. International student candidates from countries that use English as their official language.

3. International student candidates who have graduated from local universities.

4. 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.

5. 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.