2. Welcome to KFUPM Rules and Regulations of Graduate Studies 1 5/12/2015 12:32:50 AM

3. Overview at KFUPM  Founded in 1963  It has 7 colleges and 17 departments  It has state-of-the-art IT center, Library, infrastructure  Recently, KFUPM ranked the 1 st in Arab World and the 266 th over universities in the world (TimesQS)  Research is supported by:  Deanship of Scientific Research  Research Institute  Four Centers of Research Excellence  KACST funds for faculty and graduate students 25/12/2015 12:32:50 AM

4. History of Deanship of Graduate Studies  Founded in 1972  Formerly called College of Graduate Studies (CGS)  Presently called Deanship of Graduate Studies (DGS)  First Graduate College in Gulf Region  KFUPM – the first university in Saudi Arabia to introduce PhD Programs in Engineering  KFUPM has 10 PhD and 33 MS programs in 23 deciplines 35/12/2015 12:32:50 AM

10. Strategic Roadmap  Vision: To enable KFUPM be a leader in the region in providing quality graduate programs in Science, Engineering and Management  Mission: To provide quality graduate programs according to the best international practices that will enhance the research environment at KFUPM and contribute to the dissemination of knowledge

11. Strategic Roadmap  Goals: I. Enhance the research environment at KFUPM. II. Increase knowledge dissemination. III. Improve quality and efficiency of the graduate programs. IV.Increase quality and diversity in graduate student body. V.Increase the efficiency of the Deanship of Graduate Studies.

12. Getting Familiar with Terms and Procedures  Academic Petition  Changing Degree Objective  Provisional and Regular Status  Pre-Graduate Program  Degree Plan  GPA and Warning Policy  Thesis/Proposal & Committee Appointment  Public Defense  Readmission 115/12/2015 12:32:50 AM

13. Academic Petition  Specific Form present on the website of Graduate Studies.  It can be used for:  Changing status from provisional to regular.  Changing status from Pre-Graduate to Graduate.  Waiving GRE/TOEFL/Deficiency Courses etc.  Transferring Credits from an unfinished degree at another institution.  Registering more hours than allowed.  Etc.. 125/12/2015 12:32:50 AM

14. Flow of Academic Petition 135/12/2015 12:32:50 AM Student (Initiation) Department’s Graduate Coordinator (Approval) Dean of Graduate Studies (Final Approval) Department Chairman (Approval) Registrar (Proper Action)

15. Provisional & Regular Status  A student admitted with academic deficiencies is referred to as a PROVISIONAL STUDENT  Such academic deficiencies could be GRE, GMAT, TOEFL, Deficiency Courses, GPA in first 6 hours  Students should fulfill these deficiencies within the first semester of admission.  If not changed into Regular within first semester, students will be held from registration in the Early Registration and next semester. 145/12/2015 12:32:50 AM

16. Removal of Provisional Status 155/12/2015 12:32:50 AM  The students should use the academic petition form when they have fulfilled the academic deficiencies.  If such a petition is approved, the student will become a regular student.

17. Hold List  The list prepared twice every semester.  Contains names of students who are still on Provisional Status.  Such students should arrange to remove the names from the list by changing into Regular.  Students failing to do so will be put on registration hold and will not be allowed to register for the forthcoming semester. 165/12/2015 12:32:50 AM

18. Pre-Graduate Program  It is a special program for students with weak achievements in their BS degrees.  However, they showed good work experience and high motivation to continue their MS degrees.  The may be granted admission as Pre-Graduate until they pass 3 graduate courses, two of which are core courses with a grade of B and above in each course.  Very strictly monitored and revised at the end of each semester. 175/12/2015 12:32:50 AM

19. Degree Plan  Specific Form available on DGS website in excel format.  It is a roadmap for earning a degree.  Shows what a student has achieved and what is still needed for completing the degree requirements.  Prevent a student from taking unnecessary courses that may not be approved, which could waste his time and delay his graduation processing.  Students should submit their Degree Plans in the second semester of admission at maximum. 185/12/2015 12:32:50 AM

20. Change of Degree Objective  Specific Form on the website of DGS.  Can be done only once during the study at KFUPM.  Same applies for changing major – only once… 195/12/2015 12:32:50 AM

21. GPA & Warning Policy  Any graduate student has to maintain a minimum GPA of 3.00.  Students with GPA less than 3.00 will be placed on an academic probation and they should eventually raise their GPA.  Their status is reviewed every semester and will be issued Warning or Sever Warning letters.  Failure to raise the GPA above 3.00 will result in dismissal from the program.  Full-Time students such as RAs and LBs are given a single chance and then dismissal will be issued 205/12/2015 12:32:50 AM

22. Starting your Thesis Research  Start deciding on your thesis supervisor and initial topic as early as possible (NEVER delay it until you finish your coursework).  You might want to select some of your course projects as introduction to your thesis work.  This way, you will be ready to submit the proposal by the time you end the course work. 215/12/2015 12:32:50 AM

23. Thesis/Dissertation Proposal & Committee Appointment  Thesis/Dissertation is required from all M.Sc and PhD students.  Not required from students of other degrees such as M.Engg, M.C.R.P., M.B.A, etc.  Proposal and Committee should be approved by Department and College Council and by Deanship of Graduate Studies.  All the required forms available on DGS website.  Please refer to the chapter on Thesis in the Graduate Bulletin 225/12/2015 12:32:50 AM

24. Public Oral Defense of Thesis/Dissertation  A public oral defense is required from all M.Sc and PhD students as a part of their degrees.  The oral defense form has to be submitted 2 weeks before the intended date of defense.  The minimum gap between the proposal approval date and oral defense request is 3 months.  Oral defense is not allowed during the registration periods, final examinations and summer semesters. 235/12/2015 12:32:50 AM

25. Readmission  Specific form on the website of Graduate Studies.  For the following students:  Have been inactive even for one semester.  Have dropped ALL courses in a semester.  Full-time graduate students, RAs, Lecturers-B are NOT allowed to drop a semester or withdraw from ALL courses.  A student can get re-admission for 3 times at max.  The form should be submitted at least 4 weeks before the start of the intended semester to the department.  For students inactive for more than 6 semesters, their cases have to be approved by Dept., College and Graduate Councils!!! 245/12/2015 12:32:50 AM

26. Important Note: Please read the Graduate Bulletin carefully 255/12/2015 12:32:50 AM

27. Important Deadlines 265/12/2015 12:32:50 AM Academic IssueDeadline Readmission Application2 weeks before new semester starts Changing Degree Objective Form 2 months before new semester starts Degree Plan SubmissionEnd of 2 nd Semester from initial admission Thesis Proposal Submission3 months before intended defense date Oral defense Request Form2 weeks before intended defense date Last day of defenseLast day of classes Last day for clearing pending issues to avoid HOLD 2 weeks before new semester starts

28. A Typical Degree Time Table for FT MSc Students 275/12/2015 12:32:50 AM Admission 1 st Semester - Register 2-3 courses 2 nd Semester - Register 2-3 courses - Submit degree plan - Select thesis advisor and preliminary thesis topic 3 rd Semester - Register 2-3 courses - Select thesis committee - Submit thesis proposal 4 th Semester - Thesis defense and degree completion

29. A Typical Degree Time Table for PT MSc Students 285/12/2015 12:32:50 AM Admission 1 st Semester - Register 2 courses 2 nd Semester - Register 2 courses - Submit degree plan 4 th Semester - Register 2 courses - Select thesis committee - Submit thesis proposal 5 th Semester - Work on thesis 3 rd Semester - Register 2 courses - Select thesis advisor and preliminary thesis topic 6 th Semester - Thesis defense and degree completion

30. A Typical Degree Time Table for FT PhD Students 295/12/2015 12:32:50 AM Admission 1 st Semester - Register 2-3 courses 2 nd Semester - Register 2-3 courses - Submit degree plan 4 th Semester - Register 2-3 courses - Pass Comprehensive Exam 5 th Semester - Select dissertation committee - Submit & defend dissertation proposal 6 th and 7 th Semesters - Work on dissertation research 3 rd Semester - Register 2-3 courses - Select dissertation topic and supervisor 8 th Semester - Thesis defense and degree completion

31. 5/12/2015 12:32:50 AM30

32. Common Mistakes  Being not in touch with the Department and DGS.  Forgetting to do the registration confirmation at the beginning of every semester (detailed explanation by the Registrar)  Dropping ALL courses and NOT applying for re-admission for next semester.  Students on provisional status do not read the conditions mentioned in their admission letters carefully.  Not checking the university student email (g????????@kfupm.edu.sa) regularly.g????????@kfupm.edu.sa 315/12/2015 12:32:50 AM

33. Thank You 325/12/2015 12:32:50 AM Questions