1. Required Qualifications

Students must have a Master degree with a minimum G.P.A. score of 3.0 out of 4.0 or equivalent (e.g., a minimum average of 60% in a UK-style Master by taught courses or a Pass in a Master by Research / M.Phil.) in Electrical engineering, Electronic engineering, Communication engineering, Computer engineering, Computer science, and Information Technology.

All candidates must have achieved a minimum level of proficiency in English in the form of a TOEFL score of 550 or an equivalent qualification (a minimum IELTS of 6.0).

In addition to satisfying all the above, candidates must undergo an interview to determine the suitability of the student for undertaking the programme of work.

Candidates wishing to enrol on the course on a part-time basis must satisfy the University authorities that their employer will provide the time for the student to attend the University as specified below.

2. Availability of Places

Number of Places

The maximum number of students who can be admitted to the programme is directly dependent on the number of University academic staff that can supervise Ph.D. students.

Admission Policy

In all cases, admission will be on a competitive basis. The selection of candidates will be made on the basis of their application form, supporting documents, and their performance in the interview. Selection will take into account factors such as the candidates’ graduation average or G.P.A. score, their qualifications and previous experience, their CV, their reference forms, and their potential to succeed.

3. Duration of Study

Full-Time and Part-Time Study

Students will be admitted on both full-time and part-time basis.

During the taught courses part of the programme, full-time study involves registration on 3 courses (45 credit-points) per semester, whereas part-time study involves registration on 1–2 courses (15–30 credit-points) per semester.

During the research part of the programme, full-time study involves approximately 40 hours of research effort per week for 48 weeks per year, whereas part-time study involves approximately 25 hours of research effort per week for 48 weeks per year.

During the research part of the programme, part-time students are required to attend the University for at least two hours per week to meet with their supervisor. Employers should, however, try to enable their students to attend the University for one day a week. This is particularly important for experimentally based projects.

Minimum and Maximum Periods of Study

The minimum period of study will be 3 years from the date of first registration in the case of full-time registration and 5 years from the date of first registration in the case of part-time registration. This study period includes the time taken to write-up the thesis.

The maximum period of study will be 5 years from the date of first registration in the case of full-time registration and 8 years from the date of first registration in the case of part-time registration. This study period includes the time taken to write-up the thesis. In exceptional cases, an extension of registration may be granted.

4. Application Procedure

Project Selection

The applicant may select from the list of available research projects published annually by the University, or alternatively may suggest his/her own project. In the latter case, the applicant must consult with a potential supervisor and must ascertain whether or not this supervisor would be prepared to recommend his/her proposal to the relevant head of department. Candidates may seek guidance from the Director of Postgraduate Studies on the appropriate supervisors to consult.

Submission of Application

Applicants should complete an application form and forward it, along with supporting documentation, to the Director of Postgraduate Studies. In addition, applicants should forward the reference letter forms to three nominated referees. Applications must be made by the Application Deadlines published annually by the University.

The following items should be included with the application form:

• A certified copy of the applicant’s Master certificate along with an official transcript.

• Evidence of English language proficiency, e.g. TOEFL or IELTS results.

• Four recent passport size photographs.

• A photocopy of the applicant’s passport.

• A photocopy of khulasat Al-Qaid (for UAE Nationals).

• A detailed Curriculum Vita (CV).

• Evidence of the ability to pay fees, e.g. sponsorship letter.

All documents supplied for admission purposes are the property of the University and will not be returned regardless of whether the applicant is accepted or not.

The Director of Postgraduate Studies will acknowledge receipt of properly completed application forms, once verification of the supporting documentation has been carried out. Application forms which are incomplete or lacking the relevant documentation will be returned to the applicant.

Registration

Successful candidates will be notified in writing by the Director of Postgraduate Studies and will be required to register formally with the University

Admission is valid only for the academic semester specified in the admission letter. If an applicant is given admission and for some reason does not register but intends to join the University in the following semester, then he/she should submit a written request to the Director of Postgraduate Studies not later than one month before the beginning of the semester. Admission consideration for the following semester will depend on availability of places.

All admission decisions by the University are taken in good faith on the basis of the statements on the application form. If the University discovers that the applicant have made a false statement or have omitted significant information on the application form, it may withdraw its offer, or terminate the applicant’s registration.

All postgraduate students are required to re-register on an annual basis. Such re-registration is subject to satisfactory progress.

5. Fees

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to modify the published scale of tuition and other fees without prior notice, at any time before the beginning of an academic semester. The most up to date tuition and fees information is available from the Director of Postgraduate Studies.

Admission Deposit

All students admitted to the programme are required to pay a non-refundable and non-transferable seat reservation deposit of AED 5,000. This deposit will be credited to the student’s account upon registration. The deposit must be paid to the University within one month of the admission letter date.

Normal Tuition Fees

The tuition fees are AED 70,000 per year for a full-time registered student and AED 42,000 per year for a part-time registered student.

Writing-Up Reduced Fees

By the end of the minimum period of study the student, depending on his/her progress, may be transferred to “Writing-Up Status”. In this case:

• The student will be charged a monthly “Writing-Up Status” reduced fees until he/she submits the thesis for examination. The “Writing-Up Status” fees are AED 1,000 per month for a full-time registered student, and AED 600 per month for a part-time registered student.

• The student will have limited access to resources. This will only include access to email, general-purpose computing and internet facilities, and the library.

• The student will not be entitled to substantive supervision. Supervision, in this case, will be limited to advising the student on the methodology and form of presentation of the thesis, and assisting the student to plan for the viva voce thesis examination.

Fees during Revisions

Students who are required to carry out major revisions to their thesis by the external examiner will be asked to pay reduced fees similar to the “Writing-Up Status” fees until the work is completed.

Payment and Penalties

Students paying normal tuition fees may be allowed to pay their fees on a quarterly basis (one payment every 3 months in advance). The registration of students who fail to pay the due amount on time will be suspended until they do so. Access to laboratories, computing resources and supervisors will also be denied until the required payment is made.

Refunds

Students who leave the programme, or who are asked to leave the programme, will be entitled to a refund of their fees. Refunds of fees will be made on a monthly pro-rata basis calculated from the date of first registration. Students who leave the programme, or who are asked to leave the programme part-way through a month will be charged full fees for that month.