PHD FAST-TRACK

OVERVIEW

  • PhD Fast-Track program is designed for high-achieving students who have completed their undergraduate studies with a First-Class Honors Degree (CGPA ≥ 3.67 or equivalent). This program allows students to enroll in Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) program through research directly without first pursuing a Master’s degree.
  • This method is applicable for full-time mode only. International students who have graduated from local institutions are also eligible to apply.
  • This method is open to students with or without qualifications in the field. Students without qualifications in the field must pass prerequisite courses before starting their studies.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS RESEARCH MODE
Bachelor’s Degree First-class honors (CGPA ≥ 3.67) or equivalent AND a rigorous internal assessment.

Notes:

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

REQUIREMENTS DETAILS
Field / Co-Supervisor Optional
Research Experience Optional
Competency Course Students must pass three (3) competency courses as recommended by the Main Supervisor as part of the award requirements.
Candidature Defense Students must have at least ONE (1) publication (indexed in SCOPUS/WOS/ERA or equivalent) and successfully pass Candidature Defense, which takes place in Semester 4, in order to proceed with their PhD studies.
  1. 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)
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  • Students must pass core and elective courses as prescribed by the Main Supervisor.
  • Students must complete and pass all assessments for their Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Fast-Track studies (refer to PROGRAMME STRUCTURE).
  • Students must submit research progress reports at the prescribed times each semester.
  • Students are subject to all university regulations and the Universities and University Colleges Act (AUKU) throughout their study period.
  • Students are allowed to extend the duration of their PhD studies after passing the Candidature Defense evaluation.
  • International students are fully responsible for complying with the visa and immigration regulations set by the Malaysian government.
  • The PhD candidacy status will not be continued and will be converted to a Master's if the student fails the Candidature Defense.

List of National Education Code (NEC), Field of Research (FOR) and Sub-Specialization:

NO. FOR NEC SUB-SPECIALIZATION
1 Humanities NEC 0220
  • Islamic Studies
  • Historical Studies and Civilisation Studies
2 Languages NEC 0230
  • Linguistics
  • Applied Linguistics
  • Language Studies
3 Social Sciences NEC 0310
  • Psychological Studies
  • Culture and Heritage Studies
  • Special Training and Education
  • Political Sciences
  • Development Studies
4 Business and Management NEC 0410
  • Finance, Accounting and Economics
  • Project Management
  • Environmental, Social and Governance
  • Marketing & Entrepreneurship
  • Operations and Supply Chain Management
  • Science, Technology & Innovation (STI) Management
  • Business Analytics
5 Biotechnology NEC 0510
  • Biotechnology
6 Physical Sciences NEC 0530
  • Advanced Materials
  • Physics
  • Chemistry
7 Occupational Health and Safety NEC 1022
  • Occupational Health and Safety
8 Mathematics and Statistics NEC 0540
  • Statistics
  • Mathematics
  • Data Analytics
9 Computing NEC 0610
  • Information Systems
  • Software Engineering
  • Multimedia Computing and Computer Vision
  • Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
  • Computer Systems and Networks
  • Digital and Cyber Security
  • Software Technology
10 Chemical Engineering NEC 0710
  • Chemical Engineering
  • Bioprocess Engineering
  • Mining and Mineral Processing Engineering
  • Environmental Process Engineering
  • Renewable Energy and Energy Security
  • Gas and Petroleum Engineering
  • Pharmaceutical Technology
11 Mechanical Engineering
  • Automotive Engineering
  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Human Technology
  • Structural Materials and Degradation
  • Energy Engineering and Green Technology
  • Structural Integrity and Vibration
  • Thermo Fluids
  • Mechanical Design and Material Processing
12 Electrical and Electronic Engineering
  • Instrumentation and Control Engineering
  • Applied Electronics and Communication Engineering
  • Energy and Electrical Power Engineering
13 Civil Engineering
  • Geotechnical and Infrastructures
  • Sustainable Infrastructure and Construction
  • Structures and Materials
  • Construction Management
  • Water Resources and Hydraulic Engineering
  • Sustainable Environmental Engineering
14 Manufacturing and Mechatronic Engineering
  • Engineering Materials
  • Mechatronics and Robotics
  • Technology for Manufacturing and Industry

For more details and information, please click HERE.

SEMESTER ASSESSMENT GRADE/STATUS PRE-REQUISITE
Semester 1 P** ***3 Competency Course 1 HL/TS  
PIR1103 Research Methodology HL/TS  
PIP1100 Progress Report 1 MM/TM  
Semester 2 PID1200 Proposal Defense HL/TS PIR1103
PIP1200 Progress Report 2 MM/TM  
P** ***3 Competency Course 2 HL/TS  
Semester 3 PIC1300 Colloquium / Seminar HL/TS  
PIP1300 Progress Report 3 MM/TM  
PIC2300 Publication of Articles 1 HL/TS  
P** ***3 Competency Course 3 HL/TS  
Semester 4 PIP1400 Progress Report 4 MM/TM  
PIC3400 Publication of Articles 2 HL/TS  
MID4400 Candidature Defense PASS/FAIL  
Semester 5 PID2500 Pre-Viva HL/TS PID1200;
PIC1300;
PIC2300;
PIC3400
PIP1500 Progress Report 5 MM/TM  
Semester 6 PID3600 Viva-Voce PASS/FAIL PID2500
PIP1600 Progress Report 6 MM/TM  

In UMPSA, we are proud to have a diverse team of expert supervisors dedicated to guiding postgraduate research students. Our experts specialize in a wide range of disciplines, bringing extensive experience and a strong commitment to fostering academic and research excellence. This list includes their research interests, qualifications, and key projects, making it easier for you to find a supervisor whose expertise aligns with your research goals.

For detailed profiles and to explore our experts, please refer HERE.

  Mode of Study Total Fees (RM) Fees Structure
Local Students Full Time RM17,165
International Students Full Time RM36,140

Notes:

  • The above fees are only minimum fees per programme (PhD on a full-time basis = 3 years) and does not include Pre-requisite and Competency Course Fee.
  • Students who do not meet the entry requirements will be charged additional course fees.

Applicants can easily apply online through our admissions portal at https://ipsonline.ump.edu.my/ipsonline/admission_v2/.
To begin the application process:
  1. Sign up as a user – Signing up is free and will grant you access to the online application form.
  2. Once registered, log in to complete your application and upload the necessary documents.
Information related to visa and student pass (for International Student), please refer to https://cir.umpsa.edu.my/index.php/en/.

Institute of Postgraduate Studies
UMPSA Gambang
Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah
Lebuh Persiaran Tun Khalil Yaakob
26300, Kuantan
Pahang, Malaysia.

Phone: +609-431 5024
Email: ips@umpsa.edu.my

ips-qr