Doctoral Degree: Ph. D.
This document is the governing policy of Ph.D. degree of World Sikh University London.
Summary
Completion of satisfactory attendance (+80%), pass in course-end examination (one week before when the dissertation is ready to be submitted – 85% score) and 3 bound copies, and one electronically produced copy of dissertation approved by Internal and External examiners is the university requirement for conferral of a doctoral degree. The duration of the course is a minimum of three years from the date of the submission and approval of the abstract of the dissertation.
Rationale
The doctoral dissertation is expected to be an original contribution to scholarship or knowledge, to exemplify the highest standards of the discipline, and to be of lasting value to the intellectual community. Every doctoral dissertation is read and approved first by Internal Examiners and finally passed by the External Examiner to ensure that standards for university quality are met.
The subject of the doctoral programme is restricted to Comparative Study of World Religions specializing in Sikhism.
1. Policy
An approved doctoral dissertation is required for the Ph.D. Every doctoral dissertation is read and approved by the three members of the doctoral dissertation committee where two members are internal examiners/supervisors/counsellors and one is external examiner.
1.1 Doctoral Dissertation Approval Committee
The doctoral dissertation approval committee consists of two internal advisers/examiners and one external examiner. Internal Committee members are staff members of the University and External Examiner is selected from a list of examiners/scholars approved by the University Senate.
1.2 Entry Requirements
There is no direct entry in the Doctoral programme. The students must pass M.A. in Comparative Studies of World Religion in good grade to proceed to the doctorate programme. To seek admission in M.A., a student must have a Bachelor’s degree in an appropriate subject, awarded with first or upper second-class, or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard from a recognised higher education institute. Students must hold an AS level Panjabi qualification.
1.3 Duration
The completion of Doctorate programme requires a minimum period of 3 continuous years of research.
1.4 Advisers and Counsellors
Any member of the teaching staff who holds a Ph.D. degree may serve as the dissertation adviser. However, external advisers are selected by the Senate from amongst the renowned scholars who have Doctorate qualification and teaching experience of at least 10 years in a University.
1.2 Dissertation Preparation and Submission
The doctoral dissertation must be an original contribution and must exemplify the highest standards of the discipline. If it is judged to meet this standard, the dissertation is approved.
Dissertations must be submitted both as bound copies (3 copies) and electronically saved copy on a USB
The signed dissertation copies and accompanying documents must be submitted to the Office of the Registrar on or before the deadline indicated in the university’s academic calendar.
The students must be on rolls for 3 years before they submit the dissertation
1.4 Deadlines
The deadline for submission of dissertation is specified by the university academic calendar. The final dissertation must be submitted to the Office of the Registrar on or before the deadline. Dissertation deadlines are strictly enforced. Students who miss the deadline may, apply for degree conferral on the following year graduation ceremony.
1.5 Subject/Topic of Thesis and dissertation planning
A student may choose any topic from Sikh history, religion and theology and submit an abstract to the Academic registrar for approval. When the topic is approved then student will be asked to submit a working plan and completion of his/her thesis. The student will be advised to adhere to his/her plan as far as possible.