Program Introduction:

The PhD program offered by the department provides a vibrant and dynamic environment that encourages excellence in different research areas. The students are provided with an opportunity to conduct in-depth studies and focus on research in selected areas of computer science. The program is intended to foster high  quality and advanced research, so as to meet the society’s demand for high caliber professionals who are knowledgeable and well versed with the latest  technologies and can provide a leading role in the academia as well as in the industry. A due emphasis has been placed on the applied and industrial aspects of the research.

The candidate is expected to undertake a complete research thesis that proves the ability of the candidate in generating a piece of original knowledge to demonstrate a significant contribution in his/her field of study.

Program Objectives:

1. Students will be able to possess advanced knowledge of Computer Science field
2. Students will be able to think creatively and critically; to solve non-trivial problems
3. Students will be able to use computing knowledge to develop efficient solutions for real life    problems
4. Students will be able to design solutions and can conduct research related activities

Program Scope:

The amount of data is growing so rapidly and their significance in the emerging societal set ups such as the pervasive Internet of Things, Computer Vision, Image Processing, Cloud Computing and AI & Machine Learning. The way one imagines data is going to change in the coming years. Both Big Data Analytics and pervasive computing, Machine Learning and Image Processing hinge on the principle axis of data analytics. PhD program is going to be relevant in terms of job creation and artisanal smart business generation. Scholars from this program would definitely avail the early-bird advantage.

Duration:

The minimum duration of the PhD is three years and maximum duration is eight years as per HEC policy. 

Admission Requirements/Eligibility:

Principles and Purposes.

The minimum requirement for admission to a PhD program shall be completion of the BS (or equivalent) degree. To avoid confusion, it  is clarified that this and the remaining criteria in this section are only minimum requirements, and universities are free to establish their own admissions framework that may vary by discipline, provided it satisfies the minimum conditions set forth in this section. Keeping in view that doctoral studies are intended to be rigorous and demanding, universities need to ensure that entrants to doctoral programs are capable of handling the academic rigor required to complete a PhD degree. Further, in admitting students to PhD programs, this policy encourages admissions committees to take a substantive approach to ascertain (a) applicants’  commitment (or level of interest) in pursuing the PhD program and (b) their preparedness in terms of previous academic training that will enable them to succeed in the program.

Completion of Prior Degree.

Prior to entry into a PhD program, the student shall have been awarded his or her BS/MS/MPhil or equivalent degrees.

Prior Degree in Different Discipline.

Consistent with best practices internationally (including leading global universities), it shall generally not be a requirement for admission to a PhD program that the applicant shall have completed a prior degree in the same discipline. If the applicant has a strong interest in pursuing a PhD degree in a different discipline and, in
accordance with the department’s policy, the admissions committee is satisfied that the applicant’s prior education has sufficiently prepared him or her to undertake the course of studies of the doctoral program (or, in the opinion of the admissions committee, the preparation can be deemed satisfactory by taking a few additional courses after starting the program), the applicant shall be considered for admissions notwithstanding their prior qualification in a different discipline.

Minimum GPA Requirement.

For admission in PhD programs, a minimum CGPA of 3.0 (out of 4.0 in the semester system) or First Division (in the annual system) in the most recent degree obtained is required, whether such was degree obtained from Pakistani or foreign universities.

Testing Requirement.

Applicants to PhD programs shall be required to fulfill the following testing requirements:

a. All applicants to PhD programs shall be required to take one of the following non subject specific admissions test:

i. The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) test administered by the Education Testing Service;

ii. A graduate admission test administered by the Education Testing Council; or

iii. With the permission of the HEC, an equivalent test developed by the university, or by another university, for admissions to graduate programs.

b. Subject tests shall not be required for admission to most PhD programs, with the possible exception of certain science disciplines, at the discretion of the university.

Statement of Purpose.

As part of the application for admission to PhD programs, applicants shall be required to submit a statement of purpose, which shall form an integral part of the application. The admissions committee shall use the information provided to ascertain the preparedness and interest of the candidate in pursuing doctoral studies, and whether the department has the requisite resources to train and supervise the doctoral candidate in the subspecialty he or she is interested in.

Award of PhD Degree:

Principles and Purposes.

The HEC has prescribed minimum criteria for the award of PhD Degrees. The purpose of this policy is to ensure that those who have been certified to have received the highest level of education in a particular field, and will perform consequential functions in society as teachers, researchers or experts, have truly   nvested their time and effort in developing a thorough understanding of that field of study. For the avoidance of doubt, the criteria in this section provides only the  inimum requirements for completion, and universities are free to establish their own framework for the award of PhD degrees that may vary by discipline, provided  it satisfies the minimum conditions set forth in this section.

Coursework and Residency Requirement.

The following requirements shall be fulfilled before the award of a PhD Degree:

a) The student shall complete coursework of at least 48 credit hours of which the majority shall be fulfilled through regular classes (i.e. classes that are taught on campus by fulltime faculty members of the university).

b) In case of those students who have previously completed a graduate degree in the same discipline (MS/MPhil or equivalent), the university shall notify a policy  ith objective criteria allowing such students to receive credit for prior coursework for not more than 50% of the total credit requirement of the program.

c) There shall be a residency requirement for a period of at least two years.

Comprehensive Examination.

Following the completion of coursework, every PhD student shall be required to pass a comprehensive examination in order to be  ranted candidacy as PhD researcher; provided that if the student fails to pass the comprehensive test, he or she shall be allowed one more attempt to take the test.

Doctoral Dissertation.

Each PhD researcher shall be required to write a doctoral dissertation that meets the following minimum criteria:

a) The PhD dissertation shall be supervised by a faculty member who holds a PhD (or equivalent) degree and is an HEC approved supervisor. At the time of  ppointment as supervisor, the faculty member shall be a full-time faculty member of the university in which the student is enrolled.

b) In addition to the PhD committee members, the PhD dissertation must be evaluated by at least two external experts who may be either

(i) Pakistan-based  Distinguished National Professors, Meritorious Professors, or Tenure Track Professors, or

(ii) PhD experts from academically advanced countries. However, if the  PhD candidate publishes his or her dissertation research in a peer reviewed journal that is classified by the HEC as category X or above, the PhD dissertation will  only require evaluation by one external expert.

c) A plagiarism test in accordance with the HEC’s Plagiarism Policy must be conducted on the dissertation before its submission to the external experts.

d) An open defense of the dissertation is required after positive evaluation of the dissertation by the committee members.

Research Publication.

Each PhD researcher shall be required to publish at least one research paper as its first author during his or her doctoral studies in an  EC approved Y category (or above) journal for the award of PhD degree.

Reporting Requirements.

The following documents shall be submitted to the HEC following the completion of studies:

a) A duly filled completion form shall be sent to the HEC from the Office of the Controller of Examinations of the university notifying the HEC that the PhD scholar  has completed all the requirements for the award of the PhD degree.

b) A copy of PhD Dissertation for including in PhD Country Directory and for attestation of the PhD degree by the HEC.

c) A duly filled Proforma (available in HEC guideline document) for the PhD Country Directory, signed by the Principal Supervisor, Controller of Examination and the Vice Chancellor.

Degree Completion Timeline.

The PhD degree shall be awarded by universities after a minimum of three (3) years and not more than eight (8) years after the  enrolment of the student; provided that for students who are unable to complete the program within eight (8) years, the university may designate a competent  authority to determine whether the delay was caused by circumstances beyond the student’s control, and if so, grant an extension in such exceptional  circumstances; provided further that in no event shall the PhD degree be awarded more than ten (10) years after the enrolment of the student in the program. The  date of notification of the award of the PhD degree subsequent to the PhD defense shall be considered to be the date of the completion of PhD studies.

Scheme of Study

Core Courses:

1. Any Six of the Following for students having Bachelor Degree
2. Any Three of the Following for students having Master Degree (with 24 Credit Hours Course Work)

Thesis:

Mandatory Course:

Elective Courses:

1. Any Ten of the Following for students having Bachelor Degree
2. Any Five of the Following for students having Master Degree (with 24 Credit Hours Course Work)