1. Master’s students in all categories may transfer to the direct Ph.D. track provided that they fulfill the following requirements:
a. Completing the Bachelor’s degree with an average of 85 and above.
b. Completing the total credits for the Master’s with a grade of 85 and above.
c. Supervisor’s recommendation and approval by the head of the teaching program.
d. Presenting a project and research program of an appropriate scope (as usually done in the teaching program).
e. Taking the qualifying exam and achieving a pass grade.
f. Fulfilling the admission requirements set by the Committee for Research Students for all doctoral students.
Students’ study programs will be compiled with the assistance of the teaching program’s advisor to Master’s students and will include that teaching program’s regular program for the Master’s degree.
At the end of the first year and conclusion of all the courses that constitute the Master’s study program, and provided that they achieved an average grade of at least 85 in them, students will take a screening exam which will determine their suitability to continue in the direct track. Registration for the exam takes place at the faculty secretariat for Master’s students.
Students for a Master’s degree whose overall Bachelor’s degree grade was above 85, and who completed their course requirements for the Master’s degree with an average of at least 85, may apply to transfer to the direct track. This transfer must be recommended by the teaching program and subject to successful completion of the screening exam for the direct track.
The screening exam will focus on the research program presented by students before the exam, the initial research results already achieved by them and familiarity with the background material in the subject being studied, and will be on the level of a Master’s final exam. The research program must be broad and appropriate for a Ph.D. dissertation.
The examiners’ committee will summarize and give written reasons for its opinion as to the level of students’ suitability for the direct track. This opinion will be provided to the Committee for Research Students, together with a full report on the students’ achievements.
Candidates’ admission as Stage B research students, their registration procedures, submission of subject for the Ph.D. dissertation, required supplementary studies etc. will take place in accordance with the regulations of the Committee for Research Students.
2. The format of examiners and awarding of grades will be comparable to the usual format in the Master’s degree, as defined by each teaching program.
3. In certain cases, students in a direct Ph.D. track may be awarded a Master’s degree while they are studying in this track and/or on the basis of non-completion of their doctoral studies.
3.1 Students in the direct Ph.D. track are entitled to a Master’s degree after they have successfully completed the quota of courses required for the Master’s, completed the direct track exam, submitted a research program approved by a committee on the behalf of the Authority for Research Students, and have shown real progress in their research. Consideration of their eligibility for a Master’s degree commences after approval of the transfer to Stage B in the studies toward the Ph.D.
3.2 In a case where students apply for suspension of their doctoral studies, awarding a Master’s degree will be considered if approved by the head of the teaching program and subject to the procedures of the faculty and university. The teaching program may recognize a numerical grade of the qualifying exam (screening) for the doctorate as an alternative to a Master’s final thesis grade. Students will have to submit the final work (thesis). The final grade for the degree will be weighted according to the scales in the regular track (40% average of courses, 30% final exam grade, 30% final thesis).