Admission to the direct PhD track:
A student who meets the following criteria will be able to apply to the direct PhD track:
A. An average of at least 85 in the BSc studies.
B. Completion of the required master-degree course work, with an average grade of at least 85, within four semesters from the beginning of the studies.
Alternatively to A and B - Completion of the required master-degree course work, with an average grade of at least 90, within four semesters from the beginning of the studies.
The application will be submitted to Ms. Mazi Stein (08-9489189, mazis@savion.huji.ac.il), Advanced Studies Coordinator at the Secretariat for Teaching and Students, and will include the following documents:
A. Detailed letter of recommendation from the PI.
B. An essay prepared solely by the student (see the criteria for evaluating the application below). The essay will include the following chapters:
1. Presentation, analysis and summary of the Master's work. This section will include:
Title page - in Hebrew and English.
Summary - limited to one page in each language.
Introduction - Scientific background, research motivation, research objectives and hypotheses tested.
Methods - Briefly, focusing on the main methods only.
Results – Description of the experiments performed, their rational, results and interpretation, with reference to figures, in the form of graphs, photos, charts, etc., and tables. The Figures and tables will be accompanied by detailed legends.
Discussion – a comprehensive summary of the main insights obtained, with reference to other works in the field, and discussion of the broader implications, alternative explanation etc.
Reference list - stick to one citation format.
2. Preliminary research proposal for the doctoral dissertation (research directions and objectives). This section will include:
A. An explanation of the connection between the part done in the master's thesis and the planned parts in the doctoral thesis.
B. Details of the research objectives and hypotheses to be examined.
C. Details of the research plan. Carefully describe the research approaches that will be taken for each purpose and the rationale for their selection.
D. A tentative schedule for completing the doctoral dissertation.
E. Reference list (only the ones in addition to the specified in section 1).
The essay will be submitted electronically, and should not exceed 20 pages, which also include the reference list, illustrations and appendices. The part of the master's work summary should not exceed 15 pages, while the part of the doctoral research proposal will be 3-5 pages long. Font 12; 1.5 space line should be used, and keep a margin of 2.5 cm on each side. The deadline for submitting the application is July 31 after the fourth semester of the master’s program for those who started in the first semester, or 28.2 for those who started in the second semester.
The application will be reviewed by a committee composed of the Vice Dean of Teaching Affairs of the Faculty, Chair of the Faculty PhD Committee, two faculty representatives in the plenum of the Research Students' Authority and the chair of the department to which the student will be enrolled. If necessary, the Committee may request further opinions on the application. The committee's decision will be based on the student's academic achievements and the evaluation of the quality of the application for all its components - quality and scope of the research conducted within the master framework, the student's competence in scientific writing and his or her scientific maturity as reflected in the proposed research program. Specific emphasis will be given to the relationship between the MSc work and the proposed PhD proposal: only proposals in which there is a clear and coherent link between the two, and where the proposed PhD work is a natural development of the M.Sc. work will be approved, regardless of the proposal’s merit. If there is no consensus in the committee regarding the approval of the student's request, she will be invited to present her work and doctoral program before the final decision. The committee will give the its decision within one month of submitting the application.
Applications that are not submitted according to the detailed outline will not be reviewed at all. In addition, amendments will not be allowed if the committee finds the quality of the application insufficient.