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Examination of Final Thesis

NGS may grant permission for a thesis to consist of an introduction, conclusion and published (or accepted) papers (plus some extra details of methods), provided that the published papers are in Tier 1 journals (as defined by NUS) and the student undertook most or all of the research described in the papers. Students who wish to follow this route should complete the request form and submit with copies of the papers at least two months before final thesis submission.

Each thesis will be read by

At least two external and one internal, or
Three external examiners who are also members of the oral examination panel.

If you have any enquiry, please email Vivien and Ivy.

Criteria of External Examiners

External examiners should be proposed to NGS by the Thesis Advisory Committee and must meet the following criteria for approval:

Internationally-recognized scientists in the field as identified by the usual criteria (research output, citations, etc) who have at least attained at least the level of Associate Professor Level or the equivalent. Singapore residents who meet this and the other criteria below may be nominated.
From leading universities or research institutions.
Not from the same institution as the candidate.
Not from NUS nor from the institution in which the candidate is performing all or a substantial part of his/her research work.
Not involved in the research.
Not a member of the TAC.
Not an adjunct staff of the Department/RI from which the candidate originates.

Criteria of Internal Examiners

Internal examiners should also meet criteria 1,2, 5 and 6 (as listed above) but may be from the same Institution as the candidate.

Nominations of examiners should reach NGS at least two months before thesis submission.

It is expedient for the TAC to make provisional contact with proposed examiners to ascertain their willingness to act, and this should be indicated on the form.

However, all official invitations will be issued by the from NGS office.

Examination Format

After reading the thesis, each examiner should within two months, write independently a brief report containing a provisional recommendation (see the list below) and submit it to NGS.

When all reports are received, they will be shown to all members of the examination panel prior to the oral examination.

The candidate may be requested to revise the thesis prior to the oral examination if the panel as a whole agrees that this would be beneficial to the student.

At the final examination of an NGS student, at least two examiners including one external examiner (preferably two) must be present plus a distinguished academic nominated by NGS (e.g. a member of the International Advisory Panel), who acts as an observer but does not participate in the examination unless invited to do so by the other examiners.

The student should make an oral presentation, describing the work, for not more than 30 minutes. The candidate should:

Give a brief overview of the thesis;
Discuss key findings and new contributions made to the field;
Justify the methodology and theoretical framework used; and
Analyze the implications of study for future research or applications

He/she is then expected to answer satisfactorily any question raised on the subject matter of the research thesis and related subjects by the examiners. The panel will then discusses the merit of the PhD in private and reach its a decision.

Click here for more information on the thesis examination process.

NOTE:

Please refer to the example given here showing the approximate timeline required for a Thesis Examination. You may use that as your guideline.