Oral Qualification Exam

The Ph.D. candidate qualifying examination consists of a written examination (or exemption through journal publications) and an oral examination.

1. Written examination: Held once per semester and during the summer vacation, candidates may choose one subject approved by their thesis advisor for each examination. The available subjects for selection will be announced by the department separately. Candidates must pass the examination three times within the first three years of study. Graduate students should register for the subjects they intend to take one month before the examination date with the department.

2. Exemption from the written examination through academic journal publications must meet either condition (一) or (二):
Within three years, Ph.D. program students may submit (or have already been accepted for publication) the paper in SCI with a peer review and the paper must be approved by the student’s thesis advisor.
(一)Two papers published (or already accepted for publication) in journals in SCI with a peer review. or
(二)One paper published in the top 20% of SCI journals in the JCR subfield journal ranking (Rank Factor) of the year or in a journal included in the College of Science Key Journal List.
Note: The determination of the Rank Factor is based on the year of publication or acceptance of the paper in the current or previous year.

3. Ph.D. students may choose to pass the written examination three times or submit two journal papers for exemption. They must also pass the oral examination to obtain a Ph.D. candidacy. Those unable to pass the Ph.D. Candidacy Examination within three years of enrollment shall be subject to dismissal.