Ph.D.

REGULATIONS
SRM INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
2017
1. DEFINITIONS AND NOMENCLATURE

In the Regulations, unless the context otherwise requires,

(i) “SRMIST” means SRM Institute of Science and Technology

(ii) “Programme” means Doctoral Programme leading to the award of Ph.D. in Engineering and
Technology / Science and Humanities / Medical and Health Sciences.

(iii) DRCC means “Department Research Co-ordination Committee”.

(iv) “Chairperson” means the Head of the DRCC.

(v) “Supervisor” means any faculty member of SRMIST who has been recognized by SRMIST
to supervise the research scholars.

(vi) “Doctoral Committee” means a Committee constituted by SRMIST for each Scholar to
monitor the progress of his/her research work.

(vii) “Research Co-ordinator” means Head of the Institution/ Department/Organization of the

Part-time (Ext.) scholar where he/she is employed.

(viii) “Scholar” means any candidate admitted by SRMIST either under Full-time or Part-time
category for pursuing research for the award of Ph.D. degree of SRMIST.

(ix) “Course” means a theory subject/a practical subject of PG programme/a directed study
prescribed by the Doctoral Committee for the scholar to undergo as a part of the Ph.D.
Programme.

2. CATEGORIES OF Ph.D. CANDIDATES

There shall be three categories of Ph.D. candidates.

(i) Full Time candidates: All candidates who pursue full time research in SRMIST shall belong
to this category.

(ii) Part Time (Internal) candidates: All candidates employed in SRMIST who pursue part time
research in SRMIST shall belong to this category.

(iii) Part Time (External) candidates: All candidates working in Industrial units, Colleges,
Government departments, Research organizations or other Institutions, sponsored for
pursuing Ph.D. Programmes in SRMIST while continuing to serve in their respective
Institutions/ organizations which are recognized as the Research Centers of SRMIST shall
belong to this category. They shall pursue research in their place of employment and /or in
this SRMIST.
3. ELIGIBILITY

3.1 Two years of Master's degree or a professional degree declared equivalent to the Master’s
degree by the corresponding statutory regulatory body, with at least 55% marks in aggregate
or its equivalent grade 'B' in the UGC 7-point scale (or an equivalent grade in a point scale
wherever grading system is followed) or an equivalent degree from a foreign educational
Institution accredited by an Assessment and Accreditation Agency which is approved,
recognized or authorized by an authority, established or incorporated under a law in its home
country or any other statutory authority in that country for the purpose of assessing,
accrediting or assuring quality and standards of educational institutions.

3.2 Candidates who have cleared the M.Phil. course work with at least 55% marks in aggregate or
its equivalent grade 'B' in the UGC 7-point scale (or an equivalent grade in a point scale
wherever grading system is followed) and successfully completing the M.Phil. Degree shall
be legible to proceed to do research work leading to the Ph. D. Degree in the same Institution.

3.3 A relaxation of 5% of marks, or an equivalent relaxation of grade, may be allowed for those
belonging to SC/ST/OBC (non-creamy layer)/ differently- abled.

4. DURATION OF THE PROGRAMME

The duration of the programme and the time for submission of thesis are counted from the date of
provisional registration.

4.1 All Ph.D. programmes shall be for a minimum duration of three years, including course work
and a maximum of five years for Full time scholars and a maximum of six years for Part time
scholars.

4.2 Part Time (Internal/External): Part time Ph.D. programme is allowed provided all the
conditions mentioned in the extant Ph.D. regulations are met.

4.3 Under extraordinary circumstances if the candidate fails to submit the thesis within the
maximum period, further extension of the period for a maximum of two years may be granted
by the Vice Chancellor, on the recommendations of the Doctoral Committee, Director of
concerned Faculty and Director (Research).

After the expiry of the maximum period including the extension granted, a candidate will be permitted
to Re-register as per the following regulations.

(i) For those candidates who want to re-register under the same supervisor on the same area of
research, the earlier Doctoral Committee and the course works completed will hold good.

(ii) For those candidates who want to re-register with a different supervisor on a different area of
research will be subjected to the regulations applicable for the fresh candidates.
(iii) If the area of research is the same, the new Doctoral Committee will decide whether the
earlier course works completed can be considered for exemption or not.

4.4 The women candidates and Persons with Disability (more than 40% disability) may be
allowed a relaxation of two years for Ph.D. in the maximum duration. In addition, the women

Ph. D. REGULATIONS | 1
 candidates may be provided Maternity Leave/Child Care Leave once in the entire duration of
Ph.D. for up to 240 days.

5. ADMISSION PROCEDURE

(i) The number of available seats in the various specializations under different disciplines will be
determined well in advance depending on the number of available Research Supervisors and
other academic and physical facilities available, keeping in mind the norms regarding the
scholar- supervisor ratio (as indicated in Para 6.2. iii), laboratory, library and such other
facilities and will be notified in SRMIST website and through advertisement.

(ii) The candidates desirous of pursuing Ph.D. degree shall submit the application in the
prescribed form through proper channel wherever applicable, before 31st March/30th
September, each year to the Director (Research). The application form and the necessary
details are available in SRMIST website.

(iii) The applications received will be sent to the respective Faculty Directors who will forward
the same to the Chairpersons of the Department Research Coordination Committee (DRCC)
of the departments. The DRCC will consist of all the recognized supervisors in the
department and a recognized supervisor from another department of the SRMIST nominated
by the respective faculty Directors. If the Head of the department is a recognized supervisor
he/she will be the Chairperson. If not, he/she will nominate one of the recognized supervisors
in the department as the Chairperson of DRCC. In Schools, the Dean of the School will be the
Chairperson. The DRCC shall screen the applications and conduct the Entrance Test.
(iv) The Entrance test need not be conducted for those students who qualify UGC-NET (including
JRF)/UGC-CSIR NET (including JRF)/SLET/GATE/teacher fellowship holder.

(v) The DRCC shall admit candidates by a two stage process

through:

1. An Entrance Test shall be qualifying with qualifying marks as 50%. The syllabus of the
Entrance Test shall consist of 50% of research methodology and 50% shall be subject
specific. The Entrance Test shall be conducted at the Centre(s) notified in advance.

2. An interview/viva-voce to be organized by the DRCC when the candidates are required to

discuss their research interest/area through a presentation before the Department Research
Coordination Committee. The interview/viva voce shall also consider the following
aspects, viz. whether:

2.1 the candidate possesses the competence for the proposed research;
2.2 the research work can be suitably undertaken at the Institution/College;
2.3 the proposed area of research can contribute to new/additional knowledge.

(vi) The allocation of Research Supervisor for a selected research scholar shall be decided by the
DRCC concerned depending on the number of scholars per Research Supervisor, the available
specialization among the Supervisors and research interests of the scholars as indicated by them
at the time of interview/viva voce.

(vii) The respective DRCC will forward the list of selected candidates along with the applications of
all the candidates to the Director (Research) through the Directors of the respective faculties.

Ph. D. REGULATIONS | 2
(viii) The Director (Research) will seek the approval of the Vice-Chancellor for the provisional
registration of the selected candidates.

(ix) The Candidates whose registration has been approved by the Vice Chancellor shall be
provisionally admitted to the Ph.D. Programme by the Director (Research) with intimation to the
concerned Faculty Director, HOD, supervisor, the candidate, and the sponsoring institution, if
any.

(x) On receipt of the Provisional registration of the candidates, the supervisors of the students shall
recommend a panel of Six names for forming the Doctoral Committee for their respective
students and send the same to the respective Faculty Directors through the respective Heads of
the Departments. The Faculty Director shall form the Doctoral Committee as in Para 9 below,
get the approval of the Vice-Chancellor and then communicate the same to the Director
(Research) for record and to the respective supervisors through the respective Heads of the
departments for further action.

(xi) The date of provisional registration shall be of 1st of July or 2nd of January of each year.

(xii) SRMIST shall maintain the list of all the Ph.D. registered scholars on its website on year-wise
basis. The list shall include the name of the registered candidate, topic of his/her research, name
of his/her supervisor/co-supervisor, date of enrolment/registration.

6. ALLOCATION OF RESEARCH SUPERVISOR:

6.1 Recognition of Supervisors

Recognition of Supervisor for guiding research work will be accorded by the Vice Chancellor,
on application to the Director (Research) through proper channel in the prescribed format with the
recommendation of a subject expert identified by the Director of the concerned faculty.

Only a full time regular teacher of the concerned SRMIST can act as a supervisor.

(i) Any Professor of SRMIST with at least five research publications in indexed journals with SNIP/
IF > 1 in the last 5 years may be recognized as a research supervisor. Any Associate Professor
with a Ph.D. degree with at least 3 publications in indexed journals with SNIP/ IF > 1 in the last 3
years and a minimum of two years of research or teaching experience after acquiring Ph.D. degree
may be recognized as a research supervisor. Any Assistant Professor of SRMIST with a Ph.D.
degree and at least two research publications in indexed journals with SNIP/IF > 1 in the last 3
years and a minimum of two years of research or teaching experience after acquiring Ph.D. degree
may be recognized as Research Supervisor. All publications mentioned above must be in
approved journals list available in SRMIST website.

(ii) A research supervisor without Ph.D. qualification in Medical Sciences should have not less than
15 years of teaching and research experience after obtaining his/her Post Graduate qualification
and shall also have not less than 10 years of Post Graduate teaching experience as a faculty
member with a minimum of two publications in the relevant or allied areas of research in indexed
journals with SNIP/IF >1 in the last 3 years.

Ph. D. REGULATIONS | 3
(iii) All the supervisors must have been active researchers during the past five years. In
areas/disciplines where there is no or only a limited number of indexed journals, SRMIST may
relax the above condition for recognition of a faculty as Research Supervisor with reasons
recorded in writing. The minimum impact factor (IF) requirements may be somewhat relaxed by
the Vice Chancellor for humanities, social sciences, and other areas where a rich research culture
has not yet been established.

(iv) The external supervisors are not allowed. However, Co-Supervisor can be allowed in inter-
disciplinary areas from other departments of the same institute or from other related institutions
with the approval of the Vice Chancellor.

6.2 Allocation of Supervisors

(i) The allocation of Research Supervisor for a selected research scholar shall be decided by the
DRCC concerned depending on the number of scholars per Research Supervisor, the available
specialization among the Supervisors and research interests of the scholars as indicated by them at
the time of interview/viva voce.
(ii) In case of topics which are of inter-disciplinary nature where the Department concerned feels that
the expertise in the DRCC has to be supplemented from outside, the Department may appoint a
Research Supervisor from the Department itself, who shall be known as the Research Supervisor,
and a Co-Supervisor from outside the Department/ Faculty/College/Institution on such terms and
conditions as may be specified and agreed upon by the consenting Institutions/Colleges.

(iii) A Research Supervisor/Co-supervisor who is a Professor, at any given point of time, can guide up
to three (3) M.Phil. and six (6) Ph.D. scholars. An Associate Professor as a Research Supervisor
can guide up to a maximum of two (2) M.Phil. and four (4) Ph.D. scholars and an Assistant
Professor as a Research Supervisor can guide up to a maximum of one (1) M.Phil. and three (3)
Ph.D. scholars. Guiding research scholars is a significant investment of ones time. Care must be
taken before accepting doctoral scholars considering the load on hand.

(iv) In case of relocation of an Ph.D. woman scholar due to marriage or otherwise, the research data
shall be allowed to be transferred to SRMIST to which the scholar intends to relocate provided all
the other conditions in these regulations are followed in letter and spirit and the research work
does not pertain to the project secured by the parent institution/ supervisor from any funding
agency. The scholar will however give due credit to the parent Supervisor and the institution for
the part of research already done.

7 . SUPERVISORS

(i) All Ph.D. candidates are required to work under the guidance of a recognized Supervisor from
SRMIST.

(ii) The part time (external) candidates shall be required to have, in addition to a Research
Supervisor from the respective faculty of SRMIST, a recognized Co- supervisor/Research
coordinator from the institution/organization/department where he/she is employed, who is
responsible to provide all necessary resources and help to complete the research work in a
time bound manner. The institution /organization/department where the candidate will pursue
his/her research work should be recognized as a research centre by SRMIST.

Ph. D. REGULATIONS | 4
 (iii) When a supervisor of a candidate happens to be away from SRMIST, for more than 6 months,
he/she may continue to guide the candidate, but a supervisor belonging to the same faculty of
SRMIST shall be officially nominated as a Co-supervisor by the DRCC of the department and
forwarded through proper channel to the Vice Chancellor for approval.

(iv) If the supervisor leaves SRMIST, he/she may be permitted to continue as a supervisor for
his/her students depending upon the availability of the individual, subject to the approval of
the Vice Chancellor. Otherwise a new supervisor belonging to the same faculty of SRMIST,
officially nominated by the Research Coordination Committee of the department will be
appointed as the Supervisor after obtaining necessary approval from the Vice Chancellor.

8. RECOGNITION OF RESEARCH CENTERS

Various National and Regional Laboratories / Institutions / Organizations / Industrial

Establishments/ Industries recognized by DSIR are eligible to admit candidates for Ph.D. under
SRMIST provided they possess recognition from SRMIST. Other Institutions desirous of getting
recognition must apply to SRMIST for securing recognition as Centers of Research. SRMIST will get
these institutions assessed through a committee before awarding the recognition, wherever necessary
as per the guidelines approved by the Doctoral Committee.

9. DOCTORAL COMMITTEE AND ITS FUNCTIONS

The following members shall constitute the Doctoral Committee as approved by the Vice-
Chancellor.

(i) The Supervisors (Convener)

(ii) Two External experts selected by the Director of the respective faculty from a panel of six
experts recommended by the Supervisors from the academia/Industries / R&D
organizations.

(iii) The Co-supervisor, if any.

(iv) In case of Part time external candidates, the Co- Supervisor/Research coordinator from
the organization where he/she is employed.

(v) An expert in the allied areas of research from SRMIST, if required.

(vi) Chairperson of DRCC of the concerned department.

This Committee shall have the following responsibilities:

a) To review the research proposal and finalize the topic of research.
b) To guide the research scholar to develop the study design and methodology of
research and identify the course(s) that he/she may have to do.
c) To periodically review and assist in the progress of the research work of the research
scholar.

10. COURSE WORK

Ph. D. REGULATIONS | 5
 All candidates admitted to the Ph.D. programme shall be required to complete the course work
prescribed by the Doctoral Committee during the initial one or two semesters.

(a) For Engineering and Technology /Architecture

(i) The research scholars should successfully complete a minimum of four courses (minimum of
12 credits) prescribed by the Doctoral Committee and approved by the concerned Boards of
Studies.

(ii) A minimum of four credits shall be assigned to one or more courses on Research
Methodology with a minimum of four credits which could cover areas such as quantitative
methods, computer applications, research ethics and review of published research in the
relevant field, training, field work, etc.

(iii) The other courses may be special courses decided by the Doctoral Committee relating to the
area of research of the candidate.

(b) For Science and Humanities and Medical and Health Sciences

(i) All candidates shall complete three courses (minimum of 9 credits) prescribed by the
Doctoral Committee and approved by the concerned Boards of Studies.

(ii) The courses shall be (i) Research methodology for the subject (ii) A background subject
related to his/her Ph.D. research (iii) An advanced subject in the area of research.

(iii) In the case of candidates with M.Phil. degree, the course work on Research Methodology
may be exempted.by the Doctoral Committee.

10.1. Directed Course: The directed course is done under the guidance of the Supervisor. For the
internal evaluation there should be the following two components.

i. 5 Seminars - 15 Marks
ii. 3 Tests 15 Marks
----------------------
Total 30 Marks
----------------------
The syllabus for the directed course is assigned to the above components in such a way that the entire
syllabus is covered. The schedule for the course may be prepared by the Supervisor who teaches the
course in the format given below and may be submitted to the Controller of Examination well in
advance.

Course Code & Title :

Name of the Supervisor :
Department :

Sl.No. Component Syllabus Date

Ph. D. REGULATIONS | 6
1 Seminar - 1 From unit 1
2 Seminar – 2 From unit 2
3 Seminar – 3 From unit 3
4 Seminar – 4 From unit 4
5 Seminar – 5 From unit 5
6 Test – 1 Covering Units - 1 & 2
7 Test – 2 Covering Units - 3 & 4
8 Test – 3 Covering All the Units

Signature Signature
Head of the Department Supervisor

10.2. For each of the courses, the maximum internal mark awarded is 30 marks. All the candidates
have to appear for an external (Semester) examination in each subject conducted by the
Controller of examinations for 70 marks. The passing minimum is 35 marks in the semester
examination. The overall passing minimum is 55 marks.

Letter Grades and Grade Points (GP)

Based on the performance in each subject, the student is awarded a final letter grade. The letter
grades and the corresponding grade points are as follows.

Letter Grade Grade Range of Marks

Points
O (Outstanding) 10 95-100
A+ (Excellent) 9 90-94
A (Very Good) 8 85-89
B+ (Good) 7 75-84
B (Above 6 65-74
Average)
C (Average) 5 55-64
P (Pass) 4 50-54
F (Fail) 0 <50 Failure due to
insufficient marks in the
course
Ab (Absent) 0 Failure due to non-
appearance in the
examination
Ph.D. scholar has to obtain a minimum of 55% of marks or its equivalent grade in the UGC 7-
point scale (or an equivalent grade/CGPA in a point scale wherever grading system is followed) in the
course work in order to be eligible to continue in the programme and submit the thesis. A scholar who
gets less than C grade in a course work, he/she has to redo that course.

11. COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION

(i) A research scholar shall take a comprehensive examination after the completion of two
semesters of his/her research programme but before the completion of four semesters. The
comprehensive examination is mandatory.

Ph. D. REGULATIONS | 7
 (ii) The comprehensive examination shall be in the form of written and/or oral as recommended
by the Doctoral Committee.

(iii) Comprehensive examination shall be conducted by a panel of examiners which consists of the
members of the Doctoral Committee along with one external examiner as recommended by
the supervisors and forwarded through proper channel and approved by the Vice Chancellor.

(iv) The Supervisor shall intimate the research scholar sufficiently in advance, the scope of the
examination and other relevant details.

(v) If the performance of the research scholar in the comprehensive examination is satisfactory,
his/her provisional registration shall be confirmed. If the performance is unsatisfactory, he/she
shall be given one more opportunity to appear for the examination within six months of the
first examination. In case, the research scholar fails to successfully complete the
comprehensive examination within the prescribed time limit, his/her provisional registration
shall be cancelled by SRMIST.

12. SEMESTER REGISTRATION

All Research scholars whose registration for research degree is in force, are required to report in-
person to the Supervisor each semester on the stipulated date till their submission of thesis, in the
prescribed registration form and the same shall be forwarded to the Director (Research) through the
Head of the department and the Director of the respective Faculty.

13. MONITORING THE PROGRESS OF CANDIDATES

(i) A research scholar shall appear before the Doctoral Committee once in six months to make a
presentation of the progress of his/her work for evaluation and further guidance. The six
monthly progress reports shall be submitted by the Doctoral Committee to the Director
(Research) with a copy to the research scholar. The Doctoral Committee meeting may be
conducted through Skype/video conferencing if a DC member is not able to attend the
meeting.

(ii) In case, the progress of the research scholar is unsatisfactory, the Doctoral Committee shall
record the reasons for the same and suggest corrective measures. If the research scholar fails
to implement these corrective measures, the Doctoral Committee may recommend to the
respective Faculty Director with specific reasons for cancellation of the registration of the
research scholar.

14. CANCELLATION OF REGISTRATION

(i) The registration of a research scholar whose progress is not satisfactory or who has not
reported in person to the supervisor for any one semester is liable to be cancelled by SRMIST.

(ii) The registration of a research scholar who has not submitted his/her thesis by the end of the
prescribed /extended period as provided in the Regulations will be cancelled by SRMIST.

15. SUBMISSION OF SYNOPSIS

Ph. D. REGULATIONS | 8
 (i) Upon satisfactory completion of the research work and after the publication of at least two
research papers in indexed journals approved by SRMIST and making two paper
presentations in conferences/seminars, the research scholar is permitted to submit the
synopsis of the Ph.D. work to the Controller of Examinations. The synopsis could be
submitted after two years and nine months from the date of registration.

(ii) Prior to submission of the synopsis, the student shall make a pre-Ph.D. presentation in the
Department that may be open to all faculty members and research students, for getting
feedback and comments, which may be suitably incorporated into the synopsis and thesis
under the advice of the supervisor.

(iii) After the approval of the research work reported in the synopsis by the Doctoral Committee,
the Supervisor shall forward 6 hard copies of the synopsis of the proposed thesis, with a soft
copy on CD to the Controller of Examinations along with a panel of at least six names (three
from India, outside the State of SRMIST campus and three from abroad) as examiners for
adjudication of the Ph.D. thesis and a panel of three Indian examiners for the viva voce
examination.

16. SUBMISSION OF THESIS

(i) The research scholar shall, within six months of submission of the synopsis, prepare thesis in
accordance with the format and specification prescribed. The thesis shall report, in an
organized and scholarly fashion, highlighting the original contribution made in the research
work of the candidate.

The thesis should be submitted after the completion of the minimum period and before the
completion of the maximum period of the Ph.D. programme.

(ii) While submitting for evaluation, the thesis shall have an undertaking from the research
scholar and a certificate from the Research Supervisor attesting to the originality of the work,
vouching that there is no plagiarism after testing the thesis with a Plagiarism software
recommended by SRMIST and that the work has not been submitted for the award of any
other degree/diploma of the same Institution where the work was carried out, or to any other
Institution.

(iii) He/She shall submit 6 hard copies of the thesis along with a soft copy on CD to the Controller
of Examinations through proper channel under the intimation to the Director (Research).
Under no circumstances, the submission of thesis shall be delayed except under special
circumstances, where an extension of three months may be granted with the recommendation
of the Doctoral Committee by the Vice-Chancellor.

17. THESIS ADJUDICATION

(i) The Ph.D. thesis submitted by a research scholar shall be evaluated by his/her Research
Supervisor and at least two external examiners nominated by the Vice Chancellor from
among the panel of examiners recommended by the Supervisor who are not in employment of
SRMIST, of whom one examiner should be from outside the country and another examiner
from outside the state (where SRMIST campus is located). The Vice Chancellor, if he deems
it necessary, may also nominate examiners from outside the panel.

Ph. D. REGULATIONS | 9
(ii) The Controller of Examination shall take such steps as deemed necessary to enable the reports
of the examiners to be received as quickly as possible.

(iii) In the case of undue delay in receiving the report from the examiner, the Controller of
examination shall refer the thesis to the second examiner selected by the Vice Chancellor,
after waiting for three months and ensuring that the first examiner is not going to respond
within a reasonable period of time.

(iv) The examiner shall include in his report an overall assessment placing the thesis in one of the
following categories:

a) Recommended for the award of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy: Commended / highly
commended.

b) Recommended that the candidate revises the thesis as suggested in the report and the
revised thesis be referred to the Supervisor for verification.

c) Recommended that the candidate revises the thesis as suggested in the report and the
revised thesis be sent to the examiner for revaluation.

d) Not recommended.

The examiner shall enclose a report of 200 to 300 words, indicating the standard attained in
case (a), the nature of revision in case (b) or (c) and the reasons for rejection in case (d)

(v) On receipt of the reports from the examiners, the following procedure shall be adopted:

a) If all the examiners recommend the award of the degree, the thesis shall be provisionally
accepted. Any minor revision, modification, etc., suggested by the examiners shall be
carried out before the oral examination.

b) If any examiner recommends revision of the thesis, the candidate shall be permitted to
revise and resubmit the thesis within 6 months with the approval of the Doctoral
Committee. The revised thesis shall be referred to the same examiner, if the examiner has
insisted SRMIST to send the thesis back to him/her after revision for offering his/her final
recommendation on the thesis. In such a case the examiner should offer his/her comments
for the second time either as recommended for the award or rejection. In case, the
examiner did not insist on sending the thesis back to him, then SRMIST may refer the
revised thesis to the Supervisor for verification.

c) If one external examiner recommends the award of the degree while the other
recommends rejection, then the thesis shall be referred to a third examiner to be
nominated by the Vice Chancellor. If the third examiner recommends the award, the
thesis shall be provisionally accepted. Otherwise, the thesis shall be rejected and the
registration of the candidate cancelled.

d) If both the external examiners recommend rejection, the thesis shall be rejected and the
registration of the candidate be cancelled.

Ph. D. REGULATIONS | 10
 e) When the commendation of the examiner on the revised thesis is not as stipulated in
Clause 17 (v) (b) above or in the case of any dispute, the Vice Chancellor, if he deems it
necessary, shall refer the thesis and the comments to a committee constituted by the Vice
Chancellor for this purpose.

f) Individual cases not covered by the above regulations shall be referred to the Vice
Chancellor for his final decision.

18. PUBLIC VIVA VOCE EXAMINATION

(i) The public viva-voce of the research scholar to defend the thesis shall be conducted by a
board of examiners to be constituted by the Vice Chancellor. Only if the evaluation reports of
the external examiner on the thesis are satisfactory and include a specific recommendation for
conducting the viva-voce examination.

(ii) The public viva-voce examination board shall include:

a) The examiner of the thesis from India or if the Indian examiner of the thesis is not
available, a member from the panel of Indian examiners already recommended by the
Supervisor.
b) An examiner from the panel of oral examiners already approved.
c) Supervisor of the candidate.

(iii) The convener of the Doctoral committee will be the Convener of Oral examination board and
the oral examination shall be conducted as “Open defense type” examination.

(iv) If the performance of the candidate in the Oral examination as reported by the Oral
examination board to be NOT SATISFACTORY, the candidate may opt to reappear for the
Oral examination at a later date (not later than six months from the date of the first Oral
Examination). On the second occasion, the Oral examination board shall include one more
examiner nominated by the Vice Chancellor.

(v) If the performance of the candidate in the oral examination on the second occasion also is
reported to be NOT SATISFACTORY, the Vice Chancellor, if he deems it necessary, shall
refer the remarks of the Oral examination board, along with the thesis and comments of the
examiners, to a committee constituted by the Vice Chancellor for this purpose and decide.
The decision of the Vice Chancellor shall be final.

(vi) SRMIST shall develop appropriate methods so as to complete the entire process of evaluation
of Ph.D. thesis within a period of six months from the date of submission of the thesis.

19. AWARD OF Ph.D. DEGREE

If the performance of the research scholar in the Oral examination is satisfactory, he/she will be
awarded Ph.D. degree on the recommendation of the Academic council and with the approval of the
Board of Management of SRMIST.

20. PUBLICATION OF THESIS

Ph. D. REGULATIONS | 11
 (i) After the viva voce examination the candidate shall submit a copy of the thesis in CD ROM
duly certified by the Supervisor that all the corrections have been duly carried out as
suggested by the examiners, if any, for SRMIST ARCHIVES.

(ii) SRMIST shall submit an electronic copy of the Ph. D. thesis to the INFLIBNET, for hosting
the same so as to make it accessible to all Institutions/Colleges.

(iii) Papers arising out of the thesis may be published by the candidate. However, the thesis as a
whole shall not be published by the candidate without the specific approval of SRMIST.

21. CHANGE OF REGULATIONS

The Academic Council of SRMIST may revise, amend or change the regulations from time to
time.

Ph. D. REGULATIONS | 12