Stage1:Advisor to the Doctoral Dissertation

1. The advisor in principle shall be at least one of the full-time faculty members from the Department of Business Management. A professor invited from other universities can be co-advisor but should be approved by the Head of the department. The topic of doctoral dissertation shall be approved by the Doctoral Dissertation Advisory Board.
2. Ph.D. students are required to sign up one advisor before the beginning of the first semester of their second year of study.
3. A dissertation advisor can only take two Ph.D. students per class as advisees.

Stage2:Ph.D. Qualifying Examination

A Ph.D. student who completes all the required courses and 2 electives in specific areas is eligible to apply for the Qualifying Examination.

1. A Ph.D. student can choose either form for Qualifying Examination:

1. Written exam: The subjects are (a) course in specific area (b) Research Method.
2. Industry-university Cooperative Research Project: A Ph.D. student should propose a complete industry-university cooperative research project or business case study. The examination committee is composed of at least 5 members with at least 1 invited member with major affiliation to another university. The committee members are held at least the rank of assistant professor(s). When voting the examination committee members the Ph.D. student’s advisor is not eligible to vote.

2. The Qualifying Examination is held once every semester. Students who fail are allowed to retake the examination once. In case of a second failure, students will be dismissed from the Ph.D. Program.
3. Students who are unable to take the Qualifying Examination within two to five years after starting the program will be dismissed from the Ph.D. Program.
4. Students who pass the Qualifying Examination and meet the regulations of Implementation Bylaws for Ph.D. and Master Degree Examination are eligible to be proposed doctoral candidacy by the Head of the Department of Business Management.

Stage3:The Doctoral Dissertation Advisory Board

After passing the qualifying examination, the Doctor Dissertation Advisory Board can be formed after consulting with the Head of the Department. The Dissertation Advisory Board is basically consistent of 3 members and the advisor as the convener.

Stage4:Study Abroad

A Ph.D. student can apply for one-year study abroad for his/her dissertation. The course credits s/he undertook at the foreign university should be complied with National Sun Yat-sen University Guidelines for the Study and Enrollment Status of Student Going Abroad.

Stage5:Research Proposal (After passing the Qualifying Examination)

For Ph.D. student without prior management background should take at least three Basic Management courses before submitting the application of research proposal. These courses can be waived according to the decision of the Ph.D. Program Committee.

Every Ph.D. candidate should conduct a seminar for his/her research proposal to his/her doctoral dissertation advisory board. The proposal should include research background, research purpose, research methodologies, conceptual framework, and bibliographies.

Stage6:Procedure for Preliminary Examination

The Preliminary Examination should be held before the application of Ph.D. Degree Examination. A Ph.D. candidate should precede a Preliminary Examination with his/her advisory board, comprised of at least five members including the Ph.D. candidate’s advisor. The final score of the Preliminary Examination is graded anonymously by the advisory board; but if 1/3 of the members or beyond grade “Fail”, then s/he fails the Preliminary Examination. Students who fail are allowed to retake the Preliminary Examination once. In case of the second failure, s/he will be dismissed from the department. (The Preliminary Examination is held upon the advisor’s decision.)

Stage7:Ph.D. Degree Examination

Publication Records (the scoring mode please see Regulations Appendix 1)

Every Ph.D. candidate must collect at least 200 points from their publications. All of the applications must submit approve of acceptance or the points will not be counted.

A Ph.D. candidate must present his/her research at least ONCE at “Seminar in Business Management” courses offered by Ph.D. Program.

A Ph.D. student must take four seminar courses, “Seminar in Business Management I”, “Seminar in Business Management II”, “Seminar in Business Management III” and “Seminar in Business Management I” “Seminar in Business Management IV” before his/her application for Ph.D. Degree Examination.

A Ph.D. candidate must take “ETHICS AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY” course offered by College of Management before his/her application for Ph.D. Degree Examination.

Ph.D. student should participate academic research activities abroad for at least 3 months. For instance. Apply for exchange student/ overseas training, complete overseas training (winter/summer vacation) planned by department, acquire joint degree from the overseas universities. Nevertheless, working students (attach a certificate of employment) and other factors, such as pregnant and nursing, those who are unable to stay abroad for a long time are not limited to this rule. However, they should go abroad and participate academic research activities for at least two weeks. (Applicable to Ph.D. students enrolled from the 110 academic year)

The final score of Ph.D. Degree Examination is graded anonymously by the committee members; but if 1/3 of the members or beyond grade “Fail”, then s/he fails the Examination. If a Ph.D. candidate failed the degree examination and has not yet reached their maximum study period, they may retake the examination application in the following semester or academic year. Only one resit is allowed; if they fail to pass the examination upon resit then they should be dismissed from the Ph.D. Program.