Dilemma of MPhil students

STUDENTS enrolled in MS/M.Phil can take either thesis or course work to complete the programme.

Previously, the Higher Education Commission had made the thesis mandatory for those M.Phil students who intend to take admission in PhD. This information was incorporated in the document containing minimum criteria for M.Phil/PhD programmes and posted on the HEC website.

Subsequently, this clause was removed on the document in question but no formal notification to this effect has been issued by the HEC. This has left ambiguity all around. While some universities are offering admission in PhD programmes to those students who opted for course work instead of thesis, others are not doing the same.

This ambiguity could have been avoided had the HEC followed the established procedure of amending a policy document through proper notification.

HEC authorities are requested to clarify the position and if thesis is not compulsory, then universities may be advised not to refuse admission to PhD to those students who have done MS/M.Phil by completing the course work only.

Special Thanks to the Author

SYED ZAFFAR HASSAN NAQVI
MS Management Sciences
Federal Urdu University
Islamabad