Degree Policies & Procedures

The CKT-UTAS offers non-research and research postgraduate degree programmes, on a full-time, part-time, distance and sandwich basis.

Doctoral Degrees

Doctoral programmes shall consist of two parts. These shall include one year of coursework or directed reading and three years for research and thesis writing which shall be a requirement for the award of the Doctoral Degree.

• Full-time students shall have a minimum of three (3) years whereas
• part-time students will have a minimum of four (4) years to complete the Doctoral programme.

However, the respective DPAC may decide to exempt a student from the one-year course work in which case the study duration shall be reduced by one academic year.

The course of study for the Doctoral degree is arranged with each student by his/her adviser and reviewed by the respective DPSAC.

• The programme should provide a concentration and breadth of study for the student to develop competence in research, scholarship, teaching, and professional performance in general.
• The student will also develop knowledge in his/her chosen speciality in relation to allied branches of learning.
• A written performance assessment for each Doctoral student is required at the end of his/her first year; an annual Academic Progress Report/other forms of formal evaluation of progress is required throughout each student programme.

Candidates with a First Class Bachelor’s degree may apply for admission into Doctoral programmes. Such candidates will first be issued conditional admission and will take prescribed courses in Year 1 as well as “make-up” courses where applicable.

On successful completion of the prescribed courses, they will be assessed and may progress into the Doctoral programme depending on their performance.

A Doctoral candidate who does not meet the minimum graduation requirements for the award of a Doctoral degree may be awarded a lower postgraduate degree, subject to the candidate meeting the minimum graduation requirements for such a degree.

Master’s Degree

The course of study for the master’s degree is planned with the adviser and is subject to approval by the respective DPAC. It must show a reasonable degree of concentration on interrelated subjects.

Students will be recommended for admission into Master’s degree programmes only after they have developed and demonstrated the necessary intellectual maturity and have fulfilled all other University admission requirements.

A student shall submit a progress report (Form SGSR-S2) to the Head of Department through his/her advisor/supervisor quarterly.

Research Master’s Programmes

The research master’s programmes can be undertaken on a full-time or part-time basis.

• • Part-time master’s students will have an additional one year for the thesis.
  • The full-time candidates will have a minimum of two years, whereas part-time candidates shall have a minimum of three years to complete the programme.

The components of the programmes shall include coursework and research. The coursework shall normally be completed during the first year. Research may begin at any time during the programme provided it does not span below one year. Supervisors shall be appointed to research master’s candidates right from year one.

Admission to the programme is a

• • good first degree in an appropriate field of study from the CKT-UTAS or any /accredited Institution in the intended field of specialization or a related discipline.
  • Candidates must meet the admission requirements (Refer to Admissions Categories and Requirements-Section 8.2).
  • Candidates who have already completed the non-research master’s degree and meet the requirement for progression may be admitted to the second year of the programme to commence their research/thesis.

The award of a research master’s degree is based upon the successful completion of a substantial element of research and coursework.

For the award of the research master’s degree, a student needs to demonstrate through the writing of a thesis:

• • The ability to critically review existing literature at the forefront of the discipline;
  • A thorough understanding of the problem under investigation and of the techniques required to create and interpret knowledge in the field of study;
  • Originality in the application of knowledge, and/or new insights into the research problem.

Non-Research Master’s Programmes

Non-Research master’s programmes shall be mainly by course work and may include a project/term paper/reaction paper.

They are offered on a regular, distance and sandwich basis.

The Regular and Distance programmes are expected to be completed in eighteen months while the Sandwich Programmes are completed in three (3) sandwich semesters over three (3) years.

The Sandwich Programmes will be run on campus during the long vacation. Each cohort of admitted students on these programmes will therefore study over two long vacation periods to obtain the equivalence of one academic year.

Candidates upon completing two sandwich semesters may proceed with the project/term paper/reaction paper which is expected to be submitted within six months.

Admission to the programme requires

• • a good first degree in an appropriate field of study from CKT-UTAS or any recognized university or equivalent Institution in the intended field of specialization or a related discipline.
  • Candidates must meet the admission requirements (Refer to Admissions Categories and Requirements-Section 8.2).

Postgraduate Diploma (PGD)

CKT-UTAS offers Postgraduate Diploma Programmes (PGD) for candidates wishing to enhance their professional skills on a more practical application to enter the labour market or prepare the candidate for higher degrees in some specific areas not directly related to their degrees.

These programmes are intended to supplement bachelor’s degrees obtained by students and are mainly targeted to offer professional education and training to the candidates for better employment opportunities and industry readiness.

They are offered on a regular, distance and sandwich basis.

The duration for these programmes is one year and is divided into two semesters, depending on hands-on training, fieldwork, and credit requirements.

The requirement for admission to the PGD programme

• • is a first degree in a relevant area of study from the CKT-UTAS or any recognized/accredited Institution, and
  • candidates must satisfy additional requirement(s) as prescribed by the respective Department (Refer to Admissions Categories and Requirements- Section 8.2).