Guide To Postgraduate Studies

GUIDE TO POSTGRADUATE STUDIES
Centre for Postgraduate Studies International Islamic University Malaysia P.O. Box: 10, 50728 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia T: +603-61964000 Ext. 3258/4995 F: +603-61965797/4163 E: pgstudy@iiu.edu.my W: www.iiu.edu.my/pgstudy Published: November, 2009 by CPS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CENTRE FOR POSTGRADUATE STUDIES ...................................................................................... 4 WHOS WHO AT THE CENTRE FOR POSTGRADUATE STUDIES .............................................. 6 ACADEMIC INFORMATION .............................................................................................................. 2 1. GENERAL INFORMATION/INSTRUCTIONS ...................................................................... 2 1.1. Language Requirements ........................................................................................................ 2 1.1.1. English Language Requirements ....................................................................................... 2 1.1.2. Arabic Language Requirements ........................................................................................ 3 1.1.3. Bilingual Requirements ..................................................................................................... 3 1.2. Enrolment Status ................................................................................................................... 3 1.3. Registering as Student in Other Institutions .......................................................................... 4 1.4. Fees ........................................................................................................................................ 4 1.5. Study Period .......................................................................................................................... 4 1.6. Termination due to Exhaustion of the Maximum Study Period ............................................ 5 2. ACADEMIC INFORMATION ................................................................................................. 5 2.1. Programme Structure ............................................................................................................. 5 2.2. Types of Courses ................................................................................................................... 5 2.2.1. Programme-Required Courses.......................................................................................... 5 2.2.2. Language Proficiency Courses ......................................................................................... 5 2.2.3. Special Requirement Courses............................................................................................ 6 2.2.4. Prerequisite Courses ......................................................................................................... 6 2.2.5. Audit Courses .................................................................................................................... 6 2.2.6. Independent Study ............................................................................................................. 6 3. COURSE REGISTRATION POLICIES ................................................................................... 7 3.1. Pre-Registration ..................................................................................................................... 7 3.2. Course Registration ............................................................................................................... 7 3.3. Adjustment Period ................................................................................................................. 7 3.4. Academic Workload .............................................................................................................. 8 3.5. Additional Courses ................................................................................................................ 8 3.6. Withdrawal from Courses ...................................................................................................... 8 4. LECTURE ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS ...................................................................... 9 5. ASSESSMENT OF COURSEWORK ....................................................................................... 9 5.1. Grades and Grade Points ....................................................................................................... 9 5.2. Incomplete Grade (I) ........................................................................................................ 10 5.3. In-Progress Grades (IP) .................................................................................................... 10 5.4. Calculation of the GPA (Grade Point Average) and CGPA ................................................ 10 6. WITHHOLDING FINAL EXAMINATION RESULTS ........................................................ 11 7. CRITERIA TO MAINTAIN CANDIDATURE ...................................................................... 11 8. REPEATING/REPLACING A COURSE ............................................................................... 12 9. PRACTICAL TRAINING ....................................................................................................... 12 10. COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATIONS ................................................................................ 13 11. RESEARCH WORK ............................................................................................................... 13 11.1. Research Proposal ........................................................................................................... 13 11.2. Registration of Research Proposal .................................................................................. 13 11.3. Registration of Research Work/Thesis/Dissertation ....................................................... 14 11.4. Criteria of a Research Work/Thesis/Dissertation ............................................................ 15 11.5. Language of the Research Work ..................................................................................... 15 11.6. Submission of Research Progress Report........................................................................ 16 11.7. Publication of Thesis/Dissertation/Research Paper ......................................................... 16 11.8. The IIUM Thesis/Dissertation Manual ........................................................................... 16 12. SUBMISSION OF MASTERS THESIS/DISSERTATION .................................................. 16
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Updated 16 November 2009
Thesis Examination (TE) Grace Period .......................................................................... 18 Flow Chart on Completion of Thesis/Research (For Masters Student Only) 19 13. UPGRADING FROM MASTERS PROGRAMME TO DOCTOR ...................................... 19 14. SUBMISSION OF PhD THESIS / DISSERTATION ............................................................. 20 Flow Chart on Completion of Thesis/Research (For Masters Student Only) 22 15. GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS ....................................................................................... 22 16. CONFERMENT OF DEGREE ............................................................................................... 23 17. TERMINATION OF CANDIDATURE .................................................................................. 23 18. VISITING STUDENTS ........................................................................................................... 23 19. ACADEMIC RESIDENCE ..................................................................................................... 23 20. APPEALS AND PROCEDURES............................................................................................ 24 20.1. Transfer of Credits /Exemptions ..................................................................................... 24 20.2. Leave of Absence ............................................................................................................ 25 20.3. Change of Programme ..................................................................................................... 25 20.4. Change of Status ............................................................................................................. 26 20.5. Changing Mode of Programme ....................................................................................... 26 20.6. Re-evaluation of Examination Answer Scripts ............................................................... 27 20.7. Special Examination........................................................................................................ 27 20.8. Re-sit Examination .......................................................................................................... 27 20.9. Extension of Study Period ............................................................................................... 28 20.10. Fresh-Admission ............................................................................................................. 28 20.12. Graduation ....................................................................................................................... 28 21. STUDENTS RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES ............................................................... 29 COURSEWORK AND EVALUATION POLICIES (Q & A) ............. 29
12.2.
DISCLAIMER ......................................................................................................................... 32
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CENTRE FOR POSTGRADUATE STUDIES

The quest for quality postgraduate research-oriented academic programmes was the impetus to the establishment of the Centre for Postgraduate Studies (CPS) on 1st July 2000. After making a mark of passing 9 years of serving the postgraduate community of the university, the CPS aspires to be at the forefront of graduate academic advancement, premised on a global outlook and integration of knowledge. CPSs mission is to nurture the graduate learning community that constantly explores all branches of knowledge through applied research, with the inculcation of spiritual values actualizing four missions of the University, i.e., Integration, Islamization, Internationalization and Comprehensive Excellence. CPS strives to create an environment, which stimulates and encourages both intellectual and social exchange among postgraduate students, the research staff and faculty members. The ultimate objective of CPS is to ensure that students produce researches of the highest quality, thus making significant contributions to the Ummah. CPS is the central point of contact and advice for all postgraduate students. It makes certain that a conducive environment with facilities, services, academic governance and research supervision is provided in order to assist postgraduate students to achieve the highest quality in academic work. All activities related to postgraduate student admissions, enrolment, registration, examination, graduation, scholarships etc., are coordinated at CPS under Admissions, Registration, Examination and Graduation, Viva-voce and Records, Students Affairs and Graduate Assistantship units. On top of that, the CPS undertakes various activities and workshops on research methodology, guides the students on thesis/dissertation writing and arranges avenues for presentation of the research findings. The Postgraduate Students Society (PGSS), which acts as platform for professional development and training of all postgraduate students, functions under the patronage of the CPS.
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WHOS WHO AT THE CENTRE FOR POSTGRADUATE STUDIES
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hassanuddeen Abd Aziz Dean ahassan@iiu.edu.my Ext. 5201 Masita Mohamed Taib Secretary mtmasita@iiu.edu.my Ext. 5202 Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nasr El Din Deputy Dean (Academic Affairs) nasr@iiu.edu.my Ext. 5203 Abazaimah Mohd Abbas Deputy Director norizahs@iiu.edu.my Ext. 5206 Ridzuan Zakaria Assistant Director (General Admin, Finance, Promotion & Student Affairs) ridzuan@iiu.edu.my Ext. 5212 Juliana-Hanim Kamarulzaman Assistant Director (Examination & VIVA Unit) rafidahmd@iiu.edu.my Ext. 5208 Nur Akmarina Abd Rahman Assistant Director (Registration & Record Unit) naar@iiu.edu.my Ext. 5207 Azian Mohd Azlan Assistant Director (CPS) Ext. 5210
Shamsul Paris Assistant Admin Officer (Examination & VIVA Unit) syamsul@iiu.edu.my Ext. 5209 Nurazlina Abd Rashid Administrative Assistant (Admission Unit) nurazlinaar@iiu.edu.my Ext. 5213 Muhammad Nasir Din@Yaacob Administrative Assistant (Examination & VIVA Unit) ynasir@iiu.edu.my Ext. 3362 Hasmidar Hashim Administrative Assistant (General Admin, Finance, Promotion & Student Affairs) hasmidar@iiu.edu.my Ext. 3356 Nur Shazreen Giman Administrative Assistant (Student Affairs Unit) nurshazreen@iiu.edu.my Ext. 5216 Norazlinda Hussin Administrative Assistant (Admission Unit) hnorazlinda@iiu.edu.my Ext. 3017 Khairiah Radziah Mohd Radzi Administrative Assistant (Admission Unit) kyra@iiu.edu.my Ext. 5214 Mohamad Nazri bin Mahwan Technician (nazri@iiu.edu.my), Ext. 3358
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ACADEMIC INFORMATION
The postgraduate academic information provided in this Guidebook is based on the latest postgraduate policies (IIUM Postgraduate Policies and Regulations, Revised 2008). Please note that any information provided in this Guide Book should be read in reference to the original policy. Please note also that the reference numbers in this Guide Book differ from the original policy and that all information provided is subject to continuous review. Amendments may be made to the programmes, policies and University calendars at any time without prior notice.
1. GENERAL INFORMATION/INSTRUCTIONS
1.1. Language Requirements 1.1.1. English Language Requirements
1.1.1.1. To enrol into the University as a regular student for a postgraduate programme, a student is required to provide evidence of having attained the minimum score of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or of International English Language Testing Service (IELTS) or the IIUM administered English Placement Test (EPT) with the minimum required score or above as listed in the table below:
MINIMUM TOEFL MINIMUM IELTS / EPT SCORE SCORE Entry Requirements PhD and Masters Language / Literature of English Paper based :600 Computer based :250 Internet based :100 Entry Requirements Paper based :550 Computer based :213 of Internet based :79 6.0 Overall band score 7.0 Overall band score
TYPES OF PROGRAMMES
PhD in Laws and Comparative Laws
Master
Graduation Requirements* Paper based :600 7.0 Computer based :250 Overall band score Internet based :100 Paper based :550 6.0 Computer based :213 Overall band score Internet based :79 Entry Requirements* Paper based :500 5.0 Computer based :173 Overall band score Internet based :61 Graduation Requirements* Paper based :550 6.0 Computer based :213 Overall band score Internet based :79 Graduation Requirements* 5.0 Overall band score
Other programmes with English as the medium of instruction PhD and Masters in Arabic Language /Literature and Bilingual (English/Arabic) programme
PhD. and Masters in the Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge, Paper based :500 Laws, ISTAC, INSTED, IIBF (by Computer based :173 research only and thesis written in Internet based :61 Arabic language)
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1.1.1.2. However, as an exception to this rule, students of the Department of English Language & Literature, Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences are required to satisfy TOEFL 600 or IELTS 7.0 before they could enrol into the postgraduate programme. 1.1.1.3. Exemption from 1.1.1 may be given to those who have undertaken regular programmes of studies and graduated from universities that use English as the medium of instruction in Englishspeaking countries or who have graduated from the IIUM in a programme with English as the medium of instruction.
1.1.2. Arabic Language Requirements

1.1.2.1. A student intending to pursue a programme with Arabic as the medium of instruction must attain a minimum score of 7.0 in the IIUM-administered Arabic Placement Test (APT) before being allowed to commence his postgraduate studies. 1.1.2.2. Exemption from 1.1.2 may be given to those who have undertaken regular programmes of studies and graduated from universities that use Arabic as the medium of instruction from Arabic speaking countries or who have graduated from the IIUM in a programme with Arabic as the medium of instruction.
1.1.3. Bilingual Requirements

1.1.3.1. A student intending to pursue a programme in which the medium of instruction is both English and Arabic must fulfil the requirements stipulated in both Articles 1.1.1 and 1.1.2 1.1.3.2. A student who enrols in the bilingual programme and who is exempted from the main language used for the programme but fails to fulfil the other language requirement may undertake the Special English/Arabic programme for Postgraduates. Once the student achieves the required score for English/Arabic, he can register for programme courses in the postgraduate programme. 1.1.3.3. A student who does not achieve the required scores will have an option to enrol in a Special Language programme for Postgraduates for a maximum of two (2) years prior to his admission into Postgraduate programmes. In such cases, the student will not be allowed to register for any courses of the Postgraduate programme. 1.1.4. An offer of admission issued to a student who does not satisfy the conditions stipulated in Article 1.1shall remain valid for a period of two years. If the applicant fails to attain the required scores in TOEFL, IELTS or EPT within two years, the offer of admission shall be automatically withdrawn. 1.1.5. A student who fails to achieve the required scores after the duration for completion (as specified in Table 1.1.1) is allowed an extension of one (1) semester but he is not allowed to register for programme courses. 1.1.6. Should the student fail after the extended period, he shall be dismissed from the programme.
1.2. Enrolment Status

1.2.1. A student may choose to enrol for either a full-time or a part-time programme subject to the availability of the desired type of programme. Should a student opt for a full-time programme, he will not be allowed to enrol in another full-time programme concurrently.
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1.2.2. A continuing student may apply to change his status from part- time to full-time or vice versa, once in his study period, subject to the approval of the respective Kulliyyah and endorsement by the UCPS (University Committee Postgraduate Society). 1.2.3. A student intending to maintain his employment while studying full-time at the IIUM is required to provide evidence that he has the permission of his employer to pursue his studies on a full-time basis. Otherwise, he must opt for a part-time programme.
1.3. Registering as Student in Other Institutions

1.3.1. An IIUM student shall not be allowed to register as a student in any other institution of higher learning during his studies at the IIUM, unless granted permission by the Senate. 1.3.2. Any student found to have registered for studies at any other institution without obtaining approval from the Senate may be dismissed from the University and denied any fee refunds.
1.4. Fees
1.4.1. A student is required to pay his fees every semester before registration. Students who are not receiving financial assistance from any organization must present the receipt of payment before they are allowed to register. 1.4.2. A student receiving financial assistance from an organization other than the University is required to produce, before enrolment, a letter of guarantee indicating that the organization has agreed to finance his studies at the IIUM. 1.4.3. The amount of fees due to be paid by a student shall be specified by the University. The University reserves the right to change the fees whenever necessary. 1.4.4. A student who fails to pay the fees within the stipulated period will be subjected to the penalties imposed by the IIUM.
1.5. Study Period

1.5.1. Depending on the specific programme, the study periods of various postgraduate programmes shall fall within the following minimum and maximum limits:
Programme Type Minimum Duration 1 acad. year 2 acad. years 2 acad. years 4 acad. years 2 acad. years 3 acad. years Normal Duration 2 acad. years 4 acad. years 3 acad. years 4 acad. years 3 acad. years 6 acad. years Maximum Duration 3 acad. Years 5 acad. Years 4 acad. years 6 acad. Years 6 acad. Years 8 acad. Years
Master Master Master of Education (Counselling) Mastership (Kulliyyah of Medicine) PhD PhD
Full-time Part-time Full-time Full-time Full-time Part-time
1.5.2. A semester in which prerequisite or special requirement courses constitute 50% or more of the total workload carried by the students is excluded from his total study period.
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1.5.3. A student who has exhausted the normal study period must apply to the UCPS, upon the recommendation of the KPGC, for an extension of his studies. The extension may be granted up to the maximum period as stipulated in Article 1.5.1
1.6. Termination due to Exhaustion of the Maximum Study Period

1.6.1. A student who has exhausted the maximum study period will be terminated from studies. However, in extenuating circumstances, the Senate may, upon the recommendation of the KPGC and UCPS, consider a students appeal to extend his studies beyond the maximum study period. Otherwise, a student may apply for a fresh admission.
2. ACADEMIC INFORMATION
2.1. Programme Structure
2.1.1. A student may choose one of the following programme structures, subject to its availability at the respective departments or kulliyyahs: (i) Coursework only (ii) Coursework and research (iii) Research only (iv) Professional training and research
2.2. Types of Courses 2.2.1. Programme-Required Courses

2.2.1.1. Programme-required courses include core and elective courses prescribed in the programme of study and are a requirement for graduation. 2.2.1.2. All programme-required courses carry specific credit hours and are calculated in the Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA). 2.2.1.3. Programme-required courses shall be graded in accordance with the grading system prescribed in Article 5.1.1. 2.2.1.4. Should a student fail a core course, he must repeat it. Should he fail an elective course, he may repeat the course or replace it with another elective in the subsequent semester subject to the availability of the course. Failure in the repeat/ replacement course shall result in the students dismissal from the programme.
2.2.2. Language Proficiency Courses

2.2.2.1. If deemed necessary by the Department/Kulliyyah, a student may register for language proficiency courses in order to fulfil the specific language requirements of the programme. 2.2.2.2. Language proficiency courses do not carry any credit hours and are not calculated in the students CGPA. However, they are included in the students workload.
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2.2.2.3. The required level of language proficiency for all programmes is as stipulated in Article 1.1.1 and 1.1.2. A student obtaining less than the required level may repeat the course subject to Articles 1.1.3, 1.1.4 and 11.3.3
2.2.3. Special Requirement Courses

2.2.3.1. If deemed necessary by the department/kulliyyah, a student may be required to register for special requirement courses. 2.2.3.2. Special requirement courses do not carry any credit hours and are not calculated in the students CGPA. However, they are included in the students workload. 2.2.3.3. Special requirement courses are assessed on a pass/fail basis, the passing mark being 70%. A student obtaining less than 70% is allowed to repeat the course only once. Should he fail the course on his second attempt, he shall be dismissed from the programme.
2.2.4. Prerequisite Courses

2.2.4.1. If deemed necessary by the Department/kulliyyah, a student may be required to register for specific courses as prerequisites of relevant postgraduate courses. 2.2.4.2. These courses are included in the students workload but not calculated in his CGPA. 2.2.4.3. A student must pass the prerequisite courses to be eligible to register for the specific postgraduate courses that require those prerequisite courses. 2.2.4.4. All prerequisite courses are assessed on a pass/fail basis, the passing grade for each course being B. A student who fails a prerequisite course on his first attempt is allowed to repeat the same course only once. Should he fail the course on his second attempt as well, he shall be dismissed from the programme. 2.2.4.5. A student who has been prescribed prerequisite courses must register for these courses whenever they are offered by the kulliyyah, subject to Article 2.2.4.3.
2.2.5. Audit Courses

2.2.5.1. A student may either audit a course of his own choice or may be recommended by the department/kulliyyah to audit a specific course. If he audits a course of his own choice, he may do so after the completion of programme-required courses. 2.2.5.2. Audited courses are not calculated in the students CGPA but are included in the students workload. 2.2.5.3. A student auditing a course is required to fulfil the minimum attendance requirement of 80%. Failure to do so shall result in the recording of FA grade in the students transcript for the course audited which, however, shall not affect the students CGPA.
2.2.6. Independent Study

2.2.6.1. A graduating student may register for a course as independent study if the course is required by the programme, but is not offered in the current semester. 2.2.6.2. A student can pursue a course as Independent Study if:
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(i) (ii) (iii)
he is repeating the course that is not offered in the semester the course clashes with other courses taken by him the number of students registered for the course is less than 5
2.2.6.3. In special circumstances, a student may register for a relevant course as additional work outside the graduation requirement, if recommended by the Kulliyyah, based on regular contacts, consultation and discussions. The Kulliyyah will recommend an appropriate course code, relevant to the area of studies for the purpose of registration 2.2.6.4. The maximum number of courses as Independent Study that a student can take throughout the programme is two (2). 2.2.6.5. Such an arrangement must be made in the first week of the semester
3. COURSE REGISTRATION POLICIES

3.1. Pre-Registration
3.1.1. A continuing student must pre-register for courses that he intends to take in the following semester during the Pre-Registration or Adjustment Period. However, a new student may register for courses during the Tacruf Week, just before the beginning of classes in the first semester of his studies. The Centre for Postgraduate Studies (CPS) will announce the date of this exercise.
3.2.
Course Registration
3.2.1. A student is required to maintain a registered status in every regular semester throughout the period of his studies until all degree requirements (eg. Thesis, project paper) are successfully completed. A student shall not be allowed to register after a period of two (2) weeks from the beginning of a regular semester or one (1) week from the beginning of a short semester. A student pursuing an executive programme shall not be allowed to register after a period of three (3) weeks from the beginning of the regular semester. A student who has not registered for courses in a semester and has not been granted a leave of absence may be suspended from the programme by the end of the fourth (4) week of a regular semester. Registration in a short semester is optional subject to the offering of the courses by kulliyyah/institute/centre
3.2.2.
3.2.3.
3.2.4.
3.3.
Adjustment Period
3.3.1. 3.3.2. 3.3.3. A student may add a course to, or drop a course from, the portfolio of courses that he has already pre-registered for. The Add/Drop exercise shall be allowed during a specific time period at the beginning of each semester as announced by the CPS. Adding courses is subject to the availability of the courses in a semester. The department may consider offering a course, subject to the availability of an instructor if a minimum number of 5 students petition for the course.
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3.3.4. 3.3.5.
If the number of students is less than 5, the department may offer the course on Independent Study. The net number of credit hours of registered courses after the Add/ Drop exercise must be in compliance with the minimum and maximum workload for one semester, as stipulated in Article 3.4, except for graduating students.
3.4.
Academic Workload
3.4.1. 3.4.2. 3.4.3. 3.4.4. 3.4.5. A full-time student is required to register for a minimum of nine (9) and a maximum of sixteen (16) credit hours or the equivalent in a regular semester. A part-time student is required to register for a minimum of three (3) and a maximum of nine (9) credit hours or the equivalent in a regular semester. Full-time and part-time students may register for a maximum of six (6) credit hours or the equivalent in a short semester. A student in his final semester of coursework may be allowed to register below the minimum number of credit hours as stipulated in Articles 3.4.1 to 3.4.2. Articles 3.4.1 to 3.4.4 shall not be applicable to students registering for research only.
3.5.
Additional Courses
3.5.1. 3.5.2. 3.5.3. A student who has completed all the courses required for graduation with a CGPA of 3.0 or above may register a maximum of six credit hours of additional courses. All registered additional courses shall be graded accordingly, computed in the students CGPA and included in the Cumulative Credit Hours (CCH). All courses registered additionally shall appear in the students transcript.
3.6.
Withdrawal from Courses

3.6.1. A student may submit an application to the CPS for withdrawal from any courses for which he has registered. Such an application must be made by the tenth (10th) week of a regular semester or by the fourth (4th) week of a short semester. A student pursuing an executive programme may apply for withdrawal of any courses within the first three (3) weeks of a regular semester To withdraw from a course, a student must get the recommendation of his academic advisor/supervisor and approval of the Deputy Dean (Postgraduate Studies) of the respective Kulliyyah. The net number of credit hours after the approval must not fall below the minimum workload as stipulated in Article 3.4. A fee of RM300 per course will be charged for approved withdrawal and W grade will be recorded in the students transcript. However, a student who withdraws on medical reasons may be waived from paying the fee.
3.6.2.
3.6.3. 3.6.4.
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3.6.5.
Under special circumstances, the withdrawal may be made after the 11th week but not later than the 13th week of the semester subject to the University Committee for Postgraduate Studies (UCPS) approval. A fee of RM500 will be charged for the said approved withdrawal. However, a student who withdraws on medical reasons may be waived from paying the fee.
4. LECTURE ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS

4.1.
A student is required to attend all lectures, tutorials, seminars etc. of courses that he has registered for. Attendance of not less than 80% is necessary to qualify a student to take the final examination. A student attending less than 80% of lectures, tutorials, seminars etc. will be barred from taking the final examination of the course in question and will be awarded a grade Y (barred) which is equivalent to an F (fail). A student is required to flash/swipe his smartcard to the reader available in the classroom to record his attendance. He may check his attendance record at http://itdportal/smartcard/iiu.edu.my.
4.2.
4.3.
5. ASSESSMENT OF COURSEWORK
5.1. Grades and Grade Points 5.1.1. The following grading system is employed for the assessment of all programmerequired courses:
% Score 85-100 80-84 75-79 70-74 65-69 60-64 55-59 50-54 40-49 0-39 Grade A AB+ B BC+ C CD F Q.P.E. 4.00 3.67 3.33 3.00 2.67 2.33 2.00 1.67 1.00 0.00 Description Excellent Extremely Good Very Good Good Fairly Good Satisfactory Quite Satisfactory Poor Very Poor Failure Remarks Passed Passed Passed Passed Conditional Pass Conditional Pass Conditional Pass Failed Failed Failed
5.1.2. Other notations that may appear on the academic transcript or result slip are as follows:
Grade P PASS Explanation Pass for prerequisite and special requirement courses Pass for practical training, practicum, fieldwork, Hours Credited No No Hours Earned No Yes
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proposal EX IP UP AU FA AP Y I CO PR FR W Exemption Course/Research work in progress Unsatisfactory progress in research (failure) Course Audited Failure in course audited for not fulfilling 80% attendance Absent from final examination with permission (temporary) Barred from final examination for not fulfilling 80% attendance Incomplete course (temporary) Carried over to subsequent semester Pass on re-sit Fail on re-sit Course withdrawn No No No No No No Yes No No Yes Yes No Yes No No No No No No No No Yes No No
5.2. Incomplete Grade (I) 5.2.1. A temporary I grade shall be awarded to a student who is unable to complete one or
more course requirements.
5.2.2. The I grade may be awarded to a student upon the recommendation of the instructor
and approval of the Kulliyyah/Institute Postgraduate Committee (KPGC/IPGC).
5.2.3. A student must complete the part of the requirement of the course requirements within
the first four (4) weeks of the subsequent semester.
5.2.4. All complete grades must be submitted within the first five (5) weeks of the subsequent
semester.
5.2.5. The number of I grades for any student in one semester shall not exceed two, unless it
is recommended by the Kulliyyah and approved by the UCPS.
5.3. In-Progress Grades (IP) 5.3.1. The in-progress (IP) grade is awarded for courses that require independent research or
any similar courses which may continue beyond one semester.
5.3.2. A student preparing his research work is awarded the IP grade only if the report
submitted by his supervisor indicates satisfactory progress.
5.3.3. Should the supervisor report unsatisfactory progress for two (2) consecutive semesters,
the student will be awarded the unsatisfactory progress (UP) grade and will be dismissed from the programme upon the recommendation of the KPGC/IPGC and the approval of the UCPS.
5.4. Calculation of the GPA (Grade Point Average) and CGPA

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5.4.1. Only programme-required courses are used for the calculation of the GPA and CGPA. 5.4.2. The GPA for each semester is calculated by summing the products of the grade points
and credit hours for each course and then dividing the result by the total credit hours of the semester.
5.4.3. To calculate the CGPA, the product of the grade points and credit hours for each course
taken in the current and all previous semesters is divided by the total number of credit hours taken in the current and all previous semesters.
6. WITHHOLDING FINAL EXAMINATION RESULTS

6.1.
The result of the final examination of a student may be withheld, in whole or in part, in
the following circumstances: (i) If a student is in debt to the University (excluding approved study loans made out to the student by the University) and/or,
(ii) If a student has in any way breached the disciplinary code as specified in the Universitys Disciplinary Act. (iii) Non-payment of the tuition fee. (This does not, however, apply to IIUM sponsored students.)
7. CRITERIA TO MAINTAIN CANDIDATURE

7.1.
A student must attain a minimum CGPA of 3.00 to be eligible to graduate. However, a student pursuing Postgraduate Diploma programme must attain a minimum CGPA of 2.5. The minimum CGPA that would allow a student to remain in the programme is 2.00. Should a students CGPA fall below the 2.00 mark, he shall be dismissed from the programme. The status of students based on the GPA and CGPA is described as follows:
Conditions CGPA 3.00 CGPA < 2.00 CGPA < 3.00 (Cr. Hrs. < 8) CGPA 3.00 (failed one/more Courses) 2.00 CGPA < 3.00 Consecutive semester; (i) GPA 3.00 or 2.50 CGPA < 3.00 (ii) GPA < 3.00 and CGPA < 2.50 Consecutive semester; i) CGPA 3.00 ii) CGPA< 3.00 Remarks Eligible to continue studies/ graduate Dismissed Conditional Pass Conditional Pass First probation (i)Second probation (ii) Dismissed i)Continue studies/ ii) Dismissed graduate
7.2.
*Minimum passing grade for an individual course is C as long as the CGPA 3.00.
7.3.
A students status in the programme shall be determined after earning every eight (8) credit hours in the programme. Article 7.2, therefore, is not applicable, and the student will be given conditional pass status. A conditional pass status also will be given to a student who obtained a CGPA>3.0, but fail in one or more courses.
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8. REPEATING/REPLACING A COURSE
8.1.
Should a student fail to obtain a B grade in a core course, he may repeat the course. Should he fail to obtain a B grade in an elective course, he may repeat or replace it with another elective course. Repeating or replacing, as the case may be, must be in the subsequent semester except in certain special circumstances, justified by the KPGC, which permit the student to do so in the semester the course is offered. Such repeating may be by full attendance at lecturers or by independent study or in any other way approved by the Dean of Kulliyyah. All grades obtained for repeated/replaced courses shall replace the previous grade and shall be computed in the students CGPA. However, the old grade shall appear on the students transcript. The maximum number that may be utilized for repeated or replaced courses is six (6) credit hours or two courses. The number of times a student is allowed to repeat a required course is twice. The number of time a student can repeat an elective course is only once and henceforth may only be allowed to replace such a course with another course. However, a student who is barred from the end of semester examination due to inadequate attendance must always repeat by full attendance at lectures. Notwithstanding any other provision of these regulations, special permission can be given to students to repeat a course which they have failed three times provided the CGPA is 3.0 or above. A student who has exhausted repeat and replace provision and has completed the course-work required for graduation, but his CGPA is below 3.00, may appeal to the UCPS to take additional courses. A student who has been dismissed for any of the reasons stated in Article 7.2 is not eligible to resume studies but may apply for fresh-admission.
8.2.
8.3.
8.4. 8.5.
8.6.
8.7.
9. PRACTICAL TRAINING
9.1.
In specific programmes, students may be required to undergo practical training in a professional environment. This requirement may be fulfilled within or outside the University, depending on the availability of vacancies and the relevance of the available position to the students area of specialization. The department shall assign the student to a specific organization for practical training or, alternatively, the student may apply to carry out the practical training in the organization of his own choice. Such an application shall be made to the department accompanied by a written consent from an authorized official of the proposed organization. The department may require a report from a student at the end of practical training at the organization. The department may also request the students supervisor in the organization to submit a report of the students performance during the practical training. Based on these reports, the department shall award the student a Pass or Fail grade
9.2.
9.3.
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10.
COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATIONS
10.1. In specific programmes, a student may be required to pass a comprehensive
examination as a condition to graduate or to register for research work. The comprehensive examination shall neither carry any credit hours nor be included in the students workload
10.2. A student may register for his comprehensive examination only if he meets the
following conditions: (i) CGPA is 3.0 or above (ii) Completed at least 60% of the required coursework (iii) Fulfilled all language requirements, as stipulated in Articles 1.1.1 and 1.1.2 (iv) Within the maximum study period, or the approved extended study period
10.3. Notwithstanding Article 10.2 (ii), specific programmes may require a student to
successfully complete all courses for graduation before registering for the comprehensive examination
10.4. The comprehensive examination shall cover all aspects of the core courses and the
specific area of specialization of the student. The department shall provide the reading list to the student within the first week of a semester in which the student is registered for the comprehensive examination
10.5. A student who fails in the comprehensive examination shall be allowed to repeat the
examination only once in the subsequent semester. Should he fail the comprehensive examination on his second attempt, he shall be dismissed from the programme
10.6. The KPGC shall, upon the recommendation of the department, approve the appointment
of a committee to set the paper(s) of the comprehensive examination and evaluate the answer scripts. The KPGC shall certify and submit the results to the CPS
10.7. Articles 10.2. (i) to 10.2. (ii) shall not be applicable to students registering for Masters
or PhD programmes by research only
11.
RESEARCH WORK
11.1. Research Proposal 11.1.1. A student pursuing a programme that requires research work must prepare a research
proposal that provides the outline of the research, the research methodology and major references.
11.2. Registration of Research Proposal 11.2.1. A full-time student pursuing a Masters programme that requires research and
coursework must register for the research proposal latest by the second (2) regular semester of his studies. A part-time Masters student must register for the research proposal latest by the third (3) regular semester of his studies. A Masters student pursuing a research only programme must register for the research proposal in the first (1) semester of his study.
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11.2.2. A full-time PhD student pursuing a programme that requires research and coursework
must register for the research proposal before the end of the third (3) regular semester of his studies. A part-time PhD. student pursuing a programme that requires research and coursework must register for the research proposal before the end of the fifth (5) regular semesters of his studies. However, students who choose a research only programme must register for the research proposal latest by the first (1) semester of their studies.
11.2.3. The research proposal shall carry no credit hours and shall not be included in the
students workload.
11.2.4. The research proposal must be approved by the KPGC within the semester as stipulated
in 11.2.2 and 11.2.3. In the case of failure to submit an acceptable proposal, a student will not be allowed to register.
11.2.5. Registration of the research proposal must be done using the Research Proposal
Registration form.
11.2.6. A student pursuing a programme in which research work is optional must inform the
department by the end of his first (1) regular semester of his choice to do research work. Once a student declares that he wishes to do research work, he shall not be allowed to change his decision, unless granted permission by the UCPS. How to Register Form CPS-REG/1/2009 (1) is available at CPS/Kulliyyah. Submit the duly completed form to the Kulliyyah for recommendation
11.3. Registration of Research Work/Thesis/Dissertation 11.3.1. Once a students Research Proposal has been approved by the KPGC, he must register
for Research Work in the subsequent regular semester, if the following conditions have been fulfilled: (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) (v) (vi) (vii) His CGPA is 3.0 or above He has completed at least 60% of the required coursework He has passed the comprehensive examination (for specific programmes only) His research proposal has been approved by the KPGC He has been assigned a supervisor by the KPGC He has fulfilled all language requirements as stipulated in Articles 11.3.2 to 11.3.4. He is within the maximum study period, or the approved extended study period.
Articles 11.3.1 (i) and (ii) shall not be applicable to students pursuing programmes by research only
11.3.2. A student undertaking research for a programme with Arabic as the only medium of
instruction is required to attain a minimum score in English as stipulated in Article 1.1.1 before being allowed to register for his research
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11.3.3. If deemed necessary by the department, a student pursuing a programme with English
as a medium of instruction may be required to attain a minimum score in Arabic as stipulated 1.1.2 before being allowed to register for his research
11.3.4. If deemed necessary by the department, a student may be required to achieve a

satisfactory level of proficiency in any other language that is relevant to his research work before being allowed to register for his research
11.4. Criteria of a Research Work/Thesis/Dissertation 11.4.1. A doctoral candidate is required to prepare and submit a research work that constitutes
an original contribution to his area of research
11.4.2. A PhD thesis/dissertation shall not exceed 100,000 words. A Masters

thesis/dissertation shall not exceed 50,000 words. A research paper shall not exceed 25,000 words. The total number of words includes the main text only and does not include footnotes, exhibits, figures, tables, graphs, appendices, bibliographies, etc
11.4.3. A Masters student who wishes to write a research work exceeding the specified
maximum word limit may write an application to the kulliyyah at least one month before making the first submission of the research/thesis/dissertation
11.4.4. A Doctoral candidate who wishes to write a research work exceeding the specified
maximum word limit may write an application to the kulliyyah at least three (3) months before making the first submission of the research
11.4.5. A student shall not submit a research work for which a degree has already been
conferred in this or any other institution. However, he shall not be precluded from incorporating any part of such work provided that the part of the work that has been so incorporated is clearly indicated. A student may, in addition, submit such other published work as he desires provided it has not already been submitted for a degree in any institution of higher learning
11.4.6. A student may produce for his postgraduate programme the findings of research
conducted prior to his admission to the IIUM or as part of his job requirement, provided that the research work is related to the area of his study and is the result of his own efforts
11.4.7. All research works submitted shall be accompanied by a signed declaration of copyright
and affirmation of fair use of unpublished research as specified in the The IIUM Thesis/dissertation Manual (Part II: Format) issued by the CPS.
11.5. Language of the Research Work 11.5.1. A research work must be written in English or Arabic, depending on the programmes
medium of instruction. Any research work, regardless of the language in which it has been written, must be preceded by an abstract in English, Arabic or optionally in Bahasa Melayu
11.5.2. A
student in an English-based programme may research/thesis/dissertation in Arabic on condition that: (i)
apply
to
write
the
The research work is in specific areas where most of the sources/references are in Arabic
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(ii)
The applicant must have an advanced level of proficiency in Arabic or his mother tongue is Arabic language and he has done his first degree in a programme where Arabic is the language of instruction The supervisor is well-versed in the area of specialization and has a reasonable knowledge of Arabic The approval of a Senate Sub-committee comprised of the Deans of the Centre for Postgraduate Studies, Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences, and the Head of the Department of Arabic Language and Literature and Deans of the relevant kulliyyahs
(iii) (iv)
11.6. Submission of Research Progress Report 11.6.1. A postgraduate student who has registered for research must submit his Research
Progress Report at the beginning of each regular semester to the CPS through submission of duly completed forms, until the completion of the research work/thesis/dissertation; failure to do so will result in the termination of his studies for non-registration.
11.6.2. The Research Progress Report is a semester report to record the progress/development
of the students research work.
11.6.3. During the period of submission of the progress report, the student is advised to settle
his outstanding debts; failure to which will also result in his termination of studies for non-registration.
11.7. Publication of Thesis/Dissertation/Research Paper 11.7.1. A student may, with the consent of his supervisor, present and publish papers on his
research work during the course of his studies provided that in all such papers, he acknowledges that the work is being done at the IIUM or an approved institution
11.7.2. A student who wishes to delay public access to his research findings may apply to
maintain the temporary confidentiality of his research. The maximum period for which public access may be denied is three (3) years from the date of conferment of the degree
11.7.3. With the Universitys permission, a student may publish the approved research work, in
part or in full, on the condition that he expressly states that the work was submitted to the University in fulfilment of his postgraduate degree requirements
11.7.4. The University and the author of the research shall be joint copyright holders of the
research work submitted to the University, regardless of whether the research work has been approved for the award of the degree or not
11.8. The IIUM Thesis/Dissertation Manual 11.8.1. In the course of writing the research, a student is required to refer to and follow the
The IIUM Thesis/dissertation manual and/or follow the specific rules and regulations that might be issued by the Senate
12.
SUBMISSION OF MASTERS THESIS/DISSERTATION

Masters Thesis/Dissertation:
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12.1. The following procedure shall be observed in sequence for the submission and approval of a
12.1.1. A student intending to submit his research work shall notify the Deputy Dean /
Coordinator (postgraduate studies) and the CPS at least one month before the intended date of submission. The KPGC shall appoint an examiner(s) for the research work upon such notification.
12.1.2. Once the research is deemed to be ready for submission by the (major) supervisor, he
shall certify that it is of acceptable standard in content, quality and presentation style.
12.1.3. The student shall submit to the department as many copies of the research in the
temporary binding as the number of appointed examiners. The department shall send a copy of the research to each of the examiners.
12.1.4. The student shall have to defend his research in a viva voce and/or a public seminar, if
required by any of the examiners or the department.
12.1.5. The Masters thesis/Dissertation after evaluation of the examiners may fall into one of
the following categories: (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) (v) Pass Pass with minor revisions to be completed in one (1) month Pass with major revisions to be completed in three (3) months Re-submission with/without viva-voce in six (6) months Failure
12.1.6. Should the research falls under category (i), steps according to Articles 12.1.11 to
12.1.12 should be followed.
12.1.7. Should the research fall under (ii) or (iii) of students should make appropriate changes
in accordance with the examiners reports under the supervisor(s) appointed for revision purposes within a period which shall not exceed three (3) months.
12.1.8. Once the student has made all revisions in accordance with the examiners reports, he
should get certification from the main supervisor for revision that the research is of acceptable standard in terms of content, quality and presentation style.
12.1.9. Should the thesis/dissertation fall under category (iv), the research should be
resubmitted within a period, not exceeding Six (6) months, within which the student must re-submit the thesis/dissertation certified by the appointed supervisor(s). Accordingly, after evaluation of the examiners the research may fall into categories (i)/(ii)/(iii)/(v), not (iv) subject to Articles 12.1.11 to 12.1.12 or 12.1.10.
12.1.10. Should the research fall under category (v), the student would be deemed to have
made unsatisfactory progress in the preparation of his thesis/dissertation, and hence, shall be dismissed from the programme.
12.1.11. One copy of the research should be submitted to the CPS to be checked for
conformity to the format stipulated in The IIUM Thesis/dissertation Manual. Accordingly approval for permanent binding should be obtained.
12.1.12. Once a student obtains approval for permanent binding, he shall submit to the CPS
three copies of the research in permanent hardcover binding and one electronic copy saved in an appropriate storage device/medium.
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12.1.13. The CPS shall retain one hardcover copy of the research work, forward one hardcover
copy to the Kulliyyah/Institute and send one hardcover as well as the electronic copy to the library.
12.1.14. The CPS shall table the grade awarded for the research to the Senate for final
endorsement.
12.2. Thesis Examination (TE) Grace Period 12.2.1. A student who has completed and submitted his thesis/dissertation to the kulliyyah for
the evaluation of the examiner, will be given a Thesis Examination (TE) status, upon submission of both the temporary bound thesis and the duly completed certification form to the CPS.
12.2.2. The maximum period allowed for TE status is as follows:

Mode of Programme Masters by Research only Masters by Coursework and Research Period of TE Status Eight (8) months and two (2) weeks Five (5) months
12.2.3. In the event that the student fails to submit the bound Thesis/Dissertation in the
stipulated time (12.2.2), the CPS may terminate the student with the recommendation of the KPGC.
12.2.4. A student on TE status is not required to register as he is deemed to have completed

their studies.
12.2.5. A student on TE status will be required to pay recurring and hostel fees (if he stays in
the hostel) with the exclusion of tuition fees and examination fees until he is declared as GR or graduated.
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Flow Chart on Completion of Thesis/Research (For Masters Student Only)

Notification of Intention to Submit Research Work
Certification of Correction of Thesis by Main Supervisor (For Master Only)
Submission of thesis to internal examiner / 2nd reader or external examiner
Completion of the Correction
Certification of Completion for Masters (By Coursework and Research ) AND temporary bound thesis
Thesis format checking by the CPS
Review for Thesis Binding
Final approval for thesis binding
Submission of 3 copies of hard bound thesis, one soft copy and results for Senate endorsement
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13.
UPGRADING FROM MASTERS PROGRAMME TO DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (PhD) PROGRAMME (FOR MASTERS BY RESEARCH ONLY PROGRAMMES)
13.1. A student who wishes to opt for such a transfer should submit by the end of his second
semester or shortly afterwards, an application to the Kulliyyahs Postgraduate Committee through his Head of Department/Deputy Dean PG, using the standard form prepared by the CPS.
13.2. Information Required from Applicants on the Application for Upgrading from Masters
to PhD is: (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) (v) (vi) (vii) (viii) (ix) Name of applicant Title of thesis (and abstract of 300 words) Name of supervisor Brief description of the research problem, its background and relationship to existing scholarship The research aims, questions or hypotheses Sources of data, procedures for its collection and techniques of analysis Extended summary of research progress and expected results Plans for completion and an indication as to why the individual student believes the work will be of a Doctoral standard Relevant supporting documents
14.
SUBMISSION OF PhD THESIS / DISSERTATION

PhD. thesis/dissertation:
14.1. The following procedure shall be observed in sequence for the submission and approval of a 14.1.1. A Doctoral candidate intending to submit his research shall notify the Deputy
Dean/Coordinator (postgraduate studies) and the CPS at least three (3) months before the intended date of submission. The KPGC shall initiate the process of appointing examiners for the research upon such notification.
14.1.2. Once the research is deemed ready for submission by the (major) supervisor, he shall
certify that it is of acceptable standard in terms of content, quality and presentation style.
14.1.3. The Doctoral candidate shall be required to submit as many copies of the research work
in temporary binding to the Kulliyyah Postgraduate Office as there are appointed examiners. The Kulliyyah Postgraduate Office shall send one copy of the research to each of the appointed examiners through the CPS
14.1.4. The doctoral candidate shall defend his thesis/dissertation in a viva voce and/or a public
seminar conducted by the Doctoral Examination Committee (DEC). Accordingly, the DEC would determine the specific category under which the research should fall: (i) (ii) Pass Pass with minor revisions to be completed in Six (6) months
20
(iii) Pass with major revisions to be completed within the minimum period of six (6) to maximum period of twelve (12) months (iv) (v) Resubmission with viva to be completed within the minimum period of twelve (12) to maximum period of Eighteen (18) months Failure
14.1.5. Should the thesis/dissertation fall under category (i), the Doctoral candidate is required
to follow steps according to Articles 14.1.13
14.1.6. Should the thesis/dissertation fall under category (ii) or (iii), the student is required to
revise the thesis/dissertation in accordance with the report prepared by the DEC under the supervisor(s) for the revision within a period not exceeding Twelve (12) months, within which the Doctoral candidate must submit the revised thesis/dissertation certified by the appointed supervisor(s).
14.1.7. Once the student has made all the revisions in accordance with the DECs report, the
supervisor for the revision shall certify that the thesis/dissertation is of an acceptable standard and ready for final submission for graduation purposes
14.1.8. Accordingly, the Doctoral candidate is required to follow steps according to Articles
14.1.13
14.1.9. Should the thesis/dissertation fall under category (iv) the thesis/dissertation should be
resubmitted within a period not exceeding Eighteen (18) months, within which the Doctoral candidate must re-submit the revised thesis/dissertation work certified by the appointed supervisor(s).
14.1.10. Once the work is ready for resubmission, the supervisor for the resubmission shall
certify that the research is of an acceptable standards and ready for final submission for graduation purposes.
14.1.11. After examination and evaluation, the Doctoral candidate may be required to defend
his thesis/dissertation in a re-viva-voce and /or public seminar conducted by the DEC. The DEC shall have the prerogative to determine the category (i)/(ii)/(iii)/(v), not (iv) which is subject to Articles 14.1.7 to 14.1.8 or 14.1.10
14.1.12. Should the research fall under category (v), the doctoral candidate would be deemed
to have made unsatisfactory progress in the preparation of his thesis/dissertation, and hence, shall be dismissed from the programme
14.1.13. One copy of the temporary bound Thesis/Dissertation should be submitted to the CPS
to be checked for conformity to the format stipulated in The IIUM Thesis/Dissertation Manual. Once approval for permanent binding is obtained, student should submit to the CPS three (3) copies of his research work in permanent hardcover binding and one electronic copy saved in an appropriate storage device/medium
14.1.14. The CPS shall retain one hardcover copy of the research work, and send one to the
Kulliyyah/Institute and send one hardcover as well as the electronic copy to the library.
14.1.15. The CPS shall table the grade awarded for the research work to the Senate for final
endorsement.
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Flow Chart on Completion of Thesis/Research (For PhD Only)

Notification of Intention to Submit Research Work
Certification of Completion for PhD Research Work
Submission of thesis to internal examiner / 2nd reader or external examiner
Viva at the CPS
Certification of Revision of Research Work (Post Viva)
Thesis format checking by the CPS
Review for Thesis Binding
Final approval for thesis binding
Submission of 3 copies of hard bound thesis, one soft copy and results for Senate endorsement
15.
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
15.1. The graduation requirements for a postgraduate student may include satisfactory
performance in any one or a combination (as the case may be) of the following: (i) (ii) Fulfilment of Language Graduation Requirements (if any, as prescribed in Articles 1.4.1.3) Courses
22
(iii) Practical training, practicum, fieldwork, etc. (iv) (v) Comprehensive examination Thesis, dissertation, research paper, etc.
15.2. Specific requirements in Article 15.1 and the number of credit hours required for
graduation may vary from one Department/Kulliyyah to another, and are subject to change if deemed necessary.
15.3. The Senate shall have the authority to approve graduation requirements for a
programme of study, upon the recommendation of the Kulliyyah Board. Changes in the graduation requirements of a programme of study shall be recommended by the Kulliyyah Board and approved by the Senate.
16.
CONFERMENT OF DEGREE
16.1. Students may be conferred a postgraduate diploma, Master's degree or a PhD, as the
case may be, if the following conditions have been fulfilled: (i) If he has fulfilled all requirements stipulated in the Postgraduate Policies and Regulations (ii) If the conferment of the degree/postgraduate diploma upon him has been endorsed by the Senate (iii) If he has cleared all dues owed to the University (excluding approved financial loans made to students by the University)
17.
TERMINATION OF CANDIDATURE
17.1. The candidature of a student shall be terminated if he withdraws from the University. 17.2. The candidature of a student may be terminated upon the recommendation of both the
KPGC and UCPS and with the approval of the Senate, if his general performance is found to be unsatisfactory.
17.3. The candidature of a student may be terminated if he is found to have breached the
disciplinary code as stipulated in the University Disciplinary Act.
18.
VISITING STUDENTS
18.1. Non-IIUM students may apply to register for or audit specific courses in the IIUM or
for technical attachments and consultation.
18.2. Applications must be made to the CPS at least one month before the beginning of the
semester in which they wish to commence their studies at the IIUM.
18.3. All registered courses shall be graded accordingly and a transcript of the courses taken
shall be issued by the CPS.
19.
ACADEMIC RESIDENCE
19.1. Students pursuing a postgraduate programme under research only should fulfil the
suggested academic residence requirement.
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19.2. The minimum period for the residence requirement should be at the discretion of the
relevant Kulliyyah.
19.3. Students who have not fulfilled the academic residence requirement will be given a
warning letter by the CPS. Should the students fail to comply, they shall be dismissed from the University.
20.
APPEALS AND PROCEDURES
20.1. Transfer of Credits /Exemptions 20.1.1. A student who has completed certain postgraduate courses from the IIUM or another
accredited institution may apply to transfer credits earned previously to his current programme/ to be exempted from taking those courses if the following conditions are fulfilled:
20.1.2. Courses sought for transfer/exemptions are similar and equivalent to the corresponding
courses in the current programme offered at the IIUM
20.1.3. A minimum B grade or its equivalent was obtained in the course sought for
transfer/exemption
20.1.4. The student was on a good overall academic standing in his previous candidature. 20.1.5. The courses were taken not more than five (5) years before the date of enrolment in his
current programme.
20.1.6. Courses or credits sought for transfer must only be credited once and for all. 20.1.7. Applications for transfer of credits/exemption must be accompanied by the relevant
supporting documents such as course description and grading system. A student may be interviewed or required to sit for a test, if deemed necessary by the department, in order to determine his eligibility for the transfer of credits.
20.1.8. A student may apply for exemption, but not for transfer of credit, from taking a course
required by his programme of study if he has relevant knowledge, qualifications or professional experience in the areas covered in the course as determined by the Kulliyyah
20.1.9. The maximum number of credits that may be transferred/ exempted is 50 % of the
credit hours of the coursework required for the graduation in the current programme.
20.1.10. Applications for transfer of credits/exemption are to be made to the Dean of the
kulliyyah latest by the end of the students first regular semester of studies at the IIUM.
20.1.11. All applications for transfer of credits/exemption shall be decided by the UCPS on the
recommendation of the KPGC. How to apply? Form CPS-REG/4/2006 is available at the CPS/Kulliyyah, which is to be submitted to the Deputy Dean/Coordinator (Postgraduate & Research) of the Kulliyyah for recommendation with relevant supporting documents by the end of the first regular semester of studies in the IIUM
24
20.2. Leave of Absence 20.2.1. A student is required to maintain a registered status starting from the enrolment till
completion of studies. However, in extenuating circumstances, a student may apply for leave of absence for a maximum of one academic year throughout his study period if recommended by the relevant Kulliyyah/Institute.
20.2.2. An application for leave of absence shall be made to the relevant Head of
Department/Supervisor and Deputy Dean / Coordinator (Postgraduate Studies) of the respective Kulliyyah for approval and thereafter the Kulliyyah shall submit the decisions to the UCPS for endorsement
20.2.3. A student is required to be on registered status at the time of application for leave of
absence. A student who wishes to take leave of absence for personal reasons must apply prior to the commencement of the new semester
20.2.4. All applications for leave of absence are to be submitted to the respective Kulliyyah for
approval. The decisions shall be endorsed in the UCPS
20.2.5. Leave of absence may be granted for the current semester provided: 20.2.6. Circumstances are of a special nature or are beyond the students control 20.2.7. The students performance is at least satisfactory in the current semesters courses 20.2.8. The students attendance is 80 % and above 20.2.9. Leave of absence other than for medical/emergency reasons will be counted as part of
the students duration of study period.
20.2.10. The UCPS shall have the prerogative to decide on applications for leave of absence.
The following table clarifies some of the reasons for leave of absence and the supporting document required along with the duly completed form
Reasons for Leave of Absence 1.Medical problems e.g. maternity, accidents, and any other serious health problems 2. Personal problems e.g. family problems, marriage problems, stress etc. 3. Work constraints Supporting Documents Required Medical report certified by the IIUM Health Centre and air ticket for International Students Counsellors report certified by the IIUM Counselling & Careers Guidance Department and air ticket for International Students Recommendation letter from employer and air ticket and work permit for International Students
How to apply? Form CPS-REG/8/2005(1)/ CPS-REG/9/2005(1) are available at the CPS/Kulliyyah, which is to be submitted to the Deputy Dean/Coordinator (Postgraduate) of the Kulliyyah for recommendation.
20.3. Change of Programme 20.3.1. A student who has enrolled into the University may apply with valid reasons for change
of programme within the first (1) academic year of his studies.
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20.3.2. Should a student apply to change his programme of study within a Kulliyyah, the
KPGC shall have the prerogative to decide on such an application subject to Article 10.1. The CPS must be informed accordingly for record purposes.
20.3.3. Should a student apply to change his programme of study from one Kulliyyah to
another, the recommendation shall be made by the releasing and accepting kulliyyahs and endorsed by the SAC
20.3.4. A new student who wishes to apply for change of programme with valid reasons should
take the following steps:
20.3.5. Obtain recommendations from the releasing and accepting kulliyyahs 20.3.6. Complete the necessary documents before the last day of the add and drop period 20.3.7. Pay an administrative fee as determined by the University 20.3.8. All applications for change of programme are to be submitted to the respective
kulliyyah for recommendation. The decisions shall be considered in the SAC.
20.3.9. A student may be allowed under exceptional circumstances to change programme

subject to approval of the SAC. How to apply? Form CPS-ADMS/1/2008 (2) is available at the CPS/Kulliyyah. Duly complete the form and submit it to the Deputy Dean/ Coordinator (Postgraduate)/Head of the Department of the releasing and accepting Kulliyyah.
20.4. Change of Status 20.4.1. A continuing student may apply to change status from part-time to full-time or vice
versa. Change in status can be made only once in a students study period within normal period of study
20.4.2. All Malaysian postgraduate students may apply for the changes of the status of study
from part-time to full-time or vice-versa once within the normal study period. However, for international students, the change of status is only applicable if they hold the Independent Pass/Social Pass and Work Permit and with certification letter from employer
20.4.3. An international student who holds the Student Pass does not qualify for the change of
status of study How to apply? Form CPS-REG/7/2005(1) is available at the CPS/Kulliyyah. Duly complete the form and submit it to the Deputy Dean/ Coordinator (Postgraduate) of the kulliyyah.
20.5. Changing Mode of Programme 20.5.1. A postgraduate student may appeal to change his mode of programme from
Coursework and Research to Coursework only/Research only or vice versa to the UCPS
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through his respective kulliyyah, subject to the availability of the modes at the kulliyyah.
20.6. Re-evaluation of Examination Answer Scripts 20.6.1. A student is entitled to appeal for a re-evaluation of his examination answer sheets if he
believes that the grade awarded does not reflect his performance in the final examination, not later than one week after the commencement of the following semester.
20.6.2. Such an appeal shall be applicable only for the final examination. Any change in the
grade would be based on changes made in marks obtained in the final examination. How to apply? Form is available at the CPS Counter. After obtaining the recommendation the Dean of the Kulliyyah, you are required to submit the form along with RM50.00 fee (for each course) to the CPS
20.7. Special Examination 20.7.1. A student may apply to CPS to sit for Special Examination if he is absent for the endof-semester examination (i) On medical/psychological grounds that have been duly certified by the University Health Centre or in cases of serious emergency,
(ii) Due to approved reasons acceptable to the University authorities
20.7.2. The examination will be conducted latest by the fourth week of the subsequent
semester. How to apply? A student is required to the Dean, CPS along with the relevant supporting documents and RM100.00 (per course). The deadline will be the end of the first week of new semester
20.8. Re-sit Examination 20.8.1. A graduating student who obtains the minimum CGPA for graduation but fails in one or
two courses will be given a Conditional Pass status and may be allowed to re-sit for that course subject to the following conditions: i. The student has registered for the course and fulfilled at least 80% of the attendance requirement but obtained C- or below or carried over (CO) grade. ii. The student was not barred or had not withdrawn from the course he intends to re-sit. iii. The student should also register for the course if he is still within the study period, and it will be dropped automatically by the CPS, if he passes the re-sit examination iv. The students will be dismissed, if he fails in the re-sit examination, if his study period has exhausted. On the other hand, the student who fails in the re-sit examination must continue with the course and sit for the end of semester examination.
27
20.8.2. A student is allowed to apply for a maximum number of three (3) courses for re-sit
examination subject to the approval by the Dean of the Kulliyyah
20.8.3. Only one attempt at re-sit is allowed per course 20.8.4. The re-sit examination will be graded on a Pass on Re-sit (PR) or Fail on Re-sit (FR)
basis and will not affect the overall CGPA How to apply? Form CPS-EXAM/6/2005 is available at the CPS/Kulliyyah. A student is required to write to the Dean, CPS along with RM100.00 (per course). The deadline will be the end of the first week of new semester.
20.9. Extension of Study Period 20.9.1. A student who has exhausted the normal study period must apply to the UCPS, upon
the recommendation of the KPGC, for an extension of his studies. The extension may be granted up to the maximum period as stipulated in Article 5.1.1 How to apply? Form CPS-REG/1/2009(1) is available at the CPS/Kulliyyah. After obtaining the recommendation the Dean of the Kulliyyah, you are required to submit the form to the CPS, one month before the end of the normal study period or the extended study period (if extension has been granted earlier)
Fresh-Admission 20.9.2. A student may be granted fresh-admission only once when he is dismissed due to
poor academic performance and does not maintain a CGPA of 3.00 or above Procedures: (i) The student should send the appeal for fresh-admission to the CPS through the respective Kulliyyah for recommendation (ii) The appeal will be considered in the SAC
20.10. Resumption of Studies 20.10.1. A student may be granted resumption of studies if his studies have been terminated
due to non-registration (for a lapse of not exceeding 3 years) whilst maintaining a CGPA of 3.00 or above Procedures (i) The student should send an appeal letter to the CPS through the respective kulliyyah for recommendation (ii) The appeal will be considered in the UCPS
20.11. Graduation 20.11.1. A student is required to apply for graduation, which will be then forwarded to the
Department/Kulliyyah/Institute for confirmation. Graduation is not officially granted until and unless the D/K/I has sent notification for completion of all degree requirements to the CPS and graduation is later endorsed by the Senate?
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How to apply? Duly complete the application form for graduation CPS-EXAM/4/2005 which is available at CPS/Kulliyyah and submit it to the CPS
21.
STUDENTS RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

21.2. A student admitted to the University must follow a specific programme of studies
offered by a department of kulliyyah.
21.2.1. A student is deemed to be aware of the requirements of his degree programmes and the
time constraint.
21.2.2. A student who believes that his educational records contain inaccuracies or misleading
information has the right to complain.
21.2.3. A student is expected to exercise the highest integrity in taking examinations and in
collecting, analyzing and presenting data. He should know that cheating in the University is a serious offence. The range of penalties for cheating includes reprimand, suspension from the University for a specific period and termination from the University.
21.2.4. If a student fails to maintain his financial obligation to the University or violates nonacademic regulations, the IIUM may withhold the students result slip, transcript or scroll.
21.2.5. It is the students responsibility to ensure the Centre for Postgraduate Studies has his
correct mailing address. The latest recorded mailing address is deemed to be the correct mailing address. The University cannot be responsible for any miscommunication due to mailing problems.
21.2.6. International students are required to have a valid student pass while studying in the
University, otherwise their stay here is illegal. Thus, they are expected to know the relevant information pertaining to their legal stay in Malaysia. The University will not be responsible if they are held by the Immigration Department or relevant authorities if found to have violated any immigration rules.
COURSEWORK AND EVALUATION POLICIES (Q & A)

All students must attain a minimum of B grade for all core and elective courses. What if Answer: You failed to achieve the minimum grade for a core course? You must repeat the course in the following semester
You failed to achieve the minimum grade for an elective course? Answer: You must repeat or replace it with another elective course All students must attain a minimum CGPA of 3.00 in order to be eligible to graduate. What if Answer: You failed to achieve 3.00 because for one of the core course results you got B-? You must repeat the core course in order to improve your CGPA.
29
Answer: Answer: Answer:
You failed to achieve 3.00 because for one of the elective courses results you got B-? You must repeat/replace it with another elective course to improve your CGPA. You achieved 3.00 but the result for one core course is C-? You must repeat the course, or Re-sit (only for graduating students) You achieved 3.00 but the result for one elective course is C-? You must repeat/replace it with another elective course, or Re-sit (only for graduating students)
All students must attain a minimum CGPA of 2.00 to remain in the programme. What if Answer: After completion of the first 8 credit hours, the students CGPA is 1.67. Will he/she be dismissed from the programme? No. The student should repeat and/or replace the courses. < 8 cr. hrs CGPA < 3.00 Conditional pass > 8 cr. hrs 2.00 > CGPA < 3000 First probation > 8 cr. hrs CGPA < 2.00 Dismissed Answer: Answer: Why do we insist that students must achieve 3.00 CGPA? Because a student will not be able to graduate if he/she fails to achieve a minimum CGPA of 3.00. Why do we insist that a student must attain a minimum of a B grade? Because according to the latest postgraduate grading system, a B grade is equivalent to 3.00.
If a student is in his first probation, then the student needs to repeat/replace the course (s) with the recommendation by the Head of Department. What is first probation? It is the CGPA that we refer to. If a students CGPA is 2.99 upon completion of 9 credit hours, then his candidature is considered as a first probation. With reference to Article 12.6.2 from the Postgraduate Policies and Regulations (Revised 2001), consider the following cases:
Answer:
A. Semester First semester Second semester Third semester B. Semester First semester Second semester C. Semester First semester
CGPA Attained 2.99 2.89 2.98
Academic Status First probation (> 8 cr. hrs) Second probation Dismissed
CGPA Attained 2.99 2.40
Academic Status First probation (> 8 cr. hrs) Dismissed
CGPA Attained 2.99
Academic Status First probation (> 8 cr. hrs)

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Second semester Third semester D. Semester First semester E. Semester First semester Second semester Third semester Fourth semester F. Semester First semester Second semester G. Semester First semester Second semester H. Semester First semester Second semester Third semester I. Semester First semester Second semester Third semester Conclusion:
2.89 2.49
Second probation Dismissed
CGPA Attained 1.67
Academic Status Dismissed (> 8 cr. hrs)
CGPA Attained 1.67 2.80 2.70 2.98
Academic Status Conditional Pass (< 8 cr. hrs) First probation (> 8 cr. hrs) Second probation Dismissed
Academic Status Conditional Pass (< 8 cr. hrs) Dismissed
Academic Status Conditional Pass (< 8 cr. hrs) PASS (Continue study)
Academic Status First probation (> 8 cr. hrs.) PASS (Continue study) First probation
Academic Status First probation (> 8 cr. hrs.) Second probation PASS (Continue study)
CGPA < 3.00 for third time CGPA < 2.50 after the first probation CGPA < 2.50 after second probation CGPA < 2.50 after conditional pass CGPA < 3.00 after conditional pass CGPA < 2.00 upon completion of the first 8 credit hours
= = = = = =
Dismissed Dismissed Dismissed Dismissed First Probation Dismissed
How to help students to avoid being dismissed? Answer: To repeat and/or replace courses in which the students have attained lower than the minimum requirement.
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DISCLAIMER
The Senate of the University reserves the right to amend or overrule any article in the Postgraduate Policies and Regulations at any time.
Note: 1. One academic year consists of 2 regular semesters and 1 short semester. The short semester is an optional semester. 2. The pronouns he and his in this rule refer to a person of unspecified sex. 3. Please let us know if our services are not to your satisfaction so that we can improve them in the future.
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Guide To Postgraduate Studies

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Guide To Postgraduate Studies

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GUIDE TO POSTGRADUATE STUDIES

CENTRE FOR POSTGRADUATE STUDIES

WHOS WHO AT THE CENTRE FOR POSTGRADUATE STUDIES

PhD in Laws and Comparative Laws

1.1.2. Arabic Language Requirements

1.1.3. Bilingual Requirements

1.2. Enrolment Status

1.3. Registering as Student in Other Institutions

1.5. Study Period

Full-time Part-time Full-time Full-time Full-time Part-time

1.6. Termination due to Exhaustion of the Maximum Study Period

2.2. Types of Courses 2.2.1. Programme-Required Courses

2.2.2. Language Proficiency Courses

2.2.3. Special Requirement Courses

2.2.4. Prerequisite Courses

2.2.5. Audit Courses

2.2.6. Independent Study

(i) (ii) (iii)

3. COURSE REGISTRATION POLICIES

Withdrawal from Courses

4. LECTURE ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS

5.4. Calculation of the GPA (Grade Point Average) and CGPA

6. WITHHOLDING FINAL EXAMINATION RESULTS

7. CRITERIA TO MAINTAIN CANDIDATURE

11.3.4. If deemed necessary by the department, a student may be required to achieve a

11.4.2. A PhD thesis/dissertation shall not exceed 100,000 words. A Masters

student in an English-based programme may research/thesis/dissertation in Arabic on condition that: (i)

SUBMISSION OF MASTERS THESIS/DISSERTATION

12.2.2. The maximum period allowed for TE status is as follows:

12.2.4. A student on TE status is not required to register as he is deemed to have completed

Flow Chart on Completion of Thesis/Research (For Masters Student Only)

Certification of Correction of Thesis by Main Supervisor (For Master Only)

Submission of thesis to internal examiner / 2nd reader or external examiner

Completion of the Correction

Thesis format checking by the CPS

Review for Thesis Binding

Final approval for thesis binding

SUBMISSION OF PhD THESIS / DISSERTATION

Flow Chart on Completion of Thesis/Research (For PhD Only)

Certification of Completion for PhD Research Work

Submission of thesis to internal examiner / 2nd reader or external examiner

Viva at the CPS

Certification of Revision of Research Work (Post Viva)

Thesis format checking by the CPS

Review for Thesis Binding

Final approval for thesis binding

APPEALS AND PROCEDURES

20.3.9. A student may be allowed under exceptional circumstances to change programme

(ii) Due to approved reasons acceptable to the University authorities

STUDENTS RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

COURSEWORK AND EVALUATION POLICIES (Q & A)

Answer: Answer: Answer:

CGPA Attained 2.99 2.89 2.98

CGPA Attained 2.99 2.40

Academic Status First probation (> 8 cr. hrs) Dismissed

CGPA Attained 2.99

Academic Status First probation (> 8 cr. hrs)

Second probation Dismissed

CGPA Attained 1.67

Academic Status Dismissed (> 8 cr. hrs)

CGPA Attained 1.67 2.80 2.70 2.98

CGPA Attained 1.67 2.40

Academic Status Conditional Pass (< 8 cr. hrs) Dismissed