Examination

Graduation Requirements

Research Mode Programme

1. Compliance of the entire following is necessary for graduation:

• • Adhere to all Rules and Regulations of the graduate degree programme
  • Fulfill the minimum duration of candidature.
  • Pass the pre-requisite courses (if any) as determined by the School/Centre/Unit.
  • Settle all outstanding fees (if any)

Coursework & Mixed Mode Programme

A graduate student of USM must full fill the following requirements for purposes of graduation.

• Pass all core and elective courses and also other pre-requisite courses determined by the respective School/Centre;
• Pass the dissertation (for mixed-mode programme);
• Pass the research project (for coursework mode programme). Obtain at least a CGPA of 2.5 (for the Masters programme) and a CGPA of 3.0 (for the PhD programme); and
• M.Med student must pass all 3 Professional examination and satisfactory mini thesis

Coursework Mode and Mixed Mode Programme
 

• Examinations are conducted at the end of each semester, i.e. at the end of Semesters I, II and III (for programmes which have a 3rd semester).
• Examination slips are required for admission into the Examination Hall.
• Examination slips can be collected from IPS. Collection of examination slips will only be allowed for those who have settled their fees.
• It is the responsibility of a student to comply with and to be present at the Examination Hall during the stipulated time, date and place of the examination.
• In cases of an emergency, where a student is unable to sit for any examination, he/she is required to immediately notify the Examination Unit in writing. Medical certificates must accompany this notification
• Students must comply with all academic requirements (for lectures, tutorials, practical, etc) in order to qualify to sit for the examinations.
• The examination process is based on the principle of continuous assessment that comprises the coursework and the written examination components. The coursework component can be based on participation in tutorials, tests, essays, project work, studio work, fieldwork, etc.

Grading System

• Performance is assessed according to the examination grading method, which is the Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) based on the scale below :-

• The CGPA is the scale used to assess a student’s academic achievement throughout the duration of candidature.

Evaluation System

• The passing grade for all coursework and mixed-mode degree programmes is Grade C+.
• Courses that are graded as follows will not be taken into account in the calculation of the GPA & CGPA
  • TL (incomplete)
  • DK (with permission)
  • P/F (Dissertation)
  • Course with type Y & Z
• Dissertation course will be taken into consideration for graduation and will be awarded a PASS/FAIL grade (for mixed-mode programme).

A Guide to the Preparation, Submission and Examination of Thesis

• IPS has published a guide which is designed to assist students to prepare their theses available at IPS website (www.ips.usm.my). The guide sets out the requirements for the format.
• This guide is to facilitate the processes involved in the submission of the thesis

Notice of Submission of Thesis

• A Masters or PhD student is required to submit the form IPS/Exam – 01, at least three (3) months prior to submitting ten draft copies of the thesis. At this point, payment of the Thesis Examination Fee must be made at the Bursary. A copy of the receipt of payment should be submitted to IPS together with the draft copies of thesis.
• A student’s status must be active in order to submit this notice.
• A student has to submit a written application endorsed by the main supervisor requesting for an extension of the notice of submission of the thesis if he/she fails to submit the ten draft copies within the three (3) months period.
• A student has to submit the draft copies of the thesis after three(3)mounts the date Notice Submission of Thesis (form IPS/Exam-10)
• A student who fails to submit the ten draft copies of the thesis within six (6) months after the submission of the Notice of Submission of Thesis, has to resubmit a new notice of submission form IPS/Exam – 01 to IPS for approval.

Submission of draft copies of the Thesis
The submission of a thesis must be made during the period of candidature after a student has fulfilled the minimum period of candidature.

• PS will not accept any thesis that has not been written in accordance with the prescribed format.
• A student has to ensure, when submitting the draft copies of the thesis to IPS, the form IPS/Exam – 02 has been completed properly, i.e. the title of the thesis and its translated version written clearly, and that the main supervisor and the respective Dean/Director of the School/Centre for verification and confirmation have endorsed it.
• Should there be any changes to the title of the draft copies of the soft bound thesis, i.e. the title is different from the original title in the Notice of Submission of Thesis form, IPS/Exam – 01, the candidate has to obtain a written confirmation from the main supervisor (form IPS/Exam – 01, Section B) and approval from the respective Dean/Director of the School/Centre before the thesis can be submitted to IPS.

Submission of final copies of the Thesis

• Once the necessary corrections have been made and incorporated into the thesis, a student is required to complete the Submission of Final Copies of Thesis form, IPS/Exam – 03 and obtain the signature of the Main Supervisor and respective Dean/Director of the School/Centre/Unit. The final content of the thesis is to be produced on a CD. Ensure that documentation of the thesis is spelt out clearly on the CD label. The CD can then be submitted to IPS together with the three (3) hard bound copies of the thesis.
• If the Main Supervisor/Co-Supervisor or the Internal Examiner is the Dean/Director of the School/Centre where the student is registered, the endorsement and approval of form, IPS/Exam – 03 (Section C) will be officially stamped by the Dean of the Institute of Graduate Studies.

The viva voce (oral examination)

• The viva or oral defense will be scheduled by IPS as soon as all reports from the External and Internal Examiners have been received.
• At the viva, the student will appear before a Panel of Examiners consisting of the following: External Examiner (if applicable), Dean/Director of the School/Centre/Unit, Internal Examiners, Supervisors, and Secretary.
• Should there be any changes to the address or contact information, the student must immediately inform IPS so that the invitation to attend the viva can be forwarded urgently and correctly.
• Should a student need any audio-visual equipment (e.g. Laptop or LCD) for presentation during the viva, prior request in writing should be made to IPS.
• After the viva, a student must obtain the information/comments and report for making the necessary corrections and improvements to the thesis as directed by the Thesis Examination Panel. This can be obtained directly from the Secretary of the Panel of Examiners at IPS.
• A student will be given a specific period to correct and complete the thesis for the submission of the final hard bound copies. He/she is advised to meet the main supervisor for this purpose.
  • The period given for corrections/modifications of the thesis is as follows;
  • Student with a scale 2 : will be given 6 months
  • Student with a scale 3 : will be given 1 year
• A student who needs extra time than the period allocated for corrections can appeal to the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic & International Affairs).
• In any case, if a student is required by the Panel of Examiners to re-submit the thesis for re-examination, he/she must complete Re-submission of Thesis form, IPS/Exam – 04 and endorsed by the Main Supervisor and the respective Dean/Director of the School/Centre/Unit. This document is then submitted together with the draft soft bound copies of the thesis to IPS.