1. Format of the Qualifying Examination:

   • Option i: Designate Curriculum (as the table shown below)
   • Option ii: Written Exams

2. Designated Curriculum:

   • The curriculum includes graduate-level courses offered by each sub-division.

3. Course Selection Requirements for PhD Students:

   • Major division: The student must choose two courses from their major division, as designated by their supervisor based on the student’s research interests.
   • Minor division: The student must select one course from their minor division, which cannot be from the same division as the major courses. This course is also designated by the student's supervisor.

4. Grading Criteria to Pass the Qualifying Courses:

   • For the two major courses:
     • The student must receive a grade of A (or above) or rank in the top 33% of the class.
   • For the one minor course:
     • The student must receive a grade of A- (or above) or rank in the top 50% of the class.

5. For students who have completed all major and minor courses:

   • Please download the form available at the end of this website and fill in with the required information.
   • Attach an official transcript as evidence of course completion and obtain the signature of your advisor on the form.
   • Submit the completed form, along with the transcript, to the department office no later than the end of your PhD 4th semester.

6. Failure to Complete Requirements:

   • PhD students who fail to meet the qualifying-examination requirements within two years of enrolling in the program will be mandatorily withdrawn from the PhD program.
   • Exception: Students enrolled in the Direct-PhD program may transfer back to the master’s program to continue their MS study instead.

7. Qualifying Courses List:

   • The following table lists the courses recognized as qualifying courses by our department.
   • Please note that not every course is available each semester. We recommend checking the course catalog system to confirm if a particular course is offered in the current semester.

8. Failure to Meet Grade Requirements:

   • If a student fails to meet the grade requirements in a course, they may apply to the department office to retake the same course multiple times before the beginning of the next semester.
   • The student is required to eventually meet the specified grade requirements to pass the qualifying examination.
   • The course credits will be counted only once, even if retaken.

9. Alternative Option: Written Exam:

   • PhD students may complete the qualifying-examination requirements by taking a written exam for each subject, equivalent to the designated course.
   • Written exams are held every semester, specifically in March and October.
   • Students can take up to three subjects per session and must achieve a score higher than 70% to pass.

※Written Exam option is available exclusively to Ph.D. students who have reached their fourth semester of study and have not yet fulfilled the coursework requirements for the Ph.D. qualifying examination. In principle, all Ph.D. students are required to complete the qualifying examination requirements through coursework within 2 years as the first priority. Direct application for the written examination without completing the necessary coursework is not permitted.

8. Preparation of Written Exams:

   • The written exams for each subject are prepared by a faculty member, typically the instructor of the equivalent designated course, as appointed by the department head.

9. Details of the Written Exams:

   • Duration: The written exams last 120 minutes.
   • Grading: The completed written exams are sealed and graded anonymously.

10. Eligibility of Past Courses:

    • Any designated course completed by the PhD student within five years at our department (even if taken prior to admission into the PhD program) is eligible to meet the qualifying-examination requirements.

11. Effective Date:

    • The above code of practice, along with any amendments, has been approved in the departmental faculty meeting and is effective immediately upon announcement.

03/Sept./2024, Amended and approved at Academic Committee meeting