INDIANINSTITUTEOFTECHNOLOGYBOMBAY

November13,2014
CommitteeReportontheformulationofrulesforexit
optionforDD(M.Sc.+Ph.D.)Programme
(Approvedinthe218thmeetingoftheSenate)
1. Instituteguidelinesanddepartmentspecificrules:Thisdocumentspecifies
thegeneralinstituteguidelinesregardingtheprogressofstudentsthroughthe
M.Sc.Ph.D. programme of the institute. Departments that offer this
programmemayhaverulesinadditiontotheseguidelines.Theseruleswould
beapprovedbytheIITBombaySenatefromtimetotime.
2. Entry: The M.Sc.Ph.D programme at IIT Bombay is designed to attract
Ph.D.studentsatanearlystageintheiracademiccareer.Studentsenterthe
M.Sc.Ph.D. course at IIT Bombay through the JAM exam. Some
departmentshaveaninterviewprocessaftertheJAMexamresults,toselect
candidates.
3. Coursework and M.Sc. curriculum: The normal coursework for the
programmeissuchthatcoursesequivalenttoanM.Sc.degreearecompleted
inamaximumof5semesters.ThenormalcourseworktowardsanM.Sc.will
be done in 4 semesters (at least 35 credits every semester), followed by
courseworktowardsthePh.D.partoftheprogrammeasprescribedbythe
Department.
4. Stipend: Astipendisprovidedfromsemester1onwards. Thedetails are
availableontheacademicpageandtheamountsforthefirsttwoyearsmaybe
changed from time to time, depending on the institute policy. After
confirmationforPh.D.,thestipendamountwillfollow theregularMHRD
normsforPh.D.Candidates.
5. CPI requirementforPh.D: DepartmentsmayhaveaCPIrequirementto
confirmentrytothePh.D.programme,after2.5years.Studentswhodonot
fulfillthisrequirementwillleavewithanM.Sc.degree.AstudentwithCPI
lessthan6atanytimeinthefirsttwoyearsmaybeaskedtoleavewithan
M.Sc.degreeaftersemester5or6.Dependingonacademicprobationrulesin
forceatthetime,thestudentmaybegivenachancetoimprovehis/herCPI
andcontinue.
6. ConfirmationinPh.D.programme: LikeotherPh.D.programmes inthe
institute,admissiontotheprogrammemeansthatthestudentcanregister,and
can meet certain course credit requirements and then confirm registration
basedontheappointmentofaResearchProgressCommitteeforthesisworkto
be done under a supervisor. This process is not automatic and has to be
plannedbythestudentandthedepartment. AnyPh.D.programmerequires

mutualcommitmentbetweenthestudentandsomefacultyinthedepartment
toworkonaseriousresearchagenda. Itisnecessarytoassesstheprogress
towardsthisobjectiveatafewstagesduringtheprogramme. Ifastudent
clears the M.Sc. courses, clears departmental qualifiers (if any) and
departmental requirements and finishes confirmation of Ph.D. registration
(includessigningupwithasupervisorandsettingupanRPCapprovedbythe
department), the student is now part of the Ph.D. programme. It is the
student'sinitiativetofindasuitabletopicandsupervisorinthedepartment,
andthefacultyadvisorandotherfacultymembersinthedepartmentwillmake
alleffortstofindagoodfit.
7. Exit during Ph.D.: Unsatisfactory performance in the Annual Progress
Seminar(APS)hastobenotedbytheResearchProgressCommitteeofthe
student and the student can be asked to leave based on unsatisfactory
performance in the APS normally one chance is given to repeat an
unsatisfactoryAPS.
8. Ph.D.Degree.: IfallrequirementsforthePh.D.arefulfilled,thestudentis
giventheM.Sc.andPh.D.Degreesfromtheinstitute.
9. Researchexitdegree: Afterconfirmation,likeregularPh.D.studentsina
sciencebasedPh.D.programme,studentsmaytryforanexitwithanM.Philif
theyhaveattemptedsomesubstantialresearchwork. Thiscanbedoneany
time after the first Annual Progress Seminar by satisfying the following
requirements:
a. A recommendation by the RPC and the DPGC of the Department
allowingthestudenttosubmitanM.Philthesis.
b. The thesis will be examined as per the M.Phil. thesis examination
process.
TheM.Sc.Degreeoftheinstituteisalsogivenforthesecandidates.
10. ExitwithM.Sc.:AlthoughtheadmissionisfortheM.Sc.Ph.D.programme,
studentsmaydesiretoleavewithanM.Sc.basedoncourseworkattheendof
2.5years. TherequirementsfortheM.Sc.degreewillbespecifiedbyeach
department.StudentswhodonotfulfilltherequirementsofanM.Sc.degree
willbeleavingwithoutanydegree.
11. ExitwithFRcourses: AstudentwithtwoormoreFRgradesintheM.Sc.
part of the curriculum may be asked to leave with an M.Sc. degree after
semester5andaftercompletingallDepartmentrequirementsfortheM.Sc.
degree.
12. Placement: StudentswholeavewithanM.Sc.degreeafterfulfillingcourse
requirements can participate in institute placement. For this option, the
studenthastoexpresshis/herintentionattheendofthe4thsemester.