A. OBHR: 10; SM&E: 12

A. The average time taken by students to complete the program is 5 years.

A. Average age of students is: OBHR: 27; SM&E: 25

A. Almost everyone takes up an academic position after completing their PhD.

A. The PhD program is designed to develop world class researchers for suitable position in academia only.

A. The PhD program is a full time program.

A. A wide variety of criteria are looked at by the faculty committee while selecting PhD students. Some of these criteria include academic history and performance, Statement of purpose, recommendation letters, test scores, fit with the program etc.

A. Most incoming candidates do not have a prior research experience. The faculty committee looks primarily for potential to do research while in the program.

A. The faculty evaluates all the applications after the deadline date on criteria but not limited to details above. Out of all the applications, the faculty selects a few for interviews before the final offers are rolled out.

A. Typically decisions are made by February/March and communicated to the candidates.

A. Students work with a variety of faculty during their PhD program. The PhD program is designed to allow students to work with 2 faculties each semester. The process of choosing a faculty is a two-way street where both a student and a faculty select each other.

There is no Masters’s thesis at the end of 2 years. Students instead are expected to write a 2nd year paper at the end of two years which is one of the requirements for advancing to candidacy. ) for more information.

Dissertation advisors are not decided at the time of the application. The process of choosing dissertation advisors typically happens during the first two years of the program when students are encouraged to work with different faculty so that both the student and faculty have time and chance to choose each other and settle down to a faculty whom they want as a dissertation advisor.

A. In order to advance to candidacy during which a student works on his/her thesis the student has to complete a number of milestones which are provided in the program details.

A. Please refer to the program details for this.

A. The faculty accords high importance to feedback and takes effort to provide continuous feedback to the student on their performance.

A. In case the faculty feels that the student is not performing according to expectations, the faculty typically offers help, advice and resources for improvement failing which the student might be asked to leave the program.

A. Students are encouraged to collaborate with students and faculty in other disciplines while adhering to the requirements of the program and milestones.