The PGIS offers postgraduate research programmes leading to the award of Degree of Master of Philosophy (M.Phil.) and Degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), which involve course work and research in selected areas of study. The medium of instruction shall be English. A candidate may normally register for an M.Phil./Ph.D. Degree programme in a chosen field of study with the approval of the relevant Board of Study.

General Information

A student registering for a degree of Master of Philosophy or Doctor of Philosophy in the Postgraduate Institute of Science shall be required to pursue his/her studies at a university, research institute or any other recognized institution under the guidance of a supervisor/s appointed by the PGIS with the concurrence of the relevant Board of Study.

Full-time and Part-time students

A full-time student shall be a person duly registered for an M.Phil./Ph.D. degree programme who is engaged in research or related activities during the entire normal working hours of the week. Therefore those who are employed are required to obtain leave of absence from their work places so as to be available for studies during normal working hours and be eligible for registration under this category.

A part-time student shall be a person duly registered for an M.Phil./Ph.D. degree programme who devotes only a percentage of the total working hours of a week for his/her research work.

Admission Requirements

Minimum Requirements for Registration:

1. 1. An M.Sc. degree from a recognised university/institution in the relevant area of study or

   2. A transfer from an M.Sc. programme conducted by the PGIS as stated or

   3. A B.Sc. Special Degree from a recognised university/institution in the relevant area of study or

   4. A B.Sc. General Degree from a recognised university/institution with subject/s relevant to the area of study or

   5. Any other equivalent qualification acceptable to the PGIS

   AND
2. Any other requirement/s as stipulated by the relevant Board of Study

Course Requirements for the M.Phil. Degree

All M.Phil. candidates should meet the following requirements:

1. He/She should engage in full-time research of not less than two years, or its equivalent on a part-time basis under the guidance of a supervisor/s as recommended by the relevant Board of Study, and submit a thesis based on the research carried out.

2. 1. He/She should engage in full-time research of not less than two years, or its equivalent on a part-time basis under the guidance of a supervisor/s as recommended by the relevant Board of Study, and submit a thesis based on the research carried out.
   2. He/She should successfully complete an independent/directed study that would be equivalent to credits stated in II (a) above assigned to him/her by the relevant Board of Study and pass the relevant examination.
3. He/She should attain a minimum standard in scientific writing acceptable to the PGIS. The relevant courses will be conducted by the PGIS from time to time. The requirements mentioned under II & III above should be completed within a maximum period of two years from the date of registration.

Transfer to the Ph.D. Programme:

A student who has been registered for an M.Phil. degree programme and who has made exceptional progress, may at his/her request and upon the recommendation of the relevant Board of Study be permitted to transfer the registration to that of a Ph.D. degree programme under the rules governing such a programme. A student may apply for such a transfer only after completion of at least one year of the M.Phil. programme.

Application Procedure

Application forms can be downloaded from the pgis website. When submitting, the application forms should accompany a processing fee of Rs. 2000/-.

Mode of Payment of Processing Fee (Rs. 2000/-):
(i) Deposit to the PGIS A/C No. 0081041788 at Bank of Ceylon, Peradeniya;
(ii) By cheque made in favour of ‘Postgraduate Institute of Science’;
(iii) By cash: Accepted only at the shroff counter of the PGIS.

Applications are entertained from prospective students by the PGIS throughout the year. Every application for enrolment must be made in duplicate on the prescribed forms which can be downloaded from the PGIS website. Duly completed application form should be forwarded to the Assistant Registrar of the PGIS. Only applications complete with relevant documents (See guidelines given in the application) will be processed. The application processing fee (Rs. 2000/-) should be paid at the time of submission of the application.

The acceptance of the application will be determined on the basis of the particulars disclosed. The relevant academic/professional qualifications possessed by the candidate should be supported by academic transcripts and authenticated copies of degree/diploma certificates. Applicants should arrange to have the official copy/copies of transcript/s sent directly to the Assistant Registrar of the PGIS. Originals of all certificates should be produced before registering as a student of the PGIS. Two letters of recommendation, at least one of which should be from an academic referee, should be sent by the referees under confidential cover to the PGIS. Applicants are advised to submit certified photocopies of original certificates along with the application.

The documents submitted in support of an application shall become the property of the PGIS. In the event of any discrepancy between the name/s appearing in an applicant's academic/professional/birth certificates and the name/s given by the applicant in the application form, an affidavit to the effect that the applicant is the one and the same person known by all such name/s or relevant certificates should be sent together with the application form. Duly completed application form should be forwarded to the Assistant Registrar of the PGIS.

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