It is a common academic phenomenon that freshly graduate bachelors can directly continue to doctorate level. In some countries, anyone with outstanding academic records and flawless recommendation applying to the fast-track program can be considered — no matter from which country he/she comes from–, but here in Taiwan, a bachelor can only jump to doctorate program in the SAME university as his/her undergraduate study.

National Taiwan University of Science and Technology also applies the same rule, as it is policy of the Ministry of Education of Taiwan. However, overseas bachelor students — who did not graduate from NTUST–  wishing to get promoted to doctorate level also can apply for a fast-track program, after they spend the first year as a master student.

The procedure of transferring from Master program to PhD program is as follows –as mentioned in the Guideline for Fast-Track Transfer to PhD Program released by Section of Graduate Studies Office of Academic Affairs–:

Who Are Eligible to Apply?

1. Final year undergraduate students with outstanding academic records and research potential.

2. Master degree students with outstanding academic records and research potential.

*The standard of outstanding academic records indicates the students who rank in the top 15% of class for undergraduate or top 30% for master students, or having passed the qualifying examinations. The applicants also have to submit at least two recommendation letters from at least assistant professors in the related department.

Documents to be Submitted

1. The application form — ask for it in the department’s office.

2. Academic transcript, along with class rank certificate issued by Graduate Studies Office (Admin Building, 2nd Floor, April Huang or Emily Chiu).

3. Two letter of recommendations.

4. Future research plan in PhD Program.

After Submitting Documents

Each department will make initial review of every applicants, which varies between departments in NTUST. As for Chemical Engineering Department, a board of committee will hold a short interview for the applicants, includes brief presentation of the research plan, and Q&A session.

The announcement will be posted after the review is completed.

Registering as PhD student

After the departments confirm the students who qualified to take the Fast Track Program, the students must register as new students for the coming semester in the Graduate Studies Office. They will receive new student ID and registered as PhD student after completing the registration.

Taking the Qualifying Examinations

As it is obliged for PhD students to pass two of three qualifying examinations offered by related department, Fast Track Program students also have to pass the exams in the first 2 year of their study in PhD program. The qualifying exams usually held in May and December.

As for Chemical Engineering department, there is a policy that is the students are in 50% best in the class for the core courses –which are the qualifying examination subjects– they can automatically be regarded as passing the qualifying exams, but only one course will be considered. In other words, if the students do get in the 50% best for all core courses, they can only use one ‘free-pass”,and  they have to take another qualifying examination subjects to pass the requirements as PhD students.

Useful link: Academic Affairs Office of NTUST.

This post is firstly published in NTUST-ISA website.