Phd in Information Systems or Computer Science
Are you dreaming of having a top university degree qualification…but never been able to justify taking time out of work to study? Did you start working immediately after school and wish now you had gone to University to study for a PhD degree?
Management Development Centre International (MDCI) may have the answer for you.
Join over 7000 international students from Europe, USA and the rest of the world.
MDCI has developed a unique partnership with University of South Africa (UNISA) to offer locally supported distance education programmes specifically for working people.
UNISA – The “MEGA” University
The main partner of MDCI for this programme is the highly regarded University of South Africa (UNISA) – classed as one of the 11 leading very large universities. Founded in 1873, UNISA gained its University Royal Charter in 1876. It became the world’s first completely Distance Education University in 1946.
We can now offer:
the PhD degree in Computer Science or Information Systems
What is a PhD in the School of Computing?
PhD degrees are awarded following the successful completion of a period of research, which includes the submission of a thesis based upon a research project, an external examination process and a subsequent oral examination, together with a series of progress reports and structured seminars (as set out below) governed by School regulations. The thesis must contain a substantial original component that is worthy of publication which constitutes a contribution to the knowledge and understanding of the field of specialisation.
Before a student can be awarded a PhD, the student must:
· Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the scientific body of knowledge relevant to the topic. The student must be able to: (1) understand and explain the fundamentals of the relevant subjects (2) identify and discuss the areas of conflict and consensus, and the gaps in an existing body of knowledge and what bearing they have on the topic. · Formulate an appropriate research design and a clear research plan · Demonstrate the ability to independently formulate, investigate and resolve research issues · Discuss the relationship between the existing relevant body of knowledge and the proposed research · Make a distinct (significant and original) contribution to the existing body of knowledge in the area of specialisation · Draw meaningful conclusions and make generalisations · Validate and contextualise his/her research contribution · Identify and discuss questions raised, and how they could be investigated in future research · Demonstrate the ability to work independently · Demonstrate the proficiency in appropriate research methodology and scientific writing.
Regular Supervision
Although Unisa is a distance education institution, advanced degrees cannot be obtained through ‘correspondence’ only. All students must avail themselves for regular supervision in one of two ways:
· Regular in-person weekly or monthly meetings with the supervision lasting at least one hour. At these meetings the student’s progress and work will be discussed and assessed. · An annual visit of at least ten working days to the School for the purpose of supervision, to deliver the required seminars, conduct research in the laboratories and/or library, and plan future research.
The costs of such visits (including travel and accommodation) must be carried by the student
Continuous Assessment
During the course of work towards a PhD research degree in Computer Science or Information Systems, the work of a student is subjected to a number of assessments. These are to allow the student’s progress to be monitored and any problems dealt with. At each stage of assessment the student will be expected to reach a standard set by the supervisor and assessor acting on behalf of the graduate committee of the School of Computing.
For PhD students, re-registration for the next year of study depends on reaching the required standard in the assessed work. If the supervisor and assessor do not think that the student has achieved the required standard at the first attempt, the student will usually be given an opportunity to revise or repeat the work or aspects thereof. Such revision will be based on written feedback from the supervisor and assessor, containing those aspects of the work that need to be improved, as well as the time frames allowed for it. If a student is still not able to meet the requirements, re-registration for the next academic year will not be approved.
All assessed work must be submitted/completed by the published deadlines unless an extension has been granted by the graduate committee. Such an extension will normally be given solely on academic grounds (i.e. personal reasons such as work pressure, overseas trips, not having enough time to spend on studies, etc., cannot be taken into consideration).
The work subject to assessment includes (but is not limited to):
· Completing formal coursework if the student’s background is found to be lacking in certain aspects · Progress reports · Literature review and seminar · Research proposal and seminar, followed by some oral examination · Thesis seminar · At least one article based on the research toward the PhD submitted to a reputable journal or conference · Research thesis, examined by at least two internationally recognised examiners, followed by a oral defence, if required.
Details with regards to the time frames for these would be provided by the supervisor in consultation with the graduate committee of the School of Computing
How it Works
The method of teaching this course is highly innovative. We call it “locally supported distance education” : learning through University supplied materials, and MDCI administration and resource centres. It is based on MDCI “On-location” method of teaching which is so successful for postgraduate study here in the Middle East.
Locally Supported Distance Education
A specially designed study method based on Unisa’s extensive competence in distance education. This expertise is supplemented locally by MDCI’s considerable experience in supporting over 500 postgraduate students close to their homes but distant from the university.
Advantages of Locally Supported Distance Education
· Flexibility: you study at your own pace · Convenience: you study from home · Local administrative support: through MDCI’s regional offices · On-line support: through Unisa’s Student on Line (SOL) system · Telephone and email support: from Unisa faculty · On-line library access: for the your all-important research materials (journals, books, papers, etc) · Textbook ordering facility: speedy service at reasonable prices for your books.
Fields of Study
Although your degree will be in either Computer Science or Information Systems, your chosen field of specialisation should fall within the mentioned research focus areas of the School, as given in “Research Areas”
Research Areas
Honours projects and Masters and PhD supervision are offered only in the identified research areas of the School. These focus areas were formulated on the basis of factors such as the available expertise within the School, as well as the needs and demands of the computer industry and the community in general. Broadly speaking they are as follows:
· Human-computer interaction (HCI) · Information security · Formal aspects of Computer Science and Information Systems · Electronic education technologies and strategies · Systems development
Admission Requirements
If you hold an MSc degree in Computer Science or Information Systems, or equivalent qualification, and have an exceptionally good undergraduate and postgraduate study record (with an average of over 65%), you may apply for registration for the PhD degree in Computer Science or Information Systems.
Please note that your MSc degree or its equivalent should have included a substantial research component (at least one half of the credits), and that course work or conversion Masters programmes (where the undergraduate or Honours studies was in a different field of specialization) are not considered acceptable for entry into our PhD programme, and neither are MBA, MBL, or most engineering degrees.
The PhD study involves an intensive research effort and the writing of a thesis, and you should follow the same sort of procedure as for MSc study in order to be admitted. In other words, your first step is to submit a formal application, together with all the necessary documentation to the Department of Postgraduate Student Affairs. Once it has been determined that you meet the minimum requirements, your file will be forwarded to the School after which a consultation process will start to determine your admission, or not, into the doctoral programme. The topic for your thesis must be chosen from the research focus areas of the School. Because of the international status of the potential examiners, the preferred language of the dissertation is English. If your dissertation is written in another language you may be requested to provide a complete transcript in English, as well as such transcripts of any other documentation, submitted in the course of your research.
Final admission is dependent on the availability of a promoter and the acceptance by the promoter of a preliminary research proposal you have to submit. Once your admission has been finalised, you will be required to prepare a detailed thesis proposal under the supervision of your promoter.
Finalisation of your registration for the degree will be dependent on the successful completion of this thesis proposal.
Please note the following very important points:
NOTE 1: NO REGISTRATION FOR THE PhD DEGREE WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT CONSULTATION WITH THE SCHOOL OF COMPUTING, AND THE SUBSEQUENT APPOINTMENT OF A PROMOTER.
NOTE 2: A student is required to have personal contact with the promoter and should spend a period of time at Unisa, as described in “Regular Supervision”. Typically this would total at least 2 weeks per year, either in the form of regular consultations, or an annual visit. The scheduling of these visits should be done in consultation with and approved by the promoter. Subsistence and travel costs and arrangements remain the responsibility of the student.
Duration of Study
The degree cannot be completed in under two years.
Course Fees
Year 1-US$4300 Year 2-US$4800
The fees do not include costs of visits (including travel and accommodation) by the student to the main campus, if required by the University. The fees are subject to change from one academic year to the next.
Enquires can be addressed to:
Management Development Centre International P.O. Box 26305 Manama, Bahrain
Tel 00973 17216002 Fax 00973 17216007 e-mail: mdcipro@batelco.com.bh |
