PhD Course Breakdown RDaE

Educational background: The minimum number of students during enrolment for this program will be three and the maximum number will be decided by Department Graduate Committee (DGC). Applicants for this program need to have Master of Science/Master of Arts (MSc/MA) with background of rural development, agricultural extension, agricultural sciences such as rural development, rural development and agricultural extension, rural development and management, rural livelihood and development, regional and local development studies, environment and development, agricultural extension and communication, development economics, agricultural economics, agri-business and value chain management, natural resource economics, forest and livelihoods, cooperative management and similar field of studies that may be admitted without any bridging courses into the program. Applicants with background of social and computational or natural science fields with work experiences in rural development or food security related projects and programs may be admitted provided they pass written entrance exams, present work experiences and with bridging courses requirements.

Registration: The applicant shall submit an application with signed form and brief curriculum vitae. Official transcript of his/her previous MSc or MA shall be submitted. Two recommendation letters (pertinent to his/her application) from his/her mentors or supervisors or employers is required. Moreover, letter of sponsorship for tuition fees, living costs, doctoral research costs or bank statements for private students is required. The applicant must be in possession of a MSc or MA for admission to PhD program from any accredited University. It should be noted that, Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of MA/MSc threshold to be eligible for this program is 3.0 and above with a thesis grade of very good and above. Under some circumstance, MSc or MA Thesis with good grade shall be eligible considering other academic credentials. Foreign applicants may, in lieu of sitting for entrance examination, submit results of grade record examination or equivalent examinations or authenticated master degree. A PhD student can be admitted at any time of a year but must be enrolled at the beginning of academic year. A student must register at the beginning of each semester of the academic year.

Entrance exam: An entrance exam for the program will be an aggregate of concept note or synopsis of 3-5 pages with oral presentation, MSc or MA degree result, entrance exam and publications.  CGPA of his/her MA/MSc will hold 30%, MA/MSc thesis defense result 10%, entrance exam 30%, concepts note or synopsis 25% and publication 5%. The applicant must satisfactorily pass entrance exam with the threshold of 50% and above administered by the department. The submission of concept note shall explain his/her research interest as a requirement of his/her PhD degree is mandatory to be admitted into the program. It is also advised that the concept note should consider the research gap, key research question, methodological and theoretical considerations.