Programs

PhD Program in ISE

Introduction

The Industrial and Systems Engineering PhD program started in 1995. Many students have graduated from this program. The PhD program in Industrial and Systems Engineering strives to develop graduates who are academic leaders, with high independence, creativity, and innovation in their academic fields. The University offers scholarships for students who seek the PhD program at King Fahd University and Petroleum and Minerals.

Admission

Graduates with a master’s degree in ISE or related fields from a recognized institution are eligible to apply for admission to the Ph.D. program, provided they meet the graduate school admission requirements. Applicants with background deficiencies may be asked to complete prerequisite courses as identified by the department.

In addition, admission to the new Direct PhD Admission Program is now open to outstanding bachelor’s degree graduates who have demonstrated strong academic performance and research potential. Candidates for the direct admission track will undergo a selective evaluation process to assess their readiness for PhD-level research. For more information, please visit the graduate admissions page: https://cgis.kfupm.edu.sa

Program Requirements

General Graduate School Rules

  1. A master’s degree will no longer be required for admission to the direct PhD program at KFUPM. Applicants with a four-years Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or math are eligible to apply for a PhD admission.
  2. Completion of TOEFL with a minimum score of 550 (PBT), 213 (CBT) or 80 (IBT). IELTS is also acceptable [min 6.5]. Duolingo (min 120). Waived for KFUPM graduates and Graduates from English Speaking Countries (USA, Canada, UK, Australia, New Zealand). The TOEFL score must be sent directly to the College of Graduate Studies. The KFUPM code is 0868.
  3. PhD students admitted with a BS degree in Engineering must complete a minimum of 10 regular graduate (500/600) level courses (30 credit hours).
  4. The direct PhD program duration is 4 to 5 years.
  5. A maximum of 8 courses can be waived for the PhD students with an MS degree from KFUPM (neither MX courses, research courses, nor 400-Level courses are considered).

General ISE Department Rule

  1. In order to graduate with a PhD degree, students are required to have at least (one published and two submitted) Q1/Q2 journal paper published/accepted as the primary author and the papers are part of his PhD Dissertation work and all his PhD Dissertation objective are satisfied as stated in his approved PhD dissertation proposal before they get approval for defending their PhD dissertation.
  2. Applicants to the direct PhD program should have a BSc degree in Engineering or math from a top university in their country with a GPA equivalent to 3.75/4 or above.

The following rules are for upgrading ISE MS to PhD students:

  1. The current MS students can be upgraded to PhD using both (GPA of 3.75 and Comprehensive Exam (CE)).
  2. New MSc students have to wait 1 semester before they can apply to upgraded to a PhD study. A minimum GPA of 3.75 for the new MS students is required and this is to ensure that they are progressing well in their study and this would give a clear indication on their academic performance.
  3. PhD students who complete 10 courses (30 credit hours) with the required minimum GPA of 3.5 but fail to progress in the PhD program (e.g. failing the PhD CE or choosing to withdraw), and who are not currently have an MS degree from KFUPM will have the option to complete an MS thesis to earn a terminal MS degree.

The following rules are for ISE PhD students who have MS in ISE degree from KFUPM:

  1. The PhD students who graduated with an MS degree from KFUPM less than 3 years ago (with a maximum of 5 semesters after graduation), can get up to 8 courses waived from their MS degrees (not being MX, 400 level or independent research course(s)).

The following rules are suggested for ISE PhD students who have MS degree from different departments at KFUPM:

PhD students who obtained an MS degree from other departments at KFUPM may count a maximum of two of their MS courses as technical electives towards their PhD.

Program Educational Objectives

  • Prepare leaders in the field of Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISE).
  • Identify research gaps in their field.
  • Discover new knowledge to close research gaps in ISE.
  • Prepare ethical scholars with the ability to create new knowledge in ISE.

Student Outcomes

  • Perform critical reviews of the literature in ISE.
  • Present and demonstrate depth of knowledge in ISE.
  • Formulate and submit basic and applied research proposals for funding bodies.
  • Disseminate the results of their research and scholarship by oral and written communication to a variety of audiences.
  • Demonstrate an awareness of ethical issues related to intellectual right property, plagiarism, and commercialization of innovation.

Program Requirements