BRIEFING FOR NEW POSTGRADUATE STUDENTS FACULTY OF COMPUTER SCIENCE AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 18 SEPTEMBER 2012

1. BRIEFING FOR NEW POSTGRADUATE STUDENTS FACULTY OF COMPUTER SCIENCE AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 18 SEPTEMBER 2012 By PROF. DR. HAMIDAH IBRAHIM Deputy Dean (Research and Graduate Studies) 03-8946 6556 hamidah@fsktm.upm.edu.my

2. Introduction The Faculty of Computer Science and Information Technology is one of the newest faculties in UPM established in 1998. Being new means that it is well equipped with the latest information technology, multimedia, internet and other computer related facilities including a GE network. The faculty offers a wide range of courses covering a broad spectrum of computer science and information technology. The courses range from hardware systems such as computer systems technology and architecture to software engineering and artificial intelligence and each course involves the aspects of design, implementation and management.

3. Programmes Offered Admission : • Master of Computer Science (without thesis) – First and Second Semester of every year • Master of Science (with thesis) and PhD – First and Second Semester of every year

4. Enrolment

5. Number of International Students by Country

6. Number of Students Graduated

7. MASTER OF SCIENCE (WITH THESIS) The Master of Science programme provides students with specialisation education in various fields of computer science. This is achieved through a completion of academic course work in major fields with an independent research project. A student pursuing a Master of Science programme may complete the programme after a minimum period of one year and a maximum period of three years. • Student will be assigned to a supervisor and one or more co-supervisors. At the end of the study, the student has to come up with a thesis and sit for oral examination (viva voce).

8. Fields of Study • Computer Graphics • Computer Networks • Computer Vision • Database Systems • Information Systems • Information Retrieval • Intelligent Computing • Knowledge Management • Multimedia Information Retrieval • Multimedia Systems • Parallel and Distributed Computing • Programming Languages and Systems • Security in Computing • Software Engineering

9. Programme Requirement Effective from September 2012, all our PhD and Masters programmes are by default without coursework for candidates who meet the stipulated criteria. Criteria for Master program without Coursework are: A student who NOT meet the stipulated criteria is required to take a minimum 9 credits for course work . The supervisor committee will determine the courses.

10. Other Requirements SPS 5903 Seminar • The master candidate is required to take SPS 5903, which is presentation of research proposal (1 credit). • The course should be registered at least on or before 2nd semester. • Each Student is required to present their research proposal at the ‘Proposal Defense Seminar’. • The supervisory committe and an independent member will evaluate the proposal. • The proposal report and similarity report (generated by Turnitin) should be sent to the Research and Postgraduate Section. not later than two (2) weeks before the date of presentation • The seminar will be held not later than the 15th week of a semester • This course will be evaluated as satisfactory (M)or unsatisfactory (TM) grade.

11. Other Requirements SPS 5999 Thesis The master candidate is required to register SPS 5999 Master Research. This is a research project whereby at the end of the study period, the candidate will submit a thesis. The thesis will be examined and a viva voce will be conducted to determine the student’s competency in the field of study.

12. LITERATURE REVIEW SEMINAR • All first semester students (PhD and Master) are required to present their Literature Review Report at the Literature Review Seminar. • The seminar will be held not later than the 15th week of a semester. • Advisor / supervisor and at least one appointed assessor will evaluate the presentation • Students must produce a manuscript report on Literature Review and submit to the Section of Research and Postgraduate Studies not later than one week after the date of presentation. • Students also are required to submit the similarity report (generated using by plagiarism checking software such as Turnitin) together with the manuscript. • Advisor / supervisor will evaluate the suitability of a manuscript to be sent at least to an international conference. • Failure to present and / or submit the manuscripts report on Literature Review shall result in a "TM" grade for the SPS6999/SPS5999.

13. Tuition Fees: Master of Science (with thesis) Basic Fee International Students – as above with an additional RM1,000.00 per semester Thesis Examination Fee The thesis examination fee is RM500.00.

14. DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (PhD) • The Doctor of Philosophy programme provides students with specialisation education in the various fields of computer science. This is achieved through a completion of academic course work in the major fields with an independent research project. • A student pursuing the Doctor of Philosophy programme may complete the programme after a minimum period of two years and a maximum period of five years. • Student will be assigned to a supervisor and two or more co-supervisors. At the end of the study, the student has to come up with a thesis and sit for oral examination (viva voce).

15. Fields of Study • Computer Graphics • Computer Networks • Computer Vision • Database Systems • Information Systems • Information Retrieval • Intelligent Computing • Knowledge Management • Multimedia Information Retrieval • Multimedia Systems • Parallel and Distributed Computing • Programming Languages and Systems • Security in Computing • Software Engineering

16. Programme Requirement Effective from September 2012, all our PhD and Masters programmes are by default without coursework for candidates who meet the stipulated criteria. Criteria for PhD program without Coursework are: A student who NOT meet the stipulated criteria is required to take a minimum 12 credits for course work . The supervisor committee will determine the courses.

17. Other Requirements SPS 6903 Seminar • The master candidate is required to take SPS 6903, which is presentation of research proposal (1 credit). • The course should be registered at least on or before 2nd semester. • Each Student is required to present their research proposal at the ‘Proposal Defense Seminar’. • The supervisory committe and an independent member will evaluate the proposal. • The proposal report and similarity report (generated by Turnitin) should be sent to the Research and Postgraduate Section. not later than two (2) weeks before the date of presentation • The seminar will be held not later than the 15th week of a semester • This course will be evaluated as satisfactory (M)or unsatisfactory (TM) grade.

18. Other Requirements Comprehensive Examination Students pursuing a doctoral programmemust pass the comprehensive examination (written and oral examinations), which should be taken only after completion of all coursework required for the programme, within five semesters. SPS 6999 Thesis The PhD candidate is required to register SPS 6999 PhD Research. This is a research project whereby at the end of the study period, the candidate will submit a thesis. The thesis will be examined and a viva voce will be conducted to determine the student’s competency in the field of study.

19. LITERATURE REVIEW SEMINAR • All first semester students (PhD and Master) are required to present their Literature Review Report at the Literature Review Seminar. • The seminar will be held not later than the 15th week of a semester. • Advisor / supervisor and at least one appointed assessor will evaluate the presentation • Students must produce a manuscript report on Literature Review and submit to the Section of Research and Postgraduate Studies not later than one week after the date of presentation. • Students also are required to submit the similarity report (generated using by plagiarism checking software such as Turnitin) together with the manuscript. • Advisor / supervisor will evaluate the suitability of a manuscript to be sent at least to an international conference. • Failure to present and / or submit the manuscripts report on Literature Review shall result in a "TM" grade for the SPS6999/SPS5999.

20. Tuition Fees: PhD Basic Fee International Students – as above with an additional RM1,000.00 per semester Thesis Examination Fee The thesis examination fee is RM1,000.00.

21. Research Grants

22. Financial Assistantship

23. GRADUATE STUDIES ACADEMIC CALENDAR SECOND SEMESTER 2011/2012 (10 September 2012 – 17 February 2013) Important Dates >>> Academic Calendar First Semester 2012/2013

24. Review of Grade Deadline to submit: • application for review of grade • online application for review against termination • Two weeks after the announcement of result (i.e. date of printing of result).

25. Review of Grade • Study status: • Good CGPA >= 3.000 • Probation 2.500 <= CGPA < 3.000 • Terminated i) CGPA < 2.500 ii)Receives two “TM” grades for his research progress during the duration of his study

26. Deferment • Deadline for deferment for continuing students who did not register for FIRST SEMESTER 2012/2013 • 23 September 2012 • A student who have registered for First Semester 2012/2013, may apply to defer the semester not later than seven weeks after the commencement of the new semester • 10 September 2012 – 28 October 2012 (7 weeks) • Students who defer the semester within the first two weeks with the approval of the Dean SGS shall be entitled to claim for a tuition fee refund. • 10 – 23 September 2012 (2 weeks)

27. Course Exemption Postgraduate students changing programme or field of study may apply for course exemption and provisions are: • courses are relevant to programme of study • credits exempted are for equivalent university courses subject to a minimum of grade ‘B’ or 65% • courses undertaken within five years from registration date at the university • total credits exempted shall not exceed 30% of total credits required for full-time programme

28. Course Exemption • total credits exempted shall not exceed 50% of total credits required for a programme with thesis • course exemptions are approved by the Dean of School of Graduate Studies/Graduate School Management, Director of Centre for External Education To ensure comparability of student achievement to UPM standards, the faculty scrutinises syllabi and assessment grades from previous institutions.

29. Transfer • New postgraduate students may apply for transfer of programme or field of study not later than the second week of the first semester. • Continuing students may apply for such a transfer not later than the 10th week of the second semester. If approved, the transfer takes effect the following semester.

30. Transfer • A transfer application within first two semesters is subject to approval of the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies or Graduate School of Management • Any application after two semesters of study is not allowed except under special circumstances approved by the University Graduate Studies Committee • Such a transfer is allowed only once, and students may apply for course exemptions

31. Faculty Organization Dean Deputy Dean (Research and Graduate Studies) Deputy Dean (Academic and Student Affairs) Head of Department (Computer Science) Head of Department (Information System) Head of Department (Communication Technology & Network) Head of Department (Multimedia) Master Programme Coordinator

32. Graduate and Research Section Research Students (with thesis) PhD & Master of Science Master of Computer Science (without thesis)

33. Graduate and Research Section

34. CONTACT LIST For further information on the ACADEMIC programmes, please contact: DEPUTY DEAN (RESEARCH AND GRADUATE STUDIES) Tel: +603-8946 6556 E-mail: dep_rpf@fsktm.upm.edu.my PROGRAMME COORDINATOR (Master of Computer Science) Tel: +603-8947 1708 E-mail: izura@fsktm.upm.edu.my Faculty of Computer Science and Information Technology UniversitiPutra Malaysia 43400 UPM Serdang SelangorDarulEhsan MALAYSIA SCHOOL OF GRADUATE STUDIESZone 4, Off Jalan StadiumUniversitiPutra Malaysia 43400 UPM SerdangSelangor MalaysiaTel: +603-8946 4225/ 4216/ 4218 E-mail: sgs@putra.upm.edu.my Website: http://www.sgs.upm.edu.my GRADUATE AND RESERCH SECTION Faculty of Computer Science and Information Technology UniversitiPutra Malaysia 43400 UPM Serdang Selangor Malaysia Tel: +603-8947 1742/ 1744 E-mail: pg@fsktm.upm.edu Website :http://www.fsktm.upm.edu.my