PG+Ph.D.

Dual Degree Upgradation Options

A. Upgrade from M.S. by Research to M.S.+Ph.D.
B. Upgrade from M.Tech. to M.Tech.+Ph.D.
C. Upgrade from M.Sc. to M.Sc.+Ph.D.
D. Upgrade from M.A. to M.A.+Ph.D.

Indian Institute of Technology Mandi

Himachal Pradesh, India.

December 2021

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1. Preamble
Many IITs have programs that allow students admitted as part of PG programs
(M.Tech./M.S./M.Sc.) to upgrade to a dual-degree PG+Ph.D. program, or admit students
after an undergraduate degree for a PG+Ph.D. program. The motivations (particularly for
the former) from the perspectives of candidates and institutes are as follows:

Motivations for candidates:

● Save time in doing Ph.D. (no re-application, courses and/or PG thesis waived off,
can continue working on the same problem).
● Those having a clear mindset towards pursuing Ph.D. in a certain area after
undergrad also get the tick mark of a PG degree in their profile.

Motivations for institutes:

● Retain in-house trained PG students for Ph.D..
● Improve overall research quality.

2. Methodology and Scope

A committee, constituting Dr. Manas Thakur (chair), Dr. Manoj Thakur, Dr. Sunny Zafar,
Dr. Sayantan Sarkar, Dr. Puran Singh and Mr. Vivek Tiwari was constituted by the Dean
(Academics) in September 2021, to look into PG+Ph.D. upgradation options for existing PG
students of IIT Mandi. The committee studied in detail the existing policies in this regard at
various IITs (old as well as new), conducted a survey to gauge the interest of PG students at
IIT Mandi, and proposed the policies with respect to (i) eligibility; (ii) selection process;
(iii) degree requirements; (iv) program/fellowship duration; (v) award of degrees; and (vi)
exit option, for M.Tech.+Ph.D., M.S.+Ph.D., M.Sc.+Ph.D. and M.A.+Ph.D. upgradation
options, as listed subsequently. The proposal was deliberated and updated based on the
comments received in two Board of Academics meetings during October and November,
2021.

3A. Upgrade from M.S. by Research to M.S.+Ph.D.

1. Interested M.S. by Research scholars who have earned atleast 15 credits with minimum 8.0
CGPA within first two semesters of MS programme can place a request to their Academic
Progress Committee (APC), for upgradation to M.S.+Ph.D. program under the same
advisor. After thorough evaluation, the APC may recommend the deserving candidate for
upgradation to the Dean (Academics).
2. The scholar would need to complete a total of 24 credits of course work and other
mandatory courses (e.g. Research Methodology). The DC may consider the courses credited
before upgradation, and may prescribe additional courses based on the research area of the
scholar.
3. The M.S. thesis of the upgraded scholar will be waived off, but he/she needs to submit a
Comprehensive Literature Review (hereafter referred to as CLR) report and make a
presentation to the DC, within one year of upgradation. The Ph.D. fellowship for the
upgraded M.S.+Ph.D. scholar would start from the date of upgradation as it is noted that
these students have qualified one of the national level examinations at the time of admission
in M.S. (by Res.). All other Ph.D. norms will be applicable from the date of upgradation.
4. The scholar would be awarded both the degrees (M.S. by Research towards partial
fulfilment of the requirements of dual M.S.+Ph.D., and Ph.D.) after fulfilment of the
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 requirements of the Ph.D. degree. Provisional M.S. degree will be issued after completion of
the Ph.D.
5. Conversion of Ph.D degree registration to original M.S. degree is only possible due to
unsatisfactory performance or other provisions under Ph.D. regulations and on the
recommendation of the DC, he/she may be allowed to leave with an M.S. by Research
degree only after fulfilling the requirements of the baseline MS by Research degree within
one year of reversion to the MS programme. No scholarship will be paid during such
duration.

3B. Upgrade from M.Tech. to M.Tech.+Ph.D.

1. Interested M.Tech. students who have completed all the core courses of the respective
M.Tech. programme and have earned atleast 24 credits, whichever is higher, with minimum
8.0 CGPA within first two semesters at IIT Mandi can apply for upgradation to
M.Tech.+Ph.D. program based on an internal call made by the PG admissions committee or
any other designated committee of the respective school. The committee may prescribe a
higher shortlisting criteria as per the number of requests and need, and would interview the
shortlisted candidates in their broad area of interest.
2. In addition to the minimum course work for Ph.D. programme, the scholar should
successfully complete other mandatory courses (e.g. Research Methodology). The DC may
consider the courses credited before upgradation, or may prescribe additional courses based
on the research area of the scholar.
3. The Post-Graduate Project (PGP) of the scholar will be waived off, but he/she needs to
submit and make a CLR report+presentation to the DC, within one year of upgradation. The
Ph.D. fellowship for the upgraded M.Tech.+Ph.D. scholar would start from the date of
upgradation as it is noted that these students have qualified one of the national level
examinations at the time of admission in M.Tech. All other Ph.D. norms will be applicable
from the date of upgradation.
4. The scholar would be awarded both the degrees (M.Tech. towards partial fulfilment of the
requirements of dual M.Tech.+Ph.D., and Ph.D.) after fulfilment of the requirements of the
Ph.D. degree. Provisional M.Tech. degree will be issued after completion of the Ph.D.
degree.
5. Conversion of Ph.D degree registration to original M.Tech degree is only possible due to
unsatisfactory performance or other provisions under Ph.D. regulations and on the
recommendation of the DC, he/she maybe allowed to leave with an M.Tech. degree only
after fulfilling the requirements of the baseline M.Tech. degree. Letter grades, as applicable,
may be awarded for the PGP dissertation evaluated by a designated committee constituted
by the school chair. In such cases, all the remaining requirement of the M.Tech.
programmes should be completed within one year of reversion to the M.Tech. programme.
No scholarship will be paid during such duration.

3C. Upgrade from M.Sc. to M.Sc.+Ph.D.

1. Interested M.Sc. students who have completed all the core courses of the respective M.Sc.
programme with minimum 8.0 CGPA within first three semesters at IIT Mandi can apply
for upgradation to M.Sc.+Ph.D. program based on an internal call made by the PG
admissions committee or any other designated committee of the respective school. The
committee may prescribe a higher shortlisting criteria as per the number of requests and
need, and would interview the shortlisted candidates in their broad area of interest. Upon

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 approval, a guide maybe allotted and a DC be formed for the candidate as per institute
norms.
2. The scholar would have to finish his/her M.Sc. requirements within the stipulated duration
of the M.Sc. program (possibly by aligning the PGP dissertation with the area of Ph.D.
research). Once requirement of the M.Sc. programme is completed, the recommended
candidate would be allowed to join the Ph.D. programme subject to fulfilling the minimum
CGPA of 8.00 across the M.Sc. programme.
3. The DC can prescribe additional courses beyond those already credited by the scholar based
on the research area of the scholar. The Ph.D. fellowship for the upgraded M.Sc.+Ph.D.
scholar, would start after finishing the M.Sc. requirements as it is noted that these students
have qualified one of the national level examinations at the time of admission in M.Sc. All
other Ph.D. norms will be applicable after finishing M.Sc. requirements.
4. The scholar would be awarded both the degrees (M.Sc. towards partial fulfilment of the
requirements of dual M.Sc.+Ph.D., and Ph.D.) after fulfilment of the requirements of the
Ph.D. degree. Provisional M.Sc. degree will be issued after completion of the Ph.D.
5. Conversion of Ph.D degree registration to original M.Sc. degree is only possible due to
unsatisfactory performance or other provisions under Ph.D. regulations and on the
recommendation of the DC, he/she may be allowed to leave with the baseline M.Sc. degree.

3D. Upgrade from M.A. to M.A.+Ph.D.

1. Interested M.A. students who have completed all the core courses of the respective
programme with minimum 8.0 CGPA across the required M.A. course work of first three
semesters at IIT Mandi can apply for upgradation to M.A.+Ph.D. program based on an
internal call made by the PG admissions committee or any other designated committee of
the respective school. The committee may prescribe a higher shortlisting criteria as per the
number of requests and need, and would interview the shortlisted candidates in their broad
area of interest. Upon approval, a guide maybe allotted and a DC be formed for the
candidate as per institute norms.
2. The scholar would have to finish his/her M.A. requirements within the stipulated duration of
the M.A. program (possibly by aligning the PGP dissertation with the area of Ph.D.
research). Once requirement of the M.A. programme is completed, the recommended
candidate would be allowed to join the Ph.D. programme subject to fulfilling the minimum
CGPA of 8.00 across the M.A. programme.
3. The DC can prescribe additional courses beyond those already credited by the scholar based
on the research area of the scholar. The Ph.D. fellowship, if eligible, for the upgraded
M.A.+Ph.D. scholar, would start after finishing the M.A. requirements. All other Ph.D.
norms will be applicable after finishing M.A. requirements.
4. The scholar would be awarded both the degrees (M.A. towards partial fulfilment of the
requirements of dual M.A.+Ph.D., and Ph.D.) after fulfilment of the requirements of the
Ph.D. degree. Provisional M.A. degree will be issued after completion of the Ph.D.
5. Conversion of Ph.D degree registration to original M.A. degree is only possible due to
unsatisfactory performance or other provisions under Ph.D. regulations and on the
recommendation of the DC, he/she may be allowed to leave with the baseline M.A. degree.

Common Note (for Options 3B, 3C and 3D). At the time of application, if the results of the
second or the third semester courses (as applicable for M.Tech. or M.Sc./M.A. students) are not
known, the admissions committee may make a provisional offer for upgradation subject to
fulfilment of the CGPA requirement.