DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (PhD)

SAIACS offers the Ph.D. programme specialisations in Old Testament, New Testament and Missiology.

Purpose

The SAIACS PhD programme is designed to qualify individuals for post-graduate level academic teaching in the subject of specialisation. It is aimed at developing specialists who are in full command of the subject right up to the boundaries of current knowledge and are able to extend them. They are capable of independent research, cogent analysis of philosophies and techniques used and competent in communicating their findings, through publishable writing or teaching, for the enrichment and growth of the Church as it grapples with the issues raised by the subject.

Entrance Requirements

PhD applicants must hold an MTh or MPhil of at least high second-class standing. (Those wanting to apply for the PhD with an MA as their highest previous degree will be required to complete an MPhil prior to applying for the PhD Those wanting to apply for the PhD with a BTh, BD or MDiv as their highest previous degree will first be required to complete an MTh prior to applying for the PhD. The SAIACS MPhil and MTh degrees are equivalent – that is, they are identical in content and requirements.)

Applicants must possess a high level of competency in oral, aural, and written English.

Applicants must comply with the admission requirements as specified in the form.

In particular, applicants must submit a letter of sponsorship by a sponsoring body, such as an established Church, ministry organisation, or educational institution. The letter must indicate that the student will be accountable to the sponsoring body for the duration of their studies, and that this body is committed to underwrite the financial cost of the student’s studies (although SAIACS will attempt to find partial funding for the ‘overseas study component’).

Language Requirements. Competency will be required in one or more research languages, it is highly recommended that students undertake extensive language study prior to arriving at SAIACS. Students claiming ability to read languages required for their research will be tested on arrival at SAIACS. PDP requirements will be re-evaluated in the light of the test results and may be extended by the necessary time required to fulfil the language-requirement.

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Degrees Awarded

- For those entering with an MPhil from a recognised university, the degree of PhD may be awarded by the University of Mysore, accredited by the Government of India.
- For those entering with an MTh from a Christian institution, the degree of PhD will be awarded by SAIACS, accredited by the Asia Theological Association.

Residency and Studies Abroad

All candidates are required to fulfil 36 months of residency, which may be done in either of two ways:
1. Full-time: the student lives and studies at SAIACS full-time (holidays excepted) for a minimum three consecutive years (including PDP studies). It is expected that full-time students will attempt to complete their dissertation within three years of commencing their PDP studies. However, if this is not possible, the maximum period permitted for accommodation at SAIACS is four years and the maximum period for completing the dissertation is five years after beginning PDP studies.
2. Part-time: the student lives and studies at SAIACS full-time (holidays excepted) for the first year of studies (including PDP studies) and for the last six months of studies (i.e., during the finishing stages of their dissertation). The student will also live and study at SAIACS for another eighteen months, in blocks of several months at a time, as agreed upon with their Mentor (Supervisor). The maximum period for part-time studies is six years after beginning the Pre-Doctoral Programme.

SAIACS will endeavour to arrange for PhD candidates an ‘overseas study component’ for at least six months of thesis research at an appropriate foreign university. Approved study abroad will be considered part of the required 36 months residency.

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Pre-Doctoral Programme (PDP)

Prior to formal acceptance as a PhD Candidate, applicants are first accepted as students in the Pre-Doctoral Programme (PDP). PDP students are assigned a faculty member as their Mentor (Supervisor). The PDP has several objectives:
- To develop the student’s comprehensive general knowledge of their discipline.
- To achieve the required level of reading competency in research languages deemed necessary by the Mentor.
- To identify possible topics for dissertation research.
- To allow the Mentor to assess the student’s ability to engage in PhD level research.

Pre-Doctoral Programme Requirements

The PDP will normally take about six to twelve months, as determined by the Mentor. During this period, the student will:
- Read 1500 pages per month.
- Meet at least once every two weeks with the Mentor. For these meetings, the student will prepare a written report or paper on their reading for presentation to, and discussion with, their Mentor.
- Audit any lectures the Mentor deems relevant to the student.
- Attend and participate in departmental doctoral seminars.
- Attend and participate in Doktorklub (see 30.3).
- Complete the required language studies.

Pre-Doctoral Programme Evaluation

Towards the end of the student’s PDP, the Mentor will submit to the Doctoral Committee an assessment of the student’s progress and abilities for research. If the Mentor submits a positive assessment, then the student will be invited to submit a dissertation proposal. If the assessment is negative, the student’s studies will be terminated.

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Candidacy

If the PDP student is invited to submit a dissertation proposal, the proposal must be submitted within three months of the invitation; along with the proposal the student will also submit a proposed study-plan for the subsequent 24 months. Upon approval of both the dissertation proposal and the study-plan, the student will be formally given ‘Ph.D. Candidate’ status, and will then proceed with their dissertation research and writing.

Candidacy Requirements

During the first twelve months of Candidacy, the student will:
- Read 2000 pages per month (this figure assumes language studies have been completed).
- Meet at least once a month with the Mentor, with written submissions as in their PDP.
- Attend and participate in departmental doctoral seminars.
- Attend and participate in, and present twice at, Doktorklub.
- Submit two chapters to the Mentor for comment, and revise the chapters accordingly.

Dissertation

The dissertation will be of international standards, making an original contribution to its field of knowledge. In length it will be not less than 75,000, and not more than 100,000, words (excluding bibliography). See clause 29.1.3 for further details.

Language Requirements

Students are required to demonstrate reading proficiency in a range of research languages, as determined by their Department and Mentor. The following are the Departmental language requirements in addition to English:
- Biblical Studies: Biblical Greek and Hebrew; one modern European language; other languages as deemed necessary (e.g., Aramaic, Syriac, Ugaritic, Arabic).
- Theology: Biblical Greek; two modern languages, of which at least one must be French or German; any regional languages deemed necessary.
- Religions: Biblical Greek; Hindi; Sanskrit and/or Arabic and/or Urdu (as deemed necessary for research); any regional languages deemed necessary.
- Missiology and Church History: Biblical Greek; one modern European language; any regional languages deemed necessary.
- Pastoral Theology and Counselling: Biblical Greek; one European language (for Pastoral Theology only, not for Counselling); any regional languages deemed necessary.

Note: For the Biblical Greek requirements of Theology, Religions, Missiology, Church History, and Pastoral Theology and Counselling, at least one BD or MDiv level course will be taken as sufficient evidence of competency.

Degree Requirements

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For more information download Prospectus 2009-10

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Site updated: December10, 2008