top of page

Dissertation Guide

  • Students are required to choose a dissertation advisor and propose their dissertation title before the 3rd semester starts by submitting the Application for Dissertation Advisor to the Program Office.

  • Students can have a co-advisor from another department within NDHU or another university in Taiwan, subject to the approval of their advisor. The co-advisor must be included in the application for dissertation advisor.

  • With the approval of the Program Director, students are permitted to change their dissertation advisor only once throughout their study.

  • It is necessary to obtain approval from the advisor and report any changes to the Program Office in order to make changes to the dissertation topic. Once the topic has been determined, it is required to provide periodic updates on the progress to the advisor. Any changes made to the topic must comply with the guidelines set forth by the program. Therefore, it is recommended to seek guidance from the program office before making any alterations.

  • According to the NDHU Guidelines for Academic Research Ethics Education Course, students must complete the Research Ethics Course before their first semester ends. Those who have passed this course during their master's degree or taken similar courses can waive the course with approval from the Program Office.

  • It is required to submit the Dissertation Proposal Review form to the Program Office one week before each semester's course add/drop period starts. The final dissertation must be submitted with the Advisor's signature on the cover page.

    The dissertation proposal should include the following: topic, research motivation and objectives, literature review, methodology, procedures, expected outcomes, and bibliography. Once the proposal is submitted, no revisions are allowed.

    ​

    Proposal Review Process

    The PhD degree examination will be conducted in the form of an oral defense and must be held a minimum of three weeks before the end of each semester. To apply for the examination, students must submit their dissertation and the PhD Degree Examination Application to the Program Office at least three weeks prior to the date of the examination.

    ​

    Proposal Review Committee

    The Proposal Review Committee will be composed of three to five members, with the advisor serving as an ex officio member. The remaining two to four members will be nominated by the advisor and must hold the title of assistant professor or higher.

  • In order to be eligible for the PhD degree examination, students are required to fulfill the following criteria:

    ​

    1. Show proof of having taken and passed the Academic Research Ethics Education Course before the end of the first semester.

    2. Submit their dissertation proposal at least 3 months prior to the PhD Degree Examination.

    3. During their study period, publish at least one full-text research paper in a blind peer-reviewed academic journal under the auspices of the "International Ph.D. Program in Indigenous Studies, College of Indigenous Studies, National Dong Hwa University".

    4. Provide the complete feedback of the peer review, proof of publication, and the publication catalog to demonstrate eligibility.

    ​

    Degree Examination Process

    The Ph.D. degree examination will be conducted through an oral defense and must take place at least three weeks before the end of each semester. To apply for the examination, students must submit their dissertation and the Ph.D. Degree Examination Application to the Program Office at least three weeks before the examination date.

    ​

    The passing score for the degree examination is 70 (letter grade B–), and the total score is 100 (A+). Each examination can only receive a score once.

    ​

    Students who fail the degree examination but have yet to reach the maximum study period can retake the assessment within the following two semesters. However, each student is only allowed to retake the examination once. Students who fail the second time will be ordered to withdraw from the Program.

    ​

    Suppose you are unable to attend the degree examination after applying for it, be sure to cancel the examination before the end of the semester, which is designated on the academic calendar. If students fail to cancel their examination by the deadline, they will be considered failing.

    ​

    Degree Examination Committee

    The Degree Examination Committee shall consist of five to seven scholars specializing in a field related to the topic of the dissertation, at least one-third of which shall be unaffiliated with NDHU. The advisor shall be an ex officio member, while the remaining members shall meet at least one of the following requirements and be appointed by the Program Director with the recommendation of the advisor:

    ​

    1. Having served as a professor, associate professor, or assistant professor.

    2. Holding a doctoral degree and having significant academic accomplishments.

    3. Having expertise in an unusual or highly specialized academic field and having significant accomplishments in their respective academic or professional field(s).

    4. Scholars who are the examinee’s spouse or are within the examinee’s third degree of kinship, whether by blood or by marriage, shall not serve on his/her degree examination committee.

    5. All members of the degree examination committee shall attend the degree examination in person.

    ​

    After passing the Degree Examination

    Students who have passed their doctoral degree examination must revise their dissertation based on feedback from the Degree Examination Committee before obtaining the doctoral degree.

bottom of page