Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry (PhD)

Program’s Mission

To provide creative solutions for scientific problems and to disseminate chemical knowledge in all fields of chemistry and industry.

Program’s Goals

• To prepare graduates with systematic understanding, new knowledge, critical awareness, and skills in the field of chemical sciences.
• To prepare a new generation of scientists for developing and addressing the scientific problems in academia and industry.
• To provide learning opportunities to enable beneficiaries to think critically and continue to develop themselves as an autonomous lifelong learner.

Admission Requirements:

• Admission and registration procedures must follow the regulations of the Higher Graduate Deanship of King Saud University.
• The candidate should hold a Master’s Degree from King Saud University or an equivalent degree.
• The candidate must pass a personal interview arranged by the Department.
• Admission is for full - time registration. However, part - time study may be permitted during the period of studying the courses and before the registration of the dissertation.
• The candidate must have obtained at least a score of 450 in the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).

Academic Requirements:

• Courses: The courses constitutes 18 credits (9 Credits are common to all the Programs students where the others depend on the track and should be from a particular specialization). The courses should be completed within two academic semesters.
• A Comprehensive exam: Three papers, two are in all branches of chemistry, while the third one is in the branch which would be selected by the student as the subject for his/ her thesis. The duration of each paper is three hours. The second part of this exam is oral and requires 2- 3 hours covering all branches of chemistry. The student should pass this exam in the first time. However, in the case of failing (even in part of the exam), another chance is given to the student to attend the exam within the two following semesters. If the student fails for the second time, his registration will be cancelled.
• Thesis: It cannot be registered unless the student passes the comprehensive exam.

Study period:

     The minimum period for the Program is 6 academic semesters (two years) while the maximum is 10 semesters.

     The Program is composed of four Tracks as follows: Analytical, Inorganic, Organic and Physical Chemistry.

The Study Plan and Courses description can be reached from here.