Studies towards graduate degrees have been taking place at Technion since 1948, and the Graduate School was officially established in 1956. Studies towards master’s degrees and PhDs exist in almost all of Technion’s academic departments. Since its establishment, the school has granted 18,636 master’s degrees and 4,565 PhDs to students in engineering, sciences, architecture, medicine and education.
It is worth studying at Technion. Technion Graduate School admission requirements are high and the students admitted are among the best in the country. Moreover, studies at Technion are very challenging and the academic level is high, and you may also need to take a few extra courses. However, all that is worth the effort to be a student and a member of one of the world’s top research universities. The Technion is highly ranked internationally, and Technion graduates have led Israel to be “the startup nation”. Many entrepreneurs of successful start-up companies are Technion graduates, and are sought after and preferred over other candidates by high-tech companies. Moreover, Technion graduates are the management and development backbone of the of the Israel economy and have left their mark in all areas of life in Israel.
As a graduate student, you will be able to learn from world leading researchers in their field, and be exposed to and take part in innovative research. Students who devote full time to their master’s degree studies (MSc in Science) and Doctor (Doctor of Philosophy, PhD), are offered very good research conditions, a generous scholarship (among the best in the country) by the Jacobs Graduate School, dormitories on the Green Campus, funding for participation in conferences abroad and competitive excellence scholarships and awards.
PhD degrees are offered in most academic departments.
PhD candidates who intend to study as external students (not as full time-scholarship recipients), are required to submit a detailed letter guaranteeing to dedicate at least three days towards their research (on Technion campus or outside it). The letter is to be supported by their employer and approved by the departmental Graduate Committee.
Doctor degree (PhD), is the highest academic degree awarded by the Technion. It is based on a substantial research and on reaching a professional level that enables independent high-level research. PhD studies last between three to four years and usually require being full time at Technion. Students devote their time mainly to research, participate in advanced seminars and take courses according to a personal program. Students are required to submit a research proposal within eleven months and to pass a candidacy exam a month after that. During the candidacy exam they will need to demostrate their ability to conduct independent and original research on the research topic they have chosen. In the final year of their studies, students are required to present their work in a departmental seminar, submit their research Thesis, and pass a final oral exam.
The Technion offers four PhD tracks:
The regular track
The most common track, in which most students study towards a PhD degree. It is intended for graduates of a Master degree (with thesis). Students devote most of their time to research and are required to study a limited number of courses.
The direct track
Research track Master’s degree students who have demonstrated an aptitude to and excellence in research and achieved a high GPA in courses, and whose research topic can be extended to the scope required for a doctoral dissertation, may transfer to the direct PhD track if recommend by their advisor and the graduate studies committee in their department. After the transfer, the student status will be changed to that of a PhD student. The duration of studies will be extended, and additional credit points will be assigned based on the recommendation of the department.
It is possible to transfer to the direct track only within the same department in which the student is registered and with the same asvisor/s.
The combined track
An excellence track designed for students with very high undergraduate academic credentials, provided an advisor has been secured and the department has identified a potential for excellence in research. Students will be accepted to the master’s degree and will be pre-designated to transfer to the PhD degree at an early stage of their master’s studies.
After the transfer, the student status will be changed to that of a PhD student. The duration of studies will be extended, and additional credit points will be assigned based on the recommendation of the department.
It is possible to transfer to the direct track only within the same department in which the student is registered and with the same advisor/s.
The special track
An excellence track designed for candidates with bachelor’s degree in science or engineering, who have completed their bachelor’s degree with honors (GPA of at least 90), or who have been on the president’s list in the last 4 semesters of their study, and have demonstrated exceptional research ability during their undergraduate studies.
Minimum requirements for applying for a PhD degree
Candidates with a master’s degree who studied at Technion or an accredited academic institution in Israel or abroad, whose average grades and the grade on the thesis paper are not lower than an 80, may apply. Each unit has the right to determine requirements that are greater than the minimum requirements. Please consult the department’s requirements.
Students who studied abroad may be required to take the general GRE examination. Technion’s exam code is: 0343. For more details click here.
Graduates of non-research master’s degrees who wish to study towards a PhD may review the information appearing under Exploratory Research.
For additional details, please review the Graduate School Regulations.
Study Tracks and Requirements for PhD Degrees
| Tracks of study for a PhD | Course study | Duration of studies in semesters | Scientific writing in English | Submission date of a research topic (research proposal) | Candidacy examination | Seminar lecture / submission of work / final examination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regular track | 5-12 advanced credits | 12 | Within three semesters from the beginning of the course of study | Within 11 months from the beginning of the course of study | Within one month after the submission of a research proposal | V |
| Direct track | Addition of at least five advanced credits to the master’s degree requirements | Addition of eight semesters. (Different rules apply for scholarship recipients) | Within three semesters from the conversion to a PhD | Within 5 months from the conversion to a PhD | Within one month after the submission of a research proposal | V |
| Combined MSc-PhD track. For students identified and intended to be transferred to the PhD in the early stages of their studies. | Addition of at least five advanced credits to the master’s degree requirements | Addition of eight semesters.(Different rules apply for scholarship recipients) | Within 5 months of the from the conversion to a PhD | Within one month after the submission of a research proposal | V | |
| Special track | 25 advanced credits for graduates of a four year degree, 36 advanced credits for graduates of a three year degree | 12 | Within three semesters from the beginning of the course of study | Within 18 months from the beginning of the course of study | Within one month after the submission of a research proposal | V |