Registration for study courses is done before the beginning of the semester with the Study Program Proposal Form. The advisor must outline the student’s study program according to their terms of acceptance (prerequisites), the nature of their research thesis and scholarship requirements (if such exist), and subject to the following regulations:

• Expected academic GPA for a student in Graduate School is 75. A student whose academic situation is not as expected will not be able to submit their topic for research or receive study leave
• A passing grade in a study course being taken towards a graduate degree: 65
• In undergraduate study courses and common undergraduate/graduate study courses, a failing grade may be corrected or a retest may be taken to improve the grade
• A failing grade in graduate study courses will require reapplying for the study course in order to correct the failing grade. A failing grade may not remain on a student’s grade sheet
• Prerequisite/transfer study courses may be defined in advance for regular students, which will not be calculated in the general GPA.

The date for submitting research thesis topics:

If there is no other requirement from the academic division by the middle of the program.

A participant requesting or receiving a scholarship will be required to submit a research thesis topic according to the procedures which apply to the recipients as detailed in the section entitled “Scholarships” section, the terms for submitting a research thesis topic:

• Meeting prerequisite requirements (only regular a student will be allowed to submit a research thesis topic)
• Academic GPA of 75
• Completing the requirement for “Research Thesis Ethics”

At the end of every semester, the advisor will evaluate the student’s progress on their research thesis. The grade must reliably reflect the student’s efforts, progress, and achievements, including the composition writing stage. The grade will be an important parameter in evaluating the student’s academic situation.

A delay in submitting the grade on time may harm the student (cessation of scholarship, committee discussion).

After a grade has been given – it cannot be changed.

Following is the grade scale:
A = Excellent
B = Very Good
C = Good
D = Unsatisfactory (fail)
E = Not yet able to assess. This grade may be given only once, to a first semester student, when the value of the work cannot yet be assessed.
S = Finishing stages – this grade will be given when the composition is ready to be submitted and the student has an approved examining committee. This grade can be given only twice.
M = Maternity leave

Appointment of Examining Committee

Before submitting the PhD Research Proposal to the school, one must submit for approval by the Dean of the Jacobs Graduate School a proposal for an examining committee comprised of five members, at least, as follows:

• The advisor
• The partner advisor, if one has been appointed.
• At least four additional examiners from amongst the senior staff members ranked associate professor or higher, or equivalent ranking from the research staff, or other experts on an appropriate level from the field of research. The advisor may be requested to present an updated CV of the proposed examiner.
  • At least one of them will be ranked on the same level as the advisor or higher.
  • At least one of the examiners (an external examiner) will not belong to the same department.
• The head of the committee will be appointed from amongst the members of the examining committee by the chairperson of the Graduate Studies Committee.

The proposal for the examining committee will be submitted using the Proposal for Examiners for Candidacy Examinations Form. Approval for the committee by the Dean of the Jacobs Graduate School will be sent with the Examination Report Form. The department will send appointments to the examiners and will see to the coordination of examination dates and to inviting examiners.

The PhD Research Proposal (Pre-Doctorate)

The PhD Research Proposal will serve as the basis for candidacy examination and will be submitted to the committee via the advisor, within eleven months of beginning the program (within 18 months for students on a special study track).
If the PhD Research Proposal is not submitted on time, without prior approval, it will be considered as though the student failed his candidacy examination.

The school’s instructions for submitting PhD Research Proposal:

• The title will appear in English and Hebrew
• Scope of proposal: approx. 25 pages
• Proposal content:
  • A review of the background for the research thesis (including a literary survey)
  • Research objectives

The advisor will be allowed to advise eight participants. In accordance with the recommendation of the Graduate Studies Committee, the Dean of the Jacobs Graduate School may authorize an exception to this number. In any such event, the recommendation will be accompanied by a statement from the advisor (to be approved by the committee) that the amount of students under their supervision will not present a reason for postponing dates such as duration of studies, submittal of PhD Research Proposals, and such.

The Dean of the Jacobs Graduate School will notify the advisor and the committee of approval of an exception with the above stipulation, and the approval will be included in the participants’ files for follow-up.

A partner advisor contributes to the student’s research thesis on topics in which the responsible advisor does not have expertise. A partner advisor may be appointed upon submitting the topic of research or at a later date. In any event, their part in advising and their contribution to the research must be detailed. If the partner advisor is not a member of the Technion staff, a CV must be attached.
The partner advisor has no duty to supervise the student’s study track and is not required to report to the Jacobs Graduate School regarding the student. In the absence of a responsible advisor, the partner advisor will substitute with regards to supervising the student’s education program at the Technion.

A research consultant’s role will be to consult for the student in his research thesis. The consultant’s contribution will be less than that of the partner advisor and he will serve more as a consultant for work methods. The following may serve as research consultants: a laboratory worker for the responsible advisor or a professional expert in the field of research or an expert in work methods used in the research, who is assisting the student in overcoming obstacles in their research.
A research consultant does not have to participate as an examiner in the candidacy examination or the final examination.

• An advisor who plans to go on sabbatical or leave of absence will notify the Office of Academic Affairs.
• The Office of Academic Affairs will notify the Students’ Progress Office of the date of leave.
• Replacement advisor forms will be sent to the department, which will be requested to appoint a replacement advisor for each of the students being supervised.
• The Students’ Progress Office will conduct the replacement of advisors and release the sabbatical leave.
• If the advisor requests so in advance, his students will return to work under his tutelage automatically upon his return.
• The replacement advisor will serve as a permanent advisor in all respects for the students.
• An advisor going on sabbatical in Israel, who wishes to continue advising, will commit to being available to the students, with everything this entails.
• It is recommended not to accept new students before taking sabbatical leave, mainly PhD students before their candidacy examinations.
• A research consultant is not required to participate as an examiner for candidacy examinations or final examinations.

If an advisor resigns or is unable to fulfill their duties due to illness, absence, sabbatical, or any other reason, the Dean of the Jacobs Graduate School will appoint another advisor as recommended by the committee.
When the student continues with the same research thesis topic, the approval of the previous advisor will be necessary.
If another advisor is not found for the student, they will be required to take a leave which will be no longer than two semesters.
If another advisor is not found during this time, their studies will be stopped.

• Rights to the intellectual property developed in the framework of research will belong to the Technion, unless otherwise agreed upon in advance, as coordinated between the school, the advisor, and the student. Any publication ensuing from the research thesis/project/final thesis requires the consent of the advisor and the student (Regulations 29.12 and 37.12).
• Further details regarding Intellectual Property Regulations can be obtained at the Department of Business Affairs, phone 04-8294851.