Applicants holding a Bachelor's degree in engineering or science from an institution whose undergraduate programs are substantially equivalent in length, content, and quality to those at KFUPM are invited to apply for admission as regular graduate students in the Department of Chemical Engineering.

Applicants must also satisfy the general admission requirements set by the College of Graduate Studies.

Applicants holding an M.S. degree from a university of recognized standing are eligible for admission to the doctoral program, provided they meet the College of Graduate Studies' requirements for Ph.D. admission.

Applicants must also demonstrate a suitable scientific background in the proposed field of study. Any deficiencies in prior academic preparation must be addressed within the first two semesters of enrollment.

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

Ph.D. students must complete 30 credit hours of coursework while maintaining a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00. After one academic year of study, students must also present an annual seminar.

Comprehensive Examination

A comprehensive examination, encompassing both written and oral components, is conducted upon completion of major and minor field coursework. The minor must be chosen from fields relevant to the professional scope of chemical engineering, including specific areas in chemistry, physics, mathematics, computer science, civil engineering, mechanical engineering, petroleum engineering, or systems engineering.

For those specializing in chemical engineering, the written examination covers the following subject areas:

The minor area for the written examination is selected in consultation with the student's advisor. The Oral Examination is scheduled within one semester following the written examination, affording sufficient time for the student and advisor to prepare the dissertation proposal. Based on the comprehensive examination, students may be advanced to Doctoral Degree Candidacy. A student is allowed only two attempts at the Comprehensive Examination.

Upon successful completion of the Comprehensive Examination, candidates are required to prepare and submit a dissertation on an approved research topic. This dissertation should represent a rigorous, original study within the chemical engineering domain. A dissertation committee within the Department guides the candidate throughout this research process and reviews the dissertation's contents. The public defense of the dissertation is arranged by the candidate, in consultation with the committee and following the approval from the College of Graduate Studies.