UGC – QUT Joint PhD Program Information Session at the University of Peradeniya 23 April 2014 Q&A 1. I’m enrolled in an MPhil program at PGIS. Is it possible to collaborate with QUT? You will have to convert this registration into a PhD to be eligible for the Joint PhD program. Collaborating depends on whether you have a contact at QUT who is willing to do so. It would not hurt to approach researchers at QUT with similar research interests for collaborative work. 2. Planning to register for a postgraduate degree at PGIA, UoP. It’s difficult to get the registration done by 20th May. We are aware that the registration process takes time. However, the International Research Centre will be able to assist with your issue. Please contact them as soon as possible. 3. Registered in an MPhil leading to PhD degree at University of Colombo (Faculty of Graduate Study). Is it possible to join with QUT? You must be registered for a PhD programme to meet the eligibility requirements for the joint PhD program. You may have to change your current registration to a PhD. Please speak to the University of Colombo representative for the Joint PhD program. 4. What happens when it is difficult to find a supervisor at the university where you currently work? Having a supervisor from the university you currently work is not a requirement. There should be at least one supervisor from UoP or UoC depending on where you register for the PhD. 5. How could you possibly convert the GPS out of 4 to a GPA out of 7 (is it (3.7/4)*7)? Converting the GPA is not straight forward as you have indicated. There is a weighting system that Australian Universities use to convert GPA’s from other Universities into their 7 point scale. However, a 2nd class (upper division) degree and 1st a class degree from Sri Lankan Universities are usually considered equivalent to an H2A and an H1, respectively, at QUT. However, please keep in mind that this is just the initial requirement. There are other assessments done by QUT, such as research calibre of the candidates. 6. I have a postgrad student who has followed MPhil looking for PhD position in Human Physiology. Having an MPhil would significantly increase your student’s chances of getting through QUT’s assessment as she will be able to demonstrate her research capability very well. Please encourage her to register for a PhD at UoP or UoC and lodge the UCG application before 20th May. In the meantime, initiate the QUT supervisor negotiations. 7. Can temporary staff apply for this? I’m afraid not. 1 Important contacts Dr. Nanda Gunawardhana Director, International Research Centre, University of Peradeniya. Email: [email protected] Prof. Ranil Dassanayake University of Colombo Email: [email protected] OR [email protected] Dr. Tony Sahama Faculty of Science and Technology, Queensland University of Peradeniya, Brisbane, AUSTRALIA. Email: [email protected] 2