Ph.D. Programmes Structure

• This page summarises the overall trajectory a PhD student typically follows at IITB CS department. There can be some deviations, which are addressed as case to case basis.

• Outline

  1. Take courses and finish in the first 2 semesters. Typical requirements depend on your background.
  2. Successfully complete the qualifier and find a guide.
  3. Form a research progress committee (RPC) with the guidance of the advisor.
  4. Start doing research, publish at least 2–3 good papers. Attempt to write A/A* papers, aim to do good work.
  5. Finally, do pre-synopsis, thesis submission, defense!

• Department Course Requirements

  Background	# courses to complete in 2 semesters
  The highest degree in CSE is PG	4 PG courses (see item no 7,8 below) + seminar
  The highest degree in CSE is UG	5 PG courses, 2 UG/PG courses (see item no 7,8 below) + seminar
  No UG degree in CSE	5 PG courses, 18 UG credits (see item no 7,8 below) + seminar

  
  
  The students/candidates may note few points here:

  1. A UG/PG course is expected to be 6-credits or more, and PhD seminar is 4 credits
  2. A PG course above does not include seminars or R&D projects
  3. One of the UG courses can be R&D project
  4. Institute credit requirements are 16 credits for those with PG degree and 44 credits for those with UG degree, achieved by the department requirements above
  5. Those with < UG (CSE) must do 18 UG credits, with any combination of UG courses and labs (excluding CS101), and can get a waiver for one 6-credit course
  6. Minimum 3 courses (18 credits) in first semester
  7. Students should not use Institute electives as replacement for PG courses. Note that courses that are department electives (in CSE and above mentioned departments) that run sometimes as institute electives, are still allowed i.e. dept elective tag trumps institute elective tag.
  8. Department often offers a minor version (CS419 for Introduction to Machine Learning) of a major course (CS725, Foundations of Machine Learning). If a major is being offered in a given semester, students are required to do only major. However, if no major version of the course is offered in a semester and a minor of the same course is offered, then minor is allowed with facad approval (wherein facad can encourage the student to do major in an upcoming semester if that is possible.)

  
  
  Which courses to take?

  1. Useful courses in your area of interest (depth). Courses offered by the faculty/group you wish to work with
  2. Some good broad CS courses (breadth)
  3. Do not take “easy” courses just to meet CPI requirements
  4. Relevant courses from other departments (Math/EE/IEOR) can be taken with DPGC approval and recommendation from (prospective) guide

• PhD qualifier model

  The department does not conduct any separate examination or viva-voce (except Seminar; see below). The following steps summarise the qualifier model the department adopts.

  1. Obtain minimum CPI of 7.5 on the specified number of courses within 2 semesters
     • Discuss with PhD Facad if you need an extra semester to complete course work, extension can be granted on case-by-case basis
  
  
  2. Seminar with BB or higher
     • Up to 2 attempts allowed to clear
     • It is expected that your seminar guide will continue as PhD guide assuming seminar is passed
  
  
  3. Communication skills course passed (offered by department once a year, in Spring semester)
  4. Develop a coherent research proposal
  5. Consult with faculties of your area of interests and ensure that a faculty member is willing to guide you, i.e., satisfy item (2).

• TA duties

  1. You are expected to help as TA for 5 years, starting from your first semester
  2. TA allocation handled by MTech Facad, preferences will be collected
  3. Please treat your TA duties as an opportunity for learning, not as a burden
  4. Check with TA instructor before proceeding on leave or vacation
  5. Please let facad know in case of any issues with TA instructor