Thesis Advisory Committee
The Thesis Advisory Committee (TAC) should preferably be formed within 2 months after the nomination of thesis advisor for PhD candidates.
TAC Members need not be restricted only to staff members of CSI. Staff members and investigators from national Research Institutes/Centers and other faculties within NUS may be included.
Composition of the TAC
Thesis advisor + 2 Members
At most, one co-advisor can be a member of the TAC. The other must not be involved with supervision of the student.
If Thesis Advisor wishes to nominate a member from overseas, the TAC will require 4 members (comprising 3 local-based and 1 overseas).
Any changes to the TAC must receive prior approval from the Education and Training Committee (ETC).
Roles of the TAC
The TAC is responsible for monitoring the student’s research progress. The thesis advisor and Co-advisor(s) will continue to be responsible for completing the biannual progress report that is submitted to the Registrar’s Office. The TAC will keep its own report and submit a copy to the ETC.
- The TAC members will select a Chairman among themselves. The Chairman should not be the thesis advisor or Co-advisor. It is the responsibility of the Chairman to chair all meetings of the TAC and communicate decisions of the TAC to the ETC.
- The thesis advisor is responsible for calling the TAC meeting with the students. At least 3 TAC meetings should be held over the period of four years. The outcome of these meetings can be incorporated into the student’s biannual progress reports in April and October each year.
- It is compulsory to hold a TAC meeting before the student is due to submit his/her PhD Qualifying Examination (PQE) Report and his/her PhD thesis. This is to ensure that the TAC has adequately reviewed the student’s progress and that there is sufficient time for the student to make amendments/revision before actual submission.
- TAC chairperson and advisor (either main or co-advisor) must be present at all TAC meetings.
- Students should make every effort to schedule their TAC meetings at a time when all TAC members are available, and all TAC members are expected to attend. In exceptional circumstances where a TAC member is unable to attend the meeting, the student must either submit a written research progress report or give a separate presentation to the absent TAC member before obtaining their signature on the TAC form.
- Before the meeting, the student will have to submit a report. The first report should have an introduction with the aims of the project, proposed methodology and any preliminary results that are available. Subsequent reports should include a summary of results obtained and any new results since the last report with a discussion on the significance of the new results.
- At the end of the meeting, the TAC will make recommendations for further work where appropriate.
- The TAC will complete a brief report of the meeting for its own reference which is copied to the ETC.
- According to the TAC reports submitted and/or feedback from TAC members and thesis advisor(s), ETC may advise student to conduct more TAC meetings, if necessary.
The thesis advisor(s) will still be responsible for ensuring that the candidate is eligible for upgrading before putting the candidate up for the PhD Qualifying Examination.
Please click here to access the respective PQE forms and guidelines under “Thesis Advisory Committee” tab.