🎓Thesis/Dissertation Defense Application Process

🔗 Quick Links

• Thesis/Dissertation Defense Application System

• NCKU Degree Exam Regulations

• Library Turnitin Guidelines

I. Eligibility & Checklist

1.  Application Eligibility

• Master's: >= 1 semester; Doctoral (including direct admission): >= 3 semesters. Graduation credit audit must be completed.

• Doctoral students must have passed the Ph.D. qualification examination.

• Students admitted from AY 111 onwards must submit a 6-hour Academic Ethics Course Certificate.

• Advisor-approved thesis draft and online Turnitin similarity report.

2. Committee Requirements & Review

• Committee Size Regulations:

  • Master: 3–5 members (the advisor cannot serve as the convener).

  • Ph.D.: 5–9 members, with external members accounting for at least 1/3 (inclusive) (the advisor cannot serve as the convener).

• Qualification Review Check:

  • Doctoral Degree: Each candidate must fill out and submit an individual "Oral Exam Committee Member Qualification Review Form."

  • Master's Degree:

    • Exempt from Review: Current or former Professors, Associate Professors, Assistant Professors at colleges/universities, or Academia Sinica Academicians, Research Fellows, Associate Research Fellows, and Assistant Research Fellows.

    • Review Required: Experts/scholars who do not possess the above qualifications (those with expertise in the same field can apply together).

3. Turnitin Similarity Report Rules

• Standard: Similarity index excluding self-citations must be $\le 25\%$.

• Printing Format: Only need to double-side print the first page of the report (no need to print the full thesis/dissertation).

• Signature Requirements:

  • The student must write [Student ID, Name, Date of Comparison] at the top of the first page of the report.

  • The advisor must sign and date in the blank space on the first page to indicate agreement with the similarity report results.

II. Key Schedule & Deadlines

⚠️ Important Reminders

1. The degree examination can only be conducted after approval by the Dean of Academic Affairs!

2. The oral examination score report must be submitted in person to Counter No. 3 of the Department Office for signature and receipt before the deadline.

III. 3-Step Procedure

Step 1: Application Submission

📄 Process Description: Submit the above documents to Department Office Counter No. 3 ➔ Collect the printed process document ➔ Complete all levels of approval stamps according to the fields (including the Dean of Academic Affairs' approval stamp) ➔ Return the complete approved document package to the department office.

Step 2: Collect Documents (2 days prior to the defense)

Please go to Department Office Counter No. 3 2 days before the oral exam to collect the following items:

1. Degree Examination Thesis Review & Transportation Allowance Receipt List

2. Committee Member Appointment Letters

🎒 Documents to be Prepared by the Student on the Exam Day:

• Thesis Evaluation Sheet

• Approval Form with Committee Members' Signatures (downloaded from the system)

• The collected receipt list mentioned above

• Self-arranged venue and equipment (classroom reservation, venue arrangement, notifying committee members, etc.)

Step 3: Return Docs & Reimbursement

IV. Regulations & Notes

• Data Entry & Rare Characters: Do not use half-width spaces when entering data into the system to avoid scrambled text. If you have rare Chinese characters, please download the rare character input method from the Computer Center.

• External Committee Member Information (New Rule from Academic Year 115): Please keep information entries concise (e.g., for education background, simply entering "Doctorate" is sufficient). Starting from Academic Year 115, the external member's National ID No. / ARC No. / Passport No. must be provided in advance during application to facilitate appointment review by the Personnel Office.

• Withdrawal Mechanism: If you cannot complete the required credits in the current semester or wish to cancel the oral exam, you must apply for withdrawal through the system before July 31 (or January 31). Those who fail to process a withdrawal will not be allowed to hold an oral exam in the following semester, and this exam score will be recorded as "Fail" on the transcript.

• Delayed Thesis Publication Application: Must be confirmed with the advisor before the oral exam, and the application and printed forms must be completed online (retroactive applications after the oral exam will not be accepted). The delay period cannot exceed 5 years, and supporting documentation must be attached on the day of the exam for committee review and signatures.

• Graduation & Departure: The Ph.D. graduation date is based on the "thesis submission date"; the Master's graduation date is based on the "final month of that semester (January or June)." If the thesis cannot be submitted before the registration date of the next semester, you must complete fee payment and registration for the next semester.