College

College   of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering

Student Type

International   Master of Physical Chemistry

Discipline and Primary Discipline Code

Chemistry   [0703]

Length of Study

The doctoral   academic degree is a 4-year postgraduate program with a maximum study length   of 8 years

Credit Requirements

Total   credits: at least 13 credits, including: at least 6 credits for course,    at least 7 credits for other academic sections.

Program Objectives

PhD Program Objectives：

1. Educating students in the scholarly methods of   intellectual inquiry and critical analysis in general, stimulating the   creativity of students, training students’ skills of conducting research in   the chemistry discipline, imparting fundamental knowledges in chemistry to   the students, offering opportunities to the students to earn doctoral degrees   in chemistry.

2. Preparing future leaders with enthusiasms, skills,   methodologies that benefit their careers in academia, industry, government   and administration.  

3. Promoting linkages with the Chinese academic   community, industry, business, etc.

Requirements of Research Ability and Other Aspects

PhD (applicable criteria should be listed)

1. Literature. The Ph.D. students must be able to read the   literature and need to keep track the latest developments in the field of   their research.

2. English skill. The Ph.D. students should be proficient in   English, e.g. be able to read literatures, write scientific papers, and   deliver oral presentation of their research in English.

3. Research ability. The Ph.D. students should gain the   capabilities of independently designing   experiments, analyzing   results, solving problems and drawing conclusions. They need to master the   research skills such as conducting the experiments and operating the   characterization equipment independently.

Computer skills. Students should be familiar with basic   document processing, literature searching and data analysis software in the   chemistry field.

Thesis Work

For   Ph.D. students:

1. The   doctoral dissertation is the most important part of graduate studies.   Students should choose their research projects under the guidance of their   advisors. The thesis topic is better to be related to the advisors’ funded   research projects and focus on the fundamental questions and cutting-edge of   their research field.

2. The   dissertation should be written by the Ph.D. student under the guidance of   their advisors. The Ph.D. student should start their research from the first   semester and devote about three years on their projects.

3. After   finishing all the courses and literature search, the student should give an   oral presentation of their research proposal to seek for advices and   suggestions from their committees. Students should deliver this presentation   no later than the end of the first semester.

4. Literature   report should include a comprehensive summary and review of related research   field. The student should be able to give critical comments on the published   work in the presentation and discuss the future research direction with the   committee.

5. Mid-term   report: The students should give the mid-term report in the spring semester   of their second year, the oral presentation should be longer than 20 min. At   least 5 committee members should attend this seminar and provide evaluation.

6. Students   should record and keep all original experimental data in lab notes,   characterization reports, and other forms. These materials should be kept by the   research group after the student’s graduation. The experimental data must be   honestly recorded and cannot be manipulated. The results should be properly   analyzed and interpreted. The dissertation should be written clearly.

7. The   dissertation should show novel results. To gain a Ph.D. degree, the student   needs to publish research papers or patents, and the quantity and quality of   the published work need to meet the requirements of the college.

8. The   dissertation assessment, thesis defense and the PhD degree awarding processes   should strictly follow the “Temporary Rules of degrees of the People's   Republic of China” and “the detailed regulations for awarding of Master and   Ph.D. degrees at Xiamen University”. Dissertation assessment and defense   should also be preceded according to the procedures set up by the graduate   school of Xiamen University.

In case of graduation in advance before the scheduled   PhD terms, the advisor or the research institute shall organize a pre-defense   three months before the thesis is submitted for examination. The form of   thesis defense shall be decided by the Institute.

Main Documents, Catalogues and Publications of the Discipline

Several   books and periodicals designated by the course and the instructor

Curriculum

Course Category

Course Code

Course Name

Credit

Term

Master Required

PhD Required

MD-PhD/ Direct PhD Required

Multiple Choices

Remarks

General Courses

16612  

Chinese LanguageⅠ

2

Autumn

Yes

17295  

Selected   Topics on China

2

Autumn

Yes

Compulsory Courses

15458  

Scientific   Research Writing and Guidance

1

Spring and   Autumn

Yes

17442  

Laboratory   Safety

1

Spring and   Autumn

Yes

Other Academic Sections

14063  

Thesis   Proposal

1

Summer

Yes

14066  

Teaching   Practice

1

Spring and   Autumn

Yes

14464  

Academic   Lectures（PhD）

1

Spring and   Autumn

Yes

17196  

Mid-term   Assessment

1

Spring and   Autumn

Yes

17455  

Cumulative   Assessment（PhD）

2

Spring and   Autumn

Yes

17457  

Academic   Exchange Activities （PhD）

1

Spring and   Autumn

Yes

17463  

Thesis   Pre-defense（PhD）

0

Spring and   Autumn

Yes

Academic Norms Education

Participate   in the education of academic norms, academic ethics and academic integrity   organized by the university or college, and independently study the guide to   academic norms of science and technology in colleges and universities   (Science, technology and medicine) and the guide to academic norms of   Humanities and Social Sciences in Colleges and universities (HUMANITIES AND   SOCIAL SCIENCES).

Academic Lectures

Ph.D. students must attend at least 20 academic   lectures during the PhD study and at least 5 academic lectures per year and   submit a summary report for each attended lecture. Credit: 1

Mid-term Assessment

Before the end of the summer semester of the second   academic year, all postgraduates / doctoral students must deliver a   presentation of the Mid-term research report in an open seminar. Those who   fail to give this mid-term report are not allowed to take their thesis   defense. The specific time of this open seminar shall be scheduled with the   Committee of the Research Institute in advance. A formal written report is   also required along with the oral presentation. Please pay attention to the   annual announcement for specific requirements.

Literature Review and Scientific Research Report  

The format of the cumulative examinations may include   written examination, oral presentation, literature report, and proposal   writing depending on the measure of the responsible institute. It may cover   the fundamental of chemistry and the research frontiers, which covers a broad   range of subjects. The institute will organize at least 4 exams（written or literature report）annually. The exam   is scored 0, 0.5 or 1 points. Ph.D. students need to take exams until they   obtain 2 points in total.

Thesis Proposal

Before the end of the summer semester of the first   academic year, all postgraduates / doctoral students must deliver a seminar   open to faculty and students to present their research proposal. Those who do   not present their proposal in this open seminar are not allowed to take their   thesis defense. The specific time of this open seminar shall be scheduled   with the Committee of the Research Institute in advance. A formal written   report is also required along with the oral presentation. Please pay   attention to the annual announcement for specific requirements.

Teaching Practice

During the semester, the graduate student shall serve   as the teaching assistant of at least one course and complete a certain   amount of teaching assistant workload (not less than 64 class hours), with 1   credit, which shall be evaluated by the teacher in charge of experiment or   classroom teaching.

Social Practice and Innovative Practice  

None

Academic Exchange Activities

Before the spring semester of the third academic year,   Ph.D. students should attend at least one national or international academic   conference/ forum/symposium/workshop, and deliver an oral presentation or   poster presentation.