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Regulation of the Postgraduate Study Program

This is an abridged version of the original regulation which is written in greek language and is available by the Department of Physics of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens

 

Article 1

The organization and operation of the Postgraduate Study Program (PSP) of the Department of Physics are regulated by the Assembly of Special Composition (FTA) of the Department and the Coordinating Committee (CC) of the PSP. The FTA is responsible for the preparation and presentation of new proposals for the PSP, approving the extension or suspension of studies, approving the introduction of new students in the various programs, the appointment of members of advisory committees for PhD Theses and evaluation committees for MSc Theses, awarding graduate diplomas and any other matter within the PSP. The CC is composed of two representatives from each Section of the Department and a representative of the postgraduate students (PS). The PSP has a Director, who chairs the CC and is elected for two years by the FTA according to the procedures established by the latter. The members of the CC are assigned by the FTA with a two year term appointment and they are responsible for the supervision of the PSP. The Director of the CC suggests the FTA on any matter related to the effective operation of the PSP.

Article 2

The Secretariat of the Department of Physics has the administrative responsibility for the operation of the PSP.

Article 3

Each academic year the Department of Physics is launching in June the Call of the PSP for the next academic year, announcing the maximum number of PS for each Postgraduate MSc Degree of Specialization (PMDS). Each PMDS admits graduates of Departments of the School of Sciences from Greek Universities and of Faculties from Technical Universities as well as from equivalent foreign University Departments, which are recognized by the Hellenic National Academic Recognition Information Center (NARIC). Moreover, the program admits graduates from Greek Technological Educational Institutes (ΤΕΙ) with diploma relevant to the content of the PMDS. The admission of PS in each PMDS is made by the FTA. The evaluation of candidates, which is made by a Selection Committee (SC) composed of members of the Section related with each PMDS, gives special but not exclusive emphasis on the academic performance of each candidate during his undergraduate studies. Illustrative examples of candidate evaluation criteria are: a) the completion of studies in the specified time, b) the grades to basic physics and mathematics courses, c) the relevance of elective courses attended by the candidate to the PMDS as well as their grades to, d) the total grade of the undergraduate degree, e) the performance of the candidate in this Thesis as well as its relevance to the respective PMDS, f) Professors' opinions of the candidate, through their recommendation letters, g) related to the PMDS scientific or professional activities and h)personal interview if SC considers it essential for some candidates.

Article 4

The courses of each PMDS of the PSP of the Department of Physics are taught by Instructors proposed by the Section related with each PMDS and approved by the FTA upon recommendation of the CC. It may be Professors (Full, Associate, and Assistant), Lecturers and other educational staff with PhD of the Department of Physics or of other departments of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens or other Greek Universities, retired Professors, visiting Professors, and Researchers (1st, 2nd, 3rd class) of recognized Research Institutes in Greece or abroad, who also hold a PhD. A member of the Section related with each PMDS is assigned as the tutor to each PS upon entering PSP. The tutor supervises the progress of the PS and approves his selection of courses.

Article 5

The minimum duration of postgraduate studies leading to the successful completion of the PMDS is three semesters and the maximum allowed duration is four semesters. After the expiry of the 4th semester the PS is expelled from the PSP. A full academic year (two semesters) is equivalent to 60 ECTS units and each semester to 30 ECTS (European Transfer System). Each PMDS course lasts one semester and is taught either during either the Fall or the Spring semester as determined by the FTA after a suggestion of the CC. Attendance is mandatory.

Article 6

The examinations are done at the end of each teaching semester, i.e., February and June (1st exam period) of each academic year and are repeated in September (2nd exam period). In exceptional cases, upon recommendation of the CC, the FTA may alter the dates of the examinations. If the PS does not complete all the courses at the end of the September (2nd exam period) of his first academic year, he/she is expelled from the PSP. An examination of a course is considered successful if a mark of at least six (6) out of ten (10) is obtained by the PS. The grade of a course is a whole number.

Article 7

The PS can start the research project (credited with 30 ECTS) leading to a postgraduate (MSc) thesis, after successful completion of all courses in June or September the 1st academic year. This thesis is performed under the guidance of a supervisor who is a member of the Section related with each PMDS or Instructor of the PMDS. This supervisor is suggested at the beginning of the 2nd academic year by the PS tutor (after discussion with the PS) and selected by the Section related with each PMDS. Upon the beginning of the MSc thesis, the supervisor must announce the tentative title and suggest the other two members of the evaluation committee (falling under the category of Instructors of Article 4 of this Regulation) to the Section related with each PMDS, which makes the final decision. After the thesis completion, the final assessment is made after public presentation in front of the evaluation committee, which grades the MSc Thesis by the average of the grades of each member. 

Article 8

The PSP offers the opportunity for part-time postgraduate students (PTPS). In this case, the maximum allowed duration to the successful completion of PMDS extents to six semesters. Part-time applicants will have to meet the same entry requirements as full-time students. In addition, to be eligible for the part-time postgraduate study program, successful applicants should verify their employment status in the public or private sector by an insurer certificate.

Article 9

Upon successful completion of all courses and the MSc thesis, postgraduate students are awarded the PMDS. The degree of the PMDS is determined from the average of the courses' degrees (using a weight of 1) and the degree of the MSc thesis (using a weight of 3) with a two decimals accuracy. A scale of 1 to 10 applies to the marks of each subject in the Hellenic Higher Education:

Άριστα (Arista) Excellent: 8.50-10.00

Λίαν Καλώς (Lian Kalos) Very Good: 6.50-8.49

Καλώς (Kalos) Good: 6.00-6.49

 

Regulation of the Doctorate Program of the Department of Physics (2nd cycle)

 The Department of Physics awards a Doctorate Degree in Physical Sciences to postgraduates holding MSc degree in Basic and Applied Physics or interfaculty postgraduate programs in Microelectronics, Electronics, Computers, Automation and Telecommunication as well as other fields relevant to Physics.

Article 10

The entry requirements for the 2nd cycle (doctorate) postgraduate program of the Department of Physics comprise holding (a) graduate and (b) postgraduate degree in Physical Sciences from Greek Universities or Faculties of Technical Universities as well as from equivalent national or foreign University Departments, which are recognized by the Hellenic National Academic Recognition Information Center (NARIC).

In case that the applicant holds a postgraduate MSc degree from PSPs of other national or foreign University Departments, a committee from the corresponding Section of the Department of Physics, where the doctorate will be carried out, inspects whether the applicant should attend selected courses from those offered by the corresponding PMDS of the PSP of the Department of Physics.

Relying on the recommendation of the PS’s supervisor and the decision of the corresponding Section of the Department of Physics, the CC of the PSP examines the need for the doctorate student to attend additional courses depending on the thesis’ topic.

Taking into consideration the recommendation of the related Section, the CC proposes to the Department’s FTA the candidacy of the doctorate applicant including (a) the assignment of a three-member advisory committee, one of them being the thesis supervisor and (b) a document describing the research subject and the tentative title of the doctorate thesis signed by the thesis supervisor.

 Article 11

The three-member advisory committee proposed by the related Section of the Department of Physics and approved by the FTA consists of a faculty member in the academic rank of Full, Associate, or Assistant professor of the Department of Physics as thesis supervisor, and two other faculty members of the Department of Physics, other departments of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens or other Greek Universities, retired Professors or Researchers (1st, 2nd, 3rd class) of recognized Research Institutes in Greece or abroad, who also hold a PhD.

The doctorate candidate provides detailed reports every year on his/her research work to the advisory committee. The advisory committee composes accordingly and signs an annual progress report that is submitted to the related Section and the CC and is registered to the candidate’s academic record held by the Secretariat of the Department of Physics. If the doctorate candidate does not submit the annual reports for two consecutive years or receives a negative progress report by the advisory committee, the possibility of dismissal from the doctorate program is scrutinized by the CC after proposal of the related Section and the advisory committee. The CC reviews the grounds for dismissal and proposes accordingly to the FTA for the final decision. 

Article 12

The minimum duration of the doctorate program is three full calendar years, counted from the assignment date of the advisory committee by FTA. The CC may further decide on the attendance and completion of an additional cycle of courses or related activities by the doctorate student.

The doctorate thesis is written either in Greek or English together with an extended abstract in English or Greek, respectively, which will include the methodology, results and conclusions of the thesis. The language for the thesis composition is decided by the advisory committee and approved by the related Section, the CC and FTA of the Department of Physics. 

Article 13

Following its formal approval and recommendation by the advisory committee and the completion of the doctorate candidate’s obligations, the doctoral thesis is defended in public by the candidate before a seven-member examination board, including the three members of the advisory committee, which is proposed by the related Section and approved by the FTA of the Department.

The doctorate thesis is evaluated as: Excellent, Very Good, Good and Not Accepted by the examination board.