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This PhD programme is purely based on individual supervised research. At the end of the candidate's study, a thesis must be submitted and upon successful defense of the paper, the candidate will be granted PhD status. 

The candidate is greatly encouraged to carry out research in the field of Social Sciences, Humanities, Economics & Businesses that is multidisciplinary and comparative in nature encompassing any country or region within Asia and Europe.

Areas of research include, among others:

  • Globalisation, Regional Integration and Development;
  • Sustainability, Governance and Social Change;
  • Multiculturalism and Community Development;
  • Social Development and Ethnicity;
  • Business Network, Knowledge Management and Competitiveness;
  • Gender and Development; and
  • ASEAN Studies and ASEAN-EU Relations.
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The goal of the AEI PhD Programme is to produce scholars who can lead the development and dissemination of knowledge as a leader in research and teaching as well as services for the society. Accordingly the Programme Educational Objectives (PEO) are as follows:

  • PEO1 : Advancing innovation in research and work practices.
  • PEO2 : Leading research as researcher and / or practitioners with national and / or international expertise.
  • PEO3 : Disseminate research results and/or provide expert advice in an ethical and professional conduct.

Mode: Full time
Minimum: 4 semesters
Maximum: 12 semesters

Applicant should hold a recognised:

  • Master's Degree (Research Mode); or
  • Master’s Degree (Coursework/Mixed Mode) with a minimum of CGPA 3.7 or its equivalent; or
  • Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree (Coursework/Mixed Mode) with a minimum of CGPA 3.0 or its equivalent; or

Consideration will also be given to applicant with these criteria:

  • Master’s Degree (Coursework/Mixed Mode) with CGPA between 2.00 – 3.69 or its equivalent, and Bachelor’s Degree with a minimum of CGPA 3.0 or its equivalent; or

Universiti Malaya graduates:

  • Master’s Degree (Coursework/Mixed Mode) with CGPA between 2.00 – 3.69 or its equivalent, and Bachelor’s Degree with CGPA between 2.50 – 2.99 or its equivalent; or
  • Master’s Degree (Coursework/Mixed Mode) with CGPA between 2.00 – 3.69 or its equivalent, and Bachelor’s Degree with CGPA between 2.00 – 2.49 or its equivalent, including one (1) of these criteria:
    • have at least five (5) years of work experience in a related field; or
    • produced at least one (1) publication in a refereed journal in a related field; or
    • passed the interview conducted by the AEI; or
    • passed the Special Assessment conducted by the AEI

Other graduates:

  • Master’s Degree (Coursework/Mixed Mode) with CGPA between 2.00 – 3.69 or its equivalent, and Bachelor’s Degree with CGPA between 2.50 – 2.99 or its equivalent, including one (1) of these criteria:
    • have at least three (3) years of work experience in a related field; or
    • produced publications in related fields; or
    • scholarship holder; or
    • an employee of a government agency; or
    • passed the interview conducted by the AEI; or
    • passed the Special Assessment conducted by the AEI

or

  • Master’s degree (Coursework/Mixed Mode) with CGPA between 2.00 – 3.69 or its equivalent, and Bachelor’s Degree with CGPA between 2.00 – 2.49 or its equivalent, including two (2) of these criteria:
    • have at least five (5) years of work experience in a related field; or
    • produced at least one (1) publication in a refereed journal in a related field; or
    • passed the interview conducted by the AEI; or
    • passed the Special Assessment conducted by the AEI

Fast Track (Accelerated / Direct Admission)

The direct admission / Fast Track (accelerated admission) provides the opportunity for Bachelor’s Degree graduates with the academic qualifications and who have high potential to pursue their studies in the Doctoral programme by research without having a Master’s qualification in the field concerned.

Direct Admission / Fast Track refers to the entry route for excellent Bachelor’s Degree graduates to pursue studies in the Doctoral programme by research with a minimum CGPA of not less than 3.70 out of 4.0 (3.7/4.0) or equivalent from a relevant academic programme or Technical and Vocational Education and Training programme.

Applicants who attained the following qualification may be admitted to the Doctoral programme by research:

  1. Bachelor’s Degree with a minimum CGPA of not less than 3.70 (out of 4.00) or equivalent; and
  2. Passed the interview and presentation of the proposed research.

A non-Malaysian applicant whose degree is from a university or institution of higher learning where the medium of instruction for that degree is not the English language and where the applicant wishes to follow a programme and/or write his dissertation in the English language will be required to obtain:

  • A minimum score of band 5.5 for the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) (Academic); or
  • A minimum score of 550 for paper-based total (PBT), a score of 213 for computer- based total (CBT) or a score of 80 for internet-based total (iBT) for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL); or Acceptance of Admission and English Language Entry Requirements Band 4 and above in the Malaysian University English Test (MUET); or
  • A score of 42 and above in the Pearson Test of Academic English (PTE Academic); or
  • A Grade C and above in English for General Certificate of Education (A Level), University of Cambridge; or
  • A Grade C and above in the Cambridge Assessment English: First (FCE); or A Grade C and above in the Cambridge Assessment English: Advanced (CAE); or
  • A Grade C and above in the Cambridge Assessment English: Proficiency (CPE).

Candidate are encouraged to be supervised by two (2) established and experienced academics based on their fields of study. Please refer to https://umexpert.um.edu.my to check for possible supervisors.

All applicants must contact and obtain the acknowledgement of the supervisors before submitting the application. One of the supervisors must be an academic at the AEI.

Applicants for doctoral degree programmes by research are required to submit a research proposal or research intent on the brief statement of the research programme which they propose to carry out. The research proposal/research intent should comprise the following elements:

  • Field of Research
  • Topic of Research
  • Statement of Problem (with supportive literature)
  • Research Objective
  • Research Methodology
  • Significant of the Research
  • References (if applicable)

The research proposal should contain maximum of 1,000 words. All proposals will go through plagiarism check by AEI (using the Turnitin service), and must pass the minimum requirement of 15% and below of similarity index.

Please note that all decisions regarding the application is final, and the process of selection is vetted by the AEI selection committee.

All the requirements stated in this page are also subjected to any amendments approved from time to time.

All the CGPA mentioned above is using the 4.0 scale.

Publication Requirement

Show proof of acceptance for publication as per the following (according to the criteria set in the publication guidelines), prior to graduation:

  1. at least one (1) article in journals indexed by Thomson Reuters Web of Science (WoS); or
  2. at least one (1) book published by publishers listed in the Thomson Reuters Web of Science (WoS) Master Book List or by Universiti Malaya Press or Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka or any publishers recognized by the AEI; or
  3. at least two (2) publications in Category A or B refereed journals, or book chapters as follows:
    • Articles in Category A journals: Journals indexed in the Scopus citation database;
    • Articles in Category B journals: Journals published by University or scholarly publishers or listed in MyJurnal (Malaysian Journal Management System). (A list of journals in category B recognized by the Faculty)
    • Book chapters in different books: Book chapters published by publishers listed in the Web of Science (WoS) Master Book List, or by University of Malaya Press or Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka or any publishers recognized by the AEI. Two (2) book chapters of different books are equivalent to one (1) publication.

For any enquiries regarding Doctoral Programme by Research at the AEI, please contact Mr. Zahadin Omar at zahadin@um.edu.my.

Last Update: 28/12/2021