PhD cannot be completed in three years while working: MQA

Maldives Qualifications Authority (MQA) has said it is not appropriate to complete a PhD programme on a full-time basis while being employed.

In a statement, the authority said a doctoral programme is a 360-credit qualification that involves extensive research work and requires a minimum of 3,600 hours of full-time study over three years.

“Such a programme requires at least 3,600 hours of full-time study over a period of three years, and it is therefore not possible to pursue it on a full-time basis while being employed,” MQA said.

According to the authority, students who are employed must enroll in PhD programmes on a part-time basis, while those who are not working may pursue full-time study.

MQA said there is no specific national regulation governing the duration and delivery of PhD programmes conducted by higher education institutions in the Maldives. However, standards for recognizing doctoral degrees are outlined in its Regulations on the Recognition of Doctoral Degrees of Overseas Higher Education Institutions.

Under those regulations: