Ramkhamhaeng University International Program (English Program):

Ph.D. Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science
(English Program)

Program Information

The following general information applies to all programs. Program-specific information you find in the subsequent chapters.

Evaluation and Graduation Grades

1. Dissertation Evaluation
Each candidate must have a dissertation advisory committee. The committee will consist of three lecturers from universities (or one from Institute/ Organization) and must comprise at least one from Ramkhamhaeng University and one foreign Professor.

2. The qualifying requirements for eligibility as a dissertation adviser are as follows:
The adviser is a

- Professor or
- Assoc. Professor, or holds
- an earned doctorate degree, or is
- an expert or professional or specialist in the candidate's field of study

3. Each dissertation script must be fully approved by the joint committee. The joint committee consists of (1) the dissertation examiner committee, (2) the chairman of the dissertation advisory committee and (3) the chairman of the administrative committee of the Ph.D. program.

4. The grades of a dissertation are:

- Very Good
- Good
- Pass

5. The Dissertation examiner committee consists of academic experts from Ramkhamhaeng University and other Institutes or organizations. The number of academic experts from other institutes may be in the majority but the committee should include at least one academic expert from Ramkhamhaeng University.

Subject Evaluation

The letter grades used are:

Requirement for Graduation

1. Candidates must pass one subject of final examination (English Language or Statistics or Computer).

2. Candidates must pass Qualifying Examination and then they have the right to start their dissertation.

3. Candidates must complete their dissertation by oral defense.

4. Each dissertation must be presented at a public academic seminar and either published in full or in part in an approved academic journal.

University Library

Central Library of Ramkhamhaeng University

The central library is jointly utilized among the faculties of the university in accordance with university policy. It contains textbooks, reference books, research reports, periodicals, Internet and database system (OPAC, web OPAC) both in Thai and English, on order to support the various user needs.

There are 5 categories in the collection.

1. Books: Thai 412,653 volumes, English 101,088 volumes

2. Magazines: Thai 325 publications, English 76 publications

3. Theses 4, 310 volumes

4. Research Reports 1,133 volumes

5. Newspapers: Thai 34 newspapers, English 7 newspapers

6. Government Publications: Thai 17,077 items, English 11,158 items

Moreover, the university also provides a communication system through the Internet for all candidates.

Dissertation Examination

Student must present their dissertation at a public seminar. Those present at the seminar will comprise (1) the dissertation examiner committee, (2) the academic experts from others Institutes, (3) lectures from Ramkhamhaeng University/ lectures from others Universities, (4) the students and, (5) the dissertation advisory committee.

The members of the dissertation advisory committee are present as observers and cannot answer questions/ comments from the examiner committee or offer any other explanations.

Each presented dissertation script must be fully approved with the signatures of the examiners.
In a case when it is requested to submit a dissertation for reconsideration, the student and supervisors have to correct it and return to the public academic seminar.

System of Education Quality Assurance

The Quality Guarantee System consists of 4 parts, namely:

A. Program/Course Administration falls into 4 categories

1. Student Selection System: This system is managed by the entrance committee.

1.1 The committee consists of:

(1) the executive committee of the Ph.D. program, 7 persons

(2) the representative from the field the same as the candidate's, 1 person

(3) the representative from the university council, 1 person

(4) experts or specialist from the public and private sectors, 2 person

1.2 The duty of the committee is:

(1) to consider/evaluate the dissertation proposal

(2) to consider the possible application of the dissertation in practice

(3) to consider the academic knowledge of the candidate

(4) to consider the ability/readiness of the person who will be one of the dissertation advisory committee

(5) to consider the qualification of the academic expert/ specialist from another Institute who will join the dissertation advisory committee (1 person)

(6) to report the issue to the rector and the university council.

1.3 Eligibility Criteria

(1) From the application from with emphasis given to his/her work position, special ability and research experience.

(2) From the primary dissertation proposal, indicating the background and significance the topic, the object of the study, the conceptual framework, sources of data and expected contributions of the findings.

1.4 Dissertation Proposal Evaluation

The dissertation proposal evaluation system is managed by the dissertation examiner committee; the committee will accept/ reject each dissertation proposal on a majority vote and grade:

- not accepted

- fully accepted

- accepted under the condition specified

- accepted under the condition specified with the requirement that the be candidate take some courses related to the dissertation.

2. System of Teaching and Studying

2.1 Each Ph.D. student (research program), must have the dissertation advisory committee. The committee consists of (1) one Prof./ Assoc. Prof. from Ramkhamhaeng University who has classes related to the topic of the dissertation, (2) one lecturer from Ramkhamhaeng University or from another university, who is an expert in research methodology of each area, (3) and one representative from the steering committee. One of the three numbers of the committee will be elected by vote as the chairman of the committee.

2.2 Academic Activities

Student must present their dissertation at least 4 times in the public academic seminar. The participants in each seminar are (1) lecturer from Ramkhamhaeng University and other universities, (2) experts/ specialists from Ramkhamhaeng University and other Institutes, (3) Ph.D. students.

3. Dissertation Examination

Student must present their dissertation to the dissertation examiner committee. The committee consists of (1) lectures/ academics from university, (2) experts/ specialists from an organization or Institute related to the dissertation topic, (3) the dissertation advisory committee. The dissertation advisory committee is present as the observer and can not answer the questions/ committee from the examiner committee or offer any other explanations.

The committee, (1) and (2), has the duty to evaluate the dissertation and the representative from the administration committee attends as observer. In a case when it is requested to submit a dissertation for reconsideration, student and supervisors have to correct it and return to the public academic seminar.

For a dissertation to be corrected it must be passed through reading by external members of the dissertation examiner committee.

Students must prepare their dissertation for publishing in (1) an approved academic journal or (2) a document for an International Conference or (3) a textbook or academic document that will be evaluated by the expert committee (at least 3 committee members).

4. Curriculum Revision

This curriculum is to be revised every 3 years by the administration committee.

B. Course Materials and Handouts and Educational Researches

(1) Lecture Professors and Consulting Professors must have the quality in accordance with the rules of graduate studies (2006).

(2) Providing effective and efficient educational instruments

(3) Emphasizing the teaching quality of all professors in each semester

C. Providing Educational Supporting and Consultancy

(1) Both internal and Visiting Professors are provided for continuing educational consultancy

(2) Student must join other activities that the administration committee will arrange for compliance with the system of educational quality guarantee. This activity, for example, may take the form of a study trip abroad.

D. Needs in Labor Market

Following, surveying, and researching the need of labor market in every 3 years.