Direct Ph.D. Track

Applying to the Direct Ph.D. Track
Second-year M.Sc. students may apply for the direct PhD track during the first two weeks of the month of June in their second year of studies. Decisions are made during the month of July.

Status
A student who has his/her request approved, based on his/her course and rotation achievements and on the advisor’s letter, will maintain second-year M.Sc. status and complete all the course requirements for the M.Sc. degree.

M.Sc. Thesis/Ph.D. Research Proposal - Deadline
Students accepted to the Direct Ph.D. Track must submit their M.Sc. Thesis Ph.D. Research Proposal (see below) by the end of October of that year.

The Structure of the M.Sc. Thesis/Ph.D. Research Proposal

1.	Title Page: Should include (both in Hebrew and English) the student's name; the mentor's name; the date; the subject title followed by the sentence “Research Proposal submitted within the Direct Ph.D. Track and also presented to the Scientific Council of the Weizmann Institute of Science as a thesis for the degree of Master of Science”.
2.	Abstract: Up to one page
3.	Introduction: Scientific background and identification of the open research questions in the field.
4.	Goals: A clear outline of the research goals and the underlying hypothesis.
5.	Results: Description of the research methods and results obtained thus far.
6.	Discussion: Discussion of the significance of the results obtained thus far.
7.	Research Plan: Outline of the proposed future experiments and expected results according to the working hypothesis.
8.	Literature: List of the relevant bibliography.

Technical Information

	Should not exceed 30 pages (excluding pictures, graphs and bibliography)
	Submitted in English (except in the field of Science Teaching)
	Font: Times New Roman; Size: 12; Line spacing: 1.5
	Should be signed by the advisor  (approval by email is acceptable too)
	In three stapled copies (a copy on CD will be submitted after the approval of the M.Sc. Thesis/Ph.D Proposal).

Examination
Upon submission of the M.Sc. Thesis / Ph.D. Research Proposal, the Chair of the Board of Studies will appoint an Examining Committee of at least two scientists. The student will meet with his/her examiners who will examine his/her Master's thesis and Ph.D. research proposal. This meeting should also be pre-scheduled. The advisor(s) should not be present at that meeting. The examiners will report, in writing, to the Board of Studies. The Board, after consulting with the advisor(s) will recommend one of the following options:

1.	Approval of the proposal and its recognition as a thesis for the degree of Master of Science: Accordingly, the student will transfer directly from the status of second-year MSc to that of second-year PhD student (as of the month following the one in which the proposal was submitted). The student will have to complete all the degree requirements (i.e. interim report, final report, thesis and credit points within 42 months from the time his status was changed to a second year Ph.D. student).
2.	Approval of the proposal without its recognition as a thesis for the degree of Master of Science: Accordingly, the student will transfer directly from the status of second-year MSc to that of second-year PhD student (as of the month following the one in which the proposal was submitted), but he will not be awarded a degree of Master of Science. The student will have to complete all the degree requirements (i.e. interim report, final report, thesis and credit points within 42 months from the time his status was changed to a second year Ph.D. student).
3.	Approval of the thesis for the degree of Master of Science: The student will be awarded a degree of Master of Science, but he will not be permitted to continue as a student in the direct Ph.D. Track. The student's candidacy for the regular Ph.D. track will be considered.
4.	Rejecting the proposal both as a research plan for a Ph.D. degree and as a thesis for M.Sc: The Board of Studies will discuss the future of the student at the Feinberg Graduate School. The Board's recommendations will be presented to the FGS Dean who will make the final decision.

Public Presentation of the Thesis
Students of chemical sciences and life sciences must also schedule a public presentation of his/her Master's thesis at which his/her advisor(s) and examiners should be present. It is recommended to schedule the presentation prior to the meeting with the examiners to discuss the Ph.D. research proposal.

Submission of a Copy of the Thesis
After the exam on the thesis / proposal and approval of the corrections, students are required to submit to FGS one printed copy of the manuscript as well as a copy on a CD. FGS will send a copy to the Wix Library.