Doctoral Degree Programs
The doctorate represents the highest level of academic achievement with the Israeli educational system. The doctoral program focuses on a scientific thesis or dissertation that is expected to make an original, significant contribution to the advancement of knowledge. The various doctoral degrees are listed in Table 1, and the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) is by far the most common. Seven universities have been authorized by the Council for Higher Education to award this degree. Doctoral programs extend over a minimum of two years after completion of the master’s degree, but are generally completed only after four or more years.
Admission Requirements: Applicants to doctoral programs normally must have a master’s degree from a recognized university with a grade average of at least “B” or “Good” in master’s level course work and a thesis grade of "Very Good". Applicants from departments offering two programs towards the master’s degree are required to have completed the trend which requires a master’s thesis.
At the discretion of university doctoral committees, applicants who do not meet normal admission criteria but appear to be able to meet the requisite standard within one year may be admitted provisionally. Provisional candidates follow a prescribed program of supplementary studies for one year, after which time the qualifications of the applicant are reevaluated. Previous scientific work, research and publications are taken into consideration.
The Direct Doctoral Program is intended for exceptional students who have a bachelor’s degree with a grade average of at least 90 (“A”) in the area of their intended doctorate and an average of at least 80 (“B”) in other course work. The first year of the program is an accelerated master’s program. If high achievement is maintained, the student may bypass the second year of the master’s program and proceed directly to doctoral studies.
Program Structure: Requirements for the doctorate are regulated by individual university doctoral committees, which operate in conjunction with the university department and/or faculty through which the degree will be recommended. As a result, program structure varies slightly from institution to institution and from department to department. In general, doctoral programs comprise course work as well as a language requirement and focus on original research within the framework of the department.
Within six months of being accepted into a program, the student must try to find a senior faculty member to supervise his or her research and dissertation. A research proposal must be submitted to and approved by the university doctoral committee. While the research is usually carried out in the framework of the student’s university department, under certain circumstances it may be conducted in part or in its entirety at another scientific institution in Israel or abroad.
During the course of the program, students meet with their advisor, submit written progress reports, and present a lecture to a research seminar or a similar forum. The dissertation is evaluated by a committee of three, one of whom is the advisor. The written evaluation submitted by the committee serves as the basis for awarding the degree. The dissertation is normally written in Hebrew, although special permission may be granted for its submission in another language. Course work is generally required. Some institutions do not specifically require enrollment in courses but assume student attendance and participation in courses that have been selected in consultation with the student’s advisor
