Doctor of Philosophy programme at the School of Distance Education offers research areas as follow:

Aquatic Biology
Biology
Biotechnology
Chemistry
Environmental Science
Mathematics
Microbiology
Molecular Biology
Physics
Statistics
Zoology

Aquatic Biology
Aquatic Biology is an area of applied biology that entails the multidisciplinary study and research on fresh-, brackish- and marine biology and the dynamics of these ecosystems. Since about 71% of the Earth’s surface is covered by water, these aquatic ecosystems are the major environment and ecosystems on Earth. By doing research on this area, students will be applying the basic principles of aquatic science, and will be able to analyse, synthesize and evaluate the experimental data and information objectively. Research in aquatic biology also involves practical experience in aquatic sampling inventory and various field and lab-based measurement techniques. Management and sustainable utilization of aquatic resources for various ecological and economic importance will also be emphasized.

Research Thrust Areas: 

• Aquaculture
• Limnology
• Marine Ecology
• Oceanography
• Coastal Ecosystems
• Plankton Ecology & Productivity
• Aquatic Animal Disease
• Aquatic Animal Nutrition
• Ichthyology

Biology
The postgraduate degrees of Biology offer students to be experts such as microbiology, zoology, botany, environmental biology, applied parasitology, aquatic biology, plant pathology, applied entomology and biotechnology. The programmes provide an excellent atmosphere for students to conduct independent and original research, where excellent supervision and guidance are provided by academic staffs who are accomplished specialists in their respective scientific disciplines.

Research Thrust Areas: 

• Algalogy
• Molecular Biology
• Botany
• Ecology
• Animal Ecology
• Plant Physiology
• Genetics
• Tissue Culture
• Vertebrate Zoology
• Environmental Biology
• Application of Data Mining
• Aquatic Biology
• Biodiversity
• Bioinformatics
• Biomass Energy
• Biotechnology
• Eco-informatics
• Ecological Processes
• Entomology
• Ethnobotany
• Ethnozoology
• Microbiology
• Supercritical Fluid Technology
• Wildlife Biology

Biotechnology
Biotechnology is one of the fastest growing areas in applied biology. The practical application of cells or its components in manufacturing and service industries entail the integration of knowledge from microbiology, biochemistry, genetics, molecular biology, chemistry as well as chemical and process engineering. The programme gives students theoretical and practical background in biotechnological techniques and applications while developing a strong understanding of cellular biology involving microbiology, biochemistry, genetics and molecular biology. The programme boasts modern research facilities such as an automated DNA sequence, electron microscopes, protein crystallography and a 100 litre fermenter. Existing projects include functional genomics for rubber production, in search of natural compounds with potential roles in chemical biology, stem cell biology, structural biology and protein chemistry.

Research Thrust Areas:

• Biotechnology

Chemistry
The postgraduate degree of Chemistry offers students to be experts in analytical chemistry, physical chemistry, coordination chemistry, organic chemistry, organometallic chemistry, inorganic chemistry, computational chemistry, polymer chemistry, environmental chemistry, green chemistry, material chemistry, natural product, and biochemistry. The programme provides an excellent atmosphere for students to conduct independent and original research, where excellent supervision and guidance are provided by academic staffs who are accomplished specialists in their respective scientific disciplines.

Research Thrust Areas:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Physical Chemistry
• Coordination Chemistry
• Organic Chemistry
• Organometallic Chemistry
• Inorganic Chemistry
• Computational Chemistry
• Polymer Chemistry
• Environmental Chemistry
• Natural Product
• Biochemistry

Environmental Science
The postgraduate degrees of Environmental Science offer students to be experts in the area of landslide, environmental modelling, environmental technology, environmental health and safety, and safety and environment. The programmes provide an excellent atmosphere for students to conduct independent and original research, where excellent supervision and guidance are provided by academic staffs who are accomplished specialists in their respective scientific disciplines.

Research Thrust Areas:

• Landslide
• Environmental Modelling
• Environmental Technology
• Environmental Health and Safety
• Safety and Environment

Mathematics
The postgraduate degrees of Mathematics offer students to be experts such as pure mathematics, numerical analysis, operation research, computer aided geometric design and mathematical modelling. The programmes provide an excellent atmosphere for students to conduct independent and original research, where excellent supervision and guidance are provided by academic staffs who are accomplished specialists in their respective scientific disciplines.

Research Thrust Areas:

1. Pure Mathematics

• Algebra
• Complex Analysis
• Groups and Moufang Loops
• Finite Groups Representation Theory
• Geometric Function Theory
• Coding Theory
• Analysis
• Number Theory

2. Numerical Analysis

• Parallel Numerical Algorithms
• Cryptography
• Functional Differential Equations
• Convergence and Learning Algorithms of Neural Network
• Differential Equations
• Neural Networks
• Numerical Linear Algebra
• Optimazations

3. Operation Research

• Inventory Control
• Network Flow
• Multiple Criteria Decision Making
• Maintenance Modelling
• Linear Programming
• Production Management
• Decision Analysis
• Data Envelopment Analysis

4. Computer Aided Geometric Design

• Computer Aided Geometric Design
• Quality Control
• Computer Graphics

5. Mathematical Modelling

• Mathematical Modelling
• Environmental Evaluation Modelling
• Environmental System Modelling
• Adaptive Digital Signal Processing
• Phase-field Modelling
• Computational Intelligence

Microbiology
The microbiology postgraduate programme has evolved into a multidisciplinary research, which encompasses traditional microbial disciplines and the more recent molecular approaches, such as DNA technology. Active research areas span both fundamental and applied microbiology. Its multidisciplinary nature leads to graduates who are more versatile and enjoy rewarding careers in science. 
Current research projects include identification and characterization of natural product based compounds and metabolites with anti-bacterial properties, characterisation of nitrogen-fixation genes in both local and Antartica bacterial species, molecular biology of bioplastics-producing bacteria species, Salmonella toxin-antitoxin systems and formation of biofilms in pathogenic bacterial species.

Research Thrust Areas:

• Microbiology

Molecular Biology
The program focuses on the whole spectrum of cellular and molecular biology research. Work on full genome sequencing, transcriptomic, characterisation of candidate genes and proteins with interest or relevance to chemical biology forms the core of this program. Organisms ranged from interesting microbe species to typical life science model organisms such as C. elegans and zebrafish.

Research Thrust Areas:

• Molecular Biology

Physics
The postgraduate degrees of Physic offer students to be experts such as physics semiconductor, computational solid state physics, radiation physics, solid state physics, renewable physics, amorphous semiconductor, materials science, medical physics and physics . The programmes provide an excellent atmosphere for students to conduct independent and original research, where excellent supervision and guidance are provided by academic staffs who are accomplished specialists in their respective scientific disciplines.

Research Thrust Areas:

• Physics Semi-Conductor
• Computational Solid State Physics
• Radiation Physics
• Solid State Physics
• Renewable Physics
• Amorphous Semiconductor
• Materials Science
• Medical Physics
• Physics

Statistics
The programme is to produce experts in the field of statistics who are able to undertake research and development activities in addition to the teaching of statistics at the postgraduate level.

Research Thrust Areas

• Applied Statistics
• Quality Control
• Experimental Design
• Branching Process
• Regression Analysis
• Time Series
• Industrial Statistics
• Econometrics
• Spatial Modelling
• Data Mining
• Categorical Data Analysis

Zoology
The animal biology programme offers postgraduate training that prepares students for careers in conservation, management, biomedical, academic and a variety of other professional opportunities. Students are trained to do original and significant research in zoological science, to develop a broad understanding of the zoological literature, and to provide experience and training in the presentation and publication of scientific findings.

In addition the broad range of biological sciences permits collaborative programmes in oceanography, wildlife and aquatic sciences. Some areas of study include wildlife ecology, water quality, habitat management, fishery science and conservation zoology. Postgraduate studies in wildlife and aquatic research are designed to provide training in ecological principles, field research technique, and the application of these tools for the management of all types of zoological resources. Modern research facilities (including molecular laboratories, specimen collections and a computer laboratory) are available and would be beneficial for in depth research in zoology and trans-disciplinary research.

The animal biology group consists of members with diverse approaches, expertise, and subject organisms. Specialties include behavioural studies, population ecology, ecological genetics, phylogenetic systematic and population genetics. The group emphasizes lower invertebrates (fish, amphibians) and insects (cockroaches, ants) although postgraduate student research often involves other groups of organisms.

Research Thrust Areas: 

• Animal Taxonomy
• Entomology
• Mammalogy
• Herpetology

Expertise available in the following School:
School of Distance Education 

Applicants should possess one of the following:

• A Master's degree in research mode; or
• A Master’s degree in related area with CGPA 3.00/4; or
• A Master’s degree in related area with CGPA 2.50-2.99/4 with additional requirements; or
• Bachelor’s degree in related area with minimum CGPA 3.67/4 (fast-track to PhD)

(Applicable for International Applicants Only)

The minimum score for each programme can be vary from the below list, candidates are required to check for each programme requirements.

• A minimum of Band 5 for IELTS; or
• A minimum score of 40 for TOEFL (Internet-based); or
• A minimum of Band 7.5 for TOEFL Essentials (Online); or
• A minimum score of 154 for Cambridge English: Advance (CAE)/Proficiency (CPE) /Preliminary (PET) /First (FCE)/ Linguaskill Online min. score 154; or
• A minimum score of 47 for Pearson Test of English (PTE); or
• A minimum of Band 107 for CIEP Level (ELS); or
• A minimum of Band 3.5 for Malaysian University English Test (MUET)

Exemption is given to candidate if:

• English is the candidate’s mother tongue or National Language; or
• Candidate graduated from an Institution of Higher Learning in which the medium of instruction at Bachelor and/or Master degree level is English (statement of proof required)

• Full-time: Min 4 semesters / Max 10 semesters

• Part-time: Min 6 semesters / Max 15 semesters

April & October

*NOT inclusive 6% Sales and Service Tax (SST) imposed by Government of Malaysia

** Fees are subject to change