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Doctor of Philosophy


  • OVERVIEW

    The School of Mechanical Engineering, Universiti Sains Malaysia was established in 1989. The School offers engineering academic qualifications of postgraduate studies by research in various fields of Mechanical Engineering and Manufacturing Engineering, leading to the Degree of M.Sc. and Ph.D. These programmes are offered either in full-time or part-time basis. 
    The research programmes at the school specialise in the areas of Bio-Engineering, Applied Mechanics, Thermo-fluids, Energy, Manufacturing Technology, Manufacturing System & Automation, Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Management, Advanced Composites Materials & Processing, and Nanofabrication & Functional Materials.
    The degree can be pursued under the supervision of at least one academic staff of the School, in which the candidate is required to complete the research study within a stipulated time period, as specified below.

    Research Thrust Areas:

    Energy

    • Energy Resources – Biomass
    • Energy Conversion Technologies
    • Internal Combustion Engine - Alternative Fuel Combustors - Gas Turbine, Incinerators
    • Aerofoil, Flow in Passages, Micro Flow Sensor, Two Phase Flow

    Thermodynamics and Fluid Mechanics

    • Thermal System
    • Heat Transfer
    • Computer Fluid Dynamics
    • Fluid Mechanics
    • Advanced Electronic Packaging
    • Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning

    Applied Mechanics

    • Experimental and Numerical Stress Analysis
    • Dynamic Characteristics of Materials
    • Instrumentation and Automatic Control
    • Structural Optimization
    • Noise and Vibration
    • Stress and damage characterization
    • Fracture Mechanics
    • Experimental Mechanics

    Manufacturing System & Automation

    • Design for Manufacture and Assembly
    • Robotics & Industrial Automation
    • Computer Aided Design and Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAD/CAM)
    • Manufacturing System Design and Analysis
    • Manufacturing Planning and Control
    • Technology Management
    • Machine Vision & Metrology

    Manufacturing Processes

    • Advanced Manufacturing Process
    • Laser Applications
    • Rapid Prototyping
    • Tool and Die
    • Advanced Materials
    • Casting

    Industrial Engineering

    • Ergonomics
    • Quality & Reliability
    • Artificial Intelligence in Manufacturing
    • Productivity Engineering Facilities Planning & Design
    • Process Optimization
    • Production Planning & Control
    • Value Engineering and Project Management

    Nanofabrication and Functional Materials

    • Nano Engineering and Technology
    • Nanofabrication
    • Lithography Techniques
    • Thin Films
    • Smart and Functional Materials
    • Shape Memory Alloys
    • Materials Characterization

    Advanced Composites Materials & Processing

    • Composite Design & Assembly
    • Composite Processing Technology
    • Composite Machining
    • Quality Inspection & Part Testing
    • Composite Repair
    • Static, Impact & Ballistic Characterization

    Bio-Engineering

    • Bio-materials
    • Bio-mechanics & Bio-medical analysis
    • Orthopaedic bio-engineering
    • Bio-mechanical data mining

    Computational Engineering and Data Mining Analysis

    • Adaptive finite element methods
    • Qualitative and quantitative data mining
    • Pattern analysis
    • Static and time series data analysis
    • Knowledge discovery databases

    Expertise available in the following School:
    School of Mechanical Engineering
    http://mechanical.eng.usm.my/

  • ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

    Applicants should possess the following:

    A) Bachelor’s degree in related field or equivalent

    1. CGPA of at least 2.75/4.00; or 
    1. CGPA between 2.50 - 2.74/4.00 with the following additional conditions: or
      • Research experience for at least one (1) year; or
      • Professional experience in related field for at least one (1) year; or
      • One (1) academic publication in the relevant field; or
      • Grade B for major/elective courses; or
      • Grade B+ for final year project 
    1. CGPA between 2.00 - 2.49/4.00 (honours degree) with the following additional conditions:
      • Research experience for at least five (5) years; or
      • Professional experience in related field for at least five (5) years; AND
      • One (1) academic publication in the relevant field; or
      • Grade B for major/elective courses; or
      • Grade B+ for final year project

    Any Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science/Computing/Information Technology awarded by local private institutions of higher learning, including those awarded under any collaborative/franchising schemes with local or foreign partners must be accredited by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA).

  • LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

    (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 6 for IELTS; or
    • A minimum score of 60 for TOEFL (Internet-based); or
    • A minimum of Band 8.5 for TOEFL Essentials (Online); or
    • A minimum score of 169 for Cambridge English: Advance (CAE)/Proficiency (CPE) /Preliminary (PET) /First (FCE)/ Linguaskill Online min. score 169/ Occupational English Test (OET) min. score 250; or
    • A minimum score of 59 for Pearson Test of English (PTE); or
    • A minimum of Band 109 for CIEP Level (ELS); or
    • A minimum of Band 4 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)

    IMPORTANT: Candidates are required to provide any of the above English result upon application. Incomplete application will be rejected.

  • DURATION

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

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

  • FEES

    Malaysian (MYR)
    Full Time Part Time
    • Registration Fee : 330.00
    • Tuition Fee (Semester) : 3,700.00
    • Thesis Evaluation Fee : 800.00
    • Convocation Fee : 200.00
    • Research Methodology : 320.00
    • Registration Fee : 330.00
    • Tuition Fee (Semester) : 3,085.00
    • Thesis Evaluation Fee: 800.00
    • Convocation Fee : 200.00
    • Research Methodology : 320.00
    International (USD)*
    Full Time Part Time
    • Registration Fee : 225.00
    • Personal Bond : 1,000.00
    • Tuition Fee (Semester) : 1,850.00
    • Thesis Evaluation Fee: 250.00
    • Convocation Fee : 50.00
    • Research Methodology : 80.00
    • Registration Fee : 225.00
    • Personal Bond : 1,000.00
    • Tuition Fee (Semester) : 1,570.00
    • Thesis Evaluation Fee : 250.00
    • Convocation Fee : 50.00
    • Research Methodology : 80.00

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

    ** Fees are subject to change

Postgraduate

Institute of Postgraduate Studies
Universiti Sains Malaysia,
11800 Penang, Malaysia.

Tel: +604-653 6309 / 6027 / 2606 / 2946 / 2958
Fax: +604-653 2931

Disclaimer

This website uses the GTranslate component to provide translation into Bahasa Melayu & Chinese Simplify. In the event of any inaccuracies in the translation, the English version shall be referred to as the official reference of this website.

Last Update: Saturday 11 April 2026.

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