1. STATUTES
for
M.S. / Ph.D. degree programme in Marine Biology

2. Center of Excellence in
MARINE BIOLOGY
University of Karachi, Karachi 75270

3. STATUTES
for
M.S. / Ph.D. degree programme in Marine Biology
The rules and regulation for M.S./Ph.D. degree programme are laid out in accordance to the rules
prescribed by the University of Karachi as per HEC requirement. The Center reserves the right to
change/emend any rule as and when required through Academic Committee under proper
approval of competent authorities.
MASTER OF STUDIES (M.S.)
i) The minimum duration of studies for the M.S. degree shall be two years.
ii) The requirement for the M.S. degree shall be Course Work and Thesis.
REGULATIONS
1. NAME OF DEGREE
The degree awarded shall be named M.S. in Marine Biology.
2. NATURE OF DEGREE
i) The degree shall be a research degree with course work and thesis as part of
requirement.
ii) The M.S. shall be of two year duration. In the first year (two semesters) course load
of 30 credit hours (theory and practical) are required to be completed by each
candidate. The second year of M.S. programme shall be devoted to research work.
Qualified candidate shall write a proposal of thesis research for consideration by the
Board of Advance Studies and Research (BASR), University of Karachi, under
supervision of an eligible faculty member. Thesis is to be submitted not later than
five years.
iii) The thesis shall be a piece of work embodying either a discovery of new facts or a
fresh interpretation of facts or theories, in either case the work should show the
candidate’s capacity for critical examination and judgment.
3. ELIGIBILITY FOR ADMISSION
The admission shall be open to candidates with sixteen years degree (M.Sc. or 4 years
of B.S. or equivalent) with atleast a second division. The preference will be given to those
having Marine Biology or allied subject such as Zoology, Botany, Chemistry,
Biochemistry, Microbiology, Marine Science, Genetics, Geology, and Physiology provided
that they have background in biological sciences atleast upto BS degree level.
4. ADMISSION
i) The candidate is required to clear CEMB Entry Test/NTS and interview.

4. ii) Entry test shall comprise of MCQs in basic science subject, general knowledge and
English. The qualifying marks shall be 50%.
iii) The successful candidate shall be provisionally admitted on the basis of
merit/availability of seats. The admission cases will be submitted to BASR,
University of Karachi for consideration.
iv) No student of M.S. courses shall undertake any employment during the period of
his/her work.
v) No student shall, without the permission of the Director, join any other course(s) of
studies or appear at any other examination conducted by any University or public
body.
vi) All admitted candidates shall execute an undertaking as per Karachi University rule
and a declaration on stamp paper of appropriate value (specimen: Annexure I and II).
5. COURSE WORK
i) All selected candidates will be required to complete 10 courses (3 to 0 and/or 2+1) of
30 credit hours in two semesters.
ii) In each semester there will be 5 courses of 3 credit hours (3+0 and/or 2+1) each.
iii) In first semester 5 compulsory courses will be offered.
iv) In second semester optional courses will be offered and the candidate can opt for 5
courses of their interest.
v) The candidate has to pass the course work with CGPA 3.0 or better for being able to
continue research in the second year. In case the candidate fails to get the required
CGPA, he/she will be allowed to improve the grade. Only once chance for
improvement will be given.
vi) Atleast 75% attendance in each course is compulsory. Candidates with 60% or more
attendance shall have to pay a fine for being eligible to appear in exams as per rule.
vii) In case the candidate passes all subjects but fails to get the required CGPA 3.0, a
PGD in Marine Biology will be given.
6. AWARD OF FELLOWSHIP
i. Fellowship shall be awarded purely on merit basis depending on the availability of
funds.
ii. Candidate securing less than 60% marks in not more than two courses or failing in
one course will not be entitled to Fellowship/Stipend unless the percentage is
improved. Candidates repeating the same performance in the second semester will not
be entitled to stipend. They may however, be allowed to join one year research
programme provided the aggregate percentage is atleast 60% (3.0 CGPA) and the
research supervisor finds him/her suitable for research within a probationary period
not exceeding three months.
iii. On completion of first semester, the candidate acquiring CGPA 3.0 or better will be
awarded Fellowship @ Rs. 8,000/- per month for period of 6 months on merit basis.
iv. Based on the result of second semester, the Fellowship for next six months will be
awarded.

5. v. The Fellowship will continue for another one year on approval of research synopsis/
proposal by the BASR, University of Karachi.
vi. All recipients of the fellowship shall, in addition, also execute an agreement for
undertaking fellowship, a guarantee (as part of the undertaking) and a certificate of
the financial soundness of the guarantor (specimen: Annexure III, IV, V) on non-
judicial stamp paper.
7. CONFIRMATION OF ADMISISON
Successful candidates with CGPA 3.0 or better shall apply through proper channel for
confirmation of admission and approval of research proposal. The candidate will submit a
research proposal/synopsis along with research topic, bibliography, name of research
supervisor and copy of the marks certificate issued by the Semester Examination Section &
other relevant documents. Candidate shall carry out research as per approved
proposal/synopsis.
8. DURATION OF STUDY
The duration of M.S. is minimum 2 years and maximum 5 years from the date of
provisional admission.
9. EVALUATION & AWARD OF M.S. DEGREE
The thesis will be evaluated by two experts and the supervisor. The viva-voce examination
will be conducted after receipt of positive reports from the experts and approved by the
BASR, University of Karachi. On successful defense of the thesis, M.S. degree in Marine
Biology will be awarded by the University of Karachi.
10. CONVERSION TO Ph.D. DEGREE PROGRAMME
i) If the candidate passes the course work with CGPA 3.0 or better and completes one
year of research work for M.S., he/she may apply, as per rule, for conversion from
M.S. to Ph.D. through the Director CEMB to BASR, University of Karachi.
ii) The minimum duration of Ph.D. in such case is 1 year and maximum 5 years from the
date of conversion from M.S. to Ph.D. degree programme.
iii) The Fellowship shall be awarded to successful candidates (on merit) @ Rs. 10,000/-
per month for two years subject to the availability of funds.
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (Ph. D.)
i) The minimum duration of studies for Ph.D. degree shall be two years.
ii) The requirement for the Ph.D. degree shall be writing thesis on an approved
subject/topic.

6. REGULATIONS
1. NAME OF DEGREE
The degree awarded shall be named as Ph.D. in Marine Biology.
2. ELIGIBILITY FOR ADMISSION
The admission shall be open to candidates with M.S./M.Phil. in Marine Biology with
Course Work.
No entrance test is required for candidates with M.S./M.Phil. degree in Marine Biology
with course work. Candidates with a M.S./M.Phil. degree without course work shall have
appear for entrance test.
Candidates with 3.0 or better CGPA in course work and who have been given admission in
M.S./Ph.D. programme and have successfully completed the M.S. research may apply for
conversion from M.S./Ph.D. to Ph.D. degree as per BASR rules.
3. AWARD OF FELLOWSHIP
i) Fellowship shall be awarded on merit, subject to the availability of funds and
provided that candidate is not receiving salary from any other sources/organizations
(Government and non-Government), after the confirmation of admission and approval
of research topic by the BASR, University of Karachi. Eligible candidates shall be
awarded a Fellowship of Rs. 10,000/- per month for two years as per rule.
ii) All recipients of the fellowship shall execute an agreement for undertaking
fellowship, a guarantee (as part of the undertaking) and a certificate of the financial
soundness of the guarantor (specimen: Annexure III, IV, V).
4. DURATION OF STUDY
The minimum duration of Ph.D. in such case is 1 year and maximum 5 years from the date
of conversion from M.S. to Ph.D. degree programme.
5. EVALUATION AND AWARD OF Ph.D. DEGREE
i) The candidate has to publish at least one research paper in a HEC recognized
reputable journal during course of study.
ii) The thesis will be evaluated by two foreign experts and the supervisor. The viva-voce
examination will be conducted after receipt of positive reports from the examiners
and approved by the BASR, University of Karachi. On successful defense of the
thesis a Ph.D. degree in Marine Biology shall be awarded by the University of
Karachi.