Research Methodology for Science & Technology

1. Week 1: Graduate Rules,
Research Ethics and
Plagiarism
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nor Fadzilah Abdullah
Head of Graduate Program
Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment (FKAB)

2. OBJECTIVES
1. Understand the UKM Graduate Rules and
Regulation 2021
2. Identify components of research ethics
3. Understand plagiarism research misconduct
and its implication

3. Graduate Rules and
Regulations
https://www.ukm.my/pusatsiswazah/ukm-regulation-graduate-studies-2021/

4. Overview
 Student Registration / Course and Thesis Registration
 Duration of Study
 Bahasa Melayu and Research Methodology Course
Requirements
 Progress Monitoring and Publication Requirement
 Thesis Writing and Examination
 Research Ethics
 Plagiarism Misconduct

5. Student Registration
 A candidate who accepts the offer of admission shall pay all
required fees and register at the beginning of every semester
for the duration of his/her study.
 Admission registration is allowed anytime during the semester
for new research mode students.
 A candidate may request to postpone/defer admission
registration up to 2 semesters on reasonable grounds by writing
to the Student Admission Unit (PPA).

6. New Student
Registration

7. Returning Student
Registration

8. Returning Student
Registration

9. Returning Student
Registration
 Existing students who have submitted a dissertation/thesis for
examination shall continue to register for the following
semester, and the dissertation/thesis is given the status of
“Submission of Thesis for Examination” until the oral
examination of the dissertation/thesis is completed without
incurring tuition fees.

10. Academic Calendar

11. Academic Calendar

12. Course and Thesis
Registration

13. Course and Thesis
Registration

14. Duration of Study
Graduate on time (GOT): 7 semesters or 42 months from date of registration
*Note: If you exceed the maximum duration of studies and have not submitted
thesis:
 Apply for EXTENSION of period of study from the Faculty at least 4 weeks
from the registration date. Form is available at the FKAB Postgraduate Office.
 Extension is up to a maximum of 3 semesters under faculty’s approval.
 An additional extension of 1 semester may be given subject to Senate
approval.
** Status change from full time to part time only allowed once throughout study
Full-time Part-time
Master by Course work 1.5 – 2 years 2 – 4 years
Master by Research 2 - 3 years
(4 - 6 semesters)
3 - 4 years
(6 - 8 semesters)
PhD 3 - 6 years
(6 - 12 semesters)
4 – 7 years
(8 - 14 semesters)

15. Deferment
(existing student)
 A student may apply for deferment of study based on
reasonable grounds, and the duration of this deferment will not
be considered part of the period of study.
 The deferment of study may be permitted for a minimum
period of one (1) semester and not exceeding four (4)
semesters throughout the period of study.
 Students may apply for an additional one (1) semester only for
deferment of studies subject to Senate approval.
 Students who are approved for deferment of studies are not
eligible to use any facilities provided by the University.
 International students who postpone their studies must cancel
their student pass and are subject to the regulations of the
Malaysian Immigration Department in force at the time.
 All applications for deferment of studies must be made in
writing to the Dean/ Director no later than four (4) weeks from
the date the semester/session begins.

16. Special deferment
 Applicants who have been offered a place but have not
registered and existing students can apply for a special
deferment of studies. This special deferment shall not be taken
into account in the count of semesters allowed for deferment.
 The conditions to enable students to apply for special
deferment are as follows:
a) Restrictions on entry into Malaysia by the Government of
Malaysia;
b) Restrictions on exit from the country of origin due to war
or disease outbreaks.
c) Unforeseen disasters/crises and those beyond one’s
control.
 All applications for special deferment of this study shall be
made in writing to the Dean/Director within four (4) weeks
from the date of the semester/session begins together with the
appropriate evidence subject to a maximum of two (2)
semesters throughout the period of study.

17. Proficiency in
Bahasa Melayu
 Starting from 2019/2020 intake, all international students (i.e.
non-Malaysian) are required to complete one (1) course of
Bahasa Melayu organised by the University under Pusat Citra
(PCU).
 Exemptions may be granted to students who have attended and
passed an equivalent Malay Language course organized by other
parties approved by the Senate
International students
from Nusantara and
South Thailand
LMCM1093 Malay for Nusantara Students
LMCM1093 Bahasa Melayu untuk Pelajar
Nusantara
Other International
students
LMCM1083 Malay for International
Communication
LMCM1083 Bahasa Melayu Komunikasi
Antarabangsa

18. Bahasa Melayu
Course Exemption
 Student to download the the Malay language course exemption
form at:
https://www.ukm.my/citra/wp-
content/uploads/2020/06/Borang-permohonan-pengecualian-
kursus-BM.pdf
 Payment of RM100 has to be made to UKM Treasurer.
 Student needs to email the completed form and proof of
payment receipt as well as a copy of the university transcript to
Mrs. Nor Azilawati (coordinator, aziela@ukm.edu.my) and Puan
Siti Rohani (sroha@ukm.edu.my).
 Pusat Citra Universiti (PCU) will process the student's
application and will issue a letter of approval to the academic
office for the exemption Malay language course.

19. Research Methodology
Course Requirements
 KKKF6003 Research Methodology (Master by Research & PhD)
 To prepare newly enrolled graduate students with basic skills in
research and academic writing.
 Course content: Research Management, Information Search,
Writing Research Proposal, Design of Experiments, Writing
Technical Paper, Issues on Plagiarism, Statistical Data Analysis,
Presentation Skills and Thesis Format UKM Style.
 All students must register on-line for the course and present
research proposal at the end of the semester.
NOTE:
 Students who fail to fulfil the course requirements will obtain an
“Fail” Grade for the course and need to repeat in the following
semester.
 Add/drop course within 4 weeks of semester or withdraw from
4 to 8 weeks of semester

20. Research Methodology
Course Exemption
 Exemption of Research Methodology course may be given to
candidates who have previously attended the course in UKM or
other institutions recognised by UKM, with conditions:
 The course was taken not more than 5 years prior to
registration date.
 The course contents must have at least 80% similarity and
have the same credit hours to the course conducted in UKM
 Student must achieved a minimum of grade B or Passed in
previously taken course.
 Fast track PhD students are not eligible to apply for
exemption
 Students with conversion of mode from MSc to PhD program
may be granted exemption during evaluation by Change of
Program evaluation panel.

21. Progress Monitoring
 A candidate may be supervised by a main supervisor, co-
supervisor, or a Graduate Committee.
 Candidate Progress Report (LKC)
 Supervisor-Student meeting
 Research Proposal Presentation (KKKF6003)
 Monitoring and Progress Seminars (Sem 3 MSc / Sem 3&5 PhD)
 *Pre-viva
 *Log book / supervision documentations
 Suggested contact hours for Research programmes (Supervisor-
Student meeting)
 Full time - at least four (4) times per month.
 Part time - at least four (4) times per semester.

22. Progress Monitoring
 Every semester, a candidate’s progress is reported by his/her
supervisor to the Faculty Graduate Committee (Candidate
Progress Report – LKC)
 A student may be given a ‘FAIL’ status if he/she obtains a
progress report as follows:
 A total of four (4) “with reminder” throughout the study
period.
 A total of two (2) “with warning” throughout the study
period.
 A combination of two (2) “with reminder” and one (1) “with
warning” throughout the study period.
 A “failed and dismissed” status in any semester.

23. Publication
Requirement
Specialization Master by Research PhD
• Engineering • Published one (1) WoS indexed
journal article.
• Published two (2) WoS indexed
journal articles.
• Architecture
• Built
Environment
• Engineering
Education
• Published at least one (1) journal
article from any of these categories:
(a) ERA/Scopus/WoS indexed
journals
(b) Penerbit UKM and Faculty
Journals or journals listed in
MyJurnal - Malaysian Journal
Management System from
MyCite
(c) Chapter in Book published by
WoS listed publishers or
Penerbit UKM/MAPIM.
• Published at least two (2)
Scopus/WoS indexed journal articles
OR
• at least one (1) Scopus/WoS indexed
journal article AND one (1) journal
article from these categories:
(a) Penerbit UKM and Faculty
Journals
(b) Chapter in Book published by
WoS listed publishers or Penerbit
UKM/MAPIM.

24. Thesis Writing
 ALL students shall write their thesis in Bahasa Melayu.
 Students may apply to write thesis / dissertation in English with
the approval of the Dean. Application must be made in writing
at the latest in the fourth (4) semester for MSc / sixth (6)
semester for PhD.
 Writing of the thesis must follow the UKM Thesis Writing
Guidelines according to GAYA UKM. Templates can be
downloaded from the Graduate Centre website:
https://www.ukm.my/pusatsiswazah/thesis-templates-and-
guidlines/

25. Thesis Examination
 Thesis will be examined by an internal examiner and at least one
external examiner.
 Candidates will have to defend their thesis in a viva voce in front
of a Oral Examination Committee.

26. Examination Grade
• Master by
coursework
students are
required to
achieve a
minimum CGPA
of 3.00 to
graduate
• For each subject,
a minimum of
grade C is
required.

27. Research Ethics
• Honesty
• Objectivity
• Integrity
• Carefulness
• Openness
• Transparency
• Accountability
• Respect for Intellectual
Property
• Confidentiality
• Responsible Publication
& Mentoring
• Respect for Colleagues
• Social Responsibility
• Non-discrimination
• Competence
• Legality
• Animal Care
• Human Subject
Protection
https://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/resources/bioethics/whatis/index.cfm
https://libguides.library.cityu.edu.hk/researchmethods/ethics

28. Research Misconduct
 Any complaint of research
misconduct shall be submitted to
the Dean/Director using the form
prescribed by the University.
 Complaints received regarding
research misconduct will be
considered by an independent
committee to determine the
validity of the misconduct.
 Students who are found to have
committed research misconduct
are subject to action under the
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
(Discipline of Students) Regulations
1999 and/or other actions
prescribed by the Senate.

34. Procedure for Dealing with
Cases of Plagiarism
• The examiner or the person who suspects it must include
evidence that the student has plagiarized, or is suspected
of plagiarism
• A written report detailing the evidence must be
submitted to the Dean/Director using the Plagiarism
Complaint Form for Graduates
• The Oral Examination of the student is postponed until
the result of the case is officially obtained.
• Setting Up of Investigation Committee: to examine the
complaint and prepare a report on the level of plagiarism
in case there is plagiarism misconduct.

35. Degrees of plagiarism
• Almost all/all work is copied/rephrased from other sources
(including from the student's own work) or the work is the result
of another party (with or without payment/permission).
• Some/Half of the work is copied from other sources (including
from the student's own work) or produced by another party (with
or without payment/permission). Some of the work was
copied/summarized/edited from other sources without giving
proper reference.
• Minor parts (e.g. some sentences) are copied/rephrased,
references are inaccurate and not clearly stated.

37. REFERENCES
1. UKM Graduate Rules and Regulations 2021
2. FKAB Postgraduate Study Rules and Practices
2016
3. What Is Ethics in Research & Why Is It
Important?
https://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/resources
/bioethics/whatis/index.cfm
4. UKM Guidelines For Conducting Oral
Examination Oral For Dissertation/Thesis 2021