Masters of Science(Computer Science)

• Objective of the supervised Independent Study (IS) courses is to enable students to transition from teacher-taught courses to self-study courses.
• To facilitate this transition, MS students meet their supervisors on a weekly basis to get guidance and discuss their progress.
• In an Independent Study, a student designs a self study program of research in the chosen area of interest in consultation with the assigned supervisor.
• The topic for such an Independent Study is chosen to support thesis/research work and a judicious selection can substantially reduce time required for thesis work.
• Final report of the independent study is submitted in a research paper format.
• Research methodology of the Independent Study courses is such as to enable students to routinely publish their research.

• Thesis is a challenging research effort that adds value to the MS degree and distinguishes the MS-with-Thesis graduates from ordinary course-based MS degree holders.
• Thesis component of this MS degree brings it at par with international research-based MS degrees offered in USA, and elsewhere and to the MPhil degrees offered in Pakistan.
• Thesis experience is different from any other academic activity that MS students may have undertaken as part of their undergraduate or course-based MS degree.
• The objective of thesis research work is to enable the MS students to join the international community of professional researchers. This is achieved with the publication of their thesis research.
• A successful thesis equips the MS student with tools and techniques of research that makes the student confident that he can undertake any research assignment for solving a problem for which there is no known solution.
• At the start of thesis, a supervisor is assigned to the student from the relevant research group.
• Thesis process is well-defined and consists of a list of deliverables on which the progress of student is measured during each meeting with the main supervisor.
• Thesis has to be successfully defended in front of the Thesis Committee to complete the MS requirements.

      Structured Thesis

• A novel structured thesis format for research has been designed to expedite the completion of a research thesis in well defined phases that are easily understood and monitored.
• Introduction of this structured mechanism has substantially expedited the thesis completion time.
• The structured format allocates 6 credit hours of thesis in the following two courses: (1) Research Proposal & Thesis Methodology, and (2) Thesis Implementation, Results and Defense.

      Thesis Defense

• On completion of Thesis, a student submits a request to GSSE for the constitution of an Examining Committee on the recommendation of main supervisor and for a defense date.
• GSSE constitutes an Examining Committee and announces a defense date.
• Examining Committee comprises three faculty members; the supervisor, an internal examiner and an external examiner.
• Student has to satisfy the Examining Committee in an open thesis defense.