Doctoral Degree Tracks

Malayalam University offers two distinct doctoral pathways:

2. Core Requirements for Doctoral Candidates

To be awarded a doctoral degree, a student must meet the following rigorous standards:

• Total Credits: Minimum 60 to 90 credits beyond the Bachelor's degree (usually 30–45 credits beyond a Master’s).

• Residency: At least two years of continuous enrollment.

• Language Proficiency: * Ph.D. Level: Must demonstrate reading proficiency in two research languages (e.g., Syriac and German/French/ Samsrit) in addition to English.

• D.Min. Level: Proficiency in Malayalam and basic Liturgical Syriac.

• Comprehensive Examinations: After coursework, students must pass written and oral "Comps" covering Biblical Studies, Mar Thoma History, and their specific sub-field.

• Candidacy: Only after passing "Comps" and having a Dissertation Proposal approved is a student officially a "Doctoral Candidate."

3. Criteria for Doctoral Guides (Advisors)

Selecting a "Guide" is the most important step for a doctoral student. To ensure the 2,000-year heritage is handled with expertise, Malayalam University faculty must meet these criteria:

• Academic Credential: Guides must hold a terminal degree (Ph.D., Th.D., or D.Min.) from a recognized institution.

• Heritage Expertise: For Mar Thoma specific research, the guide must demonstrate a publication record or significant ecclesiastical experience in St. Thomas Christian studies.

• Mentorship Ratio: To ensure quality, a single Guide may typically supervise no more than 5 doctoral students at one time.

• External Examiners: Every doctoral committee must include at least one External Examiner (a scholar from another university or a high-ranking Bishop/Scholar from Kerala) to validate the research.

4. Voluntary Work & Practical Credits

• Doctoral Internship (Optional but Encouraged): Up to 6 credits can be earned for leading a major community initiative, such as organizing an international heritage symposium or serving as an interim director for a religious archive.

• Teaching Assistantship: Doctoral students may earn credit by teaching undergraduate courses (like the B.R.A. courses discussed earlier) under faculty supervision.

5. The "Grand Defense"

The final requirement is the Public Oral Defense.

• The student defends their dissertation before their Guide, a committee of 3–5 faculty members, and the External Examiner.

• In the tradition of Malayalam University, the defense is open to the community, symbolizing the student’s readiness to serve as a "Doctor of the Church."