Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) aspires to be a global university of educational excellence with transformative societal impact. In an effort to realize this vision, UTAR strives to attain the following goals among the many it sets forth:
- Conduct major research programmes, which broaden the horizons of knowledge and seek answers to problems of importance;
- Maintain strong postgraduate programmes, which encourage intellectual, research and personal development of postgraduate studies;
- Expand the expertise, services and resources offered by UTAR through the development of cooperative educational programmes with other institutions and professions and other local, state, federal and international agencies;
- Inculcate among the faculty and the academic community a culture of commitment to effective dissemination of knowledge and vigorous scholastic research activities with publication of high international standards.
To achieve the above goals, it became imperative for UTAR to offer relevant postgraduate programmes to attract talents who aspire to seek a career in research or academia. Hence, the Institute of Postgraduate Studies and Research (IPSR) in UTAR was established and commenced operations in September 2004 with the following principal areas of responsibilities:
- Serves as a central body for coordinating all postgraduate programmes offered by the Faculties in order to facilitate the administration of the programmes which includes admission, student & academic records, examination and postgraduate activities;
- Facilitates research services, managing of research projects, planning and monitoring of research budget, assisting in sourcing of research funding, facilitating consultancy services, establishing academic and industry links and facilitating the establishment of Centres of Excellence in strategic research areas.
UTAR began its postgraduate programme in January 2006 by taking in 43 students into 5 Master’s programmes. By the end of 2006, 12 Master’s and 2 PhD programmes were offered with total enrolment of 102 students consisting of 30 Master’s by Research, 29 Master’s by Mixed Mode and 43 Master’s by Coursework. The number of postgraduate programmes offered increased progressively as 10 faculties were involved. Figure 3-1 below provides pictorial illustration of these increases.
Figure 3-1 – No. of Postgraduate Programmes Offered in 2006 – 2021
By end of 2021, a total of 31 Master’s and 12 PhD programmes were offered. Tables 3-1 and 3-2 below illustrate the number of Master’s and PhD programmes offered by UTAR as of 31 December 2021, ranging from Chinese studies, communication, business and finance, management, social science, information and communication technology, mathematics, medical science, science and engineering with total of 1,045 active students, consisting of 658 Master’s and 387 PhD students.
| Programmes | Structure | Faculty |
| Master of Business Administration (R2/345/7/0729)07/27(A6338) | By Coursework | FAM |
| Master of Business Administration (Building Management) (R2/345/7/0113)10/26(MQA/FA0899) | By Coursework | FAM |
| Master of Business Administration (Corporate Governance (R2/345/7/0728)07/27(A6339) | By Coursework | FAM |
| Master of Real Estate Development (N/345/7/1108)11/26(MQA/PSA13063) | By Coursework | FAM |
| Master of Strategic Communication (N/321/7/0236)11/26(MQA/SWA13064) | By Coursework | FAS |
| Master of Business Administration (Corporate Management) (R/345/7/1067)12/22(MQA/FA2308) | By Coursework | FBF |
| Master of Engineering (Electronic Systems) (R2/523/7/0083)06/27(MQA/FA1536) | By Coursework | FEGT |
| Master of Environmental Technology (R/545/7/0077)07/26(MQA/SWA8007) | By Coursework | FEGT |
| Master of Sustainable Construction Management (N/526/7/0138)08/25(MQA/SWA11375) | By Coursework | FEGT |
| Master of Architecture (R/581/7/0069)09/25(MQA/FA4684) | By Coursework | LKCFES |
| Master of Engineering (Electrical) (R/522/7/0061)09/22(MQA/FA1989) | By Coursework | LKCFES |
| Master of Engineering (Civil) (N/526/7/0148)06/26(MQA/PSA14800) | By Coursework | LKCFES |
| Master of Engineering (Mechanical) (R/521/7/0041)09/22(MQA/FA1990) | By Coursework | LKCFES |
| Master of Information Systems (R2/481/7/0662)10/25(MQA/FA0185) | By Coursework | LKCFES |
| Master of Mathematics (R2/461/7/0004)04/23(A8216) | By Coursework | LKCFES |
| Master of Project Management (R2/340/7/0449)01/27(A10780) | By Coursework | LKCFES |
| Master of Psychology (lndustrial & Organisational Psychology) (R/311/7/0033)08/23(MQA/FA3161) | By Mixed Mode | FAS |
| Master of Communication (R3/321/7/0001)05/26(A7014) | By Mixed Mode | FCI |
| Master of Chinese Studies (R2/224/7/0001)03/26(MQA/FA0124) | By Mixed Mode | ICS |
| Master of Philosophy (R2/340/7/0800)05/26(A10031) | By Research | FAM |
| Master of Philosophy (Social Science) (R2/310/7/0022)07/24(A9923) | By Research | FAS |
| Master of Philosophy (R2/340/7/0395)05/26(A10012) | By Research | FBF |
| Master of Arts (Communication) (R2/321/7/0002)03/26(MQA/FA0473) | By Research | FCI |
| Master of Engineering Science (R2/520/7/0062)07/27(A11098) | By Research | FEGT |
| Master of Science (Computer Science) (R2/481/7/0539)01/27(A11054) | By Research | FICT |
| Master of Medical Science (R2/720/7/0015)11/26(MQA/FA1390) | By Research | FMHS |
| Master of Medical Science (Chinese Medicine) (N/721/7/0250)03/22(MQA/PA5352) | By Research | FMHS |
| Master of Science (R2/440/7/0021)03/27(A11039) | By Research | FSc |
| Master of Arts (Chinese Studies) (R2/312/7/0008)09/25(A11666) | By Research | ICS |
| Master of Science (R3/440/7/0004)03/26(A6918) | By Research | LKCFES |
| Master of Engineering Science (R3/520/7/0005)03/26(A6919) | By Research | LKCFES |
Table 3-1 – 35 Master’s programmes offered in UTAR as of 31 December 2021
| Programmes | Structure | Faculty |
| Doctor of Philosophy (R2/340/8/0736)05/26(A10032) | By Coursework | FAM |
| Doctor of Philosophy (Social Science) (R2/310/8/0042)06/26(A10033) | By Coursework | FAS |
| Doctor of Philosophy (R2/340/8/0443)05/26(A10011) | By Coursework | FBF |
| Doctor of Philosophy (Creative Arts) (N/210/8/0038)02/26(MQA/PSA11800) | By Coursework | FCI |
|
Doctor of Philosophy (Engineering) (R2/520/8/0078)07/27(A11099) | By Coursework | FEGT |
| Doctor of Philosophy (Computer Science) (R2/481/8/0557)03/27(A11097) | By Coursework | FICT |
| Doctor of Philosophy (Medical Science) (R2/720/8/0016)02/29(MQA/FA1389) | By Coursework | FMHS |
| Doctor of Philosophy (Chinese Medicine) (N/721/8/0054)08/22(MQA/SWA5697) | By Coursework | FMHS |
| Doctor of Philosophy (Science) (R2/440/8/0020)03/27(A11018) | By Coursework | FSc |
| Doctor of Philosophy (Chinese Studies) (R2/224/8/0034)11/23(A9050) | By Coursework | ICS |
| Doctor of Philosophy (Science) (R3/440/8/0001)03/28(A6916) | By Coursework | LKCFES |
| Doctor of Philosophy (Engineering) (R3/520/8/0021)03/28(A6917) | By Coursework | LKCFES |
Table 3-2 – 12 PhD programmes offered in UTAR as of 31 December 2021
With an established reputation of offering quality yet affordable postgraduate programmes, UTAR experienced steady enrolment of students into various postgraduate programmes since the initial enrolment of 102 students in January 2006 intake into 5 Master’s programmes. As of 31 December 2021, UTAR recorded a total cumulative enrolment of 3492 postgraduate students. Figures 3-2 and 3-3 provide comparative analysis on the enrolments from 2006 – 2021.
Figure 3-2 – Analysis of Enrolment of Postgraduate Students in 2006 – 2021
Figure 3-3 – Analysis of Enrolment According to Master by Coursework, Master by Mixed Mode, Master by Research and PhD by Research in 2006 – 2021
As of 31 December 2021, 1,598 postgraduate students had graduated from various Master’s and PhD programmes. Table 3-3 and Figure 3-4 provide the numbers and the cumulative number of postgraduate students graduated from postgraduate programmes, Master by Coursework, Master by Mixed Mode, Master by Research and PhD by Research as of 31 December 2021.
| Faculty | Programme | Structure | No. of Students Graduated in 2021 | Cumulative No. of Students Graduated (as of 31.12.2021) |
| FAM | Master of Business Administration | By Coursework | 7 | 201 |
| Master of Business Administration (Building Management) | By Coursework | 4 | 11 | |
| Master of Business Administration (Corporate Governance) | By Coursework | 12 | 64 | |
| Master of Commerce (Applied Accounting) * | By Coursework | 0 | 7 | |
| Master of Philosophy | By Research | 0 | 7 | |
| Doctor of Philosophy | By Research | 3 | 10 | |
| FAS | Master of Strategic Communication | By Coursework | 2 | 2 |
| Master of Psychology (Industrial & Organisational Psychology) | By Mixed Mode | 7 | 16 | |
| Master of Philosophy (Social Science) | By Research | 6 | 21 | |
| Doctor of Philosophy (Social Science) | By Research | 3 | 8 | |
| FBF | Master of Business Administration (Corporate Management) | By Coursework | 24 | 120 |
| Master of Philosophy | By Research | 5 | 19 | |
| Doctor of Philosophy | By Research | 6 | 23 | |
| FCI | Master of Communication | By Mixed Mode | 2 | 31 |
| Master of Arts (Communication) Formarly known as Master of Communication | By Research | 1 | 7 | |
| FEGT | Master of Engineering (Electronic Systems) | By Coursework | 10 | 59 |
| Master of Environmental Techonology | By Coursework | 1 | 4 | |
| Master of Sustainable Construction Management | By Coursework | 1 | 1 | |
| Master of Engineering Science | By Research | 8 | 66 | |
| Doctor of Philosophy (Engineering Science) | By Research | 6 | 17 | |
| FICT | Master of Science (Computer Science) Formarly known as Master of Computer Science | By Research | 4 | 25 |
| Doctor of Philosophy (Computer Science) | By Research | 2 | 4 | |
| FMHS | Master of Medical Science (Formarly known as Master of Medical Sciences) | By Research | 1 | 21 |
| Doctor of Philosophy (Medical Science) Formarly known as Doctor of Philosophy (Medical Sciences) | By Research | 1 | 10 | |
| FSc | Master of Science | By Research | 12 | 100 |
| Doctor of Philosophy (Science) | By Research | 1 | 7 | |
| ICS | Master of Chinese Studies Formarly known as Master of Arts (Chinese Studies) | By Mixed Mode | 5 | 82 |
| Master of Arts (Chinese Studies) | By Research | 2 | 37 | |
| Doctor of Philosophy (Chinese Studies) | By Research | 5 | 23 | |
| LKCFES | Master of Architecture | By Coursework | 10 | 31 |
| Master of Computer Science * | By Coursework | 0 | 16 | |
| Master of Engineering (Electrical) | By Coursework | 4 | 23 | |
| Master of Engineering (Electrical) Master of Engineering (Electronic Systems) * | By Coursework | 0 | 14 | |
| Master of Engineering (Mechanical) | By Coursework | 4 | 19 | |
| Master of Information Systems | By Coursework | 0 | 33 | |
| Master of Mathematics Formerly known as Master of Mathematical Sciences | By Coursework | 5 | 34 | |
| Master of Project Management Formerly known as Master of Science (Project Management) | By Coursework | 13 | 70 | |
| Master of Computer Science * | By Research | 0 | 14 | |
| Master of Engineering Science | By Research | 23 | 172 | |
| Master of Information Systems * | By Research | 0 | 3 | |
| Master of Mathematical Sciences * | By Research | 0 | 8 | |
| Master of Science | By Research | 6 | 103 | |
| Doctor of Philosophy (Science) Formerly known as Doctor of Philosophy in Science | By Research | 3 | 11 | |
| Doctor of Philosophy (Engineering Science) Formerly known as Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering | By Research | 8 | 44 | |
| Total Graduated | 217 | 1598 | ||
* phased-out programmes
Table 3-3 – No. of postgraduate students graduated from various postgraduate programmes as of 31 December 2021
Figure 3-4 – Cumulative Number of Postgraduate Students Graduated from Master by Coursework, Master by Mixed Mode, Master by Research and PhD by Research as of 31 December 2021
To ensure quality of graduates from UTAR postgraduate programmes, as well as to benchmark the research work of its postgraduate students against international standards, UTAR has made it a policy that the external examiners for the examination of thesis and dissertation of candidates in postgraduate programmes by research and by mixed mode must be appointed from among distinguished academics or researchers from overseas with recent 5-year publications in international refereed journals.