The University of Health Sciences (UHS) has announced stricter eligibility requirements for PhD scholars, making participation in at least three national and one international conference or seminar mandatory before the award of a doctoral degree.
The decision was approved during the 227th meeting of the Advanced Studies and Research Board (ASRB), chaired by UHS Vice Chancellor Prof. Ahsan Waheed Rathore, as part of the university’s efforts to strengthen research quality and postgraduate education.
New PhD Eligibility Requirement
Under the revised policy, PhD scholars will now be required to participate in:
- Three national conferences or seminars
- One international conference or seminar
The university said the new requirement is intended to enhance research exposure, academic collaboration, and the overall quality of doctoral education.
Four New PhD Programs Approved
The ASRB also approved four new competency-based PhD programs in the following disciplines:
- Medical Education
- Nursing
- Oral Biology
- Public Health
According to UHS, the new programs have been designed to align with modern healthcare needs and international academic standards.
PhD Nursing Program
The newly approved PhD Nursing program has been developed under the NURTURE Framework.
The curriculum focuses on:
- Clinical leadership
- Nursing research
- Teaching and academic development
- Healthcare policy
- Professional ethics
The program also includes:
- 500 hours of clinical residency
- 200 hours of teaching residency
- Competency-based training
- Mandatory life-saving skills workshops
PhD in Public Health
The PhD Public Health program emphasizes research and policy development in areas including:
- Disease prevention
- Health promotion
- Health systems strengthening
- Implementation science
- Community-based research
- Artificial intelligence applications in public health
The curriculum aims to prepare researchers capable of addressing emerging public health challenges.
PhD in Oral Biology
The newly approved PhD Oral Biology curriculum includes advanced subjects such as:
- Craniofacial developmental biology
- Regenerative dentistry
- Stem cell research
- Biomaterials
- Dental forensic sciences
- Oral microbiology
- Oral immunology
The program is intended to strengthen research capacity in dental sciences.
Additional Programs Approved
During the meeting, the board also approved:
- A revised Master of Health Professions Education (MHPE) curriculum.
- The Certificate in Comprehensive Family Medicine Practice and Emergency Care (CCFP-EC) program.
The six-month CCFP-EC program will focus on improving the clinical skills of general practitioners through:
- Blended learning
- Supervised clinical attachments
- Emergency care training
- Mandatory life-saving skills workshops
According to UHS, the certificate program has been developed in line with World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations for primary healthcare.
