Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy in Buildings

Studying & Scoring a minimum of 36 (18+18) Credit Hours (Courses Level: 600 & 700 and an M.Sc. Eng. Thesis) together with all the requirements specified in the Postgraduate Regulations of the Faculty of Engineering Cairo University; Comprising a minimum of 12 Credit Hours (Courses Level: 600 & 700) from the offered courses in the Selected Specialization (Compulsory Courses), and a minimum of 6 Credit Hours (Courses Level: 600 & 700) from the offered courses in the Selected Specialization and other specializations at the Department (Elective Courses) .

Clause (32): Areas of Study

Cairo University Council grants, upon the recommendation of the Faculty Council, the degree of M. Sc. via the scientific departments listed in Table (1). The name of the scientific department (and specialization) and the title of the Thesis shall be stated in the certificate. Other interdisciplinary specializations among different engineering departments or in collaboration with foreign distinguished universities may be introduced upon proposal by the Faculty Council and approval of the University Council.

Clause (33): Registration Requirements

In order to register for M. Sc. Degree, in addition to the rules stated in Clause (5), the student shall:

a.      Have a B. Sc. in Engineering with a minimum general rate of appreciation "Good" from any Faculty of Engineering in Egyptian Universities or an equivalent degree from any other institution accredited by the Supreme Council of Universities in Egypt.

b.     Dedicate at least two days per week for attending the courses.

c.      The Faculty Council may accept, upon the recommendations of the Responsible Department, a student for the M. Sc. degree if he/she graduated with a rate of appreciation less than "Good" provided that he/she has attained a Postgraduate Diploma from any Faculty of Engineering accredited by the Supreme Council of Universities in Egypt and achieved a minimum rate of appreciation "Good" in this Diploma.

d.     The Faculty Council may accept a student for the M. Sc. degree if he/she graduated with a rate of appreciation "Pass" after finishing some preliminary courses defined by the Responsible Department with a number of credit hours not less than 12 (level 400 or 500) determined by the Advisor and approved by the Responsible Department, and achieving a minimum GPA of 2.7 in these courses.

e.      Students registered for an M. Sc. degree in engineering mathematics, physics, or mechanics who have not obtained a degree from the Faculty of Science shall complete at least 12 credit hours of qualifying courses from the B. Sc. level of the relevant specialization and shall register for the M. Sc. after successful completion of these courses. If the student already has a B. Sc. in Science in addition to his B. Sc. in Engineering, he/she may register directly for Duration of Study an M. Sc. taking into consideration items a, b and c stated above as well as Clause (5).

f.      Students having a B.Sc. Degree in a specific specialization may register for an M.Sc. degree in another specialization after successfully completing the exams in qualifying courses that are defined by the Responsible Department. These hours shall not count as part of the credit hours stated in Clause (35).

Clause (34):

a.      The minimum period to obtain an M. Sc. is four main semesters from the date of registration.

b.     The maximum period to obtain an M. Sc. is eight main semesters from the date of registration, taking into consideration the periods of suspension of registration. The period may be extended for two more main semesters upon the request of the Thesis Main Advisor and the approval of the Responsible Department, the Graduate Studies Committee and the Faculty Council.

Clause (35): Study Requirements

a.      Student shall study 12 credit hours of level 500 (A student who has a B.Sc. with rate of appreciation "Good" or has a Postgraduate Diploma with rate of appreciation "Good" is exempted from these hours). The student then studies at least 18 credit hours from courses of level 600/700, then prepares a thesis that is equivalent to 18 credit hours.

b.     Student chooses the courses that he/she plans to attend during the semester from those courses announced by the Responsible Department and listed in the Regulations. These courses shall be approved by the Vice Dean for Graduate Studies and Research.

c.      The courses shall include a course on technical writing, research methods and report preparation.

d.     Student shall demonstrate his proficiency in the English Language before applying for the Seminar. This is achieved by passing a test of English as a foreign language (TOEFL) with the score approved by the Faculty Council.

e.      The Responsible Department may require the student to attend some courses as directed by the Main Advisor, whether undergraduate or level 500 courses of the Department or other Departments in the Faculty or other schools at Cairo University or foreign accredited universities provided that the total number of hours does not exceed 8 hours. These hours do not count as part of the hours listed in item "a".

f.      Student shall complete all course requirements in a period of no more than two main semesters. He/she may request the exception of up to 6 credit hours to be completed during the next two semesters. The request shall be approved by the Faculty Council after the approval of the Responsible Department and the Graduate Studies Committee. In such a case, the student may register for the Thesis with the Thesis Advisor but the registration shall be cancelled if he/she fails in any of these courses.

g.     Student shall perform a research in a topic defined by the Main Thesis Advisor and the student shall present a Thesis including the outcome of the research.

h.     The Responsible Department Council may agree on revising the research topic upon the request of the Main Advisor, without affecting the duration of the study defined in Clause (34). The request shall be approved by the Faculty Council after the approval of the Graduate Studies Committee.

Clause (36): Supervision

a.      The Faculty Council appoints the Thesis Main Advisor, upon the suggestion of the Responsible Department Council and approval of the Graduate Studies Committee. The Main Advisor shall be chosen from the Professors or Associate Professors of the Faculty. Assistant Professors may also be included in the Supervision Committee.

b.     The Supervision Committee may include specialists who are at the same level as Professors or Associate Professors, upon the approval of the Faculty Council. The number of advisors shall not be more than three.

c.      The Advisor is appointed while the student is studying the courses and before working on the Thesis, provided that the GPA achieved for the courses is not less than 2.7 and according to Clause (9).

d.     If one of the Thesis Advisors has to travel for a long duration, the Faculty Council may opt to leave the supervision committee unchanged, or to add a new member, or remove the name of the member who is travelling abroad, or both actions. This is done upon the recommendations of the Responsible Department Council and the approval of the Graduate Studies Committee, based on a report presented by the travelling member prior to his travel and endorsed by the Main Advisor, provided that item "a" is implemented.

e.      The Thesis Main Advisor may suggest a modification of the advisory committee by adding or removing members or both. The suggestion shall be approved by the Responsible Department Council, the Graduate Studies Committee, the Faculty Council, and the University Vice President for Graduate Studies and Research, provided that item "a" is implemented.

f.      The Thesis Main Advisor shall present a report at the end of the Academic Year to the Responsible Department Council describing the progress of the student and recommending continuation or termination of his/her enrollment.

Clause (37): Equivalency of Courses

The Faculty Council may approve, upon the suggestion of the Responsible Department and approval of the Graduate Studies Committee, the equivalency for courses studied within the same level, specialization and studied earlier at the Faculty or at another Institution accredited by the Supreme Council of Universities in Egypt. The student must have studied the courses within at most five years prior to the year of registration for the M. Sc. Degree and achieved at least a rate of appreciation "Good". The maximum credit hours transferred shall be limited to six credit hours only.

Clause (38): Awarding the Degree

The Faculty Council shall recommend awarding of the M.Sc. degree upon the recommendation of the Responsible Department Council and the Graduate Studies Committee when the student fulfills the following requirements:

a.      Completion of at least four main semesters from the date of registration.

b.     Succeeding in all course requirements with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.7.

c.      Acceptance of the Thesis by the Evaluation Committee and their recommendation that the Degree is granted in accordance with Clause (24).

Clause (39): Enrolment Termination

 The Faculty Council shall terminate the enrolment for the M.Sc. Degree in the following cases:

a.         Failure to successfully complete any compulsory courses (unless the student re-registers and succeeds) or failure to achieve a minimum GPA of 2.7 (B–).

b.     Upon the request of the Main Advisor, and approval of the Responsible Department Council and the Graduate Studies Committee, if the student is not serious in pursuing his/her research.

c.      Rejection of the Thesis and recommendation not to grant the degree by the Evaluation Committee.

d.     Failure to complete the M. Sc. requirements during the period specified in Clause (34), after taking into consideration the periods of suspension of registration.

e.      Request of the student to cancel his/her enrollment, approved by the University Vice President for Graduate Studies and Research. f-Failure to pay the specified fees in accordance with the regulating rules. This is not applicable for Teaching Assistants at the Faculty.

Clause (40): Changing Registration

If the student does not achieve a cumulative GPA of at least 2.7 upon completion of the M.Sc. courses, he/she may request changing the registration to a Postgraduate Diploma. Courses that he/she completed with a grade of 2.0 or more may be credited in the Postgraduate Diploma. The switch is effective upon the approval of the Responsible Department Council, Graduate Studies Committee, and the Faculty Council.