國立清華大學  服務科學研究所 

Institute of Service Science

National Tsing Hua University

博士班  PhD program

Program Goal and Value

The PhD program at ISS in an international program aimed at cultivating high-level researchers who will tackle important issues in service phenomena and develop the service science discipline. Tomorrow’s business researchers must understand the complexity of modern services and leverage rapidly emerging innovations in science and engineering. Being able to conduct research through the lens of a service dominant (S-D) logic will give students a unified perspective of today’s complex environment. PhD students from ISS can push the boundaries of research in the new field of service science or apply the service perspective to conduct innovative research in other established field

  Today’s leading organizations emphasize their need for interdisciplinary innovation. A PhD in service science allows students to deepen their existing expertise and while gaining know-how that lets the work with creative minds from other disciplines. 

  The rigorous PhD training at ISS will equip students to work at the cross-section of different disciplines, armed with the ability to critically analyze complex systems, and equipped with working knowledge of the latest emerging technologies. Students will explore new areas of research on service systems, while creating and managing innovative new services. 

Our integrative research, classes, and projects allow students to develop themselves in several areas:   

•Developing information systems that deliver and support modern services    

•Modeling, managing and marketing services    

•Designing innovative service experiences   

•Leveraging data analytics for improving service   

•Imbuing services with a sense of humanity

Program Road Map

The PhD program at ISS is a two to seven year program that trains students to be world-class service researchers

At the end of the program, students will be qualified to be tenure-track researchers in top-tier academic institutions or senior researchers in world-class organizations in industry. The PhD program helps students invest their time and effort in gaining the experiences needed for both directions.

Attend High Quality Classes

PhD Students are expected to finish 24 credits of courses. All students are required to take the following core courses:  Theories for Service Science (3 credits), Research Methods (3 credits), Seminar I (2 credits), and Seminar II (2 credits). To fulfill the additional 14 needed credit, Students have access to courses covering cutting-edge topics offered through the institute as well as other colleges, (e.g., technology management, electrical engineering, information system and application).  In addition, students can also obtain credits by attending courses from partnered Taiwan universities (e.g., NCTU, NTUST, NCU, Academia Sinica)

Develop Strong Publication Pipeline 

Faculty guide PhD students through the process of publishing in leading academic journals. Students are expected to publish in domain recognized international journals, as well as present in major international conferences. The journal and conference publications will demonstrate students future research potential and make them strong candidates for tenure-track positions in world-class universities.

Study Abroad

PhD students will spend time in a top-tier university outside of Taiwan for at least one month. During their time abroad, students deepen core knowledge, and apply their research skills in a collaborative project. The semester abroad will demonstrate students ability to work alongside international researchers to produce quality works.

Financial and Living Support

International students can apply for several available scholarships offered by NTHU, government, or other institutions that cover the tuition and credit fees during the doctoral study. Depending of type of scholarships, it might also include monthly stipend and other benefits. Further, the institute will also provide additional financial support during the doctoral study based on research grants, in order to cover students major expenses. See here for more information.

Gain Language Skills

The University offers practical training for international students to read, write, and speak in Chinese. Having Chinese language proficiency, students will be able to interact with the communities, high-tech industries, and governments in the fastest growing economic region of the world. Students multilingual abilities will boost their professional standing, with both academia and industry now turning their attention to the greater China region.

Take the Lead in an Industry Project

Students have opportunities to take the lead role in joint industry university projects. Their involvement in projects will include designing, engineering, or managing innovative new services in cutting-edge firms. The industry projects will strengthen students’ ability to liaise with executives in organizations and manage a team of junior researchers. 

Attend Service Workshops and Camps 

Students have the opportunity to attend workshops to gain the latest service design and engineering techniques. Students can also join retreats in natural settings that foster a humanistic perspective and develop innovative thinking. These opportunities improve students’ ability to connect with clients and serve throughout their life. 

How to apply ?

1. Spend some time understanding the research directions and approaches of faculty (look at and read their key publications, see their teaching interests, etc.)  – you may find faculty profiles at: https://www.iss.nthu.edu.tw/faculty/

 

2. Reach out to some of the faculty members whose research you feel are the closest to the directions you wish to go in – you may email then, including a CV and research statement, express your interest in potentially working with them (let them know you are contacting a few faculty) and see if they have questions or suggestions.

 

3. Reach out to one or more of our current PhD students (again, email is fine), express your interest in potentially joining ISS, and ask any questions you have about PhD life, their work, funding, advisors (faculty), life on campus, foreign student issues, etc. – you may find PhD profiles at: https://www.iss.nthu.edu.tw/PhD/PhD-Students

 

When recruiting new students, we are, above all else, look for a strong fit between students’ interests, advisors expertise, and the culture of our program. The above will help both you and us understand if there is a fit between your interests and what we have to offer.

For domestic Students

Admitted by application:October to November

Admitted by exam:April to May 

For International Prospective Students

Personal Information Form

FAQ 

Do all courses offered in English?

All the compulsory courses for PhD program were offered in English, however, some of our master program may not be offered in English. 

Do I need to contact the professors before I apply to the program?

You’re not required to do so, however, we still recommend you to contact the professors that you like to work with beforehand and establish relationship with them. By doing so, you might have higher chance to get admitted to the program. 

I am Interested but I still don’t know whether this program is suitable for me?

You always welcome to contact the professors current (link here) as well as the phD students (link here) to find out more about the program. 

Does the ISS PhD program accept students for a double major?

No, we do not accept students for a double major in our PhD program.