MSc Program Outline

As a Master’s degree student, you are required to participate in studies and research for a period of 24 months. Every academic year consists of two 14 to 16-week semesters. The studies include both required and elective courses, seminars, lab work (in certain fields of studies) and a thesis.

Potential research groups and research areas

To help you reach an informed decision in selecting your research group and research topic, you may consult the following Weizmann Institute resources:

Credit points and courses

Please consult the MSc Credit points, courses & rotations page under Academics.

Rotations

Please consult the MSc Courses & Rotations page under Academics.

Selecting MSc research group

Once you have successfully completed your first two semesters of studies, you will be permitted to commence your thesis. To begin, you must find a senior scientist from the staff of the Weizmann Institute to serve as your advisor for your Master’s thesis. Once the scientist agrees, you must register your thesis group online and receive FGS approval for your selection.

Note: There is a limitation on the number of MSc students that each group may take per year (not more than two).

MSc research proposal

You are required to submit a research proposal by the 12th month of your studies. The proposal will be based on experimental or theoretical work. The work may be part of a larger project, or an independent one. The scope and subject of your research must be determined in consultation with your advisor.

Transition to second-year status

Your transition to second-year status is conditional upon the approval of your MSc research proposal, and the completion of the number of credit points required by your relevant Board of Studies. If your proposal was not submitted by the end of the first month of the second academic year, and a request to postpone the due date was not approved, your studies at FGS may be terminated.

MSc thesis

You are required to submit a thesis by the 24th month of your studies. Your thesis is the conclusion of your research, and must include both a general description of your research subject, as well as a detailed description of your research study. You will have to defend your thesis through an examination by appointed examiners.

Approval of your degree

Dean's reccomendation
The Dean of the Feinberg Graduate School will recommend to the Weizmann Institute’s Scientific Council to grant you your MSc degree after you have fulfilled all the degree requirements. Usually, at this stage, a decision is made whether or not you will be allowed to pursue PhD studies at the Institute.

 

Official Certification
Once your degree is approved by the Institute’s Scientific Council, you may receive official confirmation from the FGS that you have fulfilled all the requirements for your MSc degree. This confirmation will include your thesis grade, your exam grade, and your grade average for the courses you have completed. There is no weighted grade.

 

Degree Eligibility Date
The date of your degree is the date on which the WIS Scientific Council approved the degree. Your physical degree will be awarded at the graduation and awards ceremony that takes place once a year in the spring.

 

Graduation ceremony
MSc degrees are awarded at the graduation and awards ceremony that takes place once a year in the spring. Students whose degrees are approved after the graduation ceremony of their MSc class receive their degree certificate at the FGS a few weeks after their degree is approved, and NOT at the ceremony of the following year.

Distinctions and awards

Distinctions

The Scientific Council of the Weizmann Institute of Science does not award degrees with distinctions such as Cum Laude or Magna Cum Laude.

 

FGS Prizes

The FGS does, however, award several prizes to outstanding PhD students every year for remarkable achievements. The FGS prizes for excellence in studies and research are awarded at the graduation ceremony in the spring.

התאמות למשרתים בחובה ובקבע

Faculty Coordinators