To be advanced to candidacy for a doctoral degree, students must have completed all requirements established by the major department, and the Graduate Council, including passing the qualifying exam(s). Additional details can be found on the Graduate Division website.
Expectations for Staff Graduate Advisors
Staff Graduate Advisors should confirm the student has completed all departmental advancement requirements and notify the Faculty Graduate Advisor that all requirements have been completed.
The Advancement to Candidacy Action can be initiated by either the student or the Staff Graduate Advisor, so departments should determine whether to advise their students to begin the process on their own, or wait for the Staff Graduate Advisor to do so.
Ensure Advancement to Candidacy Actions are completed by appropriate deadlines.
Contact Graduate Division in cases where unfinished coursework is not necessary for advancement.
Expectations for Committee Members
Committee members must indicate the results of the student’s qualifying exam.
Expectations for Faculty Graduate Advisors
Faculty Graduate Advisors must certify that the student has passed all departmental coursework and milestones in order to be advanced to doctoral candidacy.
Expectations for the Graduate Division
Graduate Division Academic Services Unit Staff (GDASU) will review any reported language requirements for accuracy (i.e. spelling, dates).
GDASU can override a requirement in rare cases where unfinished coursework is not necessary for advancement.
Notable Processes
Class Level
Graduate students will change from P1 to P2 status the quarter following their advancement to candidacy. For example, if a student met the advancement requirements in November, their first P2 quarter will be the following winter quarter. In order to become P2 for the next quarter, students must meet the advancement requirements by the last business day before the start of the current quarter.
Student advances during Fall quarter (by the last day before winter quarter): winter = 1st P2 quarter
Student advances during winter quarter (by the last day before spring quarter): spring = 1st P2 quarter
Student advances during spring quarter or summer (by the last day before fall quarter): fall = 1st P2 quarter
NRST waiver period
International graduate students will have their Non Resident Supplemental Tuition waived for 9 registered quarters after they advance to candidacy. If the student needs to be enrolled for more than 9 quarters after advancement, NRST will be assessed again. There are no exceptions to this tuition waiver period.
Advancement to Candidacy Fee
The $50 advancement to candidacy fee will be charged to students' BARC accounts on a monthly or quarterly basis.
Procedure for the Advancement to Candidacy Action
Advancement to candidacy takes place via GradPoint, with step-by-step instructions below.