phd minimum requirements

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Application requirements for all doctoral programs (phd).

All of our doctoral programs are designed to develop outstanding educational researchers who have a deep understanding of the scientific, practical and policy issues they study. All require full-time study, and we promise five years of full-time financial support for every student we admit. Our doctoral programs are small, typically ranging from about 25 to 35 new students a year. The small size of our doctoral cohorts creates big educational advantages for students: the classes are almost always small, students receive individualized attention from their advisors, and they have many opportunities to develop close collegial relationships with fellow students.

It is extremely important to demonstrate in your statement of purpose that your interests converge closely with the current research of faculty who work in the program to which you are applying. Other doctoral applicants will certainly do this, and if you don't, you will forfeit an important competitive advantage to them. 

If you wish to contact faculty, please read our Which Degree Which Program article, by Professor Eamonn Callan, which outlines the appropriate process for contacting faculty with whom you share research interests. 

• Program website:  Degrees and Programs/PhD
• Length of Program:  5 years (average length)
• Tuition: fellowship/assistantship salary and tuition guaranteed for first five years of the program (autumn, winter and spring quarters) for all students, including international students. Funding includes two summers.

Application Requirements:

Application form.

Complete and submit Stanford's graduate online application .

Application Fee

The application fee is $125 , is non-refundable, and must be received by the application deadline.

Application Fee Waivers

Stanford offers three types of application fee waivers for which GSE applicants may apply and be considered:

• GRE Fee Reduction Certificate-Based Waiver
• Diversity Program Participation-Based Waiver
• School-Based Waiver

Please visit the Stanford Graduate Diversity website for instructions, deadlines, and the fee waiver application form.

Statement of Purpose

A Statement of Purpose is required. Your statement should be typed, single-spaced and should be between one to two pages . Describe succinctly your reasons for applying to the proposed program, your preparation for this field of study, and why our program is a good fit for you, your future career plans, and other aspects of your background as well as interests which may aid the admissions committee in evaluating your aptitude and motivation for graduate study. You may indicate potential faculty mentors as part of your study and research interests. Be sure to keep a copy for your records. What's a Good Statement of Purpose?

A resume or CV  is required of all applicants, depending on which document is most appropriate for your background. There is no page limit for resumes or CVs, though we typically see resumes of one page in length. Please upload your resume or CV in the online application.

Three (3) Letters of Recommendation

Applicants are required to submit three letters of recommendation . In the online application, you will be asked to identify your recommenders and their email addresses. Please notify your recommenders that they will receive an email prompt to submit their recommendation online. You can submit your request for letters of recommendation through the system without submitting the entire online application.  Stanford GSE only accepts online recommendations through the application system ; Stanford GSE cannot accept mailed, emailed or faxed recommendations.

Recommendations should be written by people who have supervised you in an academic, employment, or community service setting. We very strongly recommend that at least one of these letters be from a university professor familiar with your academic work. Your recommendations should directly address your suitability for admission to a graduate program at Stanford GSE.

It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure that all three letters of recommendation are submitted through the system by the application deadline , so please work closely with your recommenders to remind them of the deadline.

College and University Transcripts

Transcripts are required from every college and university you have attended for at least one academic year as a full-time student. When submitting your online application, transcripts should be uploaded to the application as a scanned copy or PDF ; this is sufficient for the application review process. Please refrain from sending a secured PDF/transcript with a digital signature as our system cannot upload these properly. The best way to ensure we receive an upload-able document is for you to print out the secured transcript, scan it, and upload the scanned copy (not to exceed 10MB) as a PDF. 

If you earned a degree at the institution from which you are submitting a transcript, please ensure that the degree conferral date and the degree conferred is clearly visible on the document. If you are currently enrolled in a degree program and will not have earned the respective degree by the time of submitting your GSE application, you should submit your most recent in-progress transcript from your institution.

Only if admitted will we contact you with instructions on sending two copies of your official transcripts to our office. We cannot accept mailed, emailed or faxed copies of your transcripts during the application process. Please note: the instructions for sending transcripts on the online application and on the general Stanford Graduate Admissions Office website differ from this Stanford GSE requirement.

Concerning course work completed in a study abroad program

If the coursework and grades are reflected on the transcript of your home institution, you do not need to submit original transcripts from the study abroad institution.

Concerning foreign institutions

If your institution provides a transcript in a language other than English, we require that you submit a translation of the transcript that is either provided by the institution or a certified translator. Translations must be literal and complete versions of the original records.

If your transcript does not include your degree conferral date and the degree conferred , please submit a scanned copy of your diploma, a conferral statement, or a conferral document in addition to your transcript . If you are currently enrolled in a degree program and will not have earned the respective degree by the time of submitting your GSE application, you should submit your most recent in-progress transcript from your institution.

Stanford University requires the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) from all applicants whose native language is not English. The GSE requires a minimum TOEFL score of 250 for the computer-based test, 600 for the paper-based test or 100 for the internet-based test in order to be considered for admission. The Test of Written English (TWE) portion of the TOEFL is not required. Applicants who have completed a four-year bachelor's degree or a two-year master's program (or its equivalent) in the U.S. or at an institution where English is the main language of instruction are not required to take the TOEFL. For more information on TOEFL requirements, please refer to the Required Exams  page on the main Stanford Graduate Admissions website. You may register for the TOEFL test directly at the ETS website .

TOEFL Dates and Deadlines

PhD applicants who are required to take the TOEFL should plan to take the internet-based TOEFL test and have official TOEFL scores sent electronically to Stanford at institution code 4704 (department code does not matter) no later than November 1 . This will give your official TOEFL scores time to be sent from ETS and be received by our system in time for the December 1 deadline. PhD applicants to Knight-Hennessy Scholars should plan to take the internet-based TOEFL test no later than October 16 so your scores can be received by our system in time for the November 16 KHS GSE deadline. Please note that the TOEFL may be taken no earlier than 18 months prior to the application deadline.

Does Stanford accept tests other than TOEFL?

No. We accept only TOEFL scores; we do not accept IELTS or other test scores.

Contact Information

Admissions:  [email protected]  

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Graduate School

Ph.d. requirements.

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Brown University awards more than 200 doctor of philosophy degrees annually.

The Brown Ph.D. is primarily a research degree. Teaching is an important part of many doctoral programs, and many departments require candidates for the Ph.D. to have teaching experience.

Brown University offers substantial financial support to doctoral students. All incoming doctoral students are guaranteed five years of support, which includes a stipend, full tuition remission, health-services fee, and a health-insurance subsidy. Doctoral students in the Humanities and Social Sciences are guaranteed six years of support. All promises of student support are subject to students making satisfactory academic progress, as determined by their programs of study. Please see related links for additional details regarding the University's commitment to doctoral education.

Ph.D. Funding

Funding guarantee, four general requirements for the doctor of philosophy.

The candidate must be formally admitted to his or her degree program.

The normal residency requirement is the equivalent of three Academic Years of full-time study beyond the bachelor's degree. Students who enter a PhD program at Brown already holding a master’s degree in a related field have a residency requirement equivalent to two Academic Years of full-time study upon entering the PhD program at Brown. Use of a previously earned master’s degree to reduce PhD residency requirements is contingent upon approval of the program Director of Graduate Study. Graduate work done at other institutions and not used in fulfillment of the requirements for any doctoral degree elsewhere may, on the approval of the program Director of Graduate Study, be counted in fulfillment of up to, but not exceeding, one year of the residency requirement. A student who desires credit for work done elsewhere should file a timely application with the program Director of Graduate Study; transfer credit forms are available through the  Office of the Registrar .

A student is advanced to candidacy for the Ph.D. when he or she has completed satisfactorily all the requirements, departmental and general, requisite to beginning work on the dissertation. Candidacy is determined by the department or program of study and certified by the Registrar. Most departments require a preliminary examination before advancing any student to candidacy. Most departments also require a final examination or defense. The examination is conducted by professors in the department and by such other members of the faculty as may be appointed.

The candidate must present a dissertation on a topic related to his or her area of specialization that presents the results of original research and gives evidence of excellent scholarship. The dissertation must be approved by the professor or committee under whose direction it is written and by the Graduate Council. All requirements for the Ph.D. must be completed within five years after advancement to candidacy.

Faculty Member Leaves Brown

If a faculty member working with a doctoral student leaves Brown for any reason before that student has completed his or her degree requirements, it may not always be possible for that faculty member to continue working with the student as an advisor. In such cases, departments will work with students to help them locate a new advisor.

Additional Requirements

Individual departments and programs may have additional requirements regarding the number of courses to be taken, proficiency in foreign languages, special examinations, and theses. The department should be consulted for specific information.

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How the PhD Program Works

Program Overview

Completing your doctorate at Wharton requires 5 years of full-time study. The first 2 years in the program prepare you for admission to candidacy by taking courses, qualifying exams, and starting research projects. In the last few years, you are primarily conducting research full-time including writing and defending your doctoral dissertation.

Admission to candidacy.

You begin by taking courses required for your program of study. All programs requires a preliminary exam, which may be either oral or written.

Some programs may have further requirements, such as an additional exam or research paper. If you enter with a master’s degree or other transfer credit, you may satisfy the formal course requirements more quickly.

Beginning the Wharton PhD Curriculum How the first two years of the Wharton program helped students discover their interests, learn the tools of the profession, and fuel their passion for teaching.

The Doctoral Dissertation

Upon successful completion of coursework and passing a preliminary examination, you are admitted to candidacy for the dissertation phase of your studies.

Your doctoral dissertation should contain original research that meets standards for published scholarship in your field. You are expected to be an expert in the topic you choose to research.

You are admitted to candidacy for the dissertation phase of your studies upon successful completion of coursework and passing a preliminary examination, but you can start thinking about and working on research of relevance at any time.

The dissertation process culminates with a “defense,” in which you defend the proposal orally before your dissertation committee.

While working on your dissertation, you interact extensively with Wharton faculty. Together with interested faculty, you create your own research community that includes your dissertation advisor and dissertation committee.

Policies and Procedures

Get more detailed explanation of course requirements, academic standards, the Teacher Development Program, time limits, and dissertation procedures and requirements.

Sample Program Sequence

Years 1 & 2.

Coursework Examination Research Papers Research Activities Field-Specific Requirements

Directed Reading & Research Admission to Candidacy Formulation of Research Topic

Years 4 & 5

Continued Research Oral Examination Dissertation

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The Graduate School

University information technology (uit), main navigation, ph.d. degree requirements.

Ph.D. Degree   •   Supervisory Committee   •  Program of Study   •  Residency Enrollment   •  Approval of Program of Study   •  Qualifying Examination   •  Registration   •  Language Requirements   •  Dissertation   •  Final Examination   •  Time Limit   •  Exceptions

• The Doctor of Philosophy degree is awarded for high achievement in an advanced specialized field of study. It requires competence in independent research and an understanding of related subjects.
• The degree is not awarded simply for the fulfillment of residence requirements and the accumulation of credits.
• The committee chair and the majority of the committee must be tenure-line faculty in the student’s department.
• The outside member is normally from another University of Utah department.
• The dean of The Graduate School may approve requests to appoint a committee member from another university where appropriate justification and supporting documentation is provided.
• approving the student’s academic program,
• preparing and judging the qualifying examinations (unless delegated to a departmental examination committee),
• approving the dissertation subject and final dissertation,
• and administering and judging the final oral examination (dissertation defense).
• Some departments require more, check department’s handbook.
• More time may be required.
• In truly exceptional cases, a shorter period of time in graduate work may be approved by the dean of The Graduate School. 
• If a supervisory committee finds a graduate student’s preliminary work deficient, the student may be required to register for and complete supplementary courses that do not carry graduate credit.
• This form, which lists course work and research hours, is due one semester before graduation in order for the graduate coordinator to enter that information online in a timely manner.
• Faculty Consultation, course number 7980, does not count toward dissertation hours or the fulfillment of degree requirements, and should not be listed on the program of study.
• Courses taken through alternative delivery methods (e.g., via EDNET or the Internet) are approved on a programmatic basis through the Graduate Council.
• When a student proceeds directly from a master’s degree to a Ph.D. degree with no break in the program of study (except for authorized leaves of absence), the residency requirement may be fulfilled at any time during the course of study.
• Three hours of Thesis Research: Ph.D. (course number 7970) is also considered a full load after the residency requirement is fulfilled.
• The Graduate Council may approve departmental or programmatic exceptions to the minimum residency requirements and proposals for new programs or academic offerings using distance-learning technologies and/or off-campus sites, as provided by Graduate School policy.
• *Does not refer to or fulfill State Residency Requirements
• One semester prior to graduation, graduate students are required to meet with their graduate advisor to check that they have met all the requirements for their degree.
• Once enrolled in all required coursework, the graduate advisor will move coursework from the graduate student's transcript to their program of study in the Graduate Student Summary .
• They verify the graduate student has met all degree requirements then approve the program of study with their electronic signature.  
• After all approvals have been submitted, the graduate student's program of study will show as complete in the Program Plan Audit page of the Graduate Student Summary .
• The nature and format of these examinations are established by individual departments subject to approval by the Graduate Council.
• An examination or parts of an examination may be repeated only once and only at the discretion of the student’s supervisory committee .
• A department has the option of appointing a departmental examination committee that administers the qualifying examinations and ensures that examinations are properly prepared and evaluated.
• Once a graduate student has passed their Ph.D. Qualifying Exam this advances them to candidacy.
• The candidate must complete at least 14 hours of Thesis Research (course number 7970, Thesis Research: Ph.D.).
• The candidate must also be regularly enrolled at the University and registered for at least one course during the semester in which the final oral examination (dissertation defense) is taken.
• For details, see Minimum Continuous Registration as well as departmental and program requirements.
• The degree of proficiency in foreign language(s) required of candidates is determined by the policy of the academic departments.
• In some instances, language proficiency may be verified by individual departments if appropriate procedures have been approved in advance by the dean of The Graduate School.
• In most cases, however, fulfillment of the language requirements must be verified by the Department of World Languages & Cultures.
• The Language Verification form for certification is available in the Department of World Languages & Cultures .
• The candidate must submit a dissertation embodying the results of scientific or scholarly research or artistic creativity.
• The dissertation must provide evidence of originality and the ability to do independent investigation and it must contribute to knowledge or the creative arts.
• The style and format are determined by departmental policy and registered with the thesis and dissertation editor, who approves individual dissertations in accordance with departmental and Graduate School policy.
• At least three weeks before the final oral examination (dissertation defense), the student should submit an acceptable draft of the dissertation to the chair of the supervisory committee ; committee members should receive copies at least two weeks before the examination date.
• The entire dissertation is submitted to UMI Dissertation Publishing, ProQuest Information and Learning, and copies are made available for public sale.
• The abstract only is published if the entire dissertation has been previously published and distributed, exclusive of vanity publishing. The doctoral candidate may elect to microfilm the entire previously published work.
• Regardless of the option used for meeting the publication requirement, an abstract of each dissertation is published in UMI Dissertation Publishing, ProQuest Information and Learning, Dissertation Abstracts International.
• Detailed policies and procedures concerning publication requirements, use of restricted data, and other matters pertaining to the preparation and acceptance of the dissertation are contained in A Handbook for Theses and Dissertations .
• The student must pass a final oral examination before graduation.
• The examination must follow the receipt of the dissertation by the supervisory committee .
• The committee schedules and announces a public oral examination at which the candidate must defend the dissertation.
• This final oral examination may be chaired by any member of the supervisory committee consistent with departmental policy.
• The time limit for completing a Ph.D. degree is determined by individual departmental policy approved by the Graduate Council.
• Requests to exceed established time limits must be recommended by a candidate’s supervisory committee and approved by the departmental director of graduate studies and the dean of the Graduate School.
• Students whose studies have been interrupted for long periods of time and who have been granted extended time to complete their degrees may be required to complete additional courses, to pass examinations, or otherwise to demonstrate that they are current in their field. (PPM 6-203 III.B).
• Most departments require a seven year time limit for their PhD students.
• Petition for an extension of a Graduate student career
• Individual student exceptions to these general requirements for the Ph.D. must be approved by the dean of The Graduate School upon the recommendation of the student’s supervisory committee and director of graduate studies or department chair.
• Each program requires a distinct, complete set of courses. Course work used to meet the requirements of one program may not be used to meet the requirements of another.

Academic Catalog 2023-2024

Regulations and requirements for doctor of philosophy (phd) programs.

The formal requirements for the PhD degree are the following: completion of the coursework mandated by the individual degree program, fulfillment of the residency requirement, formal training in the Responsible Conduct of Research for students as appropriate, qualifying and/or comprehensive examination(s) or equivalent as required by the degree program, continuous registration, a final oral examination conducted by the student’s PhD committee, and submission of a dissertation to the relevant graduate office and to ProQuest (or a university-sanctioned successor system) for archiving. The dissertation must be based on original and independent research.

Admissions Requirements

Academic classification and degree candidacy, academic residency requirement, responsible conduct of research, course requirements, requirements for candidacy, annual review of student progress, phd dissertation committee, comprehensive examination(s) and/or proposal defenses, dissertation, oral defense of the dissertation, submission of the dissertation, time limitation for achieving candidacy and degree completion, pursuit of an academic credential outside student’s major.

All students admitted to a doctor of philosophy program must satisfy the general requirements for admission as a graduate student and the requirements for the specific PhD program.

• Doctoral student: Students in this classification have been admitted to a doctoral program.
• Doctoral candidate: Every degree program shall have a policy defining candidacy. Students in this classification will have completed all departmental, college, and university requirements except for the dissertation. These requirements vary by program but minimally include completion of approximately 30 semester hours of acceptable graduate work beyond the bachelor’s degree or possession of a previously earned master’s degree that is acceptable to the admissions committee and certification by the graduate office. The requirements frequently include a comprehensive examination and/or a proposal defense.

In the context of a doctoral degree program, the residency requirement refers to either:

• A minimum number of credits or semesters that must be completed through the degree-granting institution
• A minimum duration during which the degree candidate must be enrolled full-time at the degree-granting institution

After reaching candidacy, students must register for Dissertation for a minimum of two consecutive semesters in order to fulfill their formal residency requirement. Continuation status enrollment is for students who are postcandidacy, have completed all coursework and their residency requirement, and are actively engaged in completing a dissertation.

All doctoral students for whom Responsible Conduct of Research training is required must complete training according to the university’s Policy on   Responsible Conduct of Research.

The program committee in charge of the degree program specifies the doctoral course requirements.

In programs that require qualifying examinations, students must be notified in writing of the nature and regulations governing these examinations and of how their performance on the examinations will affect their normal progress toward the degree. The graduate office shall be made aware of the program regulations concerning such examinations.

Units shall define milestones for achieving satisfactory academic progress and shall establish a published process by which the academic progress of every PhD student will be evaluated through an annual review. A copy of each review shall be submitted to the student and the graduate office. If the annual academic review reports that a student is not making sufficient academic progress due to research performance, the PhD student will be placed on academic probation. After two consecutive semesters on academic probation, the student may be dismissed.

The dissertation committee shall have at least three faculty members, two of whom shall be from Northeastern University. The chair of the dissertation committee (who is presumed to be the thesis advisor) will be a full-time tenured or tenure-track member of the faculty of Northeastern and will hold a PhD (or other research doctorate) or an appropriate terminal degree for the discipline. Colleges, the provost, or provost-designee may permit full-time faculty from other ranks: 1) on a case-by-case basis  to serve in this role based on the research qualifications and experience of individual faculty members or 2) based on equivalent faculty definitions at locations operating under different faculty rank systems.

The PhD committee should be appointed early enough to advise in the formulation of the student’s program and in refining the research topic for the dissertation. Within the constraints of the above criteria, the PhD program faculty will determine the process by which dissertation committees are established. The final list of dissertation committee members shall be reported to the college’s associate dean for graduate education or administrative unit managing the degree program.

If a student’s major advisor leaves Northeastern (including transition to emeritus status), that person may continue the research direction of the dissertation or thesis. However, a co-advisor must be appointed from the academic department or program. The student will then have two advisors, one an official member of the Northeastern faculty who will be available for research and administrative matters and the ex-Northeastern advisor. If a new major advisor is appointed, the former Northeastern faculty member may serve as an outside member of the committee.

Degree programs may require a comprehensive examination(s) and/or an oral defense of the dissertation proposal as the final step before becoming a PhD candidate. The purpose of the comprehensive examination(s) is to test the knowledge and skills of the student in a particular area and their knowledge of recent research developments in the field. The administrative home unit for each PhD program shall establish the process by which comprehensive examination committees are established. Units may require an oral defense of the dissertation proposal in lieu of, or in addition to, a comprehensive examination.

Candidates for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy must complete a dissertation that embodies the results of extended research and makes an original contribution to the field.

An oral defense of the dissertation is required and must be held at least 14 calendar days before the degree conferral date. The defense shall be public and conducted with the committee members present either in person or via electronic means. After the public session, a private session may be held to examine material that is subject to a confidentiality agreement. Following the presentation, the candidate will field questions from the committee in public or private. In the case where neither the candidate nor the committee members are present in person on campus (i.e., the candidate and all committee members are connected only remotely via electronic means), there shall be a location established and technology enabled for public, in-person attendance of the defense by the university community and this accommodation made known to the university.

The student must submit the dissertation to ProQuest (or a university-sanctioned successor system) according to the time schedule provided by the relevant graduate office.

 Degree candidacy must be achieved within three years of entering the PhD program, and the PhD degree must be completed within seven years after entering the PhD program. A student may request an extension of these time frames from the graduate office.

A student enrolled in a PhD program may seek to pursue academic credentials (e.g., master’s degree or certificate) outside of their major only if, prior to completing more than one-third of the required credits for that credential, they obtain the approval of their primary advisor, obtain the approval of the graduate office, and apply to and are accepted into the major offering that credential.

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PhD Program Requirements

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Admissions Requirements

The following are general requirements you should meet to apply to the MIT Sloan PhD Program. Complete instructions concerning application requirements are available in the online application.

General Requirements

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent
• A strong quantitative background (the Accounting group requires calculus)
• Exposure to microeconomics and macroeconomics (the Accounting group requires microeconomics)

A Guide to Business PhD Applications by Abhishek Nagaraj (PhD 2016) may be of interest.

Application Components

Statement of purpose.

Your written statement is your chance to convince the admissions committee that you will do excellent doctoral work and that you have the promise to have a successful career as an academic researcher. 

GMAT/GRE Scores

We require either a valid GMAT or valid GRE score. At-home testing is allowed. Your unofficial score report from the testing institution is sufficient for application. If you are admitted to the program, you will be required to submit your official test score for verification.    

We do not have a minimum score requirement. We do not offer test waivers. Registration information for the GMAT (code X5X-QS-21) and GRE (code 3510) may be obtained at www.mba.com and www.ets.org respectively.

TOEFL/IELTS Scores

We require either a valid TOEFL (minimum score 577 PBT/90 IBT ) or valid IELTS (minimum score 7) for all non-native English speakers. Your unofficial score report from the testing institution is sufficient for application. If you are admitted to the program, you will be required to submit your official test score for verification.    Registration information for TOEFL (code 3510) and IELTS may be obtained at www.toefl.org and www.ielts.org respectively.

The TOEFL/IELTS test requirement is waived only if you meet one of the following criteria:

• You are a native English speaker.
• You attended all years of an undergraduate program conducted solely in English, and are a graduate of that program.

Please do not contact the PhD Program regarding waivers, as none will be discussed. If, upon review, the faculty are interested in your application with a missing required TOEFL or IELTS score, we may contact you at that time to request a score.

Transcripts

We require unofficial copies of transcripts for each college or university you have attended, even if no degree was awarded. If these transcripts are in a language other than English, we also require a copy of a certified translation. In addition, you will be asked to list the five most relevant courses you have taken.

Letters of Recommendation

We require three letters of recommendation. Academic letters are preferred, especially those providing evidence of research potential. We allow for an optional  fourth recommendation, but no more than four recommendations are allowed.

Your resume should be no more than two pages. You may chose to include teaching, professional experience, research experience, publications, and other accomplishments in outside activities.

Writing Sample(s)

Applicants are encouraged to submit a writing sample. For applicants to the Finance group, a writing sample is required. There are no specific guidelines for your writing sample. Possible options include (but are not limited to) essays, masters’ theses, capstone projects, or research papers.

Video Essay

A video essay is required for the Accounting research group and optional for the Marketing and System Dynamics research groups. The essay is a short and informal video answering why you selected this research group and a time where you creatively solved a problem. The video can be recorded with your phone or computer, and should range from 2 to 5 minutes in length. There is no attention — zero emphasis! — on the production value of your video.  

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How Long Does It Take To Get a PhD?

A PhD program typically takes four to seven years, but a variety of factors can impact that timeline.

A PhD , or doctorate degree , is the highest degree you can earn in certain disciplines, such as psychology, engineering, education, and mathematics. As a result, it often takes longer to earn than it does for a bachelor’s or master’s degree.

While many PhD programs are designed to be finished in four or five years, the average completion time is much longer when you factor in the time it takes to research and write a dissertation. In 2020, for example, doctoral students took between six and twelve years to complete their PhDs [ 1 ]. By comparison, you can complete a master's degree in one to three years.

In this article, we'll explore the requirements of a PhD, what often ends up adding to the length of time, and important factors you should consider when deciding whether it’s the right choice for you.

PhD requirements + general timeline

Doctoral programs typically require PhD candidates to take take advanced courses, pass a comprehensive exam (sometimes called "comps"), and produce an original body of research, such as a dissertation, to obtain the degree. In some cases, you may also be expected to fulfill a teaching assistantship or research assistantship, both of which are meant to prepare you for a career in academia or research.

PhD requirements

The precise requirements you'll need to complete in order to get your PhD vary from one program to another, but some common tasks include:

Advanced coursework: Graduate-level coursework that explores a number of advanced sub-topics related to your field

Comprehensive exam: An exam that requires you to show knowledge of your field, such as its history, important figures, major theories or research, and more

Dissertation: An original body of research you contribute to your field

PhD timeline

The specifics of a PhD program vary by college and university, but the following estimates give you an idea of what to expect during your time in graduate school:

Year 1: Complete advanced coursework.

Year 2: Complete advanced coursework and begin preparing for your comprehensive exams.

Year 3: Study, take, and defend your comprehensive exams. Begin researching your dissertation proposal.

Year 4: Submit your dissertation proposal to your committee chair, and, once approved, begin working on your dissertation.

Year 5: Finish writing your dissertation and submit for committee approval. Defend your dissertation and apply for graduation.

Note that while this timeline gives a general timeline of how long it will take to complete a PhD program, it's very common for candidates to take more than one year to research and compose their dissertation.

Read more: Should You Go Back to School? 7 Things to Consider

PhD timelines by focus

Some PhD programs take longer to complete than others. For example, earning a doctorate in a science and engineering field typically takes less time than earning a doctorate in the arts or humanities, according to data from the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES) [ 1 ]. The list below shows the median length of time it took doctorate students to earn their degree in 2020:

Physical and Earth Sciences: 6.3 

Engineering: 6.8 years

Life sciences: 6.9 years

Mathematics and computer science: 7 years

Psychology and Social Sciences: 7.9 years

Humanities and arts: 9.6 years

Education: 12 years

Learn more: What Is a Terminal Degree and Do I Need One?

Why does it take so long to complete a PhD?

There are a few reasons why it takes more time to complete a PhD compared to other advanced degrees.

1. Dissertations

Once a doctoral student has successfully passed their comps, they are considered “All But Dissertation” or “ABD.” Yet, the number of students who successfully complete their PhD program remains low—estimates show that nearly 50 percent of students drop out, often after reaching the dissertation phase [ 2 ].

The dissertation phase can often take much longer to complete than the other requirements of a PhD. Researching and writing a dissertation takes significant time because students are expected to make an original and notable contribution to their field.

2. Assistantship obligations

Teaching and research assistantships are beneficial because they can help pay for a PhD program, but they may also take time away from working on your dissertation. Some students are expected to teach at least one class per semester on top of their other obligations as graduate students.

For universities that reduce the teaching or research load that students have as part of their assistantship, times to completion tend to improve. Humanities students at Princeton University began finishing their degree in 6.4 years (compared to 7.5 years) thanks to the institution's financial support and the reduced number of classes students taught [ 3 ].

3. Other responsibilities

Doctoral students tend to be older. Graduate students pursuing a PhD in science or engineering were an average of 31.6 years old by the time they earned their degree in 2016, according to the National Science Foundation [ 4 ]. In effect, some PhD students may have competing obligations, such as family. If a student’s funding has run out, and they have to find full-time work, it also may affect the time they can dedicate to writing their dissertation.

Is a PhD right for you?

People pursue PhDs for various reasons: Some want a job that requires the degree, such as teaching at a university, while others want the challenges or intellectual engagement that a graduate program offers. Identifying why you want to earn a PhD can help indicate whether it’s your best choice.

If your career aspirations don't require a PhD, it might be better to focus on gaining professional experience. Or if you're interested in an advanced education, a master's degree may be a better option. It takes less time to complete than a PhD and can lead to more career opportunities and larger salaries than a bachelor's degree.

Learn more: Is a Master’s Degree Worth It?

Benefits of a PhD

The primary advantage of earning a PhD is your increased demand and marketability in the workforce.

In 2018, less than 5 percent of the United States population had a doctorate degree, compared to about 48 percent with a bachelor's degree and 21 percent with a master's degree, according to the US Census Bureau [ 5 ]. As a member of this elite group, the potential for advanced roles, promotions, or pay raises may be greater.

Even before you have a degree in hand, working toward a PhD gives you opportunities to hone valuable skills , including writing, research, and data analysis . Furthermore, completing a PhD program can demonstrate to potential employers that you have specialized knowledge and the fortitude to finish such an advanced degree.

Costs of a PhD

Beyond the time they take to complete, PhD programs can be expensive. The average cost of a PhD program in the United States is just under $100,000. At some schools, the cost of a PhD can even exceed $200,000 [ 6 ]. While many institutions offer funding support in the form of assistantships or scholarships, many PhD students still graduate with student loan debt. In 2023, the average student loan debt for PhD was $134,797 [ 7 ].

Another factor to consider is the loss of income you might incur while you're working toward your degree. Some graduate students accept teaching or research assistantships to help fund the cost of their program, but these may not pay as much as full-time positions. Working on your education may also mean pausing the professional experience you’d gain in the workforce—and potentially losing out on promotions and raises. However, it’s worth noting that graduate degree holders earn much more over the course of their lifetime than bachelor’s degree holders, according to the US Social Security Administration [ 8 ].

Read more: How to Pay for Graduate School: 8 Ways

Set yourself up for success

A PhD is a major accomplishment. As you think about your long-term goals and whether a PhD will help you achieve them, it's important to understand ways you can set yourself up for success. According to the University of Georgia, success in a PhD program often means [ 9 ]:

Understanding the demands and expectations of the program

Receiving adequate program orientation

Getting support from peers and faculty

Feeling a sense of belonging as a member of an academic community

These conditions underscore the importance of choosing the right program and school to fit your personal and professional goals. Take time to research the ways your potential institution offers financial support, mental health support, and career placement support, among other program features.

An advanced degree can be a lucrative credential. You can earn your master’s in a number of in-demand fields from top universities on Coursera. Earn a degree in computer science , business , management , or public health , all while enjoying greater flexibility than an in-person degree program tends to offer. Earning your master's can also help you discern whether a PhD makes sense for your larger objectives.

Article sources

Survey of Earned Doctorates. " Path to the doctorate , https://ncses.nsf.gov/pubs/nsf22300/report/path-to-the-doctorate." Accessed January 30, 2024.

International Journal of Higher Education. “ Who Are the Doctoral Students Who Drop Out? , https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1188721.pdf.” Accessed January 30, 2024.

The New York Times. " Exploring Ways to Shorten the Ascent to a PhD , https://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/03/education/03education.html." Accessed January 30, 2024.

National Science Foundation. " Science and Engineering Doctorates , https://www.nsf.gov/statistics/2018/nsf18304/report/age-at-doctorate-award-what-are-the-overall-trends-and-characteristics/characteristics-of-doctorate-recipients-sex.cfm." Accessed January 30, 2024.

US Census Bureau. " About 13.1 Percent Have a Master’s, Professional Degree or Doctorate , https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2019/02/number-of-people-with-masters-and-phd-degrees-double-since-2000.html." Accessed January 30, 2024.

Education Data Initiative. " Average Cost of a Doctorate Degree , https://educationdata.org/average-cost-of-a-doctorate-degree." Accessed January 30, 2024.

Education Data Initiative. " Average Graduate Student Loan Debt , https://educationdata.org/average-graduate-student-loan-debt." Accessed January 30, 2024.

Social Security Administration. " Education and Lifetime Earnings , https://www.ssa.gov/policy/docs/research-summaries/education-earnings.html." Accessed January 30, 2024.

 A Data-Driven Approach to Improving Doctoral Completion. " Chapter 2: Description of Projects , https://cgsnet.org/cgs-occasional-paper-series/university-georgia/chapter-2." Accessed January 30, 2024.

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Admissions & Financial Support

Interested in applying to one of our fully funded PhD Programs? Before you begin, learn more about our application requirements. Please note that applicants are only required to possess a bachelors degree. Undergraduate applicants in their senior year are welcome to apply

We realize that the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic, recent natural disasters, and other extenuating circumstances may have significant impacts on applicants’ academic and personal lives, including the ability to provide all required application materials prior to our stated deadlines. If this pertains to your circumstances, please review the information below for next steps.

Required Application Materials

• Completed online application form
• Statement of Purpose
• Personal Statement
• Transcripts for all college/university degrees and courses Self-reported transcripts are accepted for both all programs at the application stage. Applicants must upload copies of his/her transcripts to the online application system. Hard copy transcripts will only be required if admitted to a program, prior to enrollment.
• Current GMAT or GRE scores (see details below)
• TOEFL or IELTS scores (non-native English speakers see details below)
• Three letters of recommendation (at least one from an academic source). Recommendation letters must be submitted online through the online application system. Hard copy recommendation letters will not be accepted.
• $105 application fee via credit card
• Optional writing sample (no more than 10 pages)

GMAT & GRE

All applicants are required to take either the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) or the General Test of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). Submitted test scores are valid for no longer than five years. If you are applying for admission for Fall 2024, we will accept at-home versions of the GRE. You may submit scores from tests taken no earlier than January 5, 2019. There is no minimum test score requirement, and admissions committee does not have a preference in tests.

• Institution Codes for PhD Programs
• GMAT: HRL-X8-30

A department code is not required for score submission.

We realize that the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic, recent natural disasters, and other extenuating circumstances may have significant impacts on applicants’ academic and personal lives, including the ability to provide all required application materials prior to our stated deadlines. If you are unable to take the GRE or GMAT before the deadline, we still encourage you to apply, even if your scores are missing. Our application form includes a section for you to let us know about any of your materials that may be unavailable or delayed.

International Applications

Adequate command of spoken and written English is required for admission. Applicants whose native language is other than English and who do not hold a Bachelor degree or its equivalent from an institution at which English is the language of instruction must submit TOEFL or IELTS scores.

Submitted scores are valid for no longer than two years. If you are applying for admission for Fall 2024, we will accept at-home versions of the TOEFL iBT and IELTS Academic. You may submit scores from tests taken no earlier than January 5, 2022. The committee prefers scores of at least 100 on the the TOEFL internet-based test and at least 7.5 on the IELTS test. Applicants are strongly encouraged to choose the TOEFL internet-based test when possible.

Institution Codes for Toefl score reports PhD programs: 3451

Instructions for submitting IELTS score reports Designate Harvard University, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences as a recipient of your test results. Our address, for the record only, to identify us in the IELTS system, is 1350 Massachusetts Ave. Smith Campus Center 350, Cambridge, MA 02138. Paper test report forms will not be accepted at this address.

Accomodations for COVID-19 pandemic, natural disasters, or other extenuating circumstances

Reapplicants.

Applicants who applied last year are considered reapplicants. Those reapplying must submit a completely new application. The new application must include all required documents to be provided by the applicant - we will not re-use material previously submitted. These materials include an updated statement of purpose, transcripts, test score reports, updated letters of recommendation, the application fee, and any other supporting materials

Please note, Harvard University will accept no more than three applications from any one individual over the course of their lifetime. If your 2023 application is incomplete and you are denied admission, GSAS will not count it toward our lifetime limit of three total applications that an individual may submit due to the global pandemic.

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Ph.d. field requirements for completing your degree, ​ph.d. field requirements for completing your degree.

Details on Ph.D. requirements to complete your degree are available on the Degree Requirements page .

• Complete a minimum of 4 core courses chosen from our 5 areas
• TA for at least 2 semesters
• Form a special committee consisting of a chair, an IS field member, and at least one external minor member
• Pass an A and B exam
• Submit a dissertation

Requesting an Exception to a Field Requirement

Students are expected to meet the field’s minimal requirements. If this is not possible, the student and their Chairperson should propose an alternative solution directed to the attention of the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) in writing. The DGS may consult with the current Graduate Committee, Chair of the Department and/or the GFA before making a final decision. All exceptions will be considered on a case by case basis. And all decisions are final. 

The Graduate Field Assistant, GFA, is also a resource for students to consult with for advice on academic and student life issues. The GFA is the liaison with the Graduate School and works with the Student Service Staff at the Tech campus to guide students through the Ph.D. program.  The GFA’s office hours and link to schedule advising appointments can be found on the Staff page .

• Guide to PhD Entry Requirements
• Applying to a PhD

Although undertaking a PhD can be an exciting challenge, understanding the numerous entry requirements is an important first step. These prerequisites ensure that prospective PhD students like yourself are well-prepared for the academic challenges that await. The entry requirements for STEM disciplines can differ significantly, depending on the specific program, institution, and country of study; this guide explains these requirements.

Key Takeaways

• Diverse Entry Requirements : PhD entry requirements can vary significantly based on the specific STEM programme, and the country or institution in question.
• Academic Qualifications : While a Bachelor’s degree with upper second class honours is a standard requirement, many institutions also place considerable emphasis on a Master’s degree, especially when obtained with Merit or Distinction.
• English Language Proficiency : For non-native speakers, English language qualifications like TOEFL or IELTS scores are crucial. Some institutions offer pre-sessional English programmes for students marginally missing the mark.
• Professional Experience : Non-traditional candidates can often offset their academic qualifications with significant professional experience relevant to the proposed research.
• Visa and Residency : International students must ensure they meet residency requirements, often needing a specific student visa like the Student Route visa in the UK.
• Financial Considerations : Prospective students should be aware of tuition fees and explore potential external funding options to support their PhD journey.
• Holistic Application Process : Apart from academic qualifications, the application process evaluates research proposals, references, and personal statements to gauge a candidate’s potential for research and contributions to academia.

Standard UK PhD Requirements

For doctoral candidates interested in institutions in the United Kingdom, several standard requirements must be met:

• Bachelors Degree : A minimum of an upper second class honours (2.1) is typically required. It indicates not just academic ability, but a strong foundation in the relevant field.
• Masters Degree : While some STEM fields may accept candidates solely based on their undergraduate performance, many institutions highly value a Masters degree. Notably, achieving a grade of Merit or Distinction can significantly strengthen your application, especially a first class honours degree.
• Relevance in Study : A degree in a field relevant to the chosen PhD program is crucial. This ensures that the student has the foundational knowledge vital for doctoral-level research.

International Degree Equivalents

While the UK has specific grading systems and qualification standards, international students with degrees from overseas institutions shouldn’t feel discouraged. Many UK universities and academic departments accept international qualifications that are deemed equivalent:

• Degree Grades : Depending on the country, a degree with grades like ‘Distinction’ or ‘Honours’ might parallel the UK’s 2.1 or First Class honours.
• Evaluation Process : Institutions often utilise recognised international qualification databases or in-house experts to assess the equivalence of overseas qualifications.
• Professional Qualifications : Some candidates may not follow the traditional academic route. In such cases, substantial professional experience in a relevant discipline can potentially offset the need for conventional academic qualifications.

Vital Components for Admission

Achieving the right grades is just one part of the equation. Prospective PhD students are evaluated holistically:

• Research Proposal : This is a window into the applicant’s research aptitude. It should be robust, well-thought-out, and demonstrate a clear research area or subject area of interest.
• Interview Process : Institutions often invite promising candidates for interviews. Here, potential supervisors assess the candidate’s aptitude, enthusiasm, and suitability for PhD projects.
• References : A well-drafted reference letter or academic references from established academicians or professionals in the field can provide invaluable insights into the applicant’s capabilities.

International Students and Residency Requirements

The landscape of global academia thrives on diversity. However, international students have to navigate additional steps:

• Visa Essentials : International students in the UK, for instance, typically require a Student Route visa . The visa mandates full-time study, with confirmation of enrolment secured before the visa application.
• Financial Stability : Prospective PhD students need to demonstrate sufficient financial support, ensuring they can cover tuition fees, living expenses, and other associated costs for the duration of their study.

English Language Proficiency for International Applicants

For international students whose first language isn’t English, proving English language ability is a cornerstone of the application process:

• Testing Platforms : Widely recognised tests such as TOEFL and IELTS are utilised to gauge English language qualifications. For most PhD programmes, IELTS 7.0 overall (with at least 6.5 in each section) or TOEFL scores of 95 overall (no section scoring below 21) are the benchmarks.
• Validity of Test Results : Ensure that your language test results are recent. Institutions typically require that these qualifications be less than 2 years old at the start of the program.
• Exemptions : If a candidate has previously earned a degree in a native English-speaking country, they may be exempted from taking English language tests.
• Pre-sessional English Programs : For those who narrowly miss the minimum entry requirement, many universities offer a Pre-sessional English program. Successfully completing this can pave the way for formal admission into the PhD programme as an alternative means of meeting the English language requirement.

Finding a PhD has never been this easy – search for a PhD by keyword, location or academic area of interest.

Preliminary Studies and Assessments

Many universities introduce prospective PhD students to a preliminary phase of studies, which stands as a precursor to the main research journey. This phase often doesn’t account for the official registration duration but is essential for assessment. A notable example of such a program is the MRes Programme, offering candidates rigour training in various research methodologies; it’s an excellent bridge for those transitioning from postgraduate studies to a full-fledged research degree . Post preliminary studies, there’s typically an evaluation of the candidate’s academic ability, aptitude for research, and the feasibility of their proposed project. Only after this evaluation’s successful completion does the formal PhD period commence.

Furthermore, the value of these preliminary studies extends beyond mere assessment. They serve as an orientation, acquainting students with the research culture of the institution and fostering essential skills. Not only do these programs help in refining one’s research proposal, but they also offer the chance to build networks with potential supervisors and other researchers. This early immersion can be pivotal in shaping a productive and rewarding PhD experience.

Typical Routes and Professional Experience

In the world of academia, not all roads to a PhD are paved in conventional terms:

• Professional Experience : For those without a traditional academic trajectory, substantial professional experience in the chosen research area can significantly boost one’s application. Professional doctorate programmes often cater to such candidates.
• Research Proposal : Here, more than anywhere else, the research proposal becomes pivotal. It should demonstrate how your professional experience aligns with the proposed research area and how it equips you for the rigorous research project ahead.

Financial Considerations

While intellectual capabilities are undeniably crucial for doctoral admissions, financial considerations also hold significant importance:

• Tuition Fees : The tuition fee structure can vary significantly, especially between domestic and international student classifications. It’s crucial to understand these nuances and prepare accordingly.
• External Funding : Several external funding opportunities, ranging from scholarships to grants, are available. They can significantly alleviate the financial burden of a PhD degree.

Application Process and Final Thoughts

Successfully navigating the application process requires careful planning and a systematic approach:

• Online Application Form : This is often the first official step. Ensure that you furnish accurate details, from your academic qualifications to professional doctorate experiences (if applicable).
• Research Proposal Submission : As highlighted, this document often holds significant weight. It should lucidly outline your research project and its relevance to the broader academic community.
• Visa Requirements : For international students, the visa application is crucial. It often hinges on the offer of admission, proof of sufficient funds, and a clear criminal record.
• Personal Statement : A well-crafted personal statement can provide a personal touch, elucidating your motivation, journey, and aspirations regarding the PhD.

In the pursuit of a PhD, understanding and meeting the entry requirements is your first step. This guide hopefully clarifies these prerequisites, providing a strong foundation for prospective PhD students. Whether you’re fresh out of your undergraduate studies, have completed postgraduate research degrees, or are banking on extensive professional experience, the world of academia calls! Prepare carefully, reach out to potential supervisors, engage with the academic departments, and enjoy the process.

We hope this comprehensive guide has provided clarity and direction for prospective STEM PhD candidates. Remember, each journey is unique – and while guidelines and requirements are essential, passion, determination, and genuine curiosity will remain the main factors of successful PhD students. Best of luck in your academic pursuits!

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Admissions Requirements

Application requirements.

Congratulations on taking the next step towards submitting your graduate application! To help you along the way, we’ve compiled a list of requirements to complete your graduate application.

It’s also important to check with the program to which you’re applying, as they may have additional requirements specific to their program of study and degree not listed on this page.

Minimum Admissions Requirements

The minimum graduate admissions requirements are:

• Expect to or hold a bachelor’s degree or recognized equivalent from an accredited institution.
• A satisfactory scholastic average, usually a minimum grade-point average (GPA) of 3.0 (B) on a 4.0 scale; and
• Enough undergraduate training and/or professional experience to do graduate work in your chosen field.

Academic Records

You must hold or expect to hold a bachelor’s degree prior to the start of classes from a U.S.accredited institution by one of the AACRAO regional accrediting agencies* or a recognized equivalent from an accredited institution outside of the U.S.

* Regionally accredited college or university means an institution of higher education accredited by one of the following regional accreditation associations in the United States:

• Middle States Commission on Higher Education
• New England Association of Schools and Colleges
• The Higher Learning Commission (formerly known as North Central Association of Colleges and Schools)
• Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
• WASC Senior College and University Commission

Graduates of accredited academic institutions outside the United States should hold a degree equivalent to a U.S. bachelor’s degree. Please contact Graduate Admissions with questions.

Bachelor’s Degree from a U.S. Institution

Required Records : Upload unofficial transcripts (ie, a scanned copy) from every post-secondary school that you have attended, including your undergraduate institution, community colleges, summer sessions, and extension programs.

Bachelor’s Degree from an International Institution

Required Records : Upload a scanned copy of your transcript and degree certificate for each institution after high school. If your academic records are in a language other than English or Spanish, you may submit translations in one of two ways:

• Submit translations prepared by certified translators from the American Translators Association or the Ministry of Education. Degree names and grades should be transcribed, not converted, into English words or the U.S. grades of A-F. 
• Submit an official World Education Services (WES) International Credential Advantage Package (ICAP) evaluation (opens in a new tab) . To electronically submit your WES ICAP, follow the instructions provided by WES. Select “University of California at Berkeley” as the recipient and “Graduate Admissions” 318 Sproul Hall #5900, Berkeley, CA 94720-5900 as the school/division.

Evidence of English Language Proficiency

All applicants who have completed a basic degree in a country/region in which the official language is not English are required to submit official evidence of English language proficiency. This requirement applies to institutions from Bangladesh, Nepal, India, Pakistan, Latin America, the Middle East, Israel, the People’s Republic of China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Southeast Asian countries, most European countries, and countries in Africa in which English is not the official language.

There are two standardized tests you may take: the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), and the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)

TOEFL is administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS). You can obtain detailed information from the TOEFL website .

We accept the internet based (iBT) and iBT Home Edition. We do not accept the TOEFL ITP or Duolingo .

For purposes of admission, your TOEFL test score must be at least 90 for the Internet-based test (IBT). Please contact individual academic departments for more information, as they may choose to require a higher score.

For Fall 2024, tests taken before June 1, 2022 will not be accepted even if your score was reported to UC Berkeley. Please send your test score directly from ETS to the institution code for UC Berkeley: 4833 for Graduate Organizations. We do not accept MyBest Scores.

International English Language Testing System (IELTS)

You can also submit scores from the Academic Modules of the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), which is jointly managed by the British Council, IDP:IELTS Australia, and the University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations. Consult the IELTS website to locate the office of the test center where you plan to take the test.

For purposes of admission, your most recent overall band score must be at least 7 on a 9-point scale.

For Fall 2024, tests taken before June 1, 2022 will not be accepted. All IELTS scores must be sent electronically from the testing center, and no institution code is required. Our address for identification purposes is: University of California, Berkeley, Graduate Division, Sproul Hall Rm 318, MC 5900, Berkeley, CA 94720. Please do not mail any score reports to us.

TOEFL/IELTS Exemption

To qualify for a TOEFL/IELTS exemption, you must fulfill one of the following options:

• Have a basic degree from a recognized institution in a country where the official language is English.
• Have completed a basic or advanced degree at an institution, in the United States or a United States institution abroad, where the language of instruction is English and the institution is accredited by one of the United States’ regional accrediting agencies.
• The following courses do not qualify for an exemption: courses in English as a Second Language, courses conducted in a language other than English, courses that will be completed after applicants submit their application, or courses of a nonacademic nature.

The TOEFL or IELTS must be submitted by applicants who do not meet the exemption criteria above.

Graduate Record Examination (GRE) and Other Test Scores

Some programs require applicants to take a standardized test such as the GRE General Test, a GRE Subject Test, the GMAT or MCAT. Consult the program to which you are applying for the department’s requirements.

For the GRE, send your test score directly from ETS to the institution code for UC Berkeley: 4833 for Graduate Organizations. No department code is needed unless specified by the specific program. ETS will not report test scores older than 5 years.

For the GMAT or MCAT, please consult your program for details.

Letters of Recommendation

The application requires at least three letters of recommendation. Applicants should check with their prospective program for questions . Your recommenders are asked to give their personal impressions of your intellectual ability, your aptitude in research or professional skills, your character, and the quality of your previous work and potential for future productive scholarship. Be sure to inform your recommenders of the program’s application deadline.

Applicants may waive the right to inspect their letters of recommendation on a voluntary basis. This option can be selected when you fill out the recommendation invite for your recommender.

The Graduate Division may verify the authenticity of academic letters of recommendation with the school or recommender.

Submit a Statement of Purpose and Personal History statement, along with any other essays the program you are applying to requires.

The Statement of Purpose should describe your aptitude and motivation to enter the program. This can include relevant details about your preparation or specialization in the field. This is a good place to share your academic plans, research interests, and future career goals. Read tips on how to craft your Statement of Purpose .

The Personal History statement describes how your own background and experiences influenced your decision to pursue a graduate degree. Read tips on how to write your Personal History statement .

Application Fee

If you are a U.S. citizen or current permanent resident, the non-refundable application fee is $135; for all others, the fee is $155.

Fee Waiver : U.S. citizens or permanent residents who demonstrate financial need or have participated in an eligible program may apply for an application fee waiver. See guidelines for waivers .

Fee Exemption : Some programs do not require the application fee payment. See guidelines for fee exemption .

PhD Minimum Admission Requirements

Minimum requirements for admission to doctoral study at uf.

A.         A Graduate Record Exam (GRE) score: While preference will be given to students with scores above the 50th percentile, scores from the GRE will be used in the context of a holistic credential review process

B.         A satisfactory previous academic record: an upper division undergraduate GPA of not less than 3.4 and/or a graduate GPA of not less than 3.5

C.        At least three letters of recommendation indicating strong potential for success in the doctoral program from individuals qualified to assess such abilities (Follow-up calls to these individuals may be made by the Graduate Committee or concerned faculty).

D.        An application portfolio prepared by the applicant to indicate potential success in research, writing, teaching, etc. The packet should include as many as possible of the following:

• A well-written essay on career goals and objectives (required of all applicants),
• Reports of research projects in which applicant has participated,
• Copy of master’s thesis or project if completed,
• Copies of reprints, convention papers, etc. if any have been completed, and,
• Other supporting material that the applicant wishes to submit for consideration.

E.         An interview with the applicant if deemed necessary by the Graduate Committee and other relevant faculty. This can be done on campus or via Skype.

F.         International students must submit a satisfactory score on the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), IELTS (International English Language Testing System), MELAB (Michigan English Language Assessment Battery) or successful completion of the University of Florida English Language Institute program.  Please see below and the graduate catalog for exemptions to this requirement.

G.        For fall admission, priority will be given to applications completed by  December 1 st  However, applications received after December 1 st  will still be considered for admission pending, available space and funding.

H.       Information for international applicants to our program should carefully read

I.        General information about the Ph.D. in Rehabilitation Sciences

J.       General information on graduate admissions can be found on the  UF’s Graduate School admissions page .

Application Requirements

Applicants must have completed a bachelor's degree or the equivalent before beginning graduate study. Applicants who already hold a Ph.D. degree will not be considered for a second Ph.D. degree. Transcripts from each college or university attended, three letters of recommendation, a CV, and the applicant's statement of purpose are required components of the application and are carefully and equally weighed during the evaluation process. GRE tests (general and advanced subject) are not required and in most options scores will not be considered for admission. Most of the funding sources require work authorization. As a consequence, matriculation into the PhD program requires evidence of work authorization, unless special compensation can be arranged with the admitting option. Applicants are expected to read, write and speak English and comprehend the spoken language. Although not required for admission, for applicants whose native language is not English or who have not received a degree from a university or college where English is the primary language of instruction, it is important to demonstrate a strong capability in English. This can be done by self-reporting scores from the Educational Testing Service (TOEFL), Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic), the Cambridge Examinations and the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or other services that provide a certified English-language proficiency examination.

• Application Checklist
• Application Deadlines
• Supplemental Documents
• Transcripts and Letters of Recommendation

Doctoral degree

MIT offers the degrees of Doctor of Science and Doctor of Philosophy interchangeably in the engineering and science departments (except biology and brain and cognitive sciences) and in the fields of medical engineering and medical physics. The degree of Doctor of Philosophy is awarded in architecture; biology; brain and cognitive sciences; computational science and engineering; economics; history, anthropology, and science, technology, and society; linguistics; management; media arts and sciences; philosophy; political science; technology and policy; bioengineering and environmental health; urban studies and planning; and from health sciences and technology. These degrees certify creditable completion of an approved program of advanced study in addition to a research dissertation of high quality based on original research.

The two Institute requirements for a doctorate are completion of a program of advanced study, including a general examination, and completion and oral defense of a thesis on original research.

The course of advanced study and research leading to the doctorate must be pursued under the direction of the departmental committee on graduate students for at least four academic terms. In some cases, the required period of residence may be reduced, but in no instance can it be reduced to less than two regular academic terms and one summer session.

A student is enrolled in a program of advanced study and research approved by the department. The thesis research is in this same area, but the program often includes subjects reaching into several departments. If the field requires substantial participation by two or more departments, an interdepartmental faculty committee,  approved by the Office of Graduate Education via petition , should be appointed to supervise the student’s program.

Each doctoral candidate must take a general examination in their program of study at such time and in such manner as the departmental or interdepartmental committee approves. This examination consists of both oral and written parts.

Although there is no Institute requirement of a minor for the doctoral degree, certain departments require that candidates take a number of subjects outside their major field.

Language proficiency

Information on language proficiency expectations in various departments

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• PhD Entry Requirements

Written by Chris Banyard

To study for a PhD, you will need to meet certain entry requirements before the application process.

This is generalised guidance for most PhD programmes – you should check the specific PhD requirements and eligibility criteria for each programme you apply for.

Additionally, there may be certain circumstances in which a special case could be made for an applicant who doesn’t meet the standard PhD requirements. You should discuss this with the potential PhD supervisor or admissions administrator.

Qualifications and academic eligibility

Standard PhD requirements in the UK are a Bachelors degree with at least an upper second class honours degree (2.1). You may also need a Masters degree with a Merit or Distinction grade. All your previous qualifications must be in a field of study relevant to the PhD you are applying for.

Typically, Arts and Humanities PhDs are more likely to require a Masters degree. For Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) PhDs, an undergraduate degree may be sufficient. This depends in the individual degree programme.

What if I have a Masters, but my undergraduate degree is in a different subject or field?

A Masters degree usually supersedes a Bachelors, meaning that the undergraduate degree grade is less significant.

What if I have different qualifications?

International equivalents to these degrees may be accepted – the research institution you apply to will assess their suitability.

Atypical qualifications

A special case may be made if an applicant does not have a typical formal qualification. For example, if you have extensive professional experience in a relevant area, it might make up for a lack of previous academic qualification. However, this is down to the discretion of the PhD supervisor and / or university, and they might ask you to undertake extra study.

Suitability

A research institution will only admit students who they believe will complete the PhD to a high standard and within the time limit. Prospective doctoral researchers should also have a demonstrable interest in the area of study.

This is usually evaluated via the application process. A PhD supervisor will consider aspects of the application to determine whether you show enough competency and dedication for a PhD:

• Research proposal
• PhD interview

In most circumstances, a PhD student will need to be a resident of the country in which the research is being completed at the time of study, or hold a relevant visa.

International students (including EU, EEA and Swiss nationals) require a Student Route visa to study a PhD in the UK.

Similar visa requirements may be needed to study a PhD in other countries. Typically, in order to qualify for a visa for PhD study you will need to:

• Be studying full-time
• Have confirmation of enrolment before applying for a visa
• Have enough monetary support for the full length of study

The documentation you will need depends on your country of study. Always check the specific requirements for each country. Take a look at our international PhD study guide for more information.

If your PhD is not conducted in your first language, you may need to provide evidence of your proficiency. This is usually through a language test such as TOEFL or IELTS .

There may be some exceptions to this, such as if you have already studied an English-language degree in a native English-speaking country, for example.

Can I complete the language proficiency tests later?

Language proficiency tests usually need to be completed before the PhD start date. In some cases, it may be possible to receive an offer of enrolment for a PhD without the language proficiency, but this is normally conditional upon passing the test before the PhD start.

Other graduate entry tests

Some universities may require prospective students to take a graduate entry test in order to be eligible for a PhD. These are more common in the USA , Canada , and Australia for PhD applications.

This may be a general test or a subject-specific one. Also, some tests are more widely accepted than others. You should always check the particular PhD requirements.

Ready to apply for a PhD?

Head over to our course listings to find the latest PhD opportunities and learn how to apply.

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We've answered some of the most frequently asked questions about PhDs, covering course types, applications, funding and the benefits of further study.

Getting ready to apply for a PhD? Our guides explain research proposals, references and entry tests for doctoral programmes.

Understand what a successful PhD research proposal needs to include and how to go about writing one for your project application.

Our guide explains how to contact a potential PhD supervisor to discuss your proposal or ideas with them before applying.

A checklist of the things you'll need to do when making an international PhD application, from meeting the entry requirements to sorting out your visa.

What documents you need for a complete study abroad application, what they are and what they should and should not include.

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The University of Missouri grants types of doctoral degrees: the doctor of philosophy (PhD), the doctor of education (EdD), and the doctor of nursing practice (DNP). Consult with individual departments to learn about the availability of degrees. To obtain a doctoral degree, a student must follow the general regulations of the Graduate Faculty Senate, as well as special requirements of the degree program. It is the student’s responsibility to adhere to all regulations and satisfy the graduation requirements of the Graduate School and the degree program. An individual who has held, at any time, a regular tenure-track appointment in an MU academic program is not eligible for a doctoral degree from that department or the area program in which that department participates.

Selecting a Doctoral Advisor

The student selects an advisor or co-advisors, by mutual consent, from doctoral faculty members who are dissertation supervisors in the department or area program in which the major work is planned. When the graduate student’s home academic program is the involved academic program for a jointly appointed faculty member, the person may serve as chair/advisor with the approval of the director of graduate studies from the student’s home academic program. In the event that an advisor retires or leaves MU, they may continue to serve as a student’s advisor unless there is written academic program policy prohibiting such an arrangement. If the program allows a faculty member who has left MU to serve, a co-advisor should also be identified so that there is a faculty member at MU to provide further support to the student. If an advisor is unable or unwilling to continue to serve, the academic program, with the leadership of the director of graduate studies, will assist to ensure that a replacement is found.

Doctoral Qualifying Examination or Process and Forming a Doctoral Program Committee

A department or program determines the nature of the qualifying examination or process. The unit may also limit the number of times this examination or process may be attempted. In conjunction with the completion of the qualifying examination, the student's advisor must recommend the doctoral program committee. The committee must be approved by the academic program's director of graduate studies and the Graduate School. The  Qualifying Examination Results and Doctoral Committee Approval (D1)  form should be submitted to the Graduate School within the first 2 years of doctoral study. 

Committee Changes

Changes to the committee must be submitted on the Change of Committee form .

Membership Requirements for Doctoral Committees

The doctoral program committee shall be composed of a minimum of four members of the MU graduate faculty and will include at least three members from the student’s department or degree program (e.g., Interdisciplinary Neuroscience, Genetics Area Program, Informatics) and an outside member from a different MU department or program. At least two of the doctoral committee members must be MU doctoral faculty, one of whom must be the chair or co-chair. For students pursuing an EdD, an outside member is not required.

Additional committee members with specialized expertise who do not meet the criteria for the MU graduate faculty or doctoral faculty may serve on a doctoral committees as a fifth or sixth member, with special permission of the Dean of the Graduate School.

Graduate Committee Membership for Jointly Appointed Faculty

Chapter 320 of the Collected Rules and Regulations for the University of Missouri requires that all jointly appointed faculty members will have a designated Primary Appointment and Primary Department, as well as affiliation with one or more involved departments or units. These affiliations affect membership status of jointly appointed faculty on graduate student committees as follows:

Doctoral Committee Member

A faculty member can serve only as an Internal Member when their Primary Appointment is in the graduate student’s home academic program. When a graduate student’s home academic program is the involved academic program for a jointly appointed faculty member, they may serve as either an internal or external member of the committee.

Graduate Committee Membership for Adjunct Faculty

Adjunct faculty may serve as a committee chair or committee member only in academic programs in which they are appointed and approved for graduate or doctoral faculty membership as appropriate for the student’s degree (master’s or doctoral). Service on graduate committees outside the academic program in which an adjunct member is appointed requires a recommendation by the director of graduate studies and/or department chair/director from the student’s home academic program and approval by the Dean of the Graduate School.

All members of the doctoral program committee will be intimately involved and will actively participate in the activities of the doctoral student at all the stages of the student’s career at MU, except, in some cases, in the qualifying examination/process. The committee also may participate in the assessment of a student’s background and potential for success in the academic program’s doctoral program. Committee members may call a meeting of the full committee at any time to discuss the student’s progress.

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Doctoral Plan of Study & Degree Requirements

The doctoral program committee provides academic program approval of the student’s Plan of Study , which will prepare the student for research or scholarly investigation in the chosen field of study. The plan of study includes a list of the courses and the credit to be earned. By successfully completing the plan by deadlines, a doctoral student will:

• Prepare the student for research or scholarly investigation in the chosen field of study.
• Satisfy the credit-hour and residency requirement of the academic program.
• Satisfy any special requirements (proficiency in foreign languages, collateral field, doctoral minor, other special research skills) imposed by the department or area program.
• Satisfy the requirement for a minimum of 15 hours of MU coursework at the 8000/9000 level (exclusive of research, readings, and problems).

The committee also recommends to the Dean of the Graduate School, as part of the Plan of Study, any request for transfer of graduate credit. Changes to the plan of study should be submitted on the Plan of Study Course Substitution form .

Doctoral Credit-Hour Requirement

MU requires a minimum of 72 credit hours beyond the baccalaureate degree for doctoral degrees. The student’s doctoral program committee must approve all course work used to satisfy the credit-hour requirement and may require additional course work beyond these minimums.

Transfer Credit

The doctoral committee may recommend up to 30 hours of post-baccalaureate graduate credit from a regionally accredited university be transferred toward the total hours required for the doctoral degree. It is the responsibility of the doctoral committee to determine the appropriateness of course work for transfer credit. All requests for exceptions to this policy must be approved by the Dean of the Graduate School.

Extension & Correspondence Credit in Doctoral Programs

The doctoral committee may recommend that courses taken through MU’s Extension division be counted toward the credit-hour requirement. Extension or correspondence course work from institutions other than MU may not be used to meet the total hours required for the doctoral degree.

Time Limits on Transfer Credits

All courses to be applied to the plan of study must be completed within eight years of filing the plan.

Grades at the Graduate Level

To become eligible for a degree, a doctoral student must have completed all MU graduate work attempted with a GPA of 3.0 (A=4.0) or higher. Review grading policies for more information.

Foreign Language Proficiency

In general, an English-speaking student may establish foreign language proficiency, if it is required, by demonstrating an ability to translate into English two foreign languages; or by demonstrating a high order of fluency in one language; that is the ability to read, write, and converse in that language and to translate that language into English and English into that language. However, very few programs require a foreign language proficiency.

Plan of Study Completion Before Doctoral Comprehensive Exam

The student must substantially complete the course work outlined in the Plan of Study to the satisfaction of the doctoral program committee and the Graduate School before being declared ready for the comprehensive examination .

Doctoral Comprehensive Examination

The student must be enrolled to take the doctoral comprehensive examination . It is to be administered only when MU is officially in session. The comprehensive examination is designed by the academic program. It consists of written and oral sections. It must be completed at least seven months before the final defense of the dissertation. The two sections of the examination must be completed within one month.

Written Section

The written section or sections of the examination may be conducted in one or both of the following two ways:

• The written sections may be arranged and supervised by the major advisor, in which case questions are prepared and assessed by the doctoral program committee.
• The major advisor may delegate responsibility for arranging, preparing, supervising, and assessing the written sections of the examination to one or more departmental/program committees appointed for this purpose.

Successful Completion

For the comprehensive examination to be successfully completed, the doctoral program committee must vote to pass the student on the entire examination, both written and oral sections, with no more than one dissenting or abstaining vote from the committee. A report of examination results, carrying the signatures of all members of the committee, must be sent to the Graduate School and the student no later than two weeks after the comprehensive examination is completed.

Exam Failure

A failure of either the written or oral section of the exam constitutes failure of the comprehensive exam. If a failure is reported, the committee also must include in the report an outline of the general weaknesses or deficiencies of the student’s work. The student and the committee members are encouraged to work together to identify steps the student might take to become fully prepared for the next examination.

Request for Clarification

If the student believes that the advice given by the committee is inadequate, the student may send a written request for clarification to the committee. A copy of this request should be sent to the Graduate School as well. The committee must respond to this request in writing within two weeks and a copy must be filed with the Graduate School.

Retaking the Comprehensive Examination

The student who fails may not take a second comprehensive examination for at least 12 weeks. Failure to pass two comprehensive examinations automatically prevents candidacy.

Doctoral Candidacy & Continuous Enrollment

Candidacy for a doctoral degree is established by passing the comprehensive examination. Status as a continuously enrolled doctoral student begins the term after the term in which the comprehensive exam was successfully completed. Students must maintain continuous enrollment during their candidacy (the period after successful completion of the comprehensive examination).

Procedure for Continuous Enrollment

Candidacy is maintained by enrolling in 9090 Research (or 9990 Research for some Engineering students) for two semester hours each fall and spring semester and for one semester hour each summer session, or an equivalent number of hours through enrollment in other coursework, up to and including the term in which the dissertation is defended. Continuous enrollment provides access to an advisor’s support, doctoral program committee guidance, and university research facilities for completion of the dissertation. Failure to enroll continuously in the appropriate number of hours until the doctoral degree is awarded may terminate candidacy.

Reestablishing Candidacy After Time Off

Candidacy may be reestablished by registering for the hours missed during the time off and completing the requirements specified by the student’s doctoral program committee. Registration fees owed may not exceed the amount owed for seven terms, regardless of the number of terms beyond seven for which the student failed to continuously enroll. The committee’s requirements may include a second comprehensive examination or evidence of currency in the research field as suggested by publications in refereed journals or other measures. Candidacy is reestablished when the student’s advisor and the departmental, area program, or divisional director of graduate studies submits a written request to the Graduate School explaining the basis for the decision. Once approved, a Reactivation Form must be completed by the student and sent to the department/program for processing. Students who have an approved leave of absence during candidacy for reasons related to pregnancy, parenting, and/or other care-giving reasons do not have to register for the missed hours, but do have to complete the necessary hours for graduation requirements. Other exceptions are made at the discretion of the Dean of the Graduate School.

The Doctoral Dissertation

The dissertation must be written on a subject approved by the candidate’s doctoral program committee, must embody the results of original and significant investigation and must be the candidate’s own work.

A report of the dissertation defense , carrying the signatures of all members of the committee , is sent to the Graduate School before the deadline preceding the anticipated date of graduation. For the dissertation to be successfully defended, the student’s doctoral committee must vote to pass the student on the defense with no more than one dissenting or abstaining vote. The dissertation defense form reports whether the student has successfully orally defended the dissertation.

Required Dissertation Format

Every doctoral candidate should review the Guidelines for Preparing Theses and Dissertations from the Graduate School (students can enroll in a Canvas Organization that also provides this information and mechanism to submit the approved written dissertation) and should consult their director of graduate studies for academic program style requirements. All dissertation defenses shall be open to the general faculty. Academic programs are encouraged to announce dissertation defense dates to academic program colleagues.

Submission of Dissertation to the Graduate School

The final copy of the dissertation must be submitted to the Graduate School electronically or as a PDF file on a CD-ROM. Specific instructions are provided in the Guidelines for Preparing Theses and Dissertations. Once the final copy of the dissertation is approved by the Graduate School and all other degree program requirements have been met, the student will be recommended for degree conferral.

Reasonable Rate of Progress

Reasonable rate of progress is governed by both the campus wide policies of the Graduate Faculty Senate listed below, as well as academic program regulations, which may be more restrictive. Failure to satisfy the Graduate Faculty Senate's rate of progress policies leading to dismissal is handled by the Request for Extension process . For academic advice or assistance with degree program planning, students should contact their advisors. Dismissals arising from violation of academic program policies may be appealed using the Appeals Process . Students should also refer to the section on the Dismissal Policy for additional details.

Time Limits for Doctoral Degree Completion

The Graduate Faculty Senate policy governs the Reasonable Rate of Progress established for doctoral students:

Effective fall semester 2000, a doctoral student must successfully complete the comprehensive examination within a period of five years beginning with the first semester of enrollment as a doctoral student. In addition, the program for the doctoral degree must be completed within five years of passing the comprehensive examination. Individual departments or area programs may stipulate a shorter time period. For an extension of this time the student must petition the Graduate School by submitting a request to the advisor who, in turn, submits a written recommendation to the Graduate School, which has been endorsed by the department or area program director of graduate studies.

Doctoral Degree Extension Request

Regardless of when a student entered the program or passed the comprehensive exam, any candidate requiring additional time must submit a request for an extension. On petition of the candidate and the candidate’s academic program, an extension of time may be granted by the Graduate School. Academic programs specifically reserve the right to re-certify currency in the discipline. All requests for extensions should be endorsed by the academic program’s director of graduate studies and accompanied by a description of the process whereby currency in the discipline is certified, if required, by the academic programs. See also Active Duty Policy .

Dual Doctoral Degrees

Dual doctoral-professional degrees.

As the US workforce becomes increasingly interdisciplinary, some graduate students elect to concurrently pursue a PhD (doctoral) degree in combination with professional degree. Examples include the MD/PhD and the JD/PhD. Dual degrees are cooperatively arranged between a graduate degree granting program and a professional degree granting program. The Graduate School oversees the doctoral (PhD) degree portion of the dual doctoral/ professional degree. Dual degrees are approved by the Graduate Faculty Senate.

Students must apply to both the Graduate School and the professional degree program, notifying both of their interest in a dual program. Please refer to the A-Z list of graduate degree programs to learn what is currently available.

Because some students may not be aware of an approved dual degree program before their arrival at MU, the option to participate in an approved dual degree program may be postponed until no later than the end of a student’s second semester at MU.

The governing policies for dual degrees are the same for master’s and doctoral students. Please refer to the dual-degree information for master’s students for more information.

Dual Degrees for Medical Students

The MD/PhD program is for the student seeking a biomedical research career. Additional years are integrated into the medical curriculum to satisfy requirements for the PhD. (A MD/MS dual degree is another option). The graduate degree (MS or PhD) is typically accomplished after completion of the MD program. PhD programs are available in diverse areas at MU.

Students are accepted to the joint program by a single committee. Students interested in this dual degree program should inquire at the dean’s office in the School of Medicine.

Financial Support

Financial support may be provided for the graduate portion of the dual-degree program. Fellowship support may be provided for the PhD portion of this program, while loan and scholarship funds may be available for the MD curriculum.

Applying Credit

Students participating in the MD/PhD Program at the University of Missouri may apply up to 30 hours of credit for courses taken during the preclinical phase of the MD program towards the 72 hour requirement for the PhD degree. These MD courses, however, cannot be used to satisfy the requirement for 15 hours of 8000/9000 of graduate level course work.

The following table lists the distribution of credits for the preclinical courses among areas of study that can be used by the student and their committee in determining how many credit hours should be applied toward the PhD.

Advising & Committees

There will be a separate advisor and committee for each degree program.

Note: The option of a combined committee structure may be included in proposals for Graduate Faculty Senate consideration, e.g., co-advisors who would also serve as outside members, plus one additional member from each degree program, for a total of four committee members.

Dual Degree Progress Forms

Special dual degree program forms will be used to certify plans of study, committee members and final defense/examinations.

Timelines for PhD Completion

Policies governing doctoral degree completion, including but not limited to examinations, forms, continuous enrollment, and dissertation format, defense and submission, are detailed in the doctoral degree requirements section of the Catalog and website.

Conferral of Dual Degrees

Upon completion of all degree program requirements, the Graduate School and the professional school will confer separate diplomas.

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Prerequisites and Requirements

Before applying to the Ph.D. Program at Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, review our full list of prerequisite information and complete admission requirements. The admissions committee reviews all completed applications through a holistic review process to select candidates for interviews.

Prerequisites

Candidates for the Ph.D. Program must meet the following eligibility requirements:

• Completion of a bachelor's degree, preferably in the biological or physical sciences, from an accredited institution. 
• A minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. 
• Degree conferral before the program begins (program begins in July).

Suggested undergraduate coursework:

• Applicants to our Ph.D. program are encouraged to have completed coursework with demonstrated proficiency (B average or above) in their math and science courses. Additionally, advanced courses in biology, chemistry, and physiology are encouraged.
• Applicants interested in applying to the Biomedical Engineering and Physiology Track are advised to take courses in quantitative science and engineering, such as signal processing, computer science, and instrumentation.

Holistic review

Our Ph.D. program prepares students to translate scientific discoveries into applications that improve patient care. This requires a wide range of skills, aptitudes, and characteristics. Along with the basic set of prerequisites, the track admissions committees take a holistic approach to admissions; meaning, they take into consideration the many factors that make up an applicant. These acceptance factors include:

• Academic performance
• Letters of recommendation
• Personal statement
• Research experience

Transfer student policy

The only pathway to matriculation at Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences is through application during the annual application window, September 1 - December 4.

The Ph.D. program does not accept transfer students; however, transfer credits for graduate courses taken at another institution may be considered if appointed to our Ph.D. program.

Application window

Apply between Sept. 1 and Dec. 4 for the following academic year.

To get in touch with the Ph.D. Program, fill out the form on the Contact Us page .

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Requirements

Minimum admissions requirements.

Prospective graduate students must meet the following minimum requirements:

• Hold the minimum equivalent of a four-year baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university in the U.S. or its equivalent from an accredited foreign institution or a Bologna bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 180 European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits.
• Also acceptable: hold a Master’s degree, a doctoral degree (Ph.D., D.Phil.), or a professional degree (M.D., J.D., D.V.M., etc.) from a regionally accredited college or university in the U.S. or its equivalent from an accredited foreign institution.
• After  accepting an offer: all students confirming enrollment must provide an official (sealed) transcript and degree statement (with date of award & title of degree awarded) for verification to  Graduate Enrollment Management Services (GEMS) . For more information, see Official Transcripts Requirements. Students who submit an official transcript to their admitting department are still required to submit an additional transcript to GEMS upon enrollment.

Read more about requirements on our Admissions Help and FAQs page.

• Have at least a 3.0 cumulative grade-point-average on a 4 point scale (or equivalent measures of performance if a graduate of an institution with no grading system; or equivalent grade-point-average from an accredited foreign institution) for those credits earned at the regionally accredited institution awarding the bachelor’s degree OR at least a 3.0 grade-point-average (on a 4 point scale) for  the last 90 graded quarter credits or 60 graded semester credits.
• Also acceptable: have earned at least a cumulative 3.0 grade-point-average (on a 4 point scale) from an accredited institution for a Master’s, graduate doctoral degree, or professional doctoral degree.
• Graduate programs may consider an applicant with a GPA below a 3.0. Graduate programs must submit an admission petition to the Dean of the Graduate School and receive approval before an offer is made. For the complete policy, refer to  Policy 3.1: Graduate Admissions .
• Some graduate programs will have additional admission requirements and may require a higher grade-point-average. These requirements can be found in the graduate program listing:  select a graduate program .

English Proficiency

• Demonstration of English proficiency is required of all non-native English speakers. 
• Applicants who do not meet the minimum required score will not be considered for admission. We do not offer conditional admission. 
• Admitted students may be required to take additional English classes during their graduate studies, see Policy 3.2.
• Some graduate programs may require a higher score beyond the minimum required score. Additionally, some programs may not accept MyBest Scores. Please check with graduate programs to confirm their requirements:  select a graduate program .

For additional ways to demonstrate English proficiency, see  Policy 3.2 .

For more information, please visit our comprehensive page for International Applicants .

Citizenship and Visa Status

The Graduate School accepts applications from U.S. citizens, permanent residents (green card holders), immigrants and international applicants. Undocumented individuals are eligible for admission to any graduate program at the University of Washington. Graduate School admission requirements and application procedures are the same for all applicants regardless of citizenship and visa status.

Once an international student planning to study on an F-1 or J-1 student visa has been admitted and has accepted their offer, they must provide documentation to show proof of adequate financial support.

• Refer to our Financial Ability Requirement information
• International students must have a visa status that allows academic study at the UW. This status includes temporary U.S. visas such as F-1 student visas, J-1 exchange visitors, H-1 temporary worker, dependent visas or any other non-immigrant classifications. Students who will study on an F-1 or J-1 visa will be required to complete additional steps after confirming their intention to enroll before the Graduate School can process their visa paperwork.
• Regarding F-2 dependent visa holders, a June 2015 US immigration rule permits dependents (F-2) of international students to engage in study at SEVP-certified schools in the U.S., as long as they are enrolled in part-time study. Although the F-2s can only study part-time, that part-time study can result in the attainment of a degree. However, the F-2  would not be eligible for any employment, including on-campus, CPT, or OPT.  At the University of Washington Graduate School, if an F-2 wants to enroll in a full course of academic study (10 credit minimum), they must apply for and  obtain approval  to change their nonimmigrant classification to F-1 or J-1. For further information on this rule, refer to  the Department of Homeland Security website.

Ph.D. Degree Requirements

1. introduction, 2.1 ph.d. advising, 2.2 grad review, 2.3 pre-candidacy requirements.

• 2.4 Preliminary Examination and Advancement to Candidacy

2.5 Candidacy and Dissertation Defense

2.6 graduation requirements for ph.d. students.

• 3. Travel Grants for Ph.D. Students

4. Internships

This document is tailored for graduate students in the Computer Science Department, providing essential details on degree requirements and other important aspects of graduate study. Graduate education in the department is managed by the Associate Chair, who is also the Graduate Program Director, along with the Assistant Director and Graduate Coordinator, collectively referred to as the “Graduate Office.” 

For information regarding campus-wide graduate study requirements, policies, and deadlines, please refer to the resources provided by the UMCP Graduate School and in the Graduate Catalog. Specific information about registration and coursework requirements for our programs can be found here .

2. Ph.D. Degree Requirements

In the Ph.D. program, every student is either assigned a faculty advisor or has mutually agreed upon an advisory relationship with a faculty member upon entering the program. The initial advisor assignment is typically based on the student's stated research interests at the time of admission. However, it's recognized that research interests may evolve, or changes in faculty capacity or interests may occur, necessitating a change in advisors. Generally, the faculty member with whom you are actively conducting your Ph.D. research should serve as your advisor. You should ideally identify your advisor by the end of your first year, but no later than the end of your second year. 

You are expected to meet with your initially assigned advisor at least once during the first semester. Following this initial meeting, you should plan for more frequent consultations to discuss your academic and research progress. 

In cases where you accept a research assistantship with a professor who is not your current advisor, that professor may become your new advisor. It's important to officially notify the Computer Science Graduate Office whenever there is a change in your advisor.

Before the commencement of any advising relationship, both you and the supervising faculty member are expected to meet to review and confirm the expectations for this relationship. This includes a summary of the nature of the required duties. To facilitate these discussions, a Statement of Mutual Expectations template can be found on the Graduate School's Forms webpage .

Every April, the Grad Review Committee reviews the progress of graduate students in the program. The findings from this review are then discussed in a faculty meeting. 

Key Focus Areas:

• Coursework Performance: Students must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 for all courses taken at the University. Low grades are closely monitored.
• Qualifying Coursework Completion: Completion of qualifying coursework is expected by the end of the fifth semester. Concerns arise for students who have not met this requirement within this timeframe.
• Advancement to Candidacy: Advancement to candidacy is generally expected by the third or fourth year, with the latest acceptable timeline being the end of the fourth year. Any delays in achieving this milestone necessitate a departmental petition (refer to section 2.4 ). Failing to advance to candidacy by the fifth year requires a petition to the graduate school and is considered a significant concern.
• Dissertation Defense Timeline: Defense of the dissertation is expected within two years of advancing to candidacy. A delay beyond the third year is a red flag.The Graduate School requires 12 credits of 899 doctoral dissertation research credits. In most cases, this requirement is satisfied by two semesters (fall/spring) of post-candidacy registration, in which the candidate is automatically registered for six credits of Doctoral Dissertation Research (899) per semester.
• Petitions for Extensions: Petitions for extended time to advance to candidacy or for delayed dissertation defense must be strongly supported by the advisor. The student must provide a detailed explanation for the delay.

Students identified as not making satisfactory progress will receive direct communication from their advisor and the Graduate Office.

Students who encounter specific challenges or delays have the option to request an extension from the Graduate School. These requests should include a detailed timeline and plan of action. Support from the student’s advisor is needed before submitting your form to the Graduate Office via the submission form.

The Computer Science graduate program is structured as a two-stage program, with an expected total duration of five to six years which is a smaller duration than the time limitations set by the Graduate School's policies . In the initial "pre-candidacy" stage, students develop foundational knowledge in Computer Science ("breadth") and specialized knowledge in their research subarea ("depth"), under the mentorship of a graduate faculty advisor.

Minimum Requirements for Advancement to Candidacy

To advance to candidacy in the Computer Science graduate program, students must meet the following requirements:

• Complete at least six MS/Ph.D. Qualifying Courses at the 600–800 level
• Achieve a minimum of four A's (includes A- and A+) and two B's (includes B-) or above in Qualifying Courses to demonstrate mastery
• Ensure that the Qualifying Courses cover at least four different areas. Courses that are eligible for two areas will have only one count towards degree requirements. Whichever area the student has not yet taken as part of a breadth requirement will be used by default.

In addition, students must:

• Enroll in the Ph.D. seminar course “How to Conduct Great Research” (CMSC800) 
• Complete two additional “Elective” graduate courses (600-800 level), which can be outside the department and do not necessarily need to be qualifying courses, but must be completed with a grade of B- or higher

Qualifying Course Designation is provided by the graduate office. For a course to be considered as qualifying, its grading must be primarily based (at least 75%) on a combination of homework, programming assignments, research projects, and exams. Among these, written exams must constitute at least 30% of the overall grade. 

* Professional master's courses do not count towards the qualifying or elective course requirements for a Ph.D. degree.

Students with previous graduate-level preparation can waive up to three courses. However, the mastery requirement of achieving 4 A’s in qualifying courses cannot be waived.

For detailed information on coursework requirements, waivers, and a list of available courses, students should refer to the program's webpage . 

2.4 Preliminary Examination and Advancing to Candidacy

The Ph.D. Preliminary Examination, required after completing coursework and before the end of the fourth year of your admission to the program, assesses your readiness for dissertation research. You and your advisor decide when you are ready to take this step. It's expected that there will be at least a one-year gap between your proposal defense and the final dissertation defense. 

The proposal defense is an oral examination to review your preparation to conduct your proposed dissertation research and your plan of research. These are described in a proposal document. Your mastery over both fundamental concepts and the research literature in three areas related to your research are also examined. This is done via a “reading list” with about 10 publications (fundamental texts or research papers) in each of these areas. The reading list must be formatted according to the bibliographic standards in your field.

The goal of the examination is for the committee to discover whether or not you understand the subject matter sufficiently well to carry out the proposed research. The proposal document must be deemed satisfactory by your advisor before release to the rest of the committee. At a minimum, it should describe your proposed research, survey relevant literature, and propose a timeline for your research. The examination covers both the proposal document and the reading list.

Composition of the Preliminary Examination Committee

The preliminary examination committee must include a minimum of two faculty members whose primary appointment is within the Computer Science department.

• Your dissertation advisor, serving as the committee chair
• A departmental representative from outside your research area and may be suggested by your advisor. This representative must be a tenure-track faculty member in Computer Science, within a different field committee than the committee chair (Refer to Field Committee membership details here )
• At least one additional graduate faculty member, chosen by you and your advisor. This person could be outside the department or could be a co-advisor
• The committee must include at least 50% CS TTK faculty representation (Refer to the FAQ page for a detailed explanation)

Inclusion of External Committee Members

For inclusion of external committee members (those not affiliated with UMD or not part of the graduate faculty), submit a request at least six weeks prior to the exam date. Your request must include a concise justification, a list of existing committee members, and a CV of the proposed external committee member. To submit this request, please complete this Google form.  External members or non-CS faculty are permitted, as long as these CS representation percentages are upheld.

Candidacy Advancement Documents

• Oral Exam Scheduling Form
• Action of Ph.D. Preliminary Examination Committee (to be sent to your committee directly prior to your examination)
• Application for Admission to Candidacy

At least two weeks before the day you intend to take the exam, submit the oral exam scheduling form and share your proposal and reading list with each examination committee member. After this, a draft announcement will be prepared and sent to you and your advisor for review before it is circulated to the department. Once your proposal is received, our office will send the Action of Ph.D. Preliminary Examination Committee to your committee members. Note that your preliminary exam cannot be conducted without a submitted written proposal.

Written Proposal Document and Reading List Requirements

Your dissertation proposal document must describe your proposed dissertation research and outline the steps necessary for its completion. The proposal, which requires your advisor’s approval, should include:

• A description of the work completed so far
• A plan for your proposed research
• A survey of relevant literature 
• A proposed timeline for completing your research, along with a discussion of potential risks or assumptions
• Reading lists that encompass basic and applied knowledge in three areas related to the proposal, with approximately 10 references each
• Ensure all references in your proposal adhere to the formatting and style guidelines outlined in the University of Maryland Thesis and Dissertation Style Guide
• While not mandatory, it is highly recommended that your proposal follows the Dissertation style guide. Templates are available here

Conduct of the Preliminary Examination

At least one week before the exam, the department distributes a notice of the examination, inviting all members of the department to attend as non-voting participants. The examination committee chair may invite additional non-voting participants. Unless otherwise specified in this section or exempted with approval from the Graduate Office, the protocol for attending the examination and provisions for remote participation adhere to the Graduate School's policy .

Examination Structure

The oral examination typically spans two hours and encompasses the following segments:

• Your presentation of the dissertation proposal (about 30-45 minutes)
• Questions and discussion of the proposal in an open forum
• Questions and discussion of the proposal in a closed setting with the committee
• An examination based on the reading list

During this examination, you will be expected to demonstrate a level of competence that is necessary to complete the research plan.

Subsequent to the examination, candidates will be asked to step out while the committee deliberates. The committee's determination may be a pass, fail, or a deferred decision. Your committee chair reports the outcome to the department via Adobe Sign. Should the committee defer its decision, the dissertation advisor will detail the intended measures to resolve the decision to the department. 

The committee member designated as the department representative is responsible for ensuring adherence to these procedural guidelines.

Upon passing the preliminary examination, you may proceed to "advance to candidacy." Please submit the Application for Admission to Candidacy, signed by your advisor, through the CS Graduate Form Submissions . For effective advancement from the first day of the following month, submit this form to the Graduate Office before the 24th of the current month. Following the approval from the Registrar's office, you will also be promoted to Stipend Level III.

If you are unable to propose before the end of the 4th year, please request an extension through the CS Graduate Form Submissions , providing justifications for the extension. This request must include a letter from your advisor supporting the extension and describing the circumstances that have prevented you from proposing. Additionally, the extension request must outline a plan for when you plan to propose and complete your research. 

Conducting Research as a Candidate

Upon passing the Ph.D. Preliminary Exam and advancing to candidacy, candidates will be registered by the Graduate School for CMSC 899: Doctoral Dissertation Research for six credits each fall and spring semester until the degree is awarded. Waivers of Registration may be granted only under the University's policy for Leave of Absence for Graduate Students for Childbearing, Adoption, Illness, or Dependent Care (see Graduate School’s Registration Policies ).

Candidates are expected to contribute original research to the field of computer science, articulating their findings in a dissertation. Guidance on dissertation structure is provided by the advisor, adhering to the format prescribed by the UMCP Graduate School .

*Tuition for CMSC899 is a flat rate of $1,350.00 (in-state) or $2,626.00 (out-of-state) for 6 credits. But if any 898 or below graduate level courses are taken simultaneously, those credits will be charged at the standard Graduate level Tuition and Fees scale ($828.00 per credit for residents and $1,805.00 for non-residents). For detailed information, refer to this link .

Composition of the Dissertation Committee

The dissertation committee must consist of a minimum of five members, including your advisor. All members must hold appointments as regular, adjunct, or special members of the UMCP Graduate Faculty. Essential composition requirements are:

• A minimum of three Full Members from the Graduate Faculty
• A minimum of two Full Members from the CS faculty (excluding affiliates)
• One Dean's Representative who is a tenured member of the Graduate Faculty must have a tenure home different from the student’s program and that of the chair and any co-chair(s)

Note: Regardless of the affiliation of the dissertation committee's chair, the Dean's Representative cannot be from the CS department. All Regular professors (tenure-track and above) in the Computer Science Department are Full Members of the Graduate Faculty ( Graduate Faculty Categories can be found here).

Scholars from other institutions or those appointed as research faculty on this campus may be requested as committee members. Your request must include a concise justification, a list of existing committee members, and a CV of the proposed external committee member. To submit this request, please complete this Google form. Requests should be submitted at least six weeks in advance of the exam. For further information about nominating faculty for dissertation committees and due dates for the nomination form, see the Graduate Faculty Policy.

Approval of the Dissertation Committee

For the formation of the dissertation committee, submit a signed Nomination of Dissertation Committee form to the Graduate Office by the deadline stated for that semester. This action is generally required by the third week of the semester of anticipated degree completion. Any subsequent changes in the committee composition necessitate filing a revised nomination form. Once approved, committee appointments remain valid even if the approval occurs in a different semester from the defense.

Dissertation Defense Protocol

Scheduling the defense.

After your dissertation has been finalized to the satisfaction of your advisor, you are to arrange your dissertation defense. This entails submitting an oral examination scheduling form to the Computer Science Graduate Office at least two weeks prior to your intended defense date. Additionally, distribute a copy of your dissertation to every member of your dissertation committee with at least two weeks advance notice. Upon finalizing the defense details, send a Google Calendar invitation to both your committee members and the Graduate Coordinator.

Announcement

The department will issue an announcement of the defense examination to all graduate faculty members by sending an invitation to dept [-at-] cs [dot] umd [dot] edu . This invitation encourages graduate faculty to attend as non-voting participants. Additionally, the chair of the examination committee has the discretion to invite further non-voting attendees. The announcement will also be posted on talks.cs.umd.edu.

Conducting the Defense

The defense is an oral examination capped at two hours, structured as follows:

• Public Presentation: The candidate presents the main aspects of their research, typically not exceeding 45 minutes. The audience may ask questions, but the Chair of the Dissertation Examining Committee has discretion over the relevance of questions and the time allocated for responses.
• Formal Examination: Conducted by the Dissertation Examination Committee, this session is open to members of the Graduate Faculty and graduate students from the candidate’s program. Only the Dissertation Examining Committee may pose questions during this part. Departments may restrict attendance to only the Dissertation Examining Committee and Graduate Faculty members.
• Final Discussion and Voting: After the formal examination, only the Dissertation Examining Committee members are permitted to attend the final discussion and vote to reach a decision on the acceptability of the defense.

For further information about procedures for oral disserataion examination, see the  Doctor of Philosophy Degree Policies.

Remote Defense

Current Graduate School policy allows for a committee member to request permission to participate in a dissertation defense remotely. Only in exceptional cases would remote participation be permitted for the student, a committee chair, and/or the Dean’s Representative. The procedure for remote participation in a PhD defense is managed by the Graduate School. To ensure timely processing, requests should be submitted at least 10 business days prior to the defense date. Further details are available on the Graduate School's website . To submit a request, the committee chair should use this link .

Post-Defense Requirements

To fulfill your degree requirements, you must:

• Pass the oral defense
• Implement all modifications to the dissertation as required by your committee
• Submit the revised dissertation electronically to the Graduate School.

Be mindful that the Graduate Office will provide you with a reminder and the necessary deadline for the electronic submission of your dissertation. For detailed information regarding the dissertation defense process, refer to the UMCP Graduate Catalog .

Ph.D. candidates intending to graduate should follow this checklist for Ph.D. Students to ensure all steps and requirements are met.

Pre-Graduation Steps

During the semester you plan to graduate, ensure to complete and submit the following by the Graduate School's specified deadlines :

• Application for Graduation : File this application through Testudo by the early semester deadline.
• Dissertation Committee Nomination Form : This form must be submitted to the Computer Science Graduate Office using the CS Graduate Form Submissions portal

Post-Defense Documentation

After successfully defending your dissertation, promptly attend to the following:

• All members of the committee (except the Chair of the committee) will be sent a notification 3 business days prior to the defense date indicated on the Nomination form.
• The Chair will receive the REC form after all the members of the committee have signed off on the form.
• Dissertation Filing: Submit your dissertation to the Graduate School, adhering to the guidelines provided here

Dissertation Embargo Option

If you wish to place an embargo on the publication of your dissertation:

• Thesis and Dissertation Embargo Request: If desired, students have the option to place an embargo of up to two years on electronic access to their document via ProQuest's Digital Dissertations and DRUM without the need for approval from the Graduate School. You may submit a Dissertation Embargo Request via CS Graduate Form Submissions if you’d like to place an embargo that’s more than 2 years

Note that all forms are subject to strict deadlines. To avoid any delays in your graduation process, submit all documentation as per the schedules provided by the Graduate School.

Post-Dissertation Submission 

Upon the completion of your dissertation submission, ensure to follow these critical steps:

• Surveys: Complete the Graduate School Surveys as well as the departmental survey
• CMNS Commencement Registration: Make sure to register for the CMNS Commencement (Mid-Semester, Fall & Spring). For more information on commencement, refer to the CMNS website . 

3. Travel Grants for PhD Students

The Computer Science Department offers travel grants for Ph.D. students with expenses related to attending conferences at which their papers have been accepted. The allocation of these grants is competitive, and the Graduate Director is responsible for making the award decisions. Students may apply anytime by submitting their applications to the Graduate Office.

The grant amounts are capped at $500 for domestic and $1000 for international travel. The conference attended should be reputable, and the student's request should be supported by their advisor. Please note that during their time in the degree program, students may only receive up to $1000 in grant funding, and this is contingent on the availability of departmental funds.

To submit your application, please fill out this form , detailing your request, and upload a combined PDF. This PDF should include a copy of your accepted paper and a statement of support from your faculty advisor (this can be in the form of an email).

Additionally, students are also encouraged to apply for funds for conference registration fees and matching travel funds through the Graduate School’s travel grants.

To process applications for these Graduate School grants, the required forms must be signed by the CS Business Office. Forms for these grants should be forwarded to reimbursements [-at-] cs [dot] umd [dot] edu for review and signature by the CS Business Office.

Graduate students may undertake paid internships during the summer months. International students should check with International Education Services (IES) for the procedures to be followed.

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PhDs and Doctoral degrees

A doctoral degree is the highest academic degree offered at UC. Those who earn it must show significant intellectual achievement, high scholarly ability, and great breadth of knowledge. Studying towards a doctoral degree will give you fresh knowledge, enable you to discover new things, and develop new skills. Check out the options and requirements.

Perhaps you have a burning intellectual curiosity about something, wish to advance your career or even change career direction and increase your employability and earning capacity. Either way you can be sure that studying towards a doctoral degree will give you fresh knowledge, allow you to discover new things, and develop new skills.

A doctoral degree is the highest academic degree offered at UC. Those who earn it must demonstrate significant intellectual achievement, high scholarly ability, and great breadth of knowledge.

In addition to your thesis research, UC offers a number of workshops and seminars for thesis students to develop general skills such as career planning, time management, networking, and communication skills. See the 'Further study' section below for more details.

A number of  scholarships and awards  are available for doctoral students.

Qualification options keyboard_arrow_down

Doctor of philosophy (phd).

A  Doctor of Philosophy  involves extensive and sustained original research in a subject of your choice, with the results being presented in a thesis. It is normally the highest academic qualification available and is a mark of intellectual ability and independence, critical thinking, self-discipline, and commitment. PhDs are offered in a wide range of subjects at UC, and are by thesis only.

Doctor of Education (EdD)

A  Doctor of Education  is a specialised doctorate designed for professionals in education and related fields. Built on a cohort model of inquiry, the Doctor of Education provides a structured, supportive, rigorous approach to doctoral study. The Doctor of Education builds leadership and commitment, fosters scholarly excellence, and allows candidates to connect educational research with questions of professional practice. Please note that this programme is not open to international students as the first two years of study are conducted part-time, and student visa conditions only allow for full-time study.

Doctor of Health Sciences (DHSc)

The  Doctor of Health Sciences  offers clinical and non-clinical professionals collaborative research opportunities and contacts with local industry. Please note that this programme is not open to international students as the first two years of study are conducted part-time, and student visa conditions only allow for full-time study.

Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA)

The  Doctor of Musical Arts  is a doctoral degree that is specific to advanced research in music composition or performance. It comprises scholarly research in the form of a supervised research thesis and performance practice in the form of public music performance or the presentation of compositions. International students will need to pay international fees for this doctorate.

Entry requirements keyboard_arrow_down

The minimum requirements to apply for doctoral study are that you should have completed, or be in the process of completing, a research-focused  honours degree  or  master's degree . For PhD study you must achieve this degree at either the level of First-Class or Second-Class Division I (or equivalent).

For international applicants, our International Office, in consultation with your host department, look at your previous qualifications and transcripts to ensure that you have the necessary background required to complete a doctoral degree at UC. You are also required to meet UC's  English language requirements  for admission.

Find out how to  apply for PhD and Doctoral degrees .

See also  Financial and Enrolment Information — Doctorate, Master's Thesis, and Dissertation Students Policy .

Identifying a supervisor

As part of the admissions process, you must  identify a potential research supervisor  before submitting a formal application to enrol in a PhD. A supervisor must be an academic member of staff at UC. Over 500 academics at UC have expertise in a large variety of topics. To identify experts in a given area and to find out about the research interests of staff in your discipline, you can search the school or department website, or the  UC Research Profile database .

If you identify any possible supervisors, please contact them directly to discuss your potential research topic and ascertain whether suitable supervision might be available. When you have identified a supervisor who is willing to support your application to enrol please  complete the admissions documents.

For more information visit the  Find a Supervisor webpage .

Specific qualification entry requirements

If you are applying for  Doctor of Musical Arts  study, you will typically require an audition, interview, and/or submission of previous academic work and recommendation from  Te Kura Puoro | School of Music .

A  Doctor of Health Sciences  requires at least five years of relevant professional practice in the clinical or non-clinical industry.

How do I plan my degree? keyboard_arrow_down

During your doctoral degree you will investigate a research topic and develop your research skills, culminating in the submission of a thesis for examination. The thesis undergoes examination by two independent examiners prior to you having an oral examination.

Your thesis must:

• be an original contribution to knowledge/understanding in its field
• meet internationally recognised standards for doctoral research in its field
• demonstrate knowledge of literature relevant to the field to which it belongs, and the ability to exercise critical and analytical judgment of that literature
• be satisfactory in its method, in the quality and coherence of its expression, and in its scholarly presentation and format.

The doctoral programmes are structured in PhD reporting milestones to track your progress. These must be submitted to the  Dean of Postgraduate Research  and approved every six months.

The exact structure of programme will vary based on the nature of the research being undertaken and agreed to with your senior supervisor.

You can begin a  Doctor of Philosophy  or  Doctor of Musical Arts  on the first day of any month of the year, and should regard study and research as a full-time occupation throughout the calendar year. The minimum period of enrolment if you are a full-time student is 3 years (PhD students should normally complete their thesis within 4 years). There are provisions for you to apply for part-time study, in which case the minimum period is 4.5 years, and you should complete your thesis within 6 years.

The first two years of the  Doctor of Education  and  Doctor of Health Sciences  degrees are part-time for all. These doctorates will take 4-6 years to complete, or part-time only for up to 6 years.

Further study keyboard_arrow_down

Additional skills and training opportunities.

In addition to providing world-class research supervision and facilities, Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury is committed to providing PhD students with a range of opportunities to engage in a broader research-based experience, equipping students with research skills, introductions to professional networks, and enhanced career opportunities.

A UC doctoral graduate will not only be recognised for the quality of their research thesis, but will also have additional research skills and experiences.

While doing a doctorate at UC, you will have the opportunity to participate in:

• transferable skills workshops
• research design and statistical analysis workshops
• 'Surviving your Thesis' seminars
• networking opportunities, within and outside the University
• presentation experience
• social events.

Many doctoral students also have the opportunity to undertake teaching assistance work.

For social networking and events,  UC Postgraduate Students' Association (UC PGSA)  is run by students and works closely with the Dean of Postgraduate Research to enhance the UC postgraduate student experience.

Support for research students

Te kura tāura.

Te Kura Tāura | UC Graduate School is a space where our graduate research students can access wraparound support at every stage of their journey, from initial enquiry through to graduation.

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Minimum Qualifications for admission to Full-time PhD Programmes

Table 1 defines the minimum qualifications required for admission to full-time Ph. D. programmes at IIT Delhi. Please note:

These are Institute minimum requirements and any Department/Centre/School operating through their DRC/CRC/SRC can specify higher short-listing criteria than what is specified here.

This table includes most of the degrees, but each DRC/CRC/SRC is free to specify the qualifications and disciplines acceptable for admission to their programmes.

Candidates in the final year of their programmes and who expect to complete all their qualifying degree requirements before the date of registration are also eligible to apply for admissions. For short-listing purposes, their performance until the preceding semester (preceding year if their programmes are year based) would be considered but their admission would be provisional, subject to their meeting the minimum eligibility criteria after their final qualifying examination results are announced. In any case, all admissions are provisional at first and it is confirmed only after all certificates and previous records are duly checked and verified, a process which may take a few weeks into the starting semester.

Table 1: Minimum Qualification for Admission to full-time PhD Programmes

Exemptions, relaxations and clarifications:

For SC/ST/PwD category candidates , the minimum performance in the qualifying degree (S. No. 1 & 2 in Table 1) is relaxed from 60% to 55% (CGPA relaxed from 6.00 to 5.50).

For SC/ST/PwD category candidates , the minimum performance in the qualifying degree (Sr. No.3 in Table 1) is relaxed from 70% to 65% (CGPA relaxed from 7.00 to 6.50).

Qualifying degree performance is computed by aggregating performance over all the semesters/years of the qualifying degree, as per the credit or weightage system approved in the institution/ board where the degree has been completed.

Requirement of qualification in GATE / National Exam is waived for the following categories of applicants:

Currently registered students in Centrally Funded Technical Institutes (CFTIs) pursuing B.Tech./B.E./ Integrated M. Tech/ Integrated M.Sc. Programmes (or any other programme of minimum four year duration, admission to which is on the basis of JEE), who have completed 6 semesters or more, and have CGPA of 8.00 or above (on a 10 point scale). Such students must obtain a CGPA of 8.00 or above at the time of graduation, and before they formally register for the Ph.D. programme (80% aggregate marks, if marks are the primary mode of evaluation);

Graduates of CFTIs (in the programmes marked under (i)) with a final graduation CGPA of more than 8.00 (80% aggregate marks, if marks are the primary mode of evaluation);

M.A or M.Sc. graduates from IITs with CGPA 8.00 or above.

For purposes of shortlisting, the primary method of evaluation (i.e., CGPA/CPI, or aggregate percentage, whichever is appropriate) followed by the institution where candidate has obtained his/her qualifying degree will be used by IIT Delhi for determining whether the candidate meets the final shortlisting requirements.

For assistantship purposes only (and not for qualification), candidates with M.B.B.S. qualification will be considered equivalent to M. Tech., for admission to Ph.D. programme in Centre for Biomedical Engineering;

For candidates with M.A. degree in English, a 5% relaxation in marks or 0.5 relaxation in CGPA may be permitted for admission to the Ph.D. programme in Humanities and Social Sciences;

Candidates holding an MBA degree are eligible for applying to the Ph.D. programme in the Department of Management Studies.

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Students related.

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• Research Scholar Travel Award
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• Prime Ministers Research Fellowship Annual Research Grant

	University of Houston
	Jul 01, 2024   2024-2025 Graduate Catalog (Catalog goes into effect at the start of the Fall 2024 semester)     2024-2025 Graduate Catalog (Catalog goes into effect at the start of the Fall 2024 semester) | College of Education    > Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies    > Higher Education Leadership and Policy Studies, PhD This 66-hour doctoral program prepares students to conduct research and generate scholarship aimed at furthering a critical understanding of higher education and its role in society while providing service to our local, state, and national communities through the improvement of higher education, and in general the furthering of education for all people. To accomplish those broad aims, the Ph.D. curriculum in Higher Education provides students multi-disciplinary opportunities to develop specific competency in key areas. A solid framework for understanding educational challenges and opportunities; the inherently global nature of all educational experiences and their outcomes; and the critical contribution of rigorous research to adequate policy development; and the connected enterprise of increasing educational opportunity and success among schools, communities, and businesses. For more information, please visit http://www.uh.edu/education/degree-programs/higher-ed-phd/ . Admission Requirements The College of Education takes into consideration a number of criteria when determining admission, including prior college or university performance, letters of recommendation, standardized test scores and statement of intent. All applicants must abide by the minimum qualifications for admissions to a master’s or doctoral program. All graduate applicants (regardless of citizenship status) must demonstrate proficiency in English to obtain admission to the University. For more information, visit http://www.uh.edu/graduate-school/admissions/international-students/english-proficiency/ . An applicant is responsible for ensuring that all required materials for the evaluation of admissions are received by the College before the program’s deadline. If the application is not complete by the program’s deadline, it will not be evaluated for the admissions. Full details of the online application process can be found at www.uh.edu/graduate-school/admissions/how-to-apply . Applicant Checklist: Complete online graduate application including statement of interest, resume/c.v., writing sample, letters of recommendation, and application fee payment Official transcripts from all previous college/university work sent to the UH Graduate School. Official reporting of GRE scores taken in the last five years International students have additional documentation requirements which can be found at www.uh.edu/graduate-school/admissions/international-students/ GRE Waiver Option The GRE requirement is waived for applicants to the PhD in Higher Education Leadership and Policy Studies program who have at least one of the following from an institution accredited by one of the six regional accrediting associations as specified in the UH Minimum Qualifications for Admission to Master’s and Doctoral Programs: an overall undergraduate grade point average of 3.00 or higher (on a 4-point scale), or a master’s or terminal degree. Grade Point Average Requirements Admission requirements for the College of Education require a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.6 for undergraduate coursework or over the last 60 credit hours of coursework. The College requires a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 for graduate coursework. The College’s admission committees evaluate all credentials submitted by applicants to determine a student’s ability and potential to succeed in graduate study. In addition, the committee is interested in the applicant’s potential to contribute to his/her program of study and the University community as a whole. Please visit the program’s Admission Application Instructions page for more information Degree Requirements Credit hours required for this degree: 66.0 The curriculum for the HELPS Ph.D. program involves the completion of specific coursework that includes foundations of psychological and educational theory, statistics, and research methodology. Completion of the program typically requires three years of full time study, inclusive of coursework, candidacy research project, comprehensive exam, and dissertation. Since degree plans are enhanced periodically to support continuous improvement planning objectives, students will follow their approved degree plan that is in place at the time in which they complete an official, approved degree plan. The most current sample degree plan and academic benchmarks are provided below. In the first two full years of studies (i.e., fall, spring and summer in each year), students in the HELPS doctoral program are required to complete at least 6 hours of coursework each term (i.e., Fall, Spring, and Summer) to satisfy doctoral residency requirements. Students should reference the schedule of course offerings and, in consultation, identify the courses required for a given term. Program Core Requirements (30 hours) CUST 8378 - Current Issues in Educ Credit Hours: 3.0 CUST 8375 - Hist & Phil of Higher Educ Credit Hours: 3.0 ELCS 7371 - Higher Educ Law Credit Hours: 3.0 ELCS 8331 - Finance in Higher Education Credit Hours: 3.0 ELCS 8332 - Student Dev in Post Sec. Inst Credit Hours: 3.0 ELCS 8338 - Admin Higher Educ Multiculset Credit Hours: 3.0 ELCS 8355 - Policy Pol & Gov of Education Credit Hours: 3.0 ELCS 8360 - Studies Post Secondary Educatn Credit Hours: 3.0 ELCS 8397 - Sem Top Ed Ldshp&Cul St Credit Hours: 3.0 Economics of Education Research Methods Core Requirements (15 hours) EDRS 8380 - Rsch Mthds in Educ Credit Hours: 3.0 EDRS 8382 - Statistical Analyses in Eductn Credit Hours: 3.0 SAER 8320 - Ethnog Mthds Educ Credit Hours: 3.0 ELCS 8330 - Statistical Analyses Credit Hours: 3.0 ELCS 8322 - Advanced Ethnographic Methods Credit Hours: 3.0 Independent Research Requirements (9 hours min) Students in the HELPS program are required to satisfy two major research requirements: the candidacy research paper, and a doctoral dissertation. Both of these projects typically involve the collection, analysis, and interpretation of quantitative and/or qualitative data. SAER 8388 - Sem-Res Ed Ldshp Pol St Credit Hours: 3.0 ELCS 8399 - Doctoral Dissertation Credit Hours: 3 (for a total of at least 6 hours) Specialization Electives (minimum 12 hours) Students in the program are required to pursue one of the four Areas of Specialization within the program. These areas include Equity and Social Justice, International Perspectives, Policy and Politics, and Research Methods. Although all students in the program gain some background in these areas through the Program Area Core courses, students within each area add to their expertise by selecting electives relevant to a particular area of specialization. For these electives, students are encouraged to pursue coursework pertinent to their individual career goals, including courses offered by faculty within the Educational Leadership and Policy Studies Department as well as courses offered by other departments in the College of Education, and those related to the fields of sociology, economics, political science, and other behavioral and social sciences. These electives should be identified in consultation with the student’s academic advisor. Academic Policies Professional Development Activities Students in the HELPS program are required to satisfy a Professional Development requirement during their first year in the program. Students are required to complete a separate Residency Report for the Fall and Spring terms of their first year in the program that will serve to satisfy their doctoral residency/professional development requirement. These forms must be approved by the student’s academic advisor, the chair of the department, and the Dean or his/her designee. The following professional development activities are required for doctoral students in the HELPS program. Activities completed each term should be listed on separate Residency Reports for each term. Students should consult with their advisor regarding selection of additional activities that will augment their academic preparation in scholarship, teaching, and service, such as attending presentations of scholarly speakers at the University of Houston or elsewhere (e.g., Rice University, the Medical Center, in the community), assisting other doctoral students with data collection, etc.  Attend at least one defense of a candidacy research proposal in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies Attend at least one defense of a candidacy research final paper in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies Attend at least one defense of a dissertation proposal in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies Attend at least one defense of a dissertation final paper in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies Attendance at a local, state, or national conference that pertains to education or a relevant social science. The sessions attended may be listed as additional activities. Attendance at the Houston Symposium for Research in Education, sponsored by the College of Education, when it is offered Membership in the Graduate Students Organization Student membership in a professional organization (e.g., American Educational Research Association, American Association for the Study of Higher Education) Candidacy Research Paper HELPS doctoral students must complete a candidacy research paper before they are eligible to have their Comprehensive Examination Portfolio submission materials officially reviewed. Students are expected to conduct a research project within the general domain of higher education. The scope of this research project should be equivalent to what would be expected from a master’s level thesis. Students who previously have completed a Master’s Thesis may petition to have the thesis count for the candidacy research requirement and should consult with their academic advisor regarding this matter. College Academic Policies     University of Houston Academic Policies     --> Oakland University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, a regional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education     Oakland University       Jul 01, 2024   2024-2025 Graduate Catalog     2024-2025 Graduate Catalog     (graduate preparatory coursework) Admission requirements The graduate admission policy of Oakland University is selective, and the process is competitive. Applicants for graduate admission must present evidence that they have had the necessary academic preparation to enable them to pursue the graduate program for which they are applying. International applicants have specific admission requirements .   To be considered for graduate admission, applicants must submit all Graduate Application Requirements   additional department requirements by the published application deadlines:    .  are required from all post-secondary educational institutions from which the applicant   a degree (beginning with first baccalaureate)   all enrollment in graduate level course work beyond the bachelor’s degree. must be evaluated by a professional credential evaluation service. Oakland University will   accept transcript evaluations completed by a NACES (National Association of Credential Evaluation service) member organization. Applicants with a three-year baccalaureate degree from an institution outside of the U.S. are welcome provided:  1) they have been awarded the degree at the time of application; 2) the degree would qualify them for admission to an academic graduate program in the country in which it was earned; and 3) their degree evaluation must include a   rather than the general transcript evaluation. A general document-by-document evaluation contains a description of your credentials, including name, year awarded, name of institution attended, and major field of study. It also provides the U.S. equivalent for each credential.   Graduate programs requiring more detailed information will require an applicant to submit a course-by-course transcript evaluation.  A course by course transcript evaluation details all post-secondary subjects with the corresponding values expressed in terms of U.S. equivalent course grade, semester units and credit units for each subject Since official transcripts must be submitted to the evaluation service, official foreign transcripts will not be required by Oakland University  forms. (Note: Some programs require more than two recommendation forms. Refer to the   listed below for the total number of recommendations and specific requirements for the recommendations.)    must be submitted before international applicants can be issued the Certification of Eligibility (I-20). This certificate is required to apply for a student visa from the U.S. embassy or consulate.   In addition to meeting the General Admission Requirements, Graduate admission decisions are based on a combination of qualitative and quantitative program admission requirements that may include, but are not limited to, the following: Some graduate programs may require an applicant to submit satisfactory scores from the Graduate Record Exam (GRE), including advanced (subject) exams. In lieu of the GRE, applicants to the MBA, MSITM, MSBA, and MAcc programs submit the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT). The GRE and GMAT are administered worldwide by . Admission requirements specific to the graduate program for which students are applying may be found in the program/department section of this catalog. Graduate admission deadlines and review After the application is received in the Graduate Admissions Office, it is entered into the university student system, and an admission file is established. Thereafter, academic credentials are confirmed for eligibility and the requisite documents for general admission and the intended program are reviewed for completeness. Completed admission files are shared with the intended program for admission review. Admission deadlines vary by program. Applicants are advised to confirm the admission deadline for the intended program of study in this catalog.   International applications are reviewed for fall, winter, and summer semester admission. To ensure adequate time for review and issuing I-20s, international applications must be completed at least six months before the desired date of intended enrollment to the University. All international application materials must be submitted by May 1 for fall admission September 1 for winter admission January 1 for summer admission. Graduate admission documents All graduate admission documentation, including letters of  recommendation ,  recommendation   forms , standardized test scores and academic transcripts from other institutions, become part of the official admission file and can neither be returned to the applicant nor duplicated for any purpose. Application Oakland University accepts an online Application for Admission to Oakland University Graduate School via www.oakland.edu/grad . To make the online application process convenient, the applicant creates a PIN and password so information can be entered over several sessions. Online information is stored and transmitted through a secured server. Once the online application is submitted, it is available for initial processing by Graduate Admissions. Applicants who have been previously admitted and have not enrolled within the last two years must submit a Petition to Readmit to Graduate Program . Letters of recommendation In most cases, graduate programs require an applicant to submit a minimum of two Recommendation for Graduate Admission forms. The total required recommendation forms are published in the Application Requirements section specific to the graduate program for which the applicant is requesting admission. Unless the applicant has been out of school for more than five years, at least one of the recommenders should be a faculty member who is able to judge the applicant’s preparation and ability to undertake graduate study. Substitutions for a faculty recommender may include work supervisors or approved others who can comment on the applicant’s academic potential for graduate work. All recommendations must be submitted on the recommendation forms provided on the Graduate Admissions Website. The recommendation forms should be sent directly by the writer to the Graduate Admissions office. The Recommendation for Graduate Admission forms become part of the student’s official admission file. The Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 provide student access to his/her educational record; however, the student retains the right to waive access to specific documents in his/her record. Students admitted to graduate study at Oakland University will be permitted access to the recommendations unless the student voluntarily waived this right as an applicant. Students who waived this right will not be permitted access to the recommendations. Baccalaureate degree Applicants must have earned a baccalaureate degree from an accredited U.S. institution OR a degree equivalent to a four-year U.S. baccalaureate degree from a college or university of government-recognized standing. In addition to a degree equivalent to a four-year U.S. baccalaureate degree, some graduate programs may require an applicant to submit satisfactory scores from the Graduate Record Exam (GRE), including advanced (subject) exams. In lieu of the GRE, applicants to the MBA program can submit the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT). The GRE and GMAT are administered worldwide by Educational Testing Service (ETS) . Prospective students may apply for admission to graduate study at Oakland University during their final year of undergraduate study but must furnish proof of the baccalaureate degree by submitting the official transcript, with the degree posted, by a deadline no later than 45 days from the first day of class for the initial term of enrollment.    The date the baccalaureate degree was conferred must precede the date of enrollment in the graduate degree program.  Official transcripts According to the guidelines set by the American Association of College Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO), an official college transcript is one that has been received in a sealed envelope directly from the issuing college or university. It must bear the college seal, current date, and an appropriate signature. Additionally, transcripts providing certification of the degree earned must include the degree and the date the degree was awarded. Transcripts received that do not meet these requirements are not considered official. All transcripts become the property of Oakland University and will not be returned to an applicant, or sent to another institution. All transcripts are purged by Oakland University Academic Records or Oakland University Graduate School seven years after the last date of enrollment. Minimum transcript requirements Official transcripts are required from all post-secondary educational institutions from which the applicant earned a degree (beginning with first baccalaureate) and all enrollments in graduate-level coursework beyond the bachelor’s degree. Unofficial transcripts may be accepted for admissions evaluation purposes. When unofficial transcripts are received, the student’s acceptance should be regarded as limited standing pending receipt of an official transcript within a specific time frame. Standards beyond minimum transcript requirements As part of the admission requirements, graduate programs may require official transcripts from post-secondary educational institutions from which the applicant earned an associate degree and all enrollment in coursework both pre- or post-baccalaureate degrees. Undergraduate preparatory courses Undergraduate preparatory coursework refers to courses an applicant must complete in order to be eligible for admission into a graduate program. Preparatory courses are required for admission to the intended program and are NOT considered part of the degree requirements. Graduate applicants, who do not meet the undergraduate coursework required for admission to a specific graduate program will be given a delayed graduate admission status and admitted to Oakland University at the post-baccalaureate level (PB) with a Graduate Preparatory (GP) student classification. Financial aid eligibility can be granted for one calendar year to delayed graduate applicants admitted to Graduate Preparatory student classification. The student must produce for the Financial Aid Office an official letter and plan of study that lists the undergraduate preparatory courses required for the program. Only those undergraduate courses listed on the program plan of study can be used for calculation of loan eligibility. Once the preparatory coursework is completed the student may be admitted to the degree program if the undergraduate preparatory courses are completed with the required grade.   International applicants admission requirements International supplemental application. In addition to the Application for Admission to Oakland University Graduate School , international applicants must submit an International Student Supplemental Application . The international supplemental application is available at www.oakland.edu/grad . International university transcripts International university transcripts must be evaluated by a professional credential evaluation service. Oakland University will only accept transcript evaluations completed by a NACES (National Association of Credential Evaluation service) member organization. Many applicants use World Educational Services (WES) or Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE).  NACES membership can be confirmed by visiting www.naces.org/members.htm . Graduate programs requiring more detailed information may require an applicant to submit a course-by-course (or detailed) evaluation report rather than the general evaluation report. Official foreign transcripts will not be required by Oakland University since official transcripts must be submitted to and verified by the evaluation service. However, applicants must submit photocopies of their foreign transcripts with their application materials. Notarized bank statement and affidavit of financial support International applicants who are applying for graduate admission with an F1 or J1 visa status must certify sufficient funds for university expenses including tuition, books, supplies, insurance, and living expenses (travel is not included). To certify finances, the applicant must submit an affidavit of financial support and a notarized bank statement in U.S dollars for required published amount. These documents are required for the student F-1 or J-1 visa petition at the American embassy or consulate in the home country. The affidavit of financial support can be downloaded at www.oakland.edu/grad .  English language proficiency Proficiency in reading, writing, speaking and listening English is needed for students to be successful when completing an academic degree in the United States.  All matriculating international applicants, other visa holders, permanent residents and applicants whose first language is not English, must be proficient in English as a requirement to enroll in courses for credit at Oakland University.  Such applicants will be required to demonstrate English proficiency by meeting one of the following conditions listed below.  The English proficiency scores must be two years old or less at the time of the applicant’s intended enrollment at Oakland University.  Some programs at Oakland University may require a higher level of proficiency than listed below.  Applicants should examine the program descriptions for their field of study for information about additional English proficiency requirements and furnish proof as part of the admission process.  Please visit the  ESL Institute or Graduate Admission e for additional information.   One of the following constitutes proof:     1. : 79 213       Note:  Applicants may use MyBest TOEFL       2. 6.5         or       3. 53 minimum         or       4. (105 or better)         or       5. Baccalaureate or graduate degree awarded from a regionally accredited U.S. college or university.     or   6. Baccalaureate or graduate degree at an institution outside of the U.S. where the language of instruction was English.     or   7.  Oakland University non-matriculating students (guest students) who have earned a minimum of 12 academic credits with a 3.0 GPA.              8. Applicant has worked full-time in the U.S. for at least three years in an English speaking environment.  Evidence must be provided from Human Resources to verify employment and length of service.     or   9.. Applicant has worked full-time outside of the U.S. for at least three years in an English speaking environment.  Evidence must be provided from Human Resources to verify employment, length of service and English is the primary language of written and oral communication.     or   10.  Applicant has a U.S. professional license (e.g. United States Medical Licensing Exam - USMLE) that explicitly includes an English proficiency requirement     or   11. A letter of support or comment from the ESL Institute at Oakland University based on an interview and completion of the ESL placement test.     One of the following constitutes proof:     : 78-69  Note:  Applicants may use MyBest TOEFL 6 52-48 212-190     Applicants, with evidence of an English Proficiency exam with the following scores, AND determined academically qualified for admission to a graduate program,  will be required to enroll in an ESL course sequence, as determined by the ESL Institute, along with required academic program courses starting in their first semester of registration and each subsequent semester until successful ESL completion.  It is expected that applicants, granted admission with limited standing for ESL requirements, will successfully complete the required ESL course sequence within one year .  Students not making satisfactory progress in the ESL course sequence and/or academic program courses will be denied full admission and further enrollment in their academic graduate program. The ESL Institute will monitor progress and provide written notification to the Graduate School, when the student has successfully completed three level 7 courses with a minimum of an A- or three level 8 courses with a minimum of B-, and if the student is in good academic standing, the Graduate School may extend the student full admission to the graduate program.  APPLICANTS - ALL VISA TYPE Admission to Intensive English Program Prospective students, who do not have adequate English Proficiency scores for full admission or admission with ESL course sequence requirements can apply directly to the ESL Institute at Oakland University.  Course placement is done by the ESL Institute using the ESL Online Placement Test, reported English proficiency test scores, and/or other assessment tools. During the students’ ESL instruction sequence, students’ English Proficiency will be evaluated to determine whether adequate progress is being made and if additional ESL coursework is necessary to achieve English Proficiency. The ESL instruction sequence designed by the ESL Institute is not negotiable. Upon completion of the Intensive English Program, students may (re)apply for admission to Oakland University.   Exemption of English proficiency requirement A TOEFL exemption exists for students from countries where English is both the official language and the language of instruction in higher education.  Below is a list of countries with English as an official language and the language of Instruction in Higher Education.  Non- US applicants, with citizenship in one of the countries listed, are exempt from the Test of English proficiency requirement.     the language of instruction in higher education         Anguilla Antigua and Barbuda Australia Bahamas Barbados Belize Bermuda Botswana British Virgin Islands Cameroon Canada (except Quebec) Cayman Islands Dominica England Fiji Gambia Ghana Gibraltar Grenada Guyana   Ireland, Northern Ireland, Republic of Jamaica Kenya Lesotho Liberia Malawi Malta Mauritius Montserrat Namibia New Zealand Nigeria Papua New Guinea St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Vincent and the Grenadines Scotland Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Solomon Islands South Africa Swaziland Tanzania Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Turks and Caicos Islands Uganda United Kingdom Vanuatu Wales Zambia Zimbabwe   International applicants already studying in U.S. International applicants who are presently in the United States on a student status may be required to provide a statement from the International Student Adviser at their current institution. International students who do not enroll during their indicated semester of admission must submit an application to update at least eight weeks prior to the start of the term (fall or winter) in which they wish to enroll. International applicants to distance learning programs delivered 100% online An international applicant is anyone who is not a US citizen at the time of application to Oakland University. Non-US citizens applying for admissions to a distance learning program that does NOT require any on-campus instruction at Oakland University ( 100% online ) do not require a non-immigrant visa. Therefore, the Non-US Citizen Information section of the graduate application (Checklist item 7 of 9) does not need to be completed. Non-US citizens, including those applying for admissions to a distance learning program that requires on-campus instruction at Oakland University (50-99% online) do require a non-immigrant visa.  These applicants must complete the Non-US Citizen Information section of the graduate application (Checklist item 7 of 9). Graduate students admitted at OU   Readmission Applicants who have been previously admitted to and have enrolled in a graduate program at Oakland University should not complete a new application for admission to Oakland University Graduate School. Instead, students who were previously admitted to a graduate program, but have not taken a course at Oakland University within the last two years should submit a Petition to Readmit to Graduate Program to the Oakland University Graduate School, 520 O’Dowd Hall. If it has been two years or more since you last attended you will be required to submit a new application . Please refer to the Inactive Student Status section of the graduate catalog for more information. Military Readmission Any student who is temporarily unable to attend class or must suspend their studies due to military service requirements will be readmitted with the same academic status they had when last attending the university. Transferring to a new program Current graduate students who have been admitted to a graduate degree at Oakland University and wish to transfer to a different Oakland University graduate degree should not complete a new application for admission. Instead, these students should submit a  Petition for Program Transfer form to Oakland University Graduate School. The form is available at www.oakland.edu/grad . Please refer to the Change of Status - Program Transfer section of the graduate catalog for more information.   Graduate students admitted at another institution Transferring to ou. Students enrolled in a graduate certificate, master’s, or doctoral degree program may transfer up to 49% of the credits required for the program, provided the transferred credits meet the requirements below. Credits to be transferred: are being transferred from a regionally accredited college or university in the U.S., or its equivalent from an international institution are verified by an official transcript are graduate level numbered 5000 or above (or equivalent) with satisfactory grades (at least 3.0, B, Satisfactory or Pass) have not been used for any other degree or awarded certificate have been taken within three years of when the graduate certificate will be earned or six years of when the master’s degree or doctoral degree will be earned, except when revalidated* by the student’s Oakland University graduate program and approved by the Graduate School . *At least 51% of the credits required for the credential must be earned at Oakland University. Thus, if students are receiving a credit reduction because of a master’s degree or graduate certificate that was awarded at another institution prior to entering the program, the number of credits that may be transferred to Oakland will be reduced. Students transferring credit must still take Oakland coursework evaluated with a letter grade in order to achieve the minimum GPA of 3.0 as transferred coursework does not factor into the Oakland GPA. * Students should refer to individual graduate program standards and requirements for details. Graduate admission process Applicants seeking graduate admission with full standing to a degree or graduate certificate program must submit all required documentation by published deadlines to ensure proper processing and evaluation by the school or department and Graduate Admissions for the selected semester. Even though an applicant may meet the general requirements for admission to graduate study, each graduate program reserves the right to recommend a denial or admission with limited standing based upon the evaluation of documentation supplied by the applicant, as well as the standing of the applicant relative to others who have applied to the specific graduate program. Graduate students are permitted to matriculate into only one graduate degree program at a time. Responsibility for graduate admission Oakland University Graduate School is responsible for the interpretation and administration of regulations governing the admission of graduate students. The Graduate Admissions office is assigned the responsibility of collecting, processing, and reviewing completeness of the applications for admission to graduate programs. Each graduate program is responsible for establishing its own program admission requirements and for the application review and admission assessment process. Admission process flow After the application is received in the Graduate Admissions office, it is entered into the university student system and an admission file is established. Thereafter, academic credentials are confirmed for eligibility and the requisite documents for general admission and the intended program are reviewed for completeness. Completed admission files are shared with the intended program for admission review. In many cases the admission decision is made very quickly; however, when a program admission requirement stipulates an applicant interview, the amount of time increases before a final admission decision can be made by the program. Some of the Graduate Programs with established admission deadlines will not begin the review process until after the program deadline has passed and the entire applicant pool has been ascertained. Graduate admission decisions are not released to applicants via the Web or over the phone. All admission decisions are communicated directly to the applicant via mail. Online applicants will be able to see that an admission decision has been made by reviewing the online application status. Confidentiality of admission process Oakland University maintains the confidentiality of both the information submitted by an applicant and the status of their application during the graduate admission process. This information can only be shared with the applicant or someone the applicant has designated in writing as their proxy. Any applicant whose personal circumstances require that someone else contact Graduate Admissions in conjunction with their application must send a signed letter formally designating that person as their proxy. Graduate Admissions cannot discuss an application with anyone but the applicant without this document. Offer of admission Formal admission to a graduate program at Oakland University is offered by Oakland University Graduate School. The offer of graduate admission is extended to the applicant for a specified semester. An admitted student who wishes to change the semester of entry must request to update their admission to graduate school. Oakland University Graduate School will permit an admitted applicant to update within three terms of the original admission term; thereafter, a new application will be required. Graduate students are admitted to either full or limited standing as described below. Update semester of admission The offer of admission is extended to the applicant for a specified semester. An admitted student who wishes to update their semester of entry must notify the Graduate Admissions office in writing. Contingent upon the approval of the graduate program, admitted students are permitted three (3) successive semester updates to their original admission semester. Thereafter, any further changes will require a new graduate application, admission documentation, transcripts, and standardized test scores. Admission records, for admitted students who do not enroll, are purged four (4) semesters after original offer of admission. Original offer of admission (Fall 2009); successive semesters to update are Winter 2010, Summer 2010, and Fall 2010; admission records are purged after Winter 2011. Denial of admission The graduate admission process at Oakland University is competitive. The competitiveness of admission is determined by the number of applications received and the academic qualifications of the applicant pool; therefore, talented scholars may possibly be denied admission to some graduate programs. Each graduate program is responsible for its own application review process and the admission recommendation made to the Oakland University Graduate School. Applicants who are unsuccessful in gaining admission to a graduate program are notified in writing. Specific information regarding the applicant review and assessment process, or insight into an applicant’s denied admission status, must be discussed directly with the graduate program.     Unsuccessful applicants have an avenue to appeal their admission decision if the appeal holds merit. For an appeal to have merit, it must document new and compelling academic information or extenuating personal circumstances that were not included in the original application. Please keep in mind that this information may or may not result in a reversal of the original decision. To ensure all appeals receive thorough and equal consideration, all appeals must         Degree seeking graduate admission classifications   An applicant seeking graduate admission with full standing to a degree or graduate certificate program must meet the criteria specified undergraduate admission general requirements and, in addition, must: Admitting an applicant to a graduate program with full standing does not imply the student will be advanced to candidacy for an advanced degree. An applicant who meets the general admission requirements as stated in the graduate catalog for a graduate program, as well as the specific program admission requirements, will be granted graduate admission with limited standing when: Applicants admitted to a graduate program with limited standing are approved to enroll in advanced degree curricula. Those students who do not satisfy the requirements of limited standing within the time period as specified in the graduate catalog and set forth in the offer of admission letter are in violation and denied further registration in the graduate program.   An applicant admitted to a graduate program with limited standing is notified of the specific degree credential requirement in the written offer of admission letter. Degree credential requirements must be met by: Failure to submit the official, final degree transcript by the stated deadline will result in rescinding the offer of admission and immediate cancellation of graduate enrollment.   An applicant admitted to a graduate program with limited standing has up to three academic terms (fall-winter; summer excluded) from the time of initial enrollment to complete the academic requirements specified in the written offer of admission letter. Academic requirements must be met by: Applicants requiring undergraduate course preparation (graduate preparatory coursework) cannot be admitted to a graduate program with limited standing. Graduate preparatory coursework is defined as prerequisite undergraduate courses an applicant is required to complete in order to be eligible for admission into a graduate degree program. These courses are preparatory to the degree. Post-baccalaureate classification (graduate preparatory coursework) Undergraduate course preparation or graduate preparatory coursework refers to prerequisite undergraduate courses an applicant is required to complete in order to be eligible for admission into a graduate degree program. These undergraduate courses are preparatory to the degree and not included as part of the graduate degree requirements. Graduate applicants who do not meet the undergraduate coursework required for admission to a specific graduate program will be given a delayed graduate admission status and admitted to Oakland University at the post-baccalaureate level (PB) as a Graduate Preparatory (GP) student. A student taking Graduate Preparatory coursework must provide a financial aid officer an approved plan of study, signed by a graduate program coordinator, that identifies the specific undergraduate courses required for admission to the graduate program. Upon completing the preparatory course requirements, the student will be reviewed for regular admissions to the graduate program. A Graduate Preparatory (GP) student who enrolls in preparatory coursework required for admission to the graduate program may be eligible to apply for financial aid for one consecutive 12-month period. The 12-month period will begin the first day of the loan period in which the student is enrolled half-time. Should the student decrease their enrollment to less than half time after the first day of that term, the 12-month consecutive period will continue to run. Preparatory coursework that exceeds the 12-month consecutive period will not be eligible for financial aid. Special graduate classification Applicants who are seeking a graduate degree or graduate certificate, but who are unable to meet the deadline for filing all required application materials or credentials for graduate admission may be granted temporary admission, provided they submit a copy of a transcript providing evidence of a bachelor’s degree awarded and any specific evidence concerning their qualifications for graduate study as required by the department. Students admitted to Special Graduate classification are not eligible to receive financial assistance. Students granted admission in the Special Graduate classification may take no more than a total of 12 credits and must meet the criteria specified for general admission requirements and specific program admission requirements before completing the second semester of registration. Up to 12 credits earned in the Special Graduate classification may be applied toward degree or graduate certificate requirements if: a student is later admitted to a degree or graduate certificate program, and the credit is approved by the graduate program as appropriate to the degree or graduate certificate objective. Admission as a special graduate student in no way assures subsequent admission to a degree or graduate certificate program. Degree or graduate certificate course requirements and program regulations prevailing for the semester of formal admission to a graduate program will govern the student’s program. Inactive or Active student classification Inactive student status. At Oakland University, a matriculated graduate student is a student who has been previously admitted to and has enrolled in a graduate program. Oakland University Graduate School classifies inactive, matriculated students into two categories: one category permits readmission to a graduate program, and the other category requires reapplication before an inactive student can re-enroll in a course. The periods of inactivity used to classify inactive students into the appropriate category are defined as follows:   Students who have not enrolled for less than six consecutive semesters are permitted to submit a Request for Graduate Readmission form . Each request is evaluated in terms of the time limit established for completing degree requirements, performance in previous coursework, and progress made toward the degree. Students will not be readmitted to programs that have been suspended or discontinued. The catalog current at the time a student is readmitted will govern program requirements, policies, and procedures. Readmission Deadlines A student must be approved for readmission to their graduate program PRIOR to the beginning of a semester in order for the admission to be effective for that term. If the admission process is completed after that deadline, whether because the file was not completed or because departmental action was not taken earlier, the readmission will be effective for the next semester. Reapplication Students who have not enrolled for seven consecutive years are considered inactive and their graduate student files are destroyed. These students are considered new applicants and must submit a new Application for Admission to Oakland University Graduate School and new supporting documents as specified in both the General Admission Requirements and the Program Admission Requirements. Active student status Program transfer Graduate students, in good academic standing, who have been admitted to a graduate degree program and wish to transfer to another graduate program or pursue a new degree-level must submit a Request for Program Transfer form to Oakland University Graduate School. Admission to a new program and/or a new degree level is not granted automatically. Each program transfer request is subject to review and approval of the prospective new graduate program. Program transfer review process The prospective new program will review the student’s original admission documentation, supporting credentials, and any materials relevant to the student’s subsequent academic progress at Oakland University. In addition, the prospective new program may request new letters of recommendation and/or a new goal statement specific to the new program to which the student desires to transfer. A graduate program transfer is subject to minimum Graduate Admissions requirements and deadlines. A student should review the program admission requirements detailed in this catalog. Program transfer deadlines A student must be approved to transfer to the new program PRIOR to the beginning of an academic term in order for the admission to be effective for that term. If the admission process is completed after that deadline, whether because the file was not completed or because departmental action was not taken earlier, the admission will be effective for the next academic term. The term for which the applicant is admitted is stated in the official admission letter from Oakland University Graduate School. If the student is not admitted to the desired new program, admission to the original graduate program will stand. Policy governing graduate programs requires that all credit applied toward a degree must be earned within six calendar years of the awarding of the degree. Non-degree seeking graduate admission classifications An applicant holding a baccalaureate degree, who wishes to enroll in graduate courses but does NOT have immediate graduate degree objectives, may request graduate non-degree status. International students seeking F-1 or J-1 visas or those holding F-1 or J-1 visas are not eligible to apply for graduate non-degree admission. Non-degree students do not qualify for financial aid. Graduate non-degree admission has two classifications: 1) Graduate Guest; and 2) Professional Development. The graduate non-degree classifications with the minimum admission requirements are described below.   Applicants admitted to degree programs at other accredited institutions wishing to take courses at Oakland University for purposes of credit transfer should apply as a Guest Student in one of two ways: Regular Guest Student or Michigan Intercollegiate Graduate Studies (MIGS) Guest Student. Enrollment for all guest students is limited to 12 credits. Graduate guest students are typically admitted to Oakland University for one semester only.   Graduate guest students are admitted to degree programs at institutions other than the Michigan institutions listed below. Applicants must apply as a Regular Guest Student using the . A letter from the applicant’s home institution confirming that the applicant is in good academic standing must also be submitted. Students should consult their advisers at their home institutions regarding the ability to transfer specific credits to their programs.   The Michigan Intercollegiate Graduate Studies (MIGS) program is a cooperative inter-institutional arrangement which permits graduate students to take advantage of educational offerings available at other participating institutions but not available at their own. It is open to any student in good standing in a graduate program at a member institution. Courses must be numerically graded courses (not graded P/F, S/U, or CR/NC) approved in advance by the student’s graduate adviser and the MIGS liaison officer at both the home institution and the host institution. Admission by the host university is contingent on the availability of space and resources. The member institutions are Andrews University, Aquinas College, Calvin College, Central Michigan University, Eastern Michigan University, Grand Valley State University, Madonna University, Marygrove College, Michigan State University, Michigan Technological University, Northern Michigan University, Oakland University, Saginaw Valley State University, Siena Heights College, University of Detroit Mercy, University of Michigan, Wayne State University and Western Michigan University. Additional information is available from the .   The Professional Development classification is for students who are NOT interested in applying for an Oakland University graduate degree program. This classification of student typically belongs to one of the following categories: To be admitted into the graduate non-degree Professional Development classification at Oakland University, the applicant must submit the following documentation: Unofficial transcripts or photocopies of diplomas will be accepted along with the graduate Professional Development Application for evaluation purposes. The student must submit an official transcript and copies of any program required documents before the end of the first semester of enrollment. Applicants admitted to the graduate non-degree Professional Development classification are subject to the following stipulations: --> --> Manhattan, KS 66506 785-532-6011     Kansas State University       Jul 01, 2024   2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog     2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog Requirements for a bachelor’s degree from K-State are listed below. Colleges and departments may have requirements that exceed these minimums. Students should refer to the Degree Progress Audit (DARS) to review degree requirements. To graduate, a student must complete an approved curriculum and the degree audit must indicate all requirements have been completed. Courses applied to degree requirements must be completed no later than the term in which a degree is awarded. Under special conditions, substitutions to the curriculum are allowed if approved by the department head and dean. Please consult the individual departments for details.  {FS 02/14/23 - Effective Fall 2023} A bachelor’s degree requires a minimum of one hundred and twenty (120) semester hours; in an approved program; however, individual programs in some colleges and departments may exceed the minimum..   There are two-grade point averages a student must meet to be awarded a degree At least eighty-three percent (83%) of the credit hours taken at Kansas State University and applied toward a degree must be graded hours (e.g., one hundred (100) credit hours of one hundred and twenty (120) credit hour bachelor’s degree program). Required courses of an internship or practicum nature or credit by examination, offered on a Credit/No Credit basis only, are to be considered as graded hours in implementing this requirement. A minimum of forty-five (45) credit hours must be at a course level of 300 or above to meet the upper division course requirements established by KBOR { }. Each student must complete at least twenty-five percent (25%) or a minimum of thirty (30) credits in-residence at Kansas State University to be considered for a degree {per HLC requirements}. Resident work includes all K-State scheduled course instruction (e.g.,  ), given by the university faculty. Of the last thirty (30) semester credits earned (course level 300 or higher), at least fifteen (15) must be completed at K-State. Credits earned in an authorized education abroad program and designated or approved domestic exchange programs or agreements may apply to this requirement. Courses in the student’s major field shall be taken at Kansas State University unless an exception is granted by the major department on the petition of the student. That department shall have jurisdiction over the acceptance of major courses by transfer for fulfillment of the major requirement. Exceptions to the senior year requirement may be made by the Dean of the college and the department head in the student’s major program with submission to the Office of the Registrar and Provost Designee for approval. Exceptions may be requested if the student has completed a total of three years of work acceptable to Kansas State University. Up to half of the credits required for a normal four-year degree may be completed at an accredited two-year college (e.g., sixty (60) transfer credits for a one hundred and twenty (120)-credit hour bachelor’s degree program). Colleges/Departments may have transfer agreements in place that would allow for an exception to exceed the sixty (60) semester credit hours in transfer towards a baccalaureate degree { }. No more than twenty-five percent (25%) of credit hours applied to degree requirements may be from Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) sources. CPL may include standardized national exams, recognition of military or workforce training, or portfolio assessment (e.g., thirty (30) credits of CPL for a one hundred and twenty (120)-credit hour bachelor’s degree program) {per HLC requirements}. A student must meet all university academic standing requirements as established in section   to receive a K-State degree. Accordingly, any student who is subject to dismissal or suspension for scholastic or disciplinary reasons will not graduate until the conditions of the dismissal or suspension have been satisfied. The individual whose education has been interrupted may have to meet new degree requirements if a change has occurred in the approved curriculum. It is the student’s responsibility to be certain that transcripts from all transfer institutions are on file and have been articulated/reflected in the Degree Progress Audit (DARS) within the semester the degree requirements will be completed and no later than the deadline date designated on the  . Modification of Graduating Requirements for Students with Disabilities. A student may request a program modification if he or she can document a disability that directly impairs his/her ability to meet the normal requirements of the program. Students must contact the   or the K-State Salina   unit for assistance. {FS 02/14/23} { } Global navigation Site navigation IU South Bend Bulletin 2024-2025 About IU South Bend Degrees Offered General Education Academic Schools Online Programs Graduate Programs Course Descriptions Academic Regulations and Policies General Education Requirements Ernestine M. Raclin School of the Arts School of Humanities and Social Sciences School of Natural Sciences College and Schools IU South Bend Home IU Resources Indiana University Web Site Administration Equal Opportunity/ Affirmative Action Policies Previous IU South Bend Campus Bulletins Students are ordinarily subject to the curricular requirements outlined in the Bulletin in effect at the start of their current degree. See below for links to previous Bulletins (bulletins prior to 2013-2014 are in PDF format only). Online Only If you are seeking further information regarding specific programs, please contact individual departments . For problems accessing information on this website, please contact Teresa Sheppard . Master of Music Entrance Requirements Entrance Requirements The Master of Music degree is a flexible program intended for students holding a bachelor’s degree in music (Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Music Education, etc.). In some cases, a student with a bachelor’s degree in a field other than music may become a candidate for the Master of Music degree either by demonstrating competence in performance and academic music subjects at the level of the bachelor’s degree in music, or by completing any undergraduate music courses in performance or academic subjects that may be required by the music faculty. International students must apply for admission to this program through the Office of International Student Services at IU South Bend. As a preliminary audition a video recording of a recent performance, either a DVD or a standard high-quality digital or online video format must be submitted with this application. Composition applicants may submit an audio recording of their works. A formal audition will be required after the student arrives in South Bend. A minimum score of 550 (paper-based) or 79 (internet-based) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) examination is required for admission to the program, although students with scores at or just above these minimum scores should expect to take remedial English courses at the beginning of their master’s degree program. Credit hours earned in remedial English courses do not count towards the total credit hours required for the degree Students must complete an audition in their chosen area of specialization: piano, voice, orchestral instrument or composition. Contact the director of graduate studies for specific audition requirements. Additional requirements for composition: Undergraduate paper on theory/composition Portfolio of four to six works for different ensembles, including at least one for orchestra Recordings on CD or in a standard high-quality digital or online audio format Interview with the faculty Letters of Recommendation Three letters of recommendation from former private instructors and/or professors familiar with the student’s work. Letters of recommendation must be sealed and forwarded directly from the recommender, or delivered using the online graduate application system. Writing Competency Applicants must submit a written paper on a music history or music theory topic, including footnotes and bibliography, that demonstrates the student’s ability to write about music in a cogent, scholarly fashion, exhibiting a high standard of academic English. Minimum Passing Course Grade, GPA, and Dismissal GPA for Master of Music Graduate music students whose CGPA falls below 3.0 are placed on academic probation for one semester. If one’s GPA is not raised to the 3.0 level, the student may be placed on additional probation, or dismissed from the program. Any time a student's GPA falls below 2.0, automatic dismissal takes place. Master of Music students will maintain a cumulative GPA (CGPA) of 3.0 or higher; and no grade under "C" will be accepted for graduate credit..  Academic Bulletins Indiana University IU Bloomington PDF Version Copyright © 2024 The Trustees of Indiana University , Copyright Complaints 486 IMAGES Minimum CGPA Required For PhD In USA PhD Degree Requirements How to get a PhD: Steps and Requirements Explained How to get a PhD: Steps and Requirements Explained PhD meaning and its tale Ph.D. in Physics Degree Requirements VIDEO minimum phd chesindali ✅😂😂😂 #telugutrolls #funny #funnytrolls #comedy Postdoctoral Associate- Statistical Genetics, Houston, TX, USA #job#postdoc #usa பல்கலைக்கழக அனுமதிக்கு விண்ணப்பிப்பது எவ்வாறு?|How to Apply for University?|Dr.Harris (PhD) Lecturer New UGC Guidelines: Changes in NET and PhD Criteria Explained #india #ugcnet #phd One year PhD program| Duration to pursue a PhD Minimum and Maximum Duration of PhD as per UGC Guidelines COMMENTS Application Requirements for All Doctoral Programs (PhD) TOEFL. Stanford University requires the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) from all applicants whose native language is not English. The GSE requires a minimum TOEFL score of 250 for the computer-based test, 600 for the paper-based test or 100 for the internet-based test in order to be considered for admission. Ph.D. Requirements Additional Requirements. Individual departments and programs may have additional requirements regarding the number of courses to be taken, proficiency in foreign languages, special examinations, and theses. The department should be consulted for specific information. RI. Brown University awards more than 200 doctor of philosophy degrees annually. How the PhD Program Works How the PhD Program Works. Completing your doctorate at Wharton requires 5 years of full-time study. The first 2 years in the program prepare you for admission to candidacy by taking courses, qualifying exams, and starting research projects. In the last few years, you are primarily conducting research full-time including writing and defending ... Ph.D. Degree Requirements Program of Study. Candidates for the Ph.D. degree ordinarily must complete no fewer than three full years (six semesters) of approved graduate work (i.e., courses numbered 6000 and above) and a minimum of 14 dissertation hours. Some departments require more, check department's handbook. More time may be required. Regulations and Requirements for Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Programs The formal requirements for the PhD degree are the following: completion of the coursework mandated by the individual degree program, fulfillment of the residency requirement, formal training in the Responsible Conduct of Research for students as appropriate, qualifying and/or comprehensive examination(s) or equivalent as required by the degree program, continuous registration, a final oral ... PhD Program Requirements PhD Program Requirements. African and African American Studies. American Studies. Anthropology. Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and Urban Planning. Astronomy. Molecular and Cellular Biology. Organismic and Evolutionary Biology. Biological Sciences in Public Health. How Long Does It Take to Get a Ph.D. Degree? Kee says funding for a humanities Ph.D. program typically only lasts five years, even though it is uncommon for someone to obtain a Ph.D. degree in a humanities field within that time frame ... Admissions Requirements We require either a valid TOEFL (minimum score 577 PBT/90 IBT ) or valid IELTS (minimum score 7) for all non-native English speakers. Your unofficial score report from the testing institution is sufficient for application. If you are admitted to the program, you will be required to submit your official test score for verification. How Long Does It Take To Get a PhD? A PhD program typically takes four to seven years, but a variety of factors can impact that timeline. A PhD, or doctorate degree, is the highest degree you can earn in certain disciplines, such as psychology, engineering, education, and mathematics. As a result, it often takes longer to earn than it does for a bachelor's or master's degree. Application Requirements You may submit scores from tests taken no earlier than January 5, 2019. There is no minimum test score requirement, and admissions committee does not have a preference in tests. Institution Codes for PhD Programs; GRE: 3451; GMAT: HRL-X8-30; A department code is not required for score submission. Ph.D. Field Requirements for Completing Your Degree Details on Ph.D. requirements to complete your degree are available on the Degree Requirements page. Complete a minimum of 4 core courses chosen from our 5 areas. TA for at least 2 semesters. Form a special committee consisting of a chair, an IS field member, and at least one external minor member. Pass an A and B exam. Guide to PhD Entry Requirements Standard UK PhD Requirements. For doctoral candidates interested in institutions in the United Kingdom, several standard requirements must be met: Bachelors Degree: A minimum of an upper second class honours (2.1) is typically required. It indicates not just academic ability, but a strong foundation in the relevant field. Admissions Requirements The minimum graduate admissions requirements are: Expect to or hold a bachelor's degree or recognized equivalent from an accredited institution. A satisfactory scholastic average, usually a minimum grade-point average (GPA) of 3.0 (B) on a 4.0 scale; and PhD Minimum Admission Requirements PhD Minimum Admission Requirements Minimum Requirements for Admission to Doctoral Study at UF. A. A Graduate Record Exam (GRE) score: While preference will be given to students with scores above the 50th percentile, scores from the GRE will be used in the context of a holistic credential review process Policy 1.1: Graduate Degree Requirements A minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 is required to earn a graduate degree, and a minimum of 2.7 is required in each course that is counted toward graduate degree requirements. The GPA for graduate students is calculated entirely on the basis of numeric grades in 400- and 500-level courses, see Scholastic Regulations 110 . Application Requirements Application Requirements. Applicants must have completed a bachelor's degree or the equivalent before beginning graduate study. Applicants who already hold a Ph.D. degree will not be considered for a second Ph.D. degree. Transcripts from each college or university attended, three letters of recommendation, a CV, and the applicant's statement of ... Doctoral degree The two Institute requirements for a doctorate are completion of a program of advanced study, including a general examination, and completion and oral defense of a thesis on original research. The course of advanced study and research leading to the doctorate must be pursued under the direction of the departmental committee on graduate students ... Ready for a Doctorate? Clarifying Your PhD Requirements Standard PhD requirements in the UK are a Bachelors degree with at least an upper second class honours degree (2.1). You may also need a Masters degree with a Merit or Distinction grade. All your previous qualifications must be in a field of study relevant to the PhD you are applying for. Typically, Arts and Humanities PhDs are more likely to ... Doctoral Requirements (Graduate Studies) Satisfy the requirement for a minimum of 15 hours of MU coursework at the 8000/9000 level (exclusive of research, readings, and problems). The committee also recommends to the Dean of the Graduate School, as part of the Plan of Study, any request for transfer of graduate credit. Prerequisites and Requirements Candidates for the Ph.D. Program must meet the following eligibility requirements: Completion of a bachelor's degree, preferably in the biological or physical sciences, from an accredited institution. A minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. Degree conferral before the program begins (program begins in July). Requirements Graduate School admission requirements and application procedures are the same for all applicants regardless of citizenship and visa status. Once an international student planning to study on an F-1 or J-1 student visa has been admitted and has accepted their offer, they must provide documentation to show proof of adequate financial support. Ph.D. Degree Requirements Contents1. Introduction2. Ph.D. Degree Requirements2.1 Ph.D. Advising2.2 Grad Review2.3 Pre-candidacy Requirements2.4 Preliminary Examination and Advancement to Candidacy2.5 Candidacy and Dissertation Defense2.6 Graduation Requirements for Ph.D. Students3. Travel Grants for Ph.D. Students4. Internships1. IntroductionThis document is tailored for graduate students in the Computer Science ... PhDs and Doctoral degrees The minimum requirements to apply for doctoral study are that you should have completed, or be in the process of completing, a research-focused honours degree or master's degree.For PhD study you must achieve this degree at either the level of First-Class or Second-Class Division I (or equivalent). Minimum Qualifications for admission to Full-time PhD Programmes Table 1 defines the minimum qualifications required for admission to full-time Ph. D. programmes at IIT Delhi. Please note: These are Institute minimum requirements and any Department/Centre/School operating through their DRC/CRC/SRC can specify higher short-listing criteria than what is specified here. Higher Education Leadership and Policy Studies, PhD Admission requirements for the College of Education require a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.6 for undergraduate coursework or over the last 60 credit hours of coursework. The College requires a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 for graduate coursework. The Monash Doctoral Program Graduate researchers enrolled as of 1 January 2015 will participate in one of the following three PhD programs, as determined by their Faculty or program of enrolment: 1. Professional Development mode. Students are required to complete a minimum of 120 hours of professional development activities. 2. Coursework Graduate Admission Requirements Standards beyond minimum transcript requirements. As part of the admission requirements, graduate programs may require official transcripts from post-secondary educational institutions from which the applicant earned an associate degree and all enrollment in coursework both pre- or post-baccalaureate degrees. Undergraduate preparatory courses Undergraduate Degree Requirements Minimum requirements are: To graduate, a student must complete an approved curriculum. Under special conditions, substitutions to the curriculum are allowed as the interests of the student warrant if approved by the department head and dean. A minimum of 45 hours must be at a course level of 300 or above. Master of Music Entrance Requirements : Academic Bulletin Minimum Passing Course Grade, GPA, and Dismissal GPA for Master of Music. Graduate music students whose CGPA falls below 3.0 are placed on academic probation for one semester. If one's GPA is not raised to the 3.0 level, the student may be placed on additional probation, or dismissed from the program. assignment essay homework paper phd report resume review speech thesis