X. Advancement to Doctoral Candidacy

Advancement to Doctoral Candidacy

  • Takes effect on the first day of the quarter following the receipt of the:
    • Qualifying Examination Report on Qualifying Examination (as detailed in the previous section)
    • Dissertation Reading Committee Form- the Committee is comprised of at least three members, the majority of whom must be members of the Santa Cruz Academic Senate. The Nominations for Dissertation Reading Committee memo (which can be found on the Graduate Division website) should be submitted at the same tame as the Qualifying Examination Report
    • Candidacy fee in the Graduate Division- the $90 Advancement to Candidacy fee will be billed to the student’s AIS account

 Additional provisions:

    • Students must be registered for at least one quarter between advancing to candidacy and the awarding of the degree.
    • Senate Regulations require that students cannot be advanced to candidacy with course grades of "I" (Incomplete) standing on their record.
    • Lastly, if the Ph.D. degree is not awarded within seven years from the date of Advancement to Candidacy, the student's candidacy shall lapse and the student will be required to pass a new qualifying exam prior to submitting the dissertation or undergo such other formal review as the student's department shall direct, and the result of this examination or review shall be transmitted in writing to the Graduate Council.

When students advance to candidacy, they are eligible for a “fee offset grant” for two calendar years that will pay their campus fees if they aren't already receiving tuition remission. To be eligible students must have advanced to candidacy within normative time (i.e. 4 years) and they forfeit any remaining grant if they go on leave of absence during their period of eligibility.