After successfully completing the written and oral qualifying exams, students must complete the Nomination to Candidacy for the Ph.D. Degree form. Note that this can now be done online. The date of admission to candidacy is the date of the passing of the qualifying exam, or in the case of multi-part exams, the passing of the final portion (for example, the oral exam).

Doctoral candidates (i.e., those who have passed the qualifying exams) must enroll for at least one credit hour per semester during the academic year even if they have completed the 90 credit hours required for the Ph.D. Candidates who have appointments as AIs, GAs, or RAs must register for at least 6 credit hours per semester. Failure to register for classes will automatically terminate your enrollment in the Ph.D. program. Doctoral candidates who have completed 90 credit hours and all pre- dissertation requirements for the Ph.D. are eligible to enroll in G901: Advanced Research (6 cr.), for a flat fee ($150 per semester as of fall, 2017) for up to six (6) semesters. G901 cannot count toward the 90 credits needed for the doctorate. Enrollment in G901 requires authorization from the Ph.D. coordinator. If you plan to graduate in June, July, or August, you must enroll in a minimum of 1 credit hour (usually S880) in either the current or preceding summer sessions.

If you have not defended your degree by the end of your sixth semester of G901, you must register for S880: Dissertation Research for at least one credit per semester. You do not receive university funding until you submit your final dissertation to UGS and pay the applicable graduate-credit fee. Again, those receiving university funding must register for at least six (6) credits of S880 after they have completed six semesters of G901. Doctoral candidates have seven (7) years from the date of passing the qualifying exam to complete the Ph.D.