Application to Candidacy

Admission and matriculation into a PhD program does not automatically qualify a student to be a candidate for that PhD degree.  Typically, a student advances to candidacy by the end of the third year in the PhD program, but this can vary from person to person, or by degree program. To become a formal PhD candidate, generally after passing the PhD qualifying exam or qualifying paper, a student formulates their dissertation committee with the help of the DGS or another assigned academic advisor, and submits the PhD Application to Candidacy (ATC) to their department to begin the application vetting process. Each PhD student shall consult with the director of graduate study (DGS) to discuss the right time to file for PhD candidacy.

At such time, the student’s PhD committee and the director of graduate study and/or the department chair will carefully review the student’s performance in coursework, independent study, and any qualifying exam results as evidenced in the PhD ATC materials. Upon department approval, the ATC is then vetted by the school’s divisional committee (if required), the relevant dean, and finally the Graduate School. Upon Graduate School approval of the ATC, the PhD student becomes a candidate, enters the final ABD stage of their program, and engages generally exclusively, in scholarship leading to a completed dissertation.

Typically, the PhD ATC is submitted one year or more prior to the student’s anticipated degree completion. Regardless, the PhD ATC must be filed with the Graduate School at least three months before the student’s anticipated graduation, according to these deadlines:

• March 1 for June 1 degree conferral.
• July 1 for Aug. 31 degree conferral.
• Oct. 1 for Feb. 1 degree conferral.

Each student is advised to check with the appropriate office one semester prior to the deadline date listed for up-to-date information. It is the student's responsibility to check with the Graduate School at 716-645-2939 prior to the deadline dates to be sure all the requirements and paperwork for your degree have been completed. Each department has the appropriate forms and additional instructions.