Doctoral Program Policies

Time Limits

Candidates are expected to pursue a full-time program during the first year of study. The University residency requirement is enrollment for two semesters in sequence as a full-time student. Specific University policies govern course loads for those students employed by the University. According to University guidelines, a student who enters with a graduate degree from the University of Illinois is allowed up to six years to complete the degree program. A student without a graduate degree from the University of Illinois has seven years to complete the doctoral program. Extension of the time limit and/or a leave of absence may be granted for unusual circumstances. The expected graduation date (EGD) and preliminary examination deadline will be determined by the Graduate College when the student joins the program. Students who do not pass their preliminary examination by their deadline will be considered not in good academic standing. They must successfully pass their preliminary examination in order to return to good academic standing. Doctoral students who do not graduate by their deadline will have one year to graduate before being considered not in good academic standing. Students who have exceeded their time to degree limit must successfully petition the Graduate College in order to continue in the program. 

To maintain satisfactory academic progress, PhD students must meet the following milestone guidelines.  Students who do not meet these milestones may be at risk for departmental restrictions. Students who have been in the program for more than five years and are not making satisfactory academic progress toward their time to degree may not be considered for TA assignments or adjunct teaching positions to ensure they have time to complete their degree.   

PhD Academic Progress Policy

Milestone Checklist     

• Coursework (breadth) courses completed (by the end of fall semester in year three)
• Qualifying papers completed (by the end of year three)
• Preliminary exam passed (by the end of year four)
• Final dissertation exam passed (by the end of year five)