Are there continuous enrollment or time limit requirements for doctoral students?
Yes. Once a doctoral student successfully completes his/her comprehensive exams, and enters into candidacy he/she must maintain continuous enrollment (i.e., must register for at least 3 hours for two of the three registration periods – Fall, Spring, and Summer – during an academic year). Students who fail to meet this requirement will have to pay a penalty fee. Contact the Graduate Schools for details on the penalty. Doctoral students should complete their comprehensive examination and enter the candidacy stage within four years of initial enrollment in the doctoral program and must complete their dissertation within five years of entering candidacy. The Graduate School may grant a one-year extension to this time limit for serious, non-academic hardships. Additionally, a student may petition his or her academic program for a limited extension for a reason unrelated to personal hardship. If granted, additional requirements may be imposed upon the student; this may include passing anothe
