Skip to main content
Advancement to Candidacy for the Ph.D.
Steps to complete:
- Pass the Qualifying Exam
- Discuss potential committee members with Major Professor and Graduate Program Advisor (committee requirements below)
- Pay the Candidacy Fee: you can visit the GS Forms Store online, or the Cashier's Office in Dutton Hall for an in-person option.
- Initiate the UCD Advancement to Candidacy Application in GradSphere to establish the Dissertation Committee.
- Once initiated, the application will route for program approval (Dissertation Chair; Graduate Advisor; DE Chair (if applicable); Graduate Program Coordinator). Once approved by the Graduate Program, the ATC Application will route to Graduate Studies for approval.
- Once the Dissertation Committee is approved, plan to meet with your committee 1-2 times per year to update the whole committee on your degree progress.
Committee Requirements:
- Three members (5 maximum)
- At least 2 committee members must be members of the BMEGG (3 if the full committee is 5 members)
- The Chair of the Dissertation Committee must be a member of the BMEGG (usually the Major Professor)
- All potential committee members must meet the Graduate Council Policy on Service on Advanced Degree Committees
- All committee members must plan to participate in the future Ph.D. defense and read the dissertation.
- Individuals from outside the University of California are considered External Members and may be approved with additional review. External members include faculty, researchers, or other professionals who are not employed by the University of California, and who possess special expertise and/or experience not matched by eligible UC committee members. Please be prepared to upload their current CV/Resume and justification of expertise not available within the UC System.
Resources for preparing for Advancing to Candidacy:
