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Upon advancing to doctoral candidacy,
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a graduate student becomes an official PhD candidate at UT Austin. This milestone involves identifying a
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general research area and tentative topic,
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as well as forming a dissertation committee of faculty members
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. The committee not only evaluates the student’s research and ultimately approves the dissertation but also serves as a group of subject-matter experts who provide ongoing guidance and support throughout the PhD journey.
ECE PhD students are expected to advance to doctoral candidacy within one year
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of attempting
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33 or more credit hours of coursework
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in the Graduate Program
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(excluding approved leaves of absence
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). These credit hours may include individual instruction courses such as Research Problems. Once a student attempts 33 or more credit hours, the following semester marks the beginning of the one-year window to complete the candidacy requirements. Students are encouraged to pursue candidacy as soon as a
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research area and topic
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are identified.
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It is important to note that a student is not considered a PhD candidate until
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candidacy has been officially granted.
The process of advancing to doctoral candidacy consists of two
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main components:
Forming an approved PhD committee
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Completing individual candidacy evaluation meetings with each non-supervisory committee member
Please note that you are expected to complete the six steps in order, and to advance to the next step only after you have satisfactorily completed all preceding steps.
Forming a Committee, Committee Announcement, Committee Approval
Your candidacy and PhD dissertation will be overseen by the same committee of faculty members. This committee will consist of five members, including your supervisor(s). At least three members must be on the ECE GSC, and ECE must be the home department of at least two of the three ECE GSC members. At least one member of your committee must be external, and not a member of the ECE GSC. The process of forming this committee and approval of the committee is comprised of several steps listed below, and can often take more than a month to complete.
When you have received tentative agreement from your proposed committee members, contact your Track PhD Coordinator with the names of your committee and request that your committee be announced to the ECE GSC, Graduate Studies Committee. Provide your full name, your EID, your academic track, a working title of your dissertation (this is not the final title), the full names of your committee members with labels identifying their roles (supervisor, co-supervisor, member, external member), and a Word or pdf copy of the external member's CV (Curriculum Vitae, or academic resume).
You must wait two weeks after the announcement is made before proceeding to the next steps.
Part 1: Form Your CommitteeStep 1: Identify and Confirm Committee Members Step 2: Submit Committee Details
Step 3: Await Committee Approval |
Candidacy Evaluation Meetings
objection basis. Wait two weeks while your proposed committee is under review, and do not proceed to conduct one-on-one evaluation meetings with each proposed committee member until you have received approval from your Track PhD Coordinator confirming that you can proceed. Part 2: Complete Individual Candidacy EvaluationsStep 4: Conduct Evaluation Meetings |
but you may use slides or figures to provide context |
. Committee members |
may share specific expectations or |
Each candidacy evaluation should have the following suggested format:
Student provides a summary of proposed research directions, including a review of the student's research proposal and coursework.
A Q&A that covers how prepared the student is for candidacy, including suitability and feasibility of their proposed project.
ECE Candidacy Form Completion, Follow-Up Meetings
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Each member of your committee will formally sign off on your readiness, the proposed research and whether they agree to serve on your committee via the ECE Candidacy Form HERE.
Committee members will indicate any significant concerns they may have about your ability to communicate, your preparation, readiness, or the proposed research, and they may request follow-up meetings to address such concerns. It is your responsibility to setup any such follow-up meetings if requested.
Confirmation, Applying Online for Admission to Doctoral Candidacy
evaluation criteria in advance. Step 5: Obtain Formal Sign-Offs Step 6: Submit Final Application for Candidacy |
If you receive notification that your ECE Candidacy Form has been signed and completed, but you do not receive instructions within a week, please email the Graduate Advising Team. Request instructions to apply for admission to doctoral candidacy, and attach a copy of the completed and signed ECE Candidacy Form.
Once you receive instructions from the Graduate Advising Team, follow the instructions to apply online for admission to doctoral candidacy within two weeks of receiving the instructions
. You’ll then have 2 weeks to submit your candidacy application online. Your application will go through multiple levels of review, with final approval granted by a Degree Evaluator in the Graduate School. Note on Late-Semester Candidacy: |