Qualifying Process

To qualify for PhD candidacy, you must maintain a 3.3 GPA in the four or five required core courses and show sufficient progress in your research. All students are expected to complete their core courses by the end of their third long semester at UT Austin.

If you do not have a 3.3 GPA in your core courses, you may take 1 additional semester to complete 1 additional core course and raise your GPA to 3.3. You cannot retake a class to raise your core course GPA.

Discuss your class selections with your supervisor and the graduate advisor to ensure you are on the right track. Under extenuating circumstances, exceptions to the 3.3 GPA may be granted. To apply for an exception, an explanation of the circumstances must be submitted to the graduate advisor in writing; applications for exceptions are considered by the Graduate Studies Committee.