(from the Rackham Graduate School Bulletin)

Some basic requirements for candidacy are often initially overlooked. To help your advancement to candidacy proceed without unexpected surprises and delays, please review this information to make certain everything has been organized appropriately and that you understand how your enrollment will be affected.

Before Your Preliminary Exams

1. Were you enrolled for at least 1 hour during the term in which you passed your   preliminary examinations? (You must be.)

   a. You must be enrolled during the term in which you passed your prelims unless you qualify for 9 or 12-month campus privileges. See the Rackham Graduate Student Handbook to determine your eligibility for such privileges.

   b. Check deadlines carefully before you schedule a preliminary exam in the summer.

2. Is your current degree status pre-candidate? (It must be.)

Before You Intend To Achieve Candidacy

1. You must be registered for Physics 990 in the term you advance to candidacy. No other pre-candidacy dissertation election or independent study election is acceptable.

   a. Physics 990—regardless of the number of hours elected will be automatically converted to 8 hours of 995 when you are advanced to candidacy (that is, when your paperwork is completely through the system).

   b. One course (graded A-E, not VI or S) in addition to 990, for the term in which you were advanced, will be allowed as a "free" course. Any elections beyond that will be assessed at the regular tuition rate. See the Rackham Graduate Student Handbook for information on "augmented candidacy" and "banking" regulations.

2. The paperwork for advancement to candidacy takes time, so your tuition bill may not be accurate at first.

CONFUSED? FRUSTRATED? QUESTIONS?
Contact Physics Student Services Office: 2464 Randall Lab, (734) 764-5539
or
for more details contact Rackham's Office of Academic Records and Dissertations (OARD)