phd student graduation

Readings With Hope

48 Congratulations Messages for PhD or Doctorate Degree Students

Have you ever witnessed the culmination of years of hard work, dedication, and relentless pursuit of knowledge? 

Imagine the elation, the sense of accomplishment that comes with achieving the pinnacle of academic excellence. 

As we celebrate the remarkable journey of Ph.D. students, it’s imperative to convey our heartfelt congratulations in a way that truly honors their extraordinary achievement.

Here, we present some heartfelt messages that encapsulate the pride and admiration we feel for these exceptional individuals as they embark on the next chapter of their scholarly endeavors.

Congratulations Messages for Phd Admission

• “Congratulations on your admission to the PhD program ! Your hard work and dedication have truly paid off. This is a remarkable achievement and the beginning of an incredible journey in academia. I have no doubt that you will contribute valuable insights to your field!”
• “Well done on securing your spot in the PhD program! This is a testament to your brilliance and perseverance . I’m thrilled to see where this next chapter takes you. Your future is undoubtedly bright, and I’m excited for all the discoveries and contributions you will make.”
• “ Congratulations! You’ve been admitted to the PhD program, a milestone that speaks volumes about your academic excellence and passion for your field. This journey will be challenging but incredibly rewarding. Your dedication is inspiring!”
• “This is fantastic news! Being accepted into a PhD program is no small feat, and it clearly demonstrates your commitment and capability. Embrace this new adventure with the knowledge that you are fully equipped to excel. Congratulations!”
• “Congratulations on your PhD admission! Your journey has been nothing short of inspiring , and this achievement is a significant milestone. The dedication and resilience you have shown are commendable. I look forward to seeing the impact of your research.”
• “I’m so proud of you for getting into the PhD program! This achievement is a clear reflection of your hard work, determination , and intelligence. The road ahead is full of possibilities and I’m excited to see the contributions you will make to your field .”
• “Your admission to the PhD program is well-deserved. Congratulations on this incredible accomplishment ! Your passion and dedication have led you to this moment, and I have every confidence in your success moving forward.”
• “ Heartfelt congratulations on your PhD admission! You’ve crossed a major threshold in your academic career, and I’m thrilled to witness the excellence you’ll bring to your research and the academic community.”

• “Congratulations on your admission! It’s a privilege to see someone so dedicated and talented achieve this significant milestone . Your PhD journey will be demanding, but I know you will rise to the challenge and excel .”
• “Well done on earning your place in the PhD program! Your perseverance and academic prowess have truly paid off. This journey will be one of growth and discovery, and I’m excited for the contributions you will make to the world of academia.”
• “Congratulations on your PhD admission! This is a testament to your exceptional skills and dedication. I’m confident that you will bring fresh perspectives and innovations to your field. Your future is incredibly promising!”
• “Achieving admission to a PhD program is a significant accomplishment , and I’m so proud of you for reaching this milestone. Your dedication to your studies and research is admirable , and I’m excited to see where this journey takes you. Congratulations!”
• “Congratulations on your PhD admission! Your drive and intellect have opened the door to an amazing opportunity. This journey will challenge and inspire you, and I can’t wait to see the innovations you’ll bring to your field.”
• “ Bravo for securing your place in the PhD program! This achievement is a testament to your exceptional talent and hard work. The journey ahead is full of promise, and I’m confident you’ll make a lasting impact .”
• “Your admission to the PhD program is incredibly well-deserved . Congratulations on reaching this milestone! Your commitment to your research is inspiring, and I have no doubt you will excel in this new chapter.”
• “This is a momentous occasion ! Congratulations on your acceptance into the PhD program. Your dedication and perseverance have paid off, and I’m excited to see you thrive in this challenging and rewarding environment.”

• “ Heartiest congratulations on your PhD admission! You’ve proven yourself to be a formidable scholar , and this is just the beginning. The academic community awaits your contributions with great anticipation.”
• “Well done on your PhD admission! Your hard work and dedication have clearly shone through. This is a golden opportunity to further your research and make meaningful contributions to your field. Congratulations!”
• “Congratulations on this spectacular achievement ! Being admitted into a PhD program is a clear indicator of your academic excellence and potential for groundbreaking research. I’m thrilled about your future discoveries.”
• “Your PhD admission is a testament to your brilliant mind and unwavering dedication . This milestone is just the beginning of a journey filled with discoveries and success. Congratulations on this well-deserved accomplishment!”
• “ Incredible job on earning your place in the PhD program! Your ability to tackle complex problems and push the boundaries of knowledge is truly inspiring. I’m looking forward to seeing your impact on your field.”
• “Congratulations on your PhD admission! This step is a huge leap towards fulfilling your academic and research ambitions. Your passion and perseverance have led you to this point, and they will guide you to even greater achievements.”
• “ Congratulations on your well-deserved PhD admission! Your journey so far has been a testament to your hard work and dedication . The academic world is ready for your contributions, and I’m excited to see where this path takes you.”
• “Securing your admission into the PhD program is a major milestone —congratulations! Your commitment to excellence is evident, and this opportunity will enable you to explore and transform your field in unimaginable ways.”

12 Best PhD Gifts for Doctoral Students (in 2024)

If you just try searching "PhD Graduation Gifts" on Amazon, you'll get a page full of mugs, shirts and keychains. They deserve better. I’ve been through grad school, got my PhD, and have a good idea of what they would truly appreciate as a thank-you gift. Here’s my hand-picked list below. 

This list is a compilation of my favorites from around the internet. Some are our own Genius Lab Gear inventions and some we’re just jealous we didn’t think of first! Some external links in this page are from affiliates, which means that any purchase of the items after clicking the link will result in a small monetary referral fee paid back to Genius Lab Gear at no cost to you. We appreciate your support which allows us to continue inventing and testing the best tools for scientists on the planet!

1. Academia Word Magnets

Academia is chock full of inside jokes, mannerisms, and cringeworthy habits that grad students and professors love to laugh about. These word magnets are designed specifically to let academics rant about their hardships, relish their big wins, and have a good laugh. These are perfect for the office refrigerator or the magnetic whiteboard, where colleagues can leave passive-aggressive phrases for lab mates to find later.  Get them on our site here  and bundle them with  other field-specific sets  based on the graduate's field of study. Check it out on Amazon .

2. The Pocket Scientist pocket ruler and equation reference

Whether they're climbing the academic latter or heading out to the "real world", they can carry this credit card-sized ruler and scientific reference every day. We even laser-engraved the backside full of basic science equations and physical constants.  See the product page  for a full list of features we've packed in!

Available from  our website  or  from Amazon .

The Pocket Scientist at Genius Lab Gear

The Pocket Scientist on Amazon

How to use The Pocket Scientist – Full Feature Guide

P.S. We also have versions specifically for  Chemists ,  Physicists  and  Engineers  if those are a better fit for the person you have in mind!

3. Rocketbook Matrix cloud-connected reusable paper notebook

PhD students do a lot of work both on paper and with software. Rocketbook finally solved the problem of merging your hand-written notes into your favorite digital services. You simply use their app to take a photo of your pages of notes and the QR code and marked symbols on each page trigger the app to send the digitized page to any of the 9 pre-set digital destinations you choose. This includes OneNote, Evernote, Google Drive, Dropbox, and even specific emails. Want a shortcut to send notes via email straight to your colleague or boss? This is what you’re looking for.

The Rocketbook Matrix is my personal favorite because it's designed for more technical scientific work. It's got 30 pages of graphing paper and one regular lined page for taking notes, plus a built-in ruler on the inside cover. Did I mention they are reusable? Use their " Pilot Frixion " pens and then wipe the page with a damp cloth after uploading your notes to use it all over again (and win one for the environment!). 

Usually, the best price is  on Amazon .

4. Wireless Laser Pointer and PowerPoint Presenter

Laser pointers are one thing you never think about until the moment you don’t have one that works. I personally  own this one  because it’s got everything you need, from the pen clip to volume buttons and slide control buttons. DinoFire has several tiers with different features, but you can’t go wrong with any of them. 

5. rOtring or Staedtler Mechanical Pencil

Mechanical pencils are an essential daily tool for researchers in STEM on the job and in the classroom. But in the new digital age, they often find themselves using touchscreens as well. 

That’s why my new favorite is the rOtring 800 Retractable Mechanical Pencil, (0.5 mm) . This one turns from a pencil to a stylus on the fly, and also ensures the tip isn’t poking holes in your pocket all day like most other models. This is truly the top-end mechanical pencil and will make a special gift. 

Check price on Amazon

Staedtler is another brand much-loved by scientists and engineers. This model is cheaper and will last a long time, but just isn’t convertible to a stylus. You can’t go wrong with either one.

6. Oh, the Places You'll Go! By Dr. Seuss

This might seem like it’s only for kids, but Dr. Seuss’ whimsical wisdom is often applied to the biggest moments of our lives. As a graduation gift, it’s perfect. The timeless message focuses on the success that lies within, as your graduate readies for a new phase in life. Plus, it’s a small book they can keep forever to pass the wisdom on to their kids.

7. Funny Coloring Book for PhD Students and Graduates

These adult coloring books are a hit in many fields, and this one is meant specifically for those who know the struggle of getting a PhD . It’s snarky, fun, and an amazing creative outlet. The satisfaction of just coloring inside the lines versus writing a 300-page thesis is a welcome relief.

8. Scientist Quote Desktop Canvas

We're super proud of our  little series of famous scientist quotes on canvas prints . These are 5"x7" and sit up easily on their own or can be mounted to a wall. This one sits next to me as I write, and helps me keep a sense of humility as I explore the unknown! 

9. Modern Lab Coat Pocket Protector

This is how your PhD grad will know they’ve finally made it. The venerable Pocket Protector became a cultural icon in the 1960's and 1970's, but somewhere along the way the newer generation of STEM researchers forgot about them. Scientists need these back in their labs to stay organized, stay efficient, protect their lab coats, and finish their experiments without being late to lunch. So we researched and tested every type ever made to methodically solve each problem and come up with this refreshed design . Available in spruce green, sapphire blue, and faded pink - the top 3 colors voted on by our fans! You can even get it from our Amazon page if that's easier.

10. PhD Graduation Diploma Frame

They will definitely want to show off their hard work by displaying their newly minted Ph.D. diploma. This frame fits both 8.5”x11” and 11”x14” diplomas, which covers most institutions, and is the highest-rated frame on Amazon with many color choices. If they picked up a Masters degree along the way, you could grab the 2-pack so they can hang them both in their next office. 

11. Amazon.com Gift Card in a Graduation Style Gift Box

If you want them to make their own decision on a graduation gift, the easiest way is to just grab an Amazon gift card in this graduation-themed gift box . Pick any custom amount and they’ll usually get it to you within 2 days.

12. PhD Graduation Gift Bundle

If you can't decide by now, I can still help! Consider this decision made. I put together a  PhD Graduation Gift Bundle  just to make it easy for you. It includes PhD Self-Care and Academia-themed Word Magnets from above, plus a few fun science stickers. You'll save over 20% by bundling them together, so consider this decision made!

• PhD Self-Care Word Magnets
• Academia Word Magnets
• Science Basics Word Magnets
• Starter Word Magnets (144 tiles of connector words)
• Marie Curie sticker
• Science is for Everyone sticker
• Einstein quote sticker

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQS):

What is the best graduation gift for doctoral students.

Getting a bachelor's degree is one thing, but getting a PhD takes a lot of hard work and dedication. PhD students deserve the best gifts and if you're looking for one, you should check out the following.

• The Pocket Scientist pocket ruler and equation reference
• Rocketbook Matrix Cloud-connected Reusable Paper Notebook
• Wireless Laser Pointer and Powerpoint presenter
• Rotring or Staedtler Mechanical Pencil
• Oh, the Places You'll Go! By Dr. Seuss
• Funny Coloring Book for PhD Students and Graduates
• Scientist Quote Desktop Canvas
• Modern Pocket Protector for lab coats
• PhD Graduation Diploma Frame
• Amazon.com Gift Card in a graduation style Gift Box
• PhD Graduation Gift Bundle

Derek Miller

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23 Gift Ideas for Recent PhD Graduates : Celebrating Scholarly Accomplishment

Earning a PhD is a significant achievement that represents years of hard work, dedication, and perseverance. When someone you know has recently been awarded their doctoral degree, it’s a perfect opportunity to celebrate their success and show your appreciation for their accomplishment.

Finding the right gift for a PhD graduate can be challenging, but with a little thought and consideration, you can find something that will truly resonate with the newly minted PhD.

In this article, we’ll explore twenty three thoughtful gift ideas to help you mark this milestone in their academic journey.

1. Personalized Stationery: Best Gift for a PhD Graduate

2. leather-bound journal : an appropriate gift for a phd graduate, 3. gift card to a bookstore : gift for a doctorate degree, 4. professional development opportunities, 5. customized frame : phd gift for him / her, 6. subscriptions to academic journals : gift for a doctoral graduate, 7. wellness and relaxation gifts, 8. technology upgrades:, 9. gift certificate for professional services:, 10. noise-canceling headphones:, 11. portable espresso machine:, 12. smart notebook:, 13. laptop stand:, 14. inspirational wall art:, 15. digital subscription to a research platform:, 16. professional attire:, 17. compact exercise equipment:, 18. kindle e-reader:, 19. online course subscription:, 20. smart watch:, 21. mobile holder with wireless charging:, 22. microphone for recording youtube or podcast:, 23. celebration and recognition:, exclusive phd gifts for her, exclusive phd gifts for him, before we close, unique gifts for phd graduates.

After completing a PhD, one often embarks on a new chapter of their career. Personalized stationery, such as custom-designed business cards or letterheads , can be a practical and sophisticated gift. It allows them to showcase their professional identity and make a lasting impression.

A beautiful, leather-bound journal makes an elegant gift for a newly minted PhD. Encourage them to reflect on their academic journey or use it as a tool to document their post-doctoral research or teaching experiences. The journal can become a cherished keepsake for years to come.

PhD graduates are passionate about knowledge and lifelong learning. Treat them to a gift card from a local bookstore or an online retailer specializing in academic books . This will give them the freedom to select titles that align with their research interests or explore new topics.

Consider gifting a ticket or registration fee for a conference, workshop, or seminar related to their field of study. Such events provide valuable networking opportunities and allow the PhD graduate to stay updated with the latest advancements in their area of expertise.

Displaying the hard-earned doctoral degree is a source of pride for any PhD holder. A customized frame not only protects their valuable document but also adds a touch of elegance to their office or living space. Opt for a frame that can be engraved with their name and the date of their achievement.

Access to academic research is crucial for PhD graduates. Consider gifting a subscription to a prominent academic journal or an online database relevant to their field of study. This will enable them to stay up to date with the latest research findings and gain insights into current scholarly conversations.

Completing a PhD can be mentally and physically demanding. Help the newly graduated PhD relax and rejuvenate with wellness gifts like spa vouchers , a massage chair , or a subscription to a meditation app . Encouraging self-care will be greatly appreciated during this transitional period.

PhD graduates often rely on technology for their research and professional work. Consider gifting them a new laptop , tablet , or other technology upgrades that can enhance their productivity and facilitate their future endeavors. Research their preferences to ensure the gift aligns with their needs.

Post-PhD life often involves job hunting or transitioning to new career opportunities. A gift certificate for professional services like resume writing, career coaching, or interview preparation can provide invaluable support during this phase, helping the PhD graduate stand out in a competitive job market.

Help the PhD graduate stay focused and minimize distractions with a pair of high-quality noise-canceling headphones. They can enjoy immersive audio experiences or create a quiet environment for studying and research.

For those who rely on caffeine to fuel their intellectual endeavors, a portable espresso machine can be a game-changer. It allows them to enjoy a freshly brewed cup of coffee wherever they go, whether it’s in the office, the library, or during conferences.

Combine the traditional charm of handwriting with the convenience of digital organization with a smart notebook . These reusable notebooks allow users to digitize their notes, sketches, and ideas using a companion app, making it easy to store, search, and share their work.

Promote ergonomics and comfort with a laptop stand . This adjustable stand helps maintain a proper viewing angle, reducing strain on the neck and shoulders during long hours of work. It also improves airflow around the laptop, preventing overheating.

Give the PhD graduate a daily dose of inspiration with motivational wall art . Choose a print or canvas featuring quotes or images that reflect their academic journey, goals, or aspirations. It will serve as a constant reminder of their achievements and the path ahead.

Provide access to a comprehensive digital research platform, such as JSTOR or ScienceDirect , with a subscription gift card. This enables the PhD graduate to explore a vast range of academic journals, articles, and research papers in their field of interest.

Help the newly minted PhD make a polished impression in their professional life with a gift card for professional attire . They can choose from a wide range of formal clothing, suits, or accessories to suit their personal style and the demands of their career.

Encourage a healthy and active lifestyle with compact exercise equipment . Items like resistance bands, adjustable dumbbells, or compact elliptical trainers allow the PhD graduate to stay fit and energized even during busy research or work schedules.

For the avid reader and knowledge enthusiast, a Kindle e-reader provides a convenient way to carry a vast library of books in a single device. They can access academic publications, research papers, and leisure reads, all in one compact and portable device.

Support the PhD graduate’s continuous learning journey with a subscription to an online learning platform, such as Udemy or Coursera . They can explore courses in various disciplines, expand their skill set, or delve deeper into their research interests.

A smartwatch can be a useful companion for a PhD graduate, helping them stay organized, track their fitness goals, and receive notifications on the go. It can also serve as a stylish accessory.

Make multitasking easier with a mobile holder that incorporates wireless charging capabilities. This allows the PhD graduate to keep their smartphone at a convenient viewing angle while ensuring it stays charged throughout the day.

If the PhD graduate has aspirations for content creation, a high-quality microphone can be a valuable gift. It improves the audio quality of recordings for YouTube videos, podcasts, or online lectures, enhancing their communication and presentation skills.

Don’t underestimate the power of a heartfelt congratulatory message or a celebratory gathering. Organize a small get-together or dinner to honor their achievement and gather friends and family to acknowledge their hard work and dedication. A personalized, heartfelt note expressing your pride and admiration can also be a cherished gift.

Bonus Gifts :

These woman-specific gift ideas are designed to honor and celebrate her accomplishments while recognizing her unique identity as a female academic leader. Choose a gift that resonates with her interests and preferences to show your sincere appreciation.

Customized Jewelry with Academic Symbolism : Commission a piece of custom jewelry featuring academic symbolism such as a DNA helix pendant, a neuron-inspired bracelet, or a constellation ring representing her research interests. It’s a stylish and meaningful accessory that reflects her academic passion.

Yoga or Meditation Retreat : Gift her a weekend getaway to a yoga or meditation retreat where she can rejuvenate her mind, body, and spirit. Choose a serene location with scenic views and expert instructors.

These additional gift ideas offer a range of options to celebrate the achievements of a male PhD graduate and cater to his interests and preferences.

Gourmet Coffee or Whiskey Set : Curate a gourmet coffee or whiskey set featuring premium blends or spirits from around the world. Include unique flavors or rare varieties to elevate his drinking experience.

Outdoor Adventure Gear : If he enjoys outdoor activities, consider gifting him premium outdoor adventure gear such as a high-performance hiking backpack, a rugged camping tent, or a top-of-the-line fishing rod.

I have written several articles in my blog related to academic research. Please include it as a bonus gift. My website www.researchvoyage.com contains articles on Research Conference, Research Journal, Patent, Research Grants, PhD, Research Tools , Research Internships and Research Careers.

Please convey my best wishes and suggest it ( www.researchvoyage.com ) as bonus gift with free of cost for the PhD graduate.

Celebrating the achievement of earning a PhD is a special occasion, and finding the perfect gift can add to the joy and recognition. In this article, we explored a variety of thoughtful gift ideas for someone who has recently been awarded their doctoral degree. Whether you choose personalized stationery, a leather-bound journal, or a gift card to a bookstore, each gift option demonstrates your appreciation for their hard work and dedication.

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25 Practical Gifts for Grad & PhD Students in 2022

TheGiftYak curates unique gifts and is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn a commission. Learn more .

You’re proud of your graduate and PhD students. Show them just how much you care, with gifts that are a bit fun and a bit practical. Whether they’re working on their dissertation or your doctoral students are simply elbows deep in research, you are sure to find just the right gift on a list that’s almost as smart as they are.

Related Gift Lists:

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(For graduate students)

Before you complete your degree and graduate, you’ll need to be prepared. Knowing what your degree requirements are and if you are fulfilling them, when to complete your Application for Degree, and talking to your advisor will help you prepare for the final steps of your academic experience at the University of Minnesota.

Prepare, apply, and commencement

+ prepare to graduate.

• Check graduation dates and deadlines on the Academic calendar .
• Review the degree completion steps for your degree. For some students, this will include assigning your examination committee .
• Check for holds .
• Talk to your faculty advisor(s) and Graduate Program Coordinator to ensure you are on track with programmatic degree completion requirements.

+ Apply to graduate

• Set your degree name by updating your personal information .
• Add, verify or update your diploma address to ensure you receive your diploma.
• Click on the Apply to Graduate link.
• You may only apply to graduate once.
• The Office of the Registrar assumes when you are prepared to graduate based on your submission. See when you should apply based on the month you intend to graduate . 
• If you need to change your expected graduation term or month after you've applied, but before you've graduated, please email [email protected] .
• If you have a legitimate reason, you may request to change your degree award date that appears on your transcript. Your request will be reviewed by committee.
• If you are a professional school student, visit your program office or website to obtain detailed information about graduation and graduation dates.
• Online exit counseling is required of all borrowers of federal and University-administered student loan programs. You will be provided information about the rights and responsibilities of a borrower, and how different financial aid programs handle repayment. Learn more about loan repayment .
• If you are using the Graduate Planning and Audit System (GPAS) , make sure that you have satisfied all your degree requirements on your GPAS.
• If you are not using GPAS, review your degree completion steps to ensure you are completing all the necessary work for your degree program.

+ Commencement and after

Commencement is your graduation ceremony. These events are typically planned by your college. If you have any questions, your college will be the best resource.

• Watch for an invitation to your campus graduation fair in spring. You can find additional information about and purchase commencement regalia through the University Bookstore .
• Learn about your diploma .
• Take the Survey of Earned Doctorates
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• The SED gathers information annually from approximately 50,000 new research doctorate graduates across the United States regarding educational histories, funding sources, and postdoctoral plans.
• Take the Master's Exit Survey
• The University of Minnesota is committed to maintaining both high-quality graduate programs and student experiences. Your responses to these surveys will be used to assess and improve the graduate education experience at the University of Minnesota and beyond.

+ Conferral timeline

The official conferral date for graduate degrees is the last business day of each month. Due to administrative processing time needed, transcripts showing the award of the degree (a "confer date") are available two to three weeks following the official date of conferral.  Diplomas are issued by the Office of the Registrar and are delivered by mail four to six weeks following the official date of conferral, longer for international delivery.

This may not apply to the following programs: JD, MD, PharmD, DVM, DDS, LLM, and MBA (Twin Cities). Contact your program for information about your degree conferral.

If you're in a professional master’s (e.g. MPH, MPS) or professional doctoral program (e.g., DNP, OTD), contact your program for information on timelines.

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Graduation Information and Deadlines

Applying to graduate.

Ph.D. and master’s students are required to apply for graduation in DukeHub by the established application deadline for the semester in which they plan to graduate (see Graduation Deadlines section below).  If a student must delay graduation to a future semester, the student should contact the Graduate School Registrar ( [email protected] ) to cancel the existing application and have the expected graduation semester reset in DukeHub. The student then returns to DukeHub to submit a new application for graduation in the revised semester.

Graduate degree candidates follow a special set of instructions to submit their applications for graduation in DukeHub.  The generic instructions posted on The University Registrar's website will not work for Graduate School students .  Graduate students access their unique DukeHub graduation application by completing the following steps:

• Log in to DukeHub.
• Navigate to the "Academics" drop-down menu.
• Locate "Program/Degree Selection" near the bottom of the list of menu options and select it to open the application for graduation, which will include a list of degree programs for which a student is eligible to apply.

Note:  If you require special Latin characters in your name (e.g., accent marks or umlauts), contact Academic Affairs ( [email protected] ).

Approval from Advisor

Ph.D. candidates and master’s candidates writing a thesis:  Before The Graduate School can release your examination certificate, we must receive an advisor letter and a defense announcement via e-mail ( [email protected] ). The advisor letter must be sent by your advisor and needs to state that they have read your dissertation or thesis and that it is complete and ready for defense. The defense announcement must be sent by your program’s director of graduate studies assistant.

Graduation Deadlines

Last updated February 7, 2024

(Download as PDF)

Deadline to apply for graduation

June 15, 2024.

Log into DukeHub and navigate to Academics. Scroll down to Program/Degree Selection and select it to open the application for graduation, which should include a list of degree programs for which you are eligible to apply.

If you applied to graduate in the previous term but did not graduate, you will need to apply again for the current term.

If you are completing a certificate program, you must apply to graduate for it separately in DukeHub.

Deadline for initial submission of electronic doctoral dissertation or master’s thesis

July 12, 2024.

The initial submission must take place at least two weeks before your defense and no later than 5:00 p.m. on the deadline date. Note: If you submit your initial dissertation/thesis on the deadline date, you cannot defend until 14 days after that.

Initial submission of the dissertation or thesis means that the document is complete. We will not check the format of an incomplete document.

After you submit your electronic dissertation/master’s thesis to ProQuest, you will receive an email from ProQuest informing you of any formatting problems and providing you a link to request an optional format check meeting with your assigned ETD administrator.

The letter from your advisor confirming that your dissertation is complete and ready to defend, as well as the departmental defense announcement, must be submitted before we can release your final examination certificate.

Final deadline to defend your dissertation or master's thesis

July 26, 2024.

Final day to hold the Ph.D. dissertation or Master’s thesis defense to receive the degree.

Deadline for final submission of electronic dissertation or thesis

August 9, 2024.

3:00 p.m.: All defended, completed PhD dissertations and master’s theses must be submitted to UMI/ProQuest.

5:00 p.m.: All PhD final exam certificates and master’s final exam certificates (both master’s with thesis and non-thesis master’s) must be submitted to The Graduate School.

Note:  The departments for all students getting a non-thesis master’s degree (this includes the master’s on the way to the Ph.D.) must submit a Non-Thesis Master’s Examination Certificate, signed by their examining committee and the director of graduate studies, to The Graduate School by 5:00 p.m. on the deadline date.

October 1, 2024

November 8, 2024, november 22, 2024, december 6, 2024, thursday, february 1, 2024, wednesday, march 20, 2024, wednesday, april 3, 2024, wednesday, april 17, 2024.

For questions about graduation requirements and process:

Office of Academic Affairs The Graduate School [email protected]

Commencement

For information about university-wide commencement activities, visit commencement.duke.edu .

For information about The Graduate School's Ph.D. hooding ceremony, visit gradschool.duke.edu/hooding .

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30 Gift Ideas for a PhD Graduation

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PhD students – how long have they been at school?  Too long to count.  During those final formative years, PhD students basically live and breathe their dissertation .  It’s a long slog and when they’re finally done – they deserve a celebration! That’s why we put together this list for gift ideas for a phd graduation. Celebrate their hard work in style with a gift that says congrats. 

Gifts Fit For a PhD Grad

Not just anything will do, this person is a doctor now! Going through a PhD program is a huge endeavor, and definitely an occasion that should be celebrated. These gifts for a PhD graduate are perfect pick-me-ups after stressful school days and dissertation writing and perfect accessories to help them get started in their new career, whatever that will be. 

It’s Dr. Actually Personalized Mug

This personalized mug says “It’s Dr. Actually” on one side and the PhD graduate’s name and title (Dr. Name) on the back. Perfect for that first morning coffee after graduation! You can customize the interior color, too, to match their preferences.

PhD Wine Label

A PhD graduation is definitely the right occasion to break out a great bottle of wine or champagne. Make it even more celebratory by adding a custom wine label like this one; because this wine definitely pairs well with a PhD.

Nespresso Coffee Machine

Now I know the PhD graduate will probably be wondering why you didn’t get this during the program to help with the long nights. That’s valid, but at least now that they’ve graduated they can afford to buy the pods, so… Anyway, if you want a big graduation gift for someone moving into a career, anything to make mornings easier is a win.

Dangerously Overeducated T-Shirt

A hilarious t-shirt fit for a dangerously overeducated PhD graduate! What better way to show off all those painful years of higher education?

High Quality Diploma Frame

Not all frames are created equal when protecting important documents like diplomas. Especially if you want to hang them on the wall! This one has a business-style matting and frame style, plus preservation features like UV protection so the degree inside won’t fade over time.

Personalized Acrylic Sign

The PhD graduate you gift this to could display it at home, in their home office, or at work. Customize it with their name, specialization, and best of all, silhouette. This one has masculine figures, but the seller also offers a female version.

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Scratch Off Bucket List

It’s well known that undergoing a PhD program is pretty much all encompassing. Chances are, a new doctor hasn’t had the time or spare cash to go on too many adventures. If your PhD grad loves to travel, help them start this new chapter with something to look forward to like this scratch off bucket list poster that features popular tourist stops.

The Power of a PhD Career Book

Not everyone who graduates with a PhD knows exactly how they’ll be using it in their future career. If you’re shopping for a doctor who’s still unsure about career goals, this book can help them find meaningful work by utilizing their in creative ways.

Spa Supplies or Spa Day

Now that they finally have some time to rest, help the recent grad relax by gifting some spa or relaxation related gifts. You can’t go wrong with a foot bath, or go bigger and purchase a day at the spa gift certificate for some real R&R.

PHinally Done Mug

The huge relief someone feels when they finish their PhD dissertation?  This mug exclaims it.  

Personalised Silver Star Paperweight

For a fun and unique gift, this silver star paperweight can be personalised with a congratulatory message.  

Business Card Holder Gift Set

They’re a doctor now –  they’re going to need a business card holder.  This genuine leather gift set also comes with a fancy pen and a key chain.  

Deluxe Lavender Spa Gift Set

The feminine PhD graduate will love a long session of relaxation or two with this fragrant lavender spa gift set.  They just might never get out of the bath. And even if their not a mom, this list of gifts that promote relaxation has something on it for everyone.   

PhD Definition Picture Frame  

Here’s something for their mantle.  A definition of PhD that will resonate with someone defending their dissertation.  

Funny Badge Button

There’s nothing like a pun to make people laugh – this funny ‘She wants the PhD’ button will do just that.  

‘Not That Kind of Doctor’ Shirt

Yes, once you get your PhD you become a doctor, but let’s be clear on what kind.   Funny t-shirts are cute gift ideas for a PhD graduation to lighten the mood. 

PhD Cufflinks  

For something a bit more subtle and elegant, these stainless steel cufflinks are a perfect little reminder of all the hard work they’ve gone through.  

Folded Book Art Sculpture  

This unique art sculpture will be a neat addition to their bookshelf.  We guarantee that they’ll have nothing quite like this.  

‘Achieve Your Dreams’ Engraved Gift Pen with Light and Stylus Tip

This stylish pen comes in a keepsake presentation case and makes a great graduation gift.  It is engraved with the words ‘Achieve Your Dreams’ as a gentle reminder of never giving up.  

Going Places Compass Necklace

This delicate necklace makes a nice gift for a girly PhD graduate – a reminder that there are so many places and so many possibilities to go from here. If you’re shopping for someone close to you high end jewellery that they can wear to a new job or enjoy as a keepsake also make great gift ideas for a PhD graduation.

One Line a Day: Five-Year Memory Book  

Yes we remember the big events, but it’s the little things that make a life.  This five-year memory book is a great gift to encourage record keeping and revisiting previous thoughts and memories.  

Wine Gift Set

After a few long years (or sometimes more) of a PhD, the graduate deserves a good hard drink after their graduation.  This wine gift set coupled with a bottle of their favourite will definitely be appreciated.  

Chocolate Fondue and Treat Maker

Fondues are something that people love, but that they rarely purchase for themselves.  Satisfy their sweet tooth with this chocolate fondue and treat maker set.  

Funny Doctor Graduation Candle

Sometimes you just have to commensurate a big moment with a funny gift. Becoming a doctor is no easy feat; remind them with this funny candle gift set.

Indoor Water Lily Fountain

Indoor water fountains are a great gift for any occasion, but especially for a graduate.  It is something special that they will treasure in their home for years to come.  

Tabletop Zen Garden  

PhD’s are stressful but once done it’s time for some in-home relaxation with this tabletop zen garden.  

Celebratory Gourmet Gift Basket  

No one in their right mind would scoff at a gift basket, and since this graduation is a big deal – gift them a big one!  

PhD Ceramic Tile  

For someone who likes to decorate their home with memories of their life, this ceramic tile is ideal and clearly states that a PhD was accomplished.  

PhD Funny Graduation Card  

Know someone who graduated in English Literature? Get them this card, but only if you are familiar with their sense of humour!  

Graduation Cap ‘Big Shot’ Glass  

As previously mentioned, a PhD graduate needs a stiff drink at the end of their dissertation.  Help them out with this nifty ‘Big Shot’ glass!

Hopefully you found the perfect gift ideas for the next PhD graduation you go to! Whether you’re shopping for a friend or family member there are so many fun ways to celebrate this amazing achievement in someone’s life. Don’t forget to address all cards to “Dr. Name” to acknowledge this new chapter (and title) in their life.

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Doctor of Philosophy

Credit requirements and transfer credit, doctoral minor requirements, courses shared between degrees, graduate non-degree coursework, continuous enrollment, continuous enrollment and incompletes, time limitation, qualifying examination, major professor, plan of study, comprehensive examination for advancement to candidacy, comprehensive examination committee, dissertation prospectus/proposal, committee appointment form, dissertation, dissertation committee, final oral defense examination, submission of the dissertation, storage and publication of dissertation, completion of requirements, second doctoral degrees.

Graduate students are responsible for knowing the graduate requirements of both the Graduate College and their academic departments. The University of Arizona offers six doctoral degrees: the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), the Doctor of Education (Ed.D.), the Doctor of Audiology (Au.D.), the Doctor of Public Health (D.P.H.), the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), and the Doctor of Musical Arts (D.M.A.). The University of Arizona also offers a first professional degree, the Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD). For information on the PharmD, please refer to the General Catalog . The UA General Catalog  also provides definitive information regarding Graduate Minors and doctoral Second Language Requirements, as well as the Academic Calendar.

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The equivalent of at least seven semesters of full-time graduate study is required for the Ph.D. A minimum of 36 units of coursework in the area of the major subject, a minimum of 9 units in the minor subject, and a minimum of 18 units of dissertation must be completed.  Most students will take more than the minimum number of units for a given degree.

All grades for Incompletes and current semester coursework must be received before the degree is considered completed. A student must have a cumulative GPA in all graduate coursework of at least 3.000 in order to graduate. 

All required units of credit counted toward the degree must be taken for graduate credit, including any courses transferred from another institution. With program approval, up to 12 graduate units taken for graduate credit only as an undergraduate may be applied towards doctoral requirements - however units used towards an accelerated masters cannot also be used towards a doctorate. With program approval, up to 12 units of professional coursework (Medicine, Law, Pharmacy, Veterinary Medicine) may be applied to graduate degree requirements. Students in an approved dual degree with Medicine, Law, or Pharmacy may be able to apply more than 12 units from that career toward their graduate degree, depending on the dual agreement.  Students admitted to their graduate program prior to Fall 2014 may be able to apply up to 6 units of 400-level credit from the University of Arizona toward their minor if not used toward an undergraduate degree (these units will not receive graduate credit or be calculated in the graduate grade-point average.)  At least 22 units (i.e. half the required coursework) on the Doctoral Plan of Study must be in courses in which regular grades (A, B, C) have been earned. Courses for which the student has earned a  D grade cannot be counted toward a graduate degree. While a grade of D or E does not earn units for a grad student, they will still figure into the GPA.   A minimum of 12 units of regular grades taken at the University of Arizona are required to establish the Grade Point Average (GPA).

Non-credit based requirements such as comprehensive exams, dissertations or thesis requirements, research requirements, and professionalization requirements may not be transferred from another institution.

Transfer Credit

Graduate credit earned at other approved institutions may be counted toward the requirements of a doctoral degree, but will not be included in the calculation of the University of Arizona GPA

Transferred units are subject to the following restrictions:

• The credits must be approved by the major or minor department and the Graduate College.
• The minimum grade for transferred credits must be an A or B or the equivalent at the institution where course was taken.
• Transferred units may not count toward more than one doctorate.
• No more than 12 units taken in Medicine, Law or Pharmacy Practice may be used toward a doctoral degree.
• A maximum of 30 units of transfer coursework may be used toward the Ph.D requirements.

Students who wish to transfer credit must submit a Transfer Credit form in GradPath before the end of their first year of study to have the courses evaluated for transfer eligibility.

Grades and the number of units for transfer credits may be adjusted so that they are consistent with the University of Arizona grading and credit system. Transfer credits used on a fully approved Plan of Study appear with a grade of “T” on the University of Arizona transcript and are not calculated in the University of Arizona GPA. The name of the transfer institution appears on the University of Arizona transcript with the number of transfer units from that institution that were brought in towards the graduate degree.

PhD students are required to complete a doctoral minor. A doctoral minor gives students an opportunity to gain in-depth knowledge in a cognate field of interest and to expand interdisciplinary knowledge necessary for solving complex problems and addressing grand challenges. 

Each doctoral minor program determines their own curriculum, academic requirements, and required credits. However, the minimum required credits for any doctoral minor is 9 graduate units. A comprehensive exam covering the minor is required to complete a minor. 

The credit earned toward a doctoral minor can only be counted toward the doctoral minor and not also counted toward the major (no double-dipping). Specifically, students may not apply minor course credit to both the minor and major area of study. 

The doctoral minor is a required part of the doctoral oral comprehensive exams. A written and oral comprehensive exam is required for the major degree portion of the exam; however, the minor department determines whether to require a written portion of the exam. The oral portion of the comprehensive examination must cover both the major and the minor disciplines during a single oral examination with the major and minor committee members participating.

A student considering multiple minors should talk to their faculty advisor in advance taking into consideration the additional cost, time to degree completion, and planning with regard to comprehensive exams. 

Students admitted to their graduate program prior to Fall 2014 may be able to apply up to 6 units of 400-level credit from the University of Arizona toward their minor if not used toward an undergraduate degree (these units will not receive graduate credit or be calculated in the graduate grade-point average).  

There are limits on coursework that can be counted toward more than one degree earned by the student at the University of Arizona or elsewhere.

• If a student counts credits from a UA master's degree towards a UA Ph.D., then additional transfer credit may be limited to ensure that some UA coursework is taken while in the doctoral program.  Thesis credits used for a master's degree cannot count toward the Ph.D. course credit requirements.
• Up to 30 units of credit counted toward one or more master’s degrees earned at UA or elsewhere may be counted toward the Ph.D requirements.
• No course may be counted toward the requirements for more than two plans (at UA or elsewhere).
• A student earning two UA doctoral degrees may use up to 9 units of coursework toward both doctoral degrees (as long as courses were not used toward any other degree).

Students who have completed graduate non-degree* coursework at UA may count no more than 12 units of non-degree credit toward the Ph.D requirements.

The graduate certificate is considered distinct from a graduate degree (masters or doctorate). Limits regarding the use of units applied towards a graduate certificate and a graduate degree are determined by the certificate program. Graduate certificates are exempt from the 12 unit non-degree policy above and are determined by the certificate and the degree program.

A student admitted to a doctoral program must register each fall and spring semester for a minimum of 1 graduate unit, from original matriculation until all course and dissertation requirements (including submission of the dissertation to the Graduate College) are met. A semester in which a student is enrolled for course credit will be counted toward continuous enrollment. Non-credit courses, audited courses or courses from which the student withdraws do not count toward the determination of continuous enrollment. 

Students receiving funding, such as assistantships, fellowships, loans, grants, scholarships or traineeships, may be required by their funding source to register for more than 1 unit to meet the full-time status requirement. Similarly, international students may have different requirements to maintain their visa status.  All students should check with their program advisor regarding such requirements to ensure that they remain qualified for funding and/or their visa.

Doctoral students who have maintained continuous enrollment and are taking only comprehensive exams during a summer or winter term do not have to register for graduate credit during that summer or winter session.

Doctoral students must enroll in at least 1 unit of dissertation (or Nursing DNP Project unit, or Doctoral Recital unit for students in relevant programs) in the Spring or Fall semester that they undertake their final oral defense. Doctoral students who have maintained continuous enrollment, fulfilled all their other degree requirements, as well as the 18 hours of dissertation, and were enrolled in the prior semester may defend and file for the degree in the summer or winter term without registration while they complete their dissertation. If, however, students need library privileges or plan to use other University facilities or need significant faculty time during the summer or winter session, enrollment is required. Enrollment in GRAD 922 to allow access to the Library during the summer or winter terms is available to eligible master's and doctoral students.

Unless excused by an official graduate Leave of Absence (which except under exceptional circumstances, may not exceed one year throughout the student's degree program), all graduate students are subject to the Continuous Enrollment Policy. Students requiring significant faculty time (e.g. advising, reviewing, collaborating) must be enrolled rather than on Leave of Absence. If the student fails to obtain a Leave of Absence or maintain continuous enrollment, he or she will be required to apply for re-admission and to pay the Graduate College application fee. There is no guarantee of re-admission. Tuition or registration waivers cannot be applied retroactively.

Please note that "continuous enrollment" is not the same as "full time enrollment" for financial aid purposes. Please refer to the University policy on  Full-Time Status . 

Students who have maintained continuous enrollment, fulfilled all their other degree requirements and are only completing an incomplete in coursework (a class other than 900 level) are not required to enroll while they complete the incomplete. If, however, students need library privileges or plan to use other University facilities or need significant faculty time while they complete their incomplete, enrollment is required.

Students must meet all requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy within 5 years of passing the Comprehensive Exam or risk being dismissed from the program. Programs may have more stringent time to degree requirements.  Should a student not finish within that time, the program may petition the Graduate College for an extension to time to degree. If the extension is approved, the student may be required to re-take the Comprehensive Exam before proceeding to complete requirements, e.g., the dissertation. 

A qualifying examination or diagnostic evaluation may be required to demonstrate acceptability to pursue the doctorate as well as to determine areas of study where further course work is necessary. Please review the requirements of the program for more information.

The major professor serves as the student's faculty advisor and mentor. The DGS may designate a temporary major professor (faculty advisor) for incoming students. During the first year, students should select a major professor who must be approved by the DGS. Students may change major professors with departmental approval, but are required to have a major professor in order to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress.

In conjunction with his/her major professor or faculty advisor, each student is responsible for developing a Plan of Study during their first year in residence, to be filed with the Graduate College no later than the student's third semester in residence. The Plan of Study identifies

• Courses the student intends to transfer from other institutions;
• Courses already completed at the University of Arizona which the student intends to apply toward the graduate degree; and
• Additional course work to be completed in order to fulfill degree requirements.

The Plan of Study must have the approval of the student's major professor and Director of Graduate Studies before it is submitted to the Graduate College.

Before admission to candidacy for the doctoral degree, the student must pass a written and an oral Doctoral Comprehensive Examination. This examination is intended to test the student's comprehensive knowledge of the major and minor subjects of study, both in breadth across the general field of study and in depth within the area of specialization. The examination, therefore, should not take place until the student has completed all, or almost all, of their coursework. The student must be in good academic standing to sit for the comprehensive exam. The Comprehensive Examination is considered a single examination, although it consists of written and oral parts. While the Graduate College sets general policies and guidelines for exams, it is expected that each program will have different ways of assessing a student's knowledge of the field and their preparation to begin the dissertation. Each program determines the format and administration of the written portion. The minor department controls the minor portion of the written examination and may waive it at their discretion.  A student will pass the written portion before sitting for the oral portion. Programs will have written policies regarding whether or not students may retake failed written exams as well as specific policies regarding second attempts of the oral. The time between the written and oral portion is determined by individual programs, but the oral portion should come early enough to allow the student to advance to candidacy in a timely fashion. Normally, the written and oral portions of the comprehensive examination should take place at least three months prior to the Final Oral Examination (defense of dissertation). The exact time and place of the oral comprehensive examination must be scheduled with the department and announced in GradPath using the Announcement of Doctoral Comprehensive Exam form before the exam can take place.

Upon successful completion of the written portion of the examination, the  Oral Comprehensive Examination  is conducted before the examining committee of the faculty. The oral portion of the examination must cover both the major and the minor. The Oral Comprehensive Examination should last for at least an hour but must not last more than 3 hours. Remote participation by one or more committee member by video or phone conference is permitted on the condition that the student and all committee members can effectively communicate.  All members must participate in the entire examination.  The oral examination is the occasion when faculty committee members have both the opportunity and obligation to require the student to display a broad knowledge of the chosen field of study and sufficient depth of understanding in areas of specialization.  Discussion of proposed dissertation research may be included.  The examining committee must attest that the student has demonstrated the professional level of knowledge expected of a junior academic colleague. The Graduate College allows no more than one re-take of the oral exam.

When the student has passed the written and oral portions of the Comprehensive Examination, and the Graduate Student Academic Services office has confirmed completion of the required courses on the approved doctoral Plan of Study, the student will advance to doctoral candidacy.  The student will be billed the graduate candidacy fees and will be notified by e-mail of the advancement and fees. The candidacy fees are one-time fees and the student will not be billed again if the reported graduation date is changed. Students required to do a terminal internship or clinical residency during their final semester (Clinical Psychology and School Psychology) may advance to doctoral candidacy while enrolled in this internship or clinical residency course. Please consult with your Graduate College Degree Counselor to confirm your eligibility.

The student is responsible for forming a comprehensive examination committee of faculty representing both the major and the minor programs. The examining committee must consist of a minimum of four members. The Major Advisor and two additional members must be members of the Graduate Faculty . The fourth member may be a member of the Graduate Faculty or an approved Special Member. Any members beyond the fourth can also be members of the Graduate Faculty, or approved Special Members.

Every student in a doctoral program needs to have an approved dissertation prospectus or proposal on file within their department.  As soon as the student has an approved prospectus/proposal on file within the department, the department's Graduate Coordinator will submit the prospectus/proposal confirmation form in GradPath on behalf of the student.

When the student has an approved doctoral Plan of Study on file, has satisfied all course work, language, and residence requirements, and passed the written and oral portions of the Comprehensive Examination, he or she must file a Committee Appointment form. Any changes to the committee should be reported to the Graduate Student Academic Services office.  Under normal circumstances, submission is expected at least six months before the Final Oral Examination (i.e., Defense).  Deadlines for the submission of paperwork pertaining to doctoral programs are available online at  Deadlines for Completion of Degree Requirements .

The Committee Appointment form reports the student’s planned dissertation committee, dissertation title (subject to change) and the expected graduation term. It requires approval from the dissertation director and the major and minor departments. The approval signature from the minor department on this form indicates both approval of the reported dissertation committee and confirmation that the student has satisfied all requirements for the minor.

All Ph.D. programs require the completion of a dissertation which meets required standards of scholarship and demonstrates the candidate's ability to conduct original research.

The structure of the dissertation varies depending upon the discipline and the program offering the degree. See the program's handbook for the details of how your program structures their dissertation requirement. A common measure of quality of the dissertation is whether it is "publishable" in disciplinarily-recognized publication venues. Note that the determination of whether a dissertation meets this criteria lies solely with scholars on the dissertation committee. Programs and committees may not require that the work actually be published. The committee cannot require that outside actors such as editors, publishers, editorial reviewer, accreditation boards, etc. make that determination for them. 

Research involving human subjects or vertebrate animals requires permission from the relevant University committee. Consult your research director and the  Office for the Responsible Conduct of Research  for details. Their telephone number is (520) 626-5515.

Research activities involving the use of human subjects require the review and approval of the  University Human Subjects Committee .

Any research involving vertebrate animals must be approved by the  Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee  (IACUC). The student must be listed on an approved IACUC protocol before they begin their animal research.

Instructions relating to the format of the dissertation and required abstracts are included in the  Dissertation Formatting Guide  (including those that include previously published papers, papers accepted for publication, and/or papers with multiple authors).

Students will form a dissertation committee by the time of advancement to candidacy. Some departments require earlier committee formulation. Individual faculty members may decline membership on committees for academic reasons. Candidates must be able to develop a proposal of sufficient academic merit and on a topic that satisfies their committee. Candidates may be discontinued from their program for failure to make academic progress if they do not have an approved dissertation chair and committee.

The Graduate College requires a minimum of three Graduate Faculty members on a dissertation committee. Fourth and subsequent members may be Graduate Faculty or Special Members. If a committee has only three members, all must approve the dissertation. In departments that require four or more members, there may be one dissenting vote. All dissertation committee members are expected to attend the entire final defense.

Upon the completion of the dissertation, the candidate must submit to a Final Oral Defense Examination. A student must be in good academic standing to schedule the defense. The examination focuses on the dissertation itself but can include general questioning related to the field(s) of study within the scope of the dissertation ( Final Oral Defense Instructions  and Final Oral Defense Instructions for doctor of Audiology ).

The date, time, and location of the final examination must be scheduled with the Graduate College in advance using the Announcement of Final Oral Defense form in GradPath. Candidates should indicate in the comments section of this form if the Final Oral Examination will be held remotely or in a hybrid format. This form should be submitted far enough in advance of the examination that all approvers can grant their approval in time for the form to reach the Graduate College one week prior to the exam.  The Graduate College will place an announcement on the UA master calendar to invite the public to attend the candidate's presentation of his or her work.  Final Oral Examinations should be scheduled during days when the university is in session and during normal business hours. Permission to hold examinations during University holiday closures or outside of normal university business hours may be granted by Graduate College.

The dissertation director presides over the examination. The initial seminar portion during which the student presents the dissertation and entertains questions is open to the public.  This is followed by a closed session with just the committee and the candidate. The committee's deliberation is closed to the public. 

There is no minimum time limit for the Final Oral Examination, but the entire proceedings may not exceed three hours. Members of the committee must be present for the entire examination. Should special circumstances require a member to attend remotely, prior permission from the Graduate College is necessary.

If the committee requires revisions, those must be done in a timely manner, not to exceed one year.  If the revisions are not completed by the dissertation submission deadline for the term when the student defends, the student will be required to register for the next semester and will graduate in the semester when the revisions are complete and approved.  If revisions are not done by the end of the time to degree period, the student will have to re-take comprehensive examinations to demonstrate currency of knowledge.

Upon successful completion of the Final Oral Defense examination, and having gained final approval from the dissertation committee after completing any revisions needed following the defense, the candidate submits the dissertation electronically via the submission website maintained by ProQuest/UMI.  This submission must be made by the submission deadline for the desired graduation term.  The Graduate College will check the formatting of the submitted dissertation and may request changes before accepting the submission.  When the dissertation has been accepted by the Graduate College, completion of requirements has been fulfilled, and all other final items are accounted for, the degree will be awarded provided the degree conferral date for the graduation term has been reached. Please refer to the Academic Calendar for the relevant semester for the conferral date.

ProQuest/UMI catalogs and stores the dissertation and sends catalog information to the Library of Congress for distribution for depository catalogs and libraries. The dissertation will also be archived in the University of Arizona Campus Repository , where it serves as the record of the student's research.

Publication of the dissertation by ProQuest and the Campus Repository does not preclude publication by other means, and successful candidates are urged to submit dissertation material for publication in a scholarly or professional journals. Suitable acknowledgment must indicate the publication was a dissertation, or portion of a dissertation, submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at the University of Arizona.

All grades for Incompletes and courses taken in the final term must be received before the degree is considered completed. For students in the School Psychology program, completing the SERP 693 internship course on or before June 1, will enable the degree to be awarded for Spring of that year. If the candidate completes the internship after June 1, the degree will be awarded for summer. 

A student must have a cumulative GPA in all graduate coursework of at least 3.000 in order to graduate.

For dates by which requirements must be met to graduate in a particular term, please refer to our Important Deadlines .

The diploma is ordered and mailed once the degree has been awarded. Changing the name on a student's record and diploma may require that an official name change be filed with the Registrar's Office. Any outstanding financial debts with the University will prevent the student from ordering official transcripts or receiving their diploma. Please contact the Bursar's office at 621-3232 for assistance with student accounts. 

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The Graduate College does not generally permit a person who holds a Ph.D. to pursue a second Ph.D. Persons holding a Ph.D. who wish to expand their training are encouraged to pursue post-doctoral training, a graduate certificate, or a professional degree (e.g. MD, JD, PharmD).  In the rare case a graduate program wishes to admit a student for a 2nd Ph.D., the case must be justified by the department in a petition subject to approval by the Graduate College. The department must explain why the 2nd Ph.D. would be qualitatively different from the first.  This rule applies to cases where the first degree is from the University of Arizona or from another domestic or international institution.  Admission to a second Ph.D. will be allowed only with strong rationale from the program.  If admitted for a second doctoral degree, students will be held to all the usual degree requirements and University regulations pertaining to fees, registrations, examinations, advancement to candidacy, residency, internships, etc. Not more than 9 credits from the prior degree may be applied toward the second degree.  Applicants who already have a doctoral degree may not be given special preference for admission or for financial support.

• No credit may be counted for more than two degrees. Thus UA credits could not be used for a master’s in UA major 1, a doctorate in UA major 1, and a master’s in UA major 2.
• A student may use no more than a total of 30 credits from all master’s degrees toward a doctorate. Thus, if a student earned a non-UA master’s, up to 30 credits could be used toward a UA doctorate. In that case, none of the transfer credit nor any additional coursework toward the UA doctorate could be used toward a UA master’s in a major that differs from the doctorate because the student would have exhausted the 30 credit limit of master’s coursework that can be shared with a doctorate.

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PhD Checklist for Graduation

This checklist is designed to assist you as you prepare to graduate with a PhD from UB. It is your responsibility to ensure that all requirements are met and that all necessary paperwork has been completed and filed in a timely manner.

Checklist for Graduation

• ATC due March 1 for June (spring) conferral.
• ATC due July 1 for August (summer) conferral.
• ATC due Oct. 1 for February (fall) conferral.
• Report any ATC changes to the Graduate School. After your ATC has been submitted to the Graduate school, changes to your advisor, committee members, expected degree conferral date or future registration, must be submitted to the Graduate School for approval using the appropriate "change graduation date" form found on the  Forms for Students  page.
• Register for at least one credit during the semester immediately preceding your degree conferral date . Fall semester registration is required for February conferral and spring semester registration is required for June conferral or August conferral.
• Complete the required number of credits. Review your transcript and be sure you have completed the minimum number of credits required for your degree.
• Maintain the minimum GPA. You must have a minimum 3.0 overall GPA in the courses/credits being applied toward your degree; your program may require a higher GPA.
• Remediate any incomplete grades or missing grades. Be sure that there are no incomplete (I/U) grades or missing grades on your record for courses that are being applied to your degree program.

Final Degree Conferral Forms and Requirements

• M-form : This form verifies that you have completed all departmental requirements for your degree and that your dissertation has been defended and accepted in its final form by your major advisor and committee.
• Electronic submission of your dissertation : Submit your dissertation to the graduate school via the ETD Administrator website.
• Doctoral degree recipients surveys : Complete and submit both online surveys.

Submission Deadlines

Final conferral forms and requirements must be completed and submitted to the Graduate School by :

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The newly-opened graduate princeton brings its collegiate charm to new jersey.

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The Graduate Hotels brand—now known as Graduate by Hilton —has, throughout the years, become synonymous with college town accommodation that doesn’t suck. The brand has achieved this through its meticulous attention to detail and a tongue-in-cheek design attitude that makes staying at a Graduate property an experience in itself.

( I recently interviewed the brand’s founder, Ben Weprin , whose vision to transform the dreary accommodation options of university towns has resulted in 34 Graduate hotel properties around the world.)

Graduate Princeton guest room.

Graduate’s latest property, Graduate Princeton , is further testament to Weprin’s vision. The 180-room property opened earlier this month in Princeton’s historic Nassau Street, directly opposite the university’s campus. It’s the first hotel to open in Princeton in nearly 90 years—and only the second hotel downtown, nearly doubling the number of available hotel rooms in town.

“When we started Graduate ten years ago, Princeton was at the top of our list,” Weprin said. “The history, the heritage, the backdrop, the charm, the sophistication—it’s just the idea of what somebody envisions college looks like in America.”

Weprin's firm, AJ Capital Partners, meticulously restored, modernized, and expanded the 1918-era, Colonial Revival-style former university dormitory in partnership with architecture firm Stonehill Taylor. The hotel’s design pays homage to Princeton’s local culture, lore, and traditions, including subtle (and not-so-subtle) references to the university and the town’s 275-year history. Think nods to influential alumni, local architecture, and storied traditions synonymous with the Princeton student experience.

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Upon entering Graduate Princeton’s Gothic library-inspired lobby, guests are greeted by a hand-carved wooden reception desk flanked by four wooden statues of the school’s beloved mascot, the Tiger. Floor tiles rendered in Princeton’s signature orange and black anchor the lobby, which lined with thousands of books and a collection of colorfully embroidered vintage Reunions Jackets—a token received by alumni at their 25th reunion.

Graduate Princeton lobby.

A 30-foot carved wooden study table, a staple in every Graduate, is reminiscent of the historic libraries on campus and serves as a place for visitors and students to study, gather, and connect. The names of Princeton’s storied eating clubs are painted in gold leaf on the library bookcases that frame the space. On the opposite end of the lobby is Ye Tavern, the hotel’s bar and restaurant, named after a storied 1930s-era bar that once occupied the site.

Ye Tavern takes design cues from its namesake. A carved wooden bar—recalling the lancet windows found throughout campus—is a focal point of the space. Leather-topped banquettes weave through the center of the space, punctuated by stone-top tables. Inside the guest rooms, references to Princeton’s color palette are carried throughout, with orange-and-white seersucker drapes matching an apricot-hued carpet. Bedside lamps inspired by the Revolutionary War-era cannon buried behind Nassau Hall sit beside custom bed frames featuring hand-drawn illustrations referencing the university’s annual Cane Spree—Princeton’s first organized intramural event dating back to the 1860s.

Each room also features framed artwork referencing some of the university’s most storied traditions. Guest bathrooms feature custom wallpaper inspired by the campus’ renowned arboretum, paired with a framed sketch by Albert Einstein, a reference to his time working for Princeton’s Institute for Advanced Study.

Graduate Princeton.

To find out more about the recent launch, we spoke to some key members of the Graduate Princeton team below.

I'd love more details about how the team tackled the unique architectural challenge of renovating a former student dorm building from 1918. What elements of the building were preserved, and how challenging was that to do?

Michael Monarca, general manager, Graduate Princeton:

In order to preserve the building’s history and character, we meticulously restored the original façade, brick by brick. Additionally, we ensured that the materials we used in the new building echoed the design of the original 1918 structure, such as the pre-cast concrete coping.

While we weren't able to keep everything from the original structure, we preserved as much as we could. We were able to keep the original floors and key structural elements, but the glass windows were replaced to optimize energy efficiency.

The biggest challenge was creating a seamless transition between the 1918-era structure and the newly-built portion of the hotel. This was a significant undertaking as it involved re-working the structural design to connect both buildings. The end result is beautiful!

What design elements make this property uniquely Princeton? The school and town have a rich history—how is this history celebrated in the design details of the rooms and property, and, wider than that, in the guest experience?

At Graduate Princeton, we have two buildings merging together: one which is over 100 years old, and another which is brand new. In the same vein, Graduate Princeton is a new hotel that celebrates the history of the town and university.

During the process of researching the original building where Graduate Princeton resides, we learned about a restaurant that once existed in the basement. The local resident who told us this story knew of the restaurant because her great grandfather owned a barber shop right across from it called “Jack Honore’s Barber Shop,” which was a Princeton staple for many years. The resident often spent Friday evenings sharing Manhattans with her grandfather up until his passing. We went to the Princeton Historical Society to find out more, and found newspaper advertisements from 1927 confirming the existence of “Ye Tavern.”

In order to pay tribute to the building’s history, and to thank the resident for sharing this story, we not only named the restaurant “Ye Tavern” after the original establishment, but the Manhattan on our menu is now named “In Honore of Jack!”

There is a tradition at Princeton University known as the “Cane Spree,” which began in the 1860’s. In this time, when “gentlemen” would walk with a walking stick or cane, the University’s sophomores decided to create a rule that freshmen could no longer carry canes, and the sophomores would wrestle the canes away from the freshmen. This eventually turned into Princeton’s first organized intramural event, and has evolved today into a multi-sport class competition—almost like a field day. To honor this tradition, all of the headboards in our guest rooms are fashioned out of canes, which feature unique carvings that celebrate the rich history of both the university and the town of Princeton.

Finally, why is this such an exciting opening for the Graduate brand—and what makes the Princeton property stand out?

Kevin Osterhaus, president of Global Lifestyle Brands, Hilton:

Princeton is our first opening since Graduate joined the Hilton portfolio earlier this year, so it’s a very exciting moment for us. In a symbolic way, the opening of Graduate Princeton heralds a new chapter for Graduate, coinciding with both this transition and the brand’s 10-year anniversary.

All Graduate Hotels, including Graduate Princeton, will participate in Hilton Honors, Hilton’s guest loyalty program with nearly 190 million members for the company’s 24 world-class brands. Graduate Princeton guests and Graduate loyalists can book, earn and redeem Hilton Honors Points for their university anchored stays and enjoy their favorite Hilton Honors program benefits when staying with Graduate.

While Brown is in Providence, Columbia is in New York, and Yale is in New Haven, Princeton is in Princeton! The town is synonymous with the Ivy League University, and they help each other thrive. Graduate Princeton’s design truly reflects the rich history of the town and the university, by honoring both old and new traditions.

From bespoke design details—such as the guest room table lamps, which reference the cannon fired by Alexander Hamilton at a turning point in the Revolutionary War—to British hand pies made with Jersey Pork Roll, and modern twists on classic cocktails, the hotel’s design and guest experience celebrates everything that makes Princeton unique. Graduate Princeton offers world class hospitality across the street from a world class institution.

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PhD Candidate vs Student: What’s the Difference?

Many people use the terms “PhD student” and “PhD candidate” interchangeably. However, these terms actually mean something quite different, including a different status level at universities.

We’re here to define the differences between a PhD candidate vs student, as well as other essential information, before you continue your educational journey.

Table of Contents

What I s a PhD student?

A doctoral student is anyone who is enrolled in a doctorate degree, also referred to as a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) program. PhD students are typically required to complete a certain number of course credits and sit qualifying exams. Next, they can move on to conduct research and present it in the form of a dissertation.

A PhD is centered around self-directed research and possibly teaching/running tutorials, but they typically also involve a substantial amount of coursework and require attending classes, either online or in person.

Unlike candidates, PhD students are in the process of completing the required coursework for the degree. They haven’t passed the relevant qualifying exams yet.

What Is a PhD Candidate?

A PhD candidate has completed the required coursework and passed the qualifying exams for their doctorate program. They are currently working on their dissertation.

Most PhD students need to go through an application process  and show they meet certain requirements such as a relevant master’s degree . To become a PhD candidate, doctoral students need to pass an internal application process, typically involving a set of exams.

This stage involves significant research usually in innovative areas and incorporating this into a dissertation (this stage is sometimes referred to as “all but dissertation” [ABD]), as they’ve completed all other aspects of the program and satisfied these requirements. To complete their doctoral journey, a PhD candidate must defend their dissertation. Once they’ve successfully done this, they will be awarded their degree and move from PhD candidate to doctor of their chosen field.

PhD Candidate vs Student: 6 Key Differences

There are a number of key differences between a PhD student vs PhD candidate, from their status to the structure and nature of study.

Note: Some universities have recently started adopting hybrid approaches (where there is no clear difference between PhD students and PhD candidates). These programs don’t involve any qualifying exams and students typically begin the dissertation as part of their coursework. Most schools, however, continue with the traditional distinction between a PhD candidate and PhD student.

1. Program Stage

A PhD student could be at any stage of the doctoral program . Coursework still needs to be completed and qualifying exams must be passed. Students may be in the initial stage of the program or about to complete the coursework (before beginning their research).

On the other hand, a PhD candidate has completed all coursework and has at least started their research. They may have completed their dissertation and are preparing to defend it.

2. Research Progress

A PhD student may not have selected their research topic or settled on a particular research question. A candidate’s research is in progress and they should already have a clear research question.

3. Relationship with Advisors

A PhD student may not yet have an advisor. A candidate has an established working relationship with their advisor and works closely with them to complete their research and dissertation.

4. Level of Support

Although they work closely with an advisor, a PhD candidate is generally expected to work more independently than a student enrolled in a doctoral student. Once candidates reach this stage of their doctorate, they typically won’t receive as much direction or supervision.

5. Flexibility and Structure

Understandably, PhD candidates have more freedom and flexibility in their work. Most candidates choose their area of research, as well as the methods used to conduct their work. As part of their coursework, PhD students usually have to work within a set structure (e.g., completing core subjects, meeting deadlines).

Being a PhD candidate comes with a certain degree of status. If they’ve demonstrated a degree of expertise through completing qualifying exams, candidates can put the letters PhD(c) after their name.

Tips for PhD Candidates

A PhD is an advanced degree designed to demonstrate expertise in a given field, as well as high-level skills and abilities in various areas (including research and writing). As such, earning a doctorate can be a challenging process.

The following tips for doctoral candidates will help you put your best foot forward and set yourself up for success.

Stay Organized

Because PhD candidates have to balance many competing priorities, organization is essential. Using organizational tools such as calendars,  note-taking apps , and project management software can help you keep track of deadlines and meet your targets.

Focus on Your Research

PhD candidates likely have busy schedules with plenty of demands (such as teaching commitments and crafting a dissertation). As it’s the backbone of any doctoral program, be sure to prioritize this part of your work and monitor progress to stay on track.

Actively Seek Out Feedback

Because PhD candidates often work independently, there’s a risk of feeling isolated. Ask your advisors, mentors, and fellow candidates for feedback and advice. This will help ensure that you’re considering all aspects of your research question and multiple solutions, rather than focusing too intensely on a single area.

Take Advantage of Networking Opportunities

Networking is one of the biggest benefits for PhD candidates, so take full advantage of these events. Use this time to build a strong network of professors, advisors, fellow candidates, and other professionals you meet at conferences and events.

Take Care of Yourself

A PhD program can be taxing, and it’s easy for your mental and physical health to take a backseat. Make sure you exercise, eat well, and get enough sleep . Remember: Resting and recharging is crucial for working on your dissertation.

How Long Is a Typical PhD Candidacy?

Most PhD students require 1-2 years to complete their coursework and pass their qualifying exams. However, the length of a PhD candidacy is much more open. In most cases, programs take between two and five years, depending on:

• the complexity of the field of research
• the candidate’s other commitments, such as teaching load
• other abilities, such as a candidate’s level of organization.

Once a PhD candidate has completed their dissertation, they have to defend it successfully before a panel of faculty members before they can earn their doctorate degree. This process of defending a PhD dissertation can take several months.

Some universities specify a maximum length for PhD candidacy duration. For example, Carnegie Mellon University limits this to six years .

Benefits of Being a PhD Candidate

Being a PhD candidate can be rewarding for several reasons:

1. Research Opportunities

You’ll be exposed to vast research opportunities in your field. You may contribute to valuable discoveries while developing advanced knowledge and skills.

2. Networking

Through your PhD candidacy, you’ll also be in a great position to build gain a stronger network of fellow professionals.

3. Critical Thinking

A PhD candidacy can help you develop high intellectual independence and critical thinking skills.

4. Career Opportunitie s

A PhD is an advanced degree that allows you to build a rewarding career in the academic, government, and private sectors. PhD-holders can also expect to earn more than other graduates and are most likely to find a job.

5. Salaries

According to Northeastern University , professionals with a doctorate degree earn an average annual salary of $99,290 on average (and much more for the highest-paid PhDs ) and have a 1.5% unemployment rate. For master’s degree holders, the average annual salary is $81,867 average annual salary and a 2.6% unemployment rate.

6. Personal Fulfillment

Being a PhD candidate can help you pursue your passions. This advanced qualification will allow you to become a specialist in your chosen field, allowing you to hone in on the exact subject thatl fulfills you the most.

Qualifying Exams to Become a PhD Candidate

While requirements vary by program, to become a PhD candidate, most students will need to pass a set of exams. These will test students’ knowledge in the field, measure their research skills, and ensure they’re ready to start their dissertation research.

Traditionally, qualifying exams for PhD candidates involved a written test and an oral exam. These will cover a range of topics related to your field of study, with the oral component designed to demonstrate your level of understanding.

Some universities have recently started to issue doctoral students with a set of questions and have them submit the answers within a set timeframe (usually around two weeks). Other schools ask prospective doctoral candidates to submit a dissertation proposal instead of an exam.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a phd candidate be called a doctor.

In most cases, a doctoral candidate cannot be called a doctor until after they successfully defend their dissertation and receive their doctorate.

Can I Put ‘PhD Candidate’ after My Name?

Once you’ve passed qualifying exams and embarked on dissertation research, you’re technically entitled to put “PhD candidate” or “PhD (c)” after your name. However, this is uncommon and not always recommended. It is generally more acceptable to mention that you are pursuing a doctorate (along with the field of research and university) or that you expect to complete your PhD in a certain year (on your CV and online profiles).

How Long Can You Be a PhD Candidate?

There isn’t a set length of time that a person can be a PhD candidate. The length of candidacy depends on a range of factors, including the subject of research and program requirements. Most PhD candidates complete this phase in around 3-5 years (where some university programs have set limits).

Do PhD Students Take Classes?

Yes, most PhD students must take classes and complete coursework as part of the first 1-2 years of their doctorate program. Once they’ve completed this coursework and passed qualifying exams, they move on to work on their research dissertation. At this stage, they’ll be considered a PhD candidate.

Key Takeaways

Now that you know the differences between PhD candidates vs. students, you’ve got a deeper understanding of how to obtain a doctorate. However you slice it, both will help you build your knowledge and skills to become an expert in your field.

However the program is structured, a PhD is a highly valuable degree that allows you to become a high-level professional and build a successful career.

If you know a PhD candidate who’s celebrating their accomplishments soon? Take a look at this guide to the best PhD graduation gifts .

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Lisa Marlin

Lisa is a full-time writer specializing in career advice, further education, and personal development. She works from all over the world, and when not writing you'll find her hiking, practicing yoga, or enjoying a glass of Malbec.

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Doctoral Completion & Time-to-degree

This page contains information about degree conferrals, time-to-degree, and retention for doctoral research programs at Stanford. While the most common academic doctoral degree across the university is the PhD, the JSD in Law and the DMA in Musical Arts are also included here. The MD and JD are considered to be professional degrees and are not included. In all cases below, the academic years reported are "summer start years", meaning that the academic year encompasses a period from the start of the summer term through the end of the following spring term. Please see the  definitions  below the dashboard for more details about how the various metrics presented here are calculated.

More information is available about  doctoral program enrollment and demographics , as well as  doctoral program admissions . Note that local variation in policy and practice regarding admission, matriculation, and degree conferral may affect the departmental and school-level metrics below.

Methodology & Definitions

Time-to-degree.

Time-to-degree is the length of time in years from the first day of the student's first term of enrollment in their doctoral program to the day of their degree conferral. Time-to-degree measures elapsed time only, not enrolled time. It does not stop and start if a student takes a leave of absence. If a student was enrolled in a master's degree program prior to matriculating in the doctoral program the separate time in the master's program is not included even if it was in the same department as the doctoral program. For this reason, time-to-degree may be lower in some doctoral programs where it is common to require completion of a master's degree prior to matriculation in the doctoral program. If a student switches between doctoral programs, time-to-degree is restarted from the first term of enrollment in the new program. The only exceptions to this restart of the clock are when program changes are the result of departmental name changes or other restructuring, or when the new program has the same CIP code as the original program.

Graduation Rate

As with time-to-degree, the start of the 6-year period used to calculate graduation rates is the first term in which the student is enrolled in a doctoral program, regardless of any prior or concurrent enrollment in a master's program. The 6-year rate is based on elapsed time only, not enrolled time. It is not based on the concept of a cohort year or graduation year, but on the actual matriculation term and degree conferral term. For example, if a student enrolled at the start of Spring 2010 and graduated at the end of Winter 2016, they would count towards the 6-year rate; however, if they instead graduated at the end of Spring 2016, their time to degree would be more than 6 years due to the extra term of enrollment.

Degree Conferrals

Numbers of degree conferrals are reported by summer start year. For example, all degree conferred from Summer 2016 through the following Spring 2017 would be reported under the 2016-17 year.

Entering Cohort Status

An entering cohort consists of all students entering a doctoral program during autumn, winter, or spring quarter of a single academic year, as well as those entering during the preceding summer. Students are considered to be current in their program if they are still actively pursuing that degree or are on an approved temporary leave of absence. "Current students in a different PhD program" are students who were enrolled at one point in the selected program but subsequently moved to another doctoral program at Stanford and are still engaged in doctoral study. Students who are listed as "completed" have successfully conferred their degree in the selected program or, if they have completed a different doctoral program, have changed programs and been awarded a doctoral degree by another program at Stanford. Program changes resulting from department name changes, organizational restructuring, or between programs with the same CIP code are not considered "changes" in this context. Students who are shown as "discontinued" have either left the university without a degree or switched to a non-doctoral degree program (in many cases a master's degree).

Visit the  Graduate Admissions website  for more information about pursuing graduate study at Stanford.

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PhD Graduation Information

The following information and deadlines apply to students who anticipate receiving their PhD degrees at one of the following graduation cycles. Departments/programs may impose additional deadlines.

We only guarantee that we’ll make students official before their graduation date. We cannot rush any graduation procedures for any individual student. Please be patient, and know that you’ll be made official before your graduation date.

Students looking towards their defense should have completed their degree requirements as outlined in the Boston University Bulletin, including the Dissertation Prospectus.

When finishing a degree, students must be registered in the semester in which the final degree requirements are completed; PhD students must also be registered in the preceding semester.

The Dissertation Prospectus Approval Page should be delivered to GRS as soon as it is approved, but no later than 6 months before your dissertation defense.

Please contact the GRS Records office with any questions that are unanswered on this page by emailing [email protected] .

Graduation Checklist

Prior to defense.

Following Defense

Please find more information about these requirements below

Dissertation Prospectus

After completing all specific degree requirements as outlined in the University Bulletin, including coursework, language requirements, and qualifying examinations, a student must propose a dissertation topic and will work with their program to identify a first, second, and in some programs third, readers for their final oral examination.

The dissertation prospectus, generally a formal paper not exceeding 20 double-spaced (or 10 single-spaced) pages of 12-point font, should be completed before the more extensive phase of dissertation research is undertaken. The readers, the Director of Graduate Studies, and the Chair or Program Director must approve the final draft. Once approved, the program should submit the  Dissertation Prospectus Approval Page to the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences Office.

Intent to Graduate

In the semester prior to your intended graduation cycle you must submit the Intent to Graduate Form . This form is forwarded to the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and you will receive a confirmation email once it has been processed. You will receive further communication regarding your diploma name and mailing address directly from the Registrar’s office.

Final Oral Exam and Dissertation Draft

Students undergo final oral examinations in which they defend their dissertations as valuable contributions to knowledge in their fields and demonstrate a mastery of their fields of specialization in relation to their dissertations.

Scheduling Defense

As of Spring 2023, GRS is no longer involved in the defense scheduling process. GRS does not need to approve your abstract prior to your defense, and we no longer require any defense scheduling paperwork.

Students should notify their program administrator that they’re defending their dissertation at least three weeks before the defense will be held. The program administrator will assist the student with finding a room to hold the defense, and send a report of examination form to the defense committee to complete after the defense has been held.

The completed report of examination form should then be sent to [email protected] so that GRS can record the successful dissertation defense on the student’s record.

Committee Composition The final oral examination committee must be composed of a total of four or more members, including at least a first and second reader and at least two additional committee members who serve as either designated readers or additional committee members. Each committee also must designate a chair who can serve either as one of the four committee members (although the first reader cannot serve in the role of the committee chair), as an additional committee member, or solely as the chair of the committee.

All committee members are required to attend the final oral examination. Up to one committee member, who is not the chair of the committee or the first reader, can attend via audio/video communication without a proxy during the final oral examination. A proxy must be in attendance for any additional committee members who attend via audio/visual communication.

A designated reader is defined as those committee members who sign the final dissertation approval page; all committee members are expected to read the dissertation prior to the final oral examination even if not appointed as a designated reader. At least two of the committee members must be from the student’s department or graduate program. if, by special arrangement with the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, the committee’s first reader is not from the student’s department or program, then at least the chair and the second reader of the committee must be from the student’s department or graduate program. A majority of the committee must be Boston University faculty members who do not require a special appointment. The department chair/program director or the director of graduate studies must approve the membership of the committee.

A special service appointment approved by the Associate Dean of the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, is required for those committee members who are: visiting, adjunct, and *emeritus faculty; Boston University employees not of professorial rank; and examiners from outside Boston University.

*Emeritus faculty members may serve as readers of GRS dissertations or on examination committees within two years of their retirement date without a special service appointment.

Dissertation Formatting The Mugar Library stipulates that all dissertations submitted at Boston University must have consistent formatting. They have created a Dissertation Formatting Guide that outlines these requirements. Additionally, they have created Samples of Preliminary Pages , which will help to show these requirements in practice.

The library’s website also includes other useful resources such as instructional videos and templates. For further questions or field specific requirements we suggest reviewing recently submitted dissertations by peers as approved examples of the formatting requirements.

At least three weeks before your defense you must submit a draft of your dissertation as a .pdf to [email protected] for a format review. Please follow all formatting requirements stated in the library guide while preparing your dissertation draft, and include all required elements such as the preliminary pages, references, and your CV. You will be notified if the format is approved or if any changes are required. It is advised that all formatting issues be resolved before you defend your dissertation. Following your defense, please allow ample time to complete all requirements and content revisions that are required by your committee.

Final Dissertation Submission

Following your final oral examination, when all corrections and revisions required by your committee have been completed, submit your final dissertation electronically through the Electronic Theses & Dissertation (ETD) website .

The submission in the ETD will be reviewed by the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences (GRS) Records Office, then forwarded to the Mugar Library ETD Administrator for the final format review. If GRS or Mugar Library notifies you of necessary corrections or changes, those edits must be made immediately. When that review is complete, the dissertation will be submitted to ProQuest/UMI.

Embargoing your Dissertation Electronic submissions of PhD dissertations, and their subsequent availability online has made dissertations readily available to everyone and discoverable using simple online searches. While the granting of a PhD has always involved the open publication of a dissertation, this is now true in practice as well as in theory. There has been discussion in the press of how this change is affecting publication, particularly of scholarly books based on a dissertation, with the result that more PhD candidates are asking for their dissertations to remain unavailable for a period after they graduate. This process is called putting an embargo on the dissertation.

In rare circumstances, a student may not wish for their dissertation to be available from ProQuest or the Digital Common immediately after it is submitted to them. Circulation restrictions (referred to by ProQuest as “embargoes”) are granted only in limited circumstances, but may be allowed by the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences if the author plans to sell the work to a publisher, apply for a patent, or if the material covers a sensitive subject that cannot be published safely or appropriately at the time.

In such circumstances, you may request a restriction for any period between six months and two years (ProQuest default options are 6 months, one year, or two years.) GRS students may request an embargo of no more than two years. For any time period, you must submit a letter requesting a restriction. The letter must explain the compelling reason for the restriction, the time limit desired, an address where you can be contacted when the time limit expires, and the signed approval of both you and your major advisor. These signatures must be original and in ink. When submitting your dissertation in ETD you must also indicate that you have requested an embargo on your dissertation.

A sample embargo letter can be downloaded here .

These letters are reviewed and if appropriate approved by the Associate Dean. The restriction will start from the date on the letter. Your manuscript will not be available until the restriction is released. No one is permitted to look at your work unless they have your express written permission to do so. Requests to read your manuscript will be forwarded to you. It is your responsibility to respond to them.

For more information, please see the FAQ: Embargoes & Electronic Theses & Dissertations document.

Additional Requirements In addition to submitting the final dissertation in the ETD, you must complete the PhD Contact Information Form and submit the Library Dissertation Processing Fee. The processing fee is $115 and can be submitted via credit card at the link provided under the Submit Electronically section here: http://library.bu.edu/theses .

You must also submit a copy of your dissertation approval page (the third page of your dissertation) with signatures. You can obtain signatures using DocuSign . DocuSign will send your reader approval page to each reader individually, and then automatically send the completed page to GRS.

When uploading your dissertation to ETD, please include an unsigned copy of the approval page. GRS will upload the signed approval page after our review of your dissertation.

Commencement, Diplomas, and Certificates of Completion

All-University Commencement ceremonies are held once each year in May. Graduates will be contacted directly by the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences (GRS) in the spring semester with information on the GRS PhD Hooding Ceremony.

Information on diploma pickup and mailing dates can be found on the Registrar’s website . We encourage you to be sure that your diploma mailing address is up to date on the Student Link to ensure safe receipt of your diploma.

Boston University also offers Certified Electronic Diplomas and Certificates (CeDiploma/CeCertificate) for $11. For more information about CeCredentials and instructions on ordering one, please visit the Registrar’s CeCredential website .

Certificates of Completion are available if you are in need of an official document stating that you have met all degree requirements (including the review of your final dissertation) before the diploma is dispersed. Certificates of Completion can be produced approximately one month prior to the official date of your graduation.

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• Graduation gifts

The 34 Best Gifts for College Graduates

By Samantha Schoech and Mari Uyehara

Off comes the cap and gown and on comes the daunting task of being an adult. For the college graduate, that usually entails starting a job and moving into their own place. But it can also mean traveling or moving home to figure out next steps. Whatever their path, help them celebrate this next stage and set them up for success with gifts that are both fun and useful.

An illustrated campus

GArtgraphy Custom University Campus Illustration

Printed on museum-grade paper with archival ink, this nostalgic illustration is available for more than 300 colleges and universities.

Buying Options

Saying goodbye to college can be tough, but you can memorialize your grad’s time there with a GArtgraphy Custom University Campus Illustration , available on Etsy. The vendor offers designs, created by artist Joshua Grey, for more than 300 colleges and universities of a smattering of iconic campus buildings with the name of the school at the bottom. Just ping the seller to find out if the school you want illustrated is available. The two-tone artwork is printed with archival ink on museum-grade, semigloss paper in your choice of four sizes and either framed or loose.

Travel inspo

Lonely Planet’s Where to Go When

This visual travel guide suggests events and destinations for every month of the year. It’s as much an inspiration as it is a planner.

If the grad in your life is chomping at the bit to see the world, help them out with Lonely Planet’s Where to Go When . While the internet is teeming with all kinds of travel advice, it’s often unwieldy and overwhelming. This book is tidily organized by month, so your grad can just flip to their intended travel month to figure out what destinations might be best—such as wandering through Iran’s ancient ruins in June or trekking through Montenegro in July. Each month also categorizes potential trips by budget (vital for many young travelers), lists major cultural events around the world, and includes fun travel flow charts of possible itineraries.

Party plates

Poketo Bamboo Salad Plate Set

Available in beautiful abstract shapes and rotating patterns, these nonplastic, durable dishes do scratch easily.

Sure, the grad may do a boring stock-up trip to IKEA for their first apartment, but that doesn’t mean they have to be bound to all-white plates. One of our favorite outdoor dinner sets , the Poketo Bamboo Plates (Set of Four) come in five cheery and colorful designs, with fun graphic shapes and lovely, modern colors. They’re made from certified organic bamboo fiber and cornstarch and printed with food-grade ink. Best of all: Unlike some other bamboo plates, these are dishwasher-safe.

A bracelet with meaning

GracePersonalized Hammered Handwriting Cuff Bracelet

A high-res scan of a handwritten message is engraved on the inside of a dainty cuff, available in a range of affordable metals.

May be out of stock

It can be tough to find the right moment to communicate sentimental thoughts with young adults. The GracePersonalized Hammered Handwriting Cuff Bracelet will do the job for you in your own handwriting. Choose from sterling silver, 18-karat rose or yellow gold vermeil and send along a photo of your handwritten message (up to seven words). The company will engrave your message as you’ve written it onto the inner or outer side of the bracelet.

A tough luggage tag

Ovener Silicone Luggage Tag

Rugged silicone and a metal cable mean this tag (which comes two to a pack) may well outlive your luggage. The brightly colored case displays its owner’s name but keeps other personal information out of sight.

Cash or travel gift cards (those from Delta and Hilton don’t expire) might be the most helpful gesture for a young adult. But you can gift yours with a small token, too, namely our pick for best luggage tag for a grad with wanderlust. The Ovener Silicone Luggage Tag has a sturdy silicone body outfitted with a metal grommet and cable to prevent any ripping. And its narrow window only makes the name visible, so your young adult won’t be flashing their contact information to any strangers on the go.

A TikTok-famous tote

Longchamp Le Pliage Original L Tote Bag

This roomy, lightweight bag packs up small when not in use, and the tough nylon is easy to clean and protects its contents from most scuffs.

This preppy cult classic is undergoing a youth revival on TikTok . And why not? The Longchamp Le Pliage Original Tote Bag is lightweight, roomy, and supremely versatile—useful for a new job, weekend errands, or the beach. It’s also one of our top picks for personal-item carry-ons . Created in 1993 by the luxury French brand, its origami-like design can be packed into a neat square (pliage translates to “fold”), barely taking up any space in the cramped closet of a new studio apartment. Made of recycled polyamide canvas coated on the inside for extra protection, its sturdy nylon body easily wipes clean, and its rolled leather straps sit comfortably, without cutting, on shoulders. Though the Le Pliage tote has only one small interior pocket for keys and lip balm, it has a zippered top with a foldover leather snap enclosure, which keeps wallets safe while bopping around cities, near and far.

Portable drinks

RTIC Soft Pack Cooler 20 Can

This simple lunch-box-style cooler, made from a durable coated nylon, is insulated with thick closed-cell foam.

For a future of newfound freedom and responsibility (hopefully), the RTIC Soft Pack Cooler 20 Can — our favorite soft cooler —has grads covered for beach days, road trips, park hangs, and tailgates. With thick walls and a lid constructed with more than 2 inches of closed-cell foam (an efficient but more-expensive insulator), this cooler can keep drinks and other items cold for up to 24 hours. From an earthy brown to a dusty pink, it has 11 colors to suit a variety of styles, and the cooler’s tough, thickly coated nylon is waterproof.

A glittery coin purse

Rose and Rose Boutique Metallic Leather Coin Pouch

About the size of a deck of cards, this affordable, soft leather pouch has three compartments, and it’s handmade in Italy in more than 20 sparkly colors.

Entry into adulthood doesn’t mean living in shades of gray. Handmade in Italy, the Rose and Rose Boutique Metallic Leather Coin Pouch comes in more than 20 glittery hues: hot pink, denim blue, and emerald green, among them. The 4-by-3-inch coin purse has three compartments, and its leather is supremely soft. It’s also available in a larger size measuring 6 by 4 inches, which can hold unfolded bills. Staff writer Samantha Schoech has one for herself and uses it every day; her high school teenage twins approve.

Expanding horizons

Penny Bee Art World Push Pin Map

Printed on unbleached cotton canvas with a foam-board backing, this handsome, hand-drawn, personalized world map comes with your choice of pins (gold, wood, or multicolor).

Before they’re (likely) yoked with pets, house upkeep, or kids of their own, young adults have more flexibility to see the world. Encourage them to look beyond their borders with this World Push Pin Map , available on Etsy, a hand-drawn black sketch of the world printed on unbleached cotton canvas. You can select the size, MDF wood frame, and one of eight pin options (gold, wooden, multicolored). There’s also a personalization box in the upper right corner, in which you can send text via Etsy and the maker will respond with a proof for approval before printing.

Easier packing

State Bags Bensen Toiletry Kit

This bag opens flat and offers organizational options (including a detachable pouch, handy for quick trips) that should work for light and heavy packers alike.

The proud owner of a college diploma should also be the proud owner of an actual toiletries bag—not a grimy ziplock bag. This hangable canvas State Bags Bensen Toiletry Kit is one of our picks for a host of functional reasons, and it looks great, particularly in the metallic pink . The two roomy mesh pouches (big enough for a regular bottle of shampoo or a canister of shaving cream) make it easy to see what they have inside, and the small snap-off pouch allows them to take necessities on the go.

A forever tool

Leatherman Skeletool CX

Even the repair-impaired need a good basic tool. Smaller and lighter than the original Leatherman multi-tool, our favorite version has a sharp knife, a few other necessities, and a 25-year warranty.

Set them up for a life of self-sufficiency with our pick for best multi-tool . The Leatherman Skeletool CX is a classic, worn on the belts of many a handy person. This lighter model is a fantastic starter tool, with a sharp knife, needle-nose pliers, a wire cutter, a bottle opener, two Phillips screwdrivers, two flat screwdrivers, and a carabiner clip—and it fits comfortably in your pocket. It’s backed by a 25-year warranty, and our testers have been using theirs for a decade with no sign of breakdown.

Vegan messenger bag

Matt & Nat Martel Vegan Messenger Bag

This sleek and simple vegan messenger bag is roomy and professional without being stodgy.

It’s time to chuck the worn-out college backpack for something a little sleeker. This canvas Matt & Nat Martel Vegan Messenger Bag is low profile and professional but not briefcase-level stuffy. It’s one of our favorite messenger bags , and our testers noted a roomy interior with space for a laptop plus the collection of other daily essentials like water bottles and lunch bags. Note that taller or broader grads might not find the 50-inch strap long enough to wear crossbody comfortably; it is removable, though, and the bag has a handle.

A lifetime of learning

MasterClass

With more than 180 classes to choose from, topics ranging from business to screenwriting, and instructors such as Amy Poehler and Tony Hawk, this is the best online platform for a lifetime of continuing ed.

Your recent college grad most likely needs a break from macroeconomics and the 18th-century novel, but that doesn’t mean they don’t want to learn songwriting from Alicia Keys or study photography with Annie Leibovitz. A year’s subscription to the online learning platform MasterClass is about $120 and will enable your grad to explore new subjects and learn from the best. It offers filmmaking with Martin Scorsese, beat making with Timbaland, philosophy with Cornel West, and 180 other classes to choose from.

The gift of good advice

Tiny Beautiful Things: Advice from Dear Sugar

A collection of smart, funny, and deeply compassionate advice columns from best-selling author Cheryl Strayed.

Before Cheryl Strayed became famous for her memoir, Wild , she wrote an advice column on the website The Rumpus using the pseudonym Dear Sugar that quickly became a full-blown phenomenon. Tiny Beautiful Things , a collection of the best Dear Sugar columns, was first published 10 years ago and recently reissued as a special edition with additional columns. What makes this book so beloved is Strayed’s heartfelt, honest, and compassionate advice on everything from art and self-discovery to sex and relationships. A TV show based on the book is on Hulu, too.

Endless dumplings

MìLà VIP Soup Dumpling Club

This subscription delivers two bags of delectable frozen Chinese soup dumplings and a jar of sauce every two months and comes out to about $5 per meal.

As graduates wean themselves off the dining-hall meal plan and late night takeout, a subscription to MìLà’s VIP Soup Dumpling Club would be welcome. The Seattle-based company ships two bags of frozen soup dumplings plus sauce in dry ice every two months. The resulting 100 dumplings are juicy, pillowy, and flavorful, and nothing like grocery store options. You have the choice to add a bamboo steamer included in the first shipment; it makes steaming them up easier, but each bag also contains paper liners that will prevent the dumplings from sticking to metal steamer baskets, too.

The best travel backpack

REI Co-op Ruckpack 60+ Recycled Travel Pack (Men’s)

Our favorite travel backpack is roomy, comfortable, and rugged. With its removable daypack, it’s the only luggage your new grad will need for wandering the world.

REI Co-op Ruckpack 60+ Recycled Travel Pack (Women’s)

Our runner-up travel backpack is perfect for the graduate planning a grand tour after matriculating. The REI Co-op Ruckpack 60+ Recycled Travel Pack has a spacious interior, a tough exterior, a removable daypack, comfortable, adjustable straps and a hip belt, and even a laptop sleeve (which could alternately be used as a hydration reservoir). It’s too big for carrying-on, especially with strict European airlines, but with the zip-off daypack it’s pretty much all you need for a longer journey. Note that the men’s and women’s versions have the same capacity but are built for different torso lengths.

Tools for adulting

Anvil Homeowner’s Tool Set

This set has all the essentials in a small package at a reasonable price, making it the best choice for common home repairs and upgrades.

You’re not really a grown-up until you have the tools (and bare-minimum skills) to put together your own furniture and hang your own art. Buy your grad a toolkit and save them the stress: The basic Anvil Homeowner’s Tool Set has all the essentials in a small package and at a great price, which is why it’s been our favorite for years. Not only is the set particularly compact—excellent for small new digs—but it has a wide range of bits and handy clamps, and each tool has a steady, solid handfeel.

Give them a charge

TravelCard Plus

This 2.7-ounce power bank has a powerful USB-C PD port, built-in USB-C, and Lightning cables; it charges a little more slowly than bulkier power banks, but it’s portable and light.

Since we rely on our phones for nearly everything these days, being caught with a dead battery is a real bummer. Make sure the grad in your life has a little extra power in their pocket. We picked this charger , the TravelCard Plus , because it’s compact and lightweight, so it’s easier to actually carry around every day. Plus it comes in a variety of colors.

Alma mater medallion

Kyle Cavan College Sunburst Necklace

These school-specific sunburst medallion charms are available in three metals, but not every college is represented.

If your grad loved college, the Kyle Cavan College Sunburst Necklace would be a welcome and sentimental gift. At the time of publication, the jeweler offers over 120 school seals—the list skews a little East Coast—engraved in three finishes including sterling silver, Cavan gold (gold-plated sterling silver), and 14k gold. The charms look expensive and hold up well, even with daily wear.

Our favorite mental health app offers guided meditations aimed at relieving stress, insomnia, and even trauma.

Moving on from their comfortable campus, established friends, and familiar routine, some grads may find themselves a little more stressed than usual. Help them find a little calm with a year-long membership to our top-pick meditation app , Headspace . It has a wonderful selection of courses that aim to combat stress and insomnia, as well as several meditations with goals especially useful for grads, like managing work stress and improving creativity.

Chic luggage

Away The Carry-On

This chic-looking and resilient piece of hard-sided luggage has top-of-the-line components, including shockingly smooth-rolling wheels.

For academic conferences, business trips, or leisure travel, your graduate will need proper luggage. We have many great picks for carry-on backpacks , carry-on suitcases , and duffles . But our travel team deems this sleek Away The Carry-On well worth the hype . The durable polycarbonate hardshell case weighs only 7.6 pounds and has the best 360-degree rollers of any suitcase we tested. The 40-liter carry-on (enough room for three to five days away) comes with an ejectable, TSA-approved USB charger that can charge your phone up to four times, a laundry bag, a built-in combination lock (also TSA approved), and, best of all, a lifetime warranty. Away suitcases are available in four sizes for those taking longer trips.

A gentle alarm clock

Philips SmartSleep Wake-Up Light HF3520

A kinder, gentler alarm clock that starts with a sunrise-like glow before emitting one of five non-jarring sound options.

Everyone knows it’s hard to get up early and head to work. Ease your grad’s morning struggle with a sunrise alarm clock . In contrast to the soul-crushing buzz of a regular alarm clock, this Philips SmartSleep Wake-Up Light HF3520 wakes your grad up with an ersatz sunrise designed to resemble a bright day. When the Philips SmartSleep Wake-up Light reaches the zenith of its brightness, it emits one of five nonaggressive alarm options, such as chirping birds or gentle piano music. And in the evening, it creates a faux sunset to help your graduate wind down.

Espresso at home

Nespresso Essenza Mini

The Essenza Mini makes the same espresso as more-expensive Nespresso machines but has a smaller footprint and no unnecessary features.

Our coffee-obsessed testers concluded that the Nespresso Essenza Mini  is the simplest and most affordable way to make ristrettos, espressos, and lungos at home. The lack of bells and whistles is a big part of its charm and makes the learning curve next to nothing. We also love its small footprint. It uses Nespresso coffee pods, but if your grad wants to branch out and explore the world of coffee, it’s also compatible with pods from brands like Lavazza and Starbucks.

Grown-up sheets

Brooklinen Classic Percale Core Sheet Set

Crisp and cool, these percale sheets feel lovely against the skin. The sharp prints change every few months and suit a range of styles.

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It’s time to graduate out of those dorm-room twin XLs and into a proper adult bed with proper adult sheets. If they prefer soft, cool, crisp sheets, the Brooklinen Classic Percale Core Sheet Set , one of our top printed-sheet picks , are a great bet. The set comes with a flat sheet, a fitted sheet, and two pillowcases. You can also upgrade to the Classic Percale Hardcore Sheet Bundle , which adds a duvet cover and two extra pillowcases to the mix. Another bonus: Brooklinen sheets are Oeko-Tex certified to be free of harmful substances.

Roommate-proof drinking glasses

Duralex Multicolor Picardie Tumblers

We love the refined look and feel of these classic French bistro-style glasses. They occasionally stick together when stacked, but the colors are a joy.

Yes, your graduate can continue drinking from the assorted mugs and Mason jars they’ve spent years accumulating. However, the more adult option is to use a proper set of glasses. A bistro classic, the stackable Duralex Multicolor Picardie Tumblers (our upgrade pick in our drinking glass guide ) now come in six fun colors. Made by the French manufacturing company that actually invented the glass tempering process, they’re dishwasher safe, can hold warm and cold drinks, and they’re durable enough to hold up against careless roommates.

Smoothie maker

NutriBullet Pro 900

Powerful, easy to use, and convenient, this personal blender encourages nutrition and saves time.

For a quick, delicious breakfast that can be consumed on the go, it’s hard to beat making your own smoothie. The NutriBullet Pro 900 can turn fresh or frozen fruit and vegetables into a smooth, blended treat, and its travel lid lets you easily take your breakfast with you. Even after testing the many NutriBullet models available, we determined that the Pro 900 should remain our top pick as the best personal blender for its powerful motor, convenient design, and low price. And compared with a full-size blender , it is much easier to clean and doesn’t take up nearly as much space in a shared kitchen.

A grown-up wallet

Leatherology Thin Bifold Wallet

A good wallet is a grown-up essential, and this one is classic, well made, and constructed from nice, pliable leather. You can even get it engraved.

It’s not a cashless society yet. With a slim wallet , your grad won’t have to sacrifice precious space in their bag or pocket. We suggest many excellent picks in our guide, but for a classic look that matches most styles, the Leatherology Thin Bifold Wallet is easy to slide cards in and out of, it features pliable leather, and you can even get it monogrammed.

Noise-cancelling headphones

Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700

The Bose 700 over-ear headphones deliver excellent noise cancellation in a comfortable, lightweight design that’s traveler friendly—but they carry a high price.

Plucked from the idyllic woods of their sprawling campus and thrust into the chaos of city life, your graduate will be grateful to receive a pair of top-of-the-line headphones. Our top pick , the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 , is a wireless pair that gets 20 hours of use on a single charge and lets your giftee enjoy music and movies without disturbing a roommate.

A bento lunch box

Takenaka Bento Bite Dual

This adaptable, multi-compartment bento box makes packing a lunch easy (and, weirdly, more fun). They are microwave- and dishwasher-safe and come in many adorable colors, but they are not for liquids.

Without their dining-hall meal plan, your college grad is in for a rude awakening if they try to eat lunch out every day. Save them the struggle by encouraging packed lunches in an adorable bento box . The Takenaka Bento Bite Dual ’s microwave- and dishwasher-safe compartments offer infinite snack storage options. And its geometric shape and poppy colors are so cute that your grad might even look forward to using it. But be warned: Staff writer Dorie Chevlen has used hers for about three years and learned the hard way that it’s no good for transporting liquids. Think sandwiches, not saucy dishes.

A backpack upgrade

Everlane The ReNew Transit Backpack

A sleek and secure laptop backpack that’s high on style. For its relatively low price, we were impressed by its quality build.

A laptop backpack is the best bet for a grad who needs to look professional but prefers toting their stuff hands free. Everlane’s The ReNew Transit Backpack has sleek lines and a low-profile shape, so it won’t be bulky on a rush-hour train. We also love that it’s water resistant, has all-metal hardware, and keeps their computer in a pocket right up against their back for extra security. This option is perhaps less durable than some of our other heavy-duty laptop backpack picks, but for price and style, it’s a clear winner.

More than a timekeeper

Apple Watch Series 9

The Apple Watch Series 9 has a large, bright screen, it’s plenty fast for apps, and it includes some health-related features that the less expensive models don’t.

(limited colors)

Giving someone a watch for graduation is a classic idea for a reason: It’s a sophisticated accessory they can wear to work, and the relentless passage of time is now vital for them to track. The smartwatch has gone from futuristic to omnipresent, and one that syncs to their phone is an even more useful gift for this brave new world. It can show the wearer who’s calling or texting, track their fitness, and control their other smart-home devices. For iPhone owners, we recommend the Apple Watch Series 9 ; for Android owners, we recommend the Samsung Galaxy Watch6 .

All the news that’s fit to print

The New York Times Gift Subscription

The best way to stay informed is with a paper of record. We like the New York Times, but a subscription to any reputable paper is a great gift.

Part of being a real adult is being informed on what’s going on in the world: Your graduate needs a subscription to a reputable daily paper (a paper of record, if you will). You can’t go wrong with a New York Times Gift Subscription ; The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post would also be great bets.

Weighted comfort

Baloo Weighted Blanket

At a comfortable 12 pounds, this weighted blanket feels calming and soothing and is supremely soft. Plus the cushy cover is machine washable.

As your graduate leaps from the comforts of their campus into the cold reality of the working world, they need all the coziness and comfort they can get. We love the 12-pound Baloo Weighted Blanket , one of our favorites out of the 19 we tested . Soft and sturdy, it feels like a combination of a quilt and a comforter. It’s one of the only machine-washable blankets we recommend, and it comes with a lifetime guarantee on materials and workmanship.

We love finding gifts that are unusual, thoughtful, and well vetted. See even more gift ideas we recommend .

This article was edited by Hannah Morrill and Jennifer Hunter.

Meet your guides

Samantha Schoech

Except for the time she gave a boyfriend her mother’s old toaster for Christmas, staff writer Samantha Schoech has a reputation as an excellent gift giver. She lives in San Francisco with two teens, two cats, a geriatric betta fish, and a bookseller husband. Her first book of short stories, My Mother’s Boyfriends, is coming out in 2024.

Mari Uyehara

Mari Uyehara is a staff writer for Wirecutter’s gifts team. She was previously an editor at GQ, Saveur, and Vice, and she won a 2019 James Beard Award for her column on American cooking in Taste. The daughter of a potter, she has long been a believer in the power of a well-made thing.

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DIY kits, craft activities, and board games make great gifts for 6-year-olds who are ready to tackle projects and follow more-complicated instructions.

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10 facts about today’s college graduates

Having a bachelor’s degree remains an important advantage in many sectors of the U.S. labor market. College graduates generally out-earn those who have not attended college, and they are more likely to be employed in the first place. At the same time, many Americans say they cannot afford to get a four-year degree – or that they just don’t want to.

Here are key facts about American college graduates.

This Pew Research Center analysis about U.S. college graduates relies on data from sources including the Census Bureau, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the National Center for Education Statistics, the National Student Clearinghouse and the Federal Reserve Bank, as well as surveys conducted by the Center.

Everyone who took the Pew Research Center surveys cited is a member of the Center’s American Trends Panel (ATP), an online survey panel that is recruited through national, random sampling of residential addresses. This way nearly all U.S. adults have a chance of selection. The survey is weighted to be representative of the U.S. adult population by gender, race, ethnicity, partisan affiliation, education and other categories. Read more about  the ATP’s methodology .

Nearly four-in-ten Americans ages 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree, a share that has grown over the last decade. As of 2021, 37.9% of adults in this age group held a bachelor’s degree, including 14.3% who also obtained a graduate or professional degree, according to data from the Census Bureau’s Current Population Survey. That share is up 7.5 percentage points from 30.4% in 2011.

An additional 10.5% had an associate degree in 2021. About four-in-ten Americans ages 25 and older had a high school diploma with no further education (25.3%) or completed some college but didn’t have a degree (14.9%).

In a reversal, women are now more likely than men to graduate from college, according to the Current Population Survey . In 2021, 39% of women ages 25 and older had a bachelor’s degree or more education, compared with 37% of men in the same age range. The gap in college completion is even wider among adults ages 25 to 34: 46% of women in this age group have at least a bachelor’s degree, compared with 36% of men.

In an October 2021 Pew Research Center survey of Americans without a degree, 34% of men said a major reason why they have not received a four-year college degree is that they just didn’t want to. Only one-in-four women said the same. Men were also more likely to say a major reason they didn’t have a four-year degree is that they didn’t need more education for the job or career they wanted (26% of men said this vs. 20% of women).

Women (44%) were more likely than men (39%) to say not being able to afford college was a major reason they don’t have a bachelor’s degree. Men and women were about equally likely to say a major impediment was needing to work to help support their family.

There are racial and ethnic differences in college graduation patterns, as well as in the reasons for not completing a degree. Among adults ages 25 and older, 61% of Asian Americans have a bachelor’s degree or more education, along with 42% of White adults, 28% of Black adults and 21% of Hispanic adults, according to 2021 Current Population Survey data. The share of bachelor’s degree holders in each group has increased since 2010. That year, 52% of Asian Americans had a four-year degree or more, compared with a third of White adults, 20% of Black adults and 14% of Hispanic adults.

The October 2021 Center survey found that among adults without a bachelor’s degree, Hispanic adults (52%) were more likely than those who are White (39%) or Black (41%) to say a major reason they didn’t graduate from a four-year college is that they couldn’t afford it. Hispanic and Black adults were more likely than their White counterparts to say needing to work to support their family was a major reason.

While a third of White adults said not wanting to go to school was a major reason they didn’t complete a four-year degree, smaller shares of Black (22%) and Hispanic (23%) adults said the same. White adults were also more likely to cite not needing more education for the job or career they wanted. (There weren’t enough Asian adults without a bachelor’s degree in the sample to analyze separately.)

Only 62% of students who start a degree or certificate program finish their program within six years, according to the most recent data from the  National Student Clearinghouse , a nonprofit verification and research organization that tracked first-time college students who enrolled in fall 2015 with the intent of pursuing a degree or certificate. The degree completion rate for this group was highest among students who started at four-year, private, nonprofit schools (78.3%), and lowest among those who started at two-year public institutions (42.2%).

Business is the most commonly held bachelor’s degree, followed by health professions.  According to the  National Center for Education Statistics , about a fifth (19%) of the roughly 2 million bachelor’s degrees conferred in 2019-20 were in business. Health professions and related programs were the second most-popular field, making up 12.6% of degrees conferred that year. Business has been the single most common major since 1980-81; before that, education led the way.

The  least  common bachelor’s degrees in 2019-20 were in military technologies and applied sciences (1,156 degrees conferred in 2019-20), library science (118), and precision production (39).

There is a growing earnings gap between young college graduates and their counterparts without degrees. In 2021, full-time workers ages 22 to 27 who held a bachelor’s degree, but no further education, made a median annual wage of $52,000, compared with $30,000 for full-time workers of the same age with a high school diploma and no degree, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This gap has widened over time. Young bachelor’s degree holders earned a median annual wage of $48,481 in 1990, compared with $35,257 for full-time workers ages 22 to 27 with a high school diploma.

The unemployment rate is lower for college graduates than for workers without a bachelor’s degree, and that gap widened as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. In February 2020, just before the COVID-19 outbreak began in the U.S., only 1.9% of college graduates ages 25 and older were unemployed, compared with 3.1% of workers who completed some college but not a four-year degree, and 3.7% of workers with only a high school diploma. By June 2020, after the pandemic hit, 6.8% of college grads, 10.8% of workers with some college, and 12.2% of high school grads were unemployed.

By March 2022, the unemployment rate had nearly returned to pre-pandemic levels for college graduates (2%) while dropping to 3% among those with some college education but no four-year degree, and 4% among those with only a high school diploma.

Recent college graduates are more likely than graduates overall to be underemployed – that is, working in jobs that typically do not require a college degree, according to an analysis of Census Bureau and BLS data by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York . As of December 2021, 41% of college graduates ages 22 to 27 were underemployed, compared with 34% among all college graduates. The underemployment rates for recent college grads rose in 2020 as the COVID-19 outbreak strained the job market, but have since returned to pre-pandemic levels.

As of the end of 2021, only 34% of underemployed graduates ages 22 to 27 worked what the Fed defines as “good non-college jobs” – those paying at least $45,000 a year – down from around half in the 1990s. The share of underemployed graduates ages 22 to 27 in low-wage jobs – those earning less than $25,000 annually – rose from about 9% in 1990 to 11% last year.

When it comes to income and wealth accumulation, first-generation college graduates lag substantially behind those with college-educated parents, according to a May 2021 Pew Research Center analysis . Households headed by a first-generation college graduate – that is, someone who has completed at least a bachelor’s degree but does not have a parent with a college degree – had a median annual income of $99,600 in 2019, compared with $135,800 for households headed by those with at least one parent who graduated from college. The median wealth of households headed by first-generation college graduates ($152,000) also trailed that of households headed by someone with a parent who graduated from college ($244,500). The higher household income of the latter facilitates saving and wealth accumulation.

The gap also reflects differences in how individuals finance their education. Second-generation college graduates tend to come from  more affluent families , while first-generation college graduates are more likely to incur education debt than those with a college-educated parent.

Most Americans with college degrees see value in their experience. In the Center’s October 2021 survey , majorities of graduates said their college education was extremely or very useful when it came to helping them grow personally and intellectually (79%), opening doors to job opportunities (70%) and developing specific skills and knowledge that could be used in the workplace (65%).

Younger college graduates were less likely than older ones to see value in their college education. For example, only a third of college graduates younger than 50 said their college experience was extremely useful in helping them develop skills and knowledge that could be used in the workplace. Among college graduates ages 50 and older, 45% said this.

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PhD Student vs Graduate Student [Correct terminologies]

As you progress down the academic pathway it can become confusing to work out what the appropriate terminology is for your current level of education. Is it PhD student? Is it graduate student? Is the PhD student the same as a graduate? Well, this article will answer all your questions.

Graduate student is an umbrella term for someone with an undergraduate qualification (bachelors, diploma), they are often performing graduate research in a Masters or PhD program. All PhD students are graduate students but not all graduate students are PhD students.

To fully get our heads around each of these definitions, we need to understand exactly what each term really means.

This is where we can look at the actual definitions of PhD student vs graduate student.

Definition of PhD student

A PhD student is someone who is currently enrolled in a doctorate degree program and is in the early stages of their course.

Some institutions require students to undergo a coursework component of their graduate program and are called a PhD student .

After the completion of the coursework component, with the research component still to go, they can be called a PhD candidate .

Definition of Graduate student

A graduate student is a known for a student who continues their studies after completion of their undergraduate degree.

The Cambridge dictionary defines it as:

A student who is studying for a degree that is higher than the one received after four years of study at a college or university.

Who is considered a graduate student?

Graduate students can include:

• Masters students
• PhD students
• Professional Masters
• Graduate academic certificate programs
• undergraduate/graduate hybrid degree programs

Even if you have got an undergraduate degree, there are many more options for you to obtain many more qualifications and build on your education. In these instances, you will be known as a graduate student.

Is a PhD student a graduate student?

Yes, a PhD student is a graduate student.

They have spent up to 4 years in their undergraduate programs in order to qualify for admission into a PhD program.

PhD students are able to call themselves graduate students but many choose to refer to themselves as PhD students or candidates.

Is PhD the same as graduate?

A PhD is the highest education attainable as a graduate.

In order to obtain a PhD one must graduate from an undergraduate degree. From the moment of graduating in their undergraduate degree they are known as a graduate.

The order of becoming a PhD from a graduate is shown in the table below. It also includes what happens after you get a PhD.

Is a doctoral student the same as a PhD student?

Strictly speaking, a PhD student is someone who is pursuing a doctor of philosophy.

A PhD student is a type of doctoral student but not all doctoral students are PhD students. Anyone aiming to achieve the title of ‘Dr’ is a doctoral student.

There are many other different types of doctoral students including:

• Doctor of Arts (DA)
• Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)
• Doctor of Design (DDes)
• Doctor of Engineering or Engineering Science (DEng, DESc, DES)
• Doctor of Education (EdD)
• Doctor of Fine Arts (DFA.)
• Doctor of Juridical Science (JSD, SJD)
• Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA)
• Doctor of Music Education (DME)
• Doctor of Modern Languages (DML)
• Doctor of Nursing Science (DNSc)
• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
• Doctor of Public Health (DPH)
• Doctor of Sacred Theology (STD)
• Doctor of Science (DSc, ScD)
• Doctor of Theology (ThD)

There are also professional degrees that lead to the person being called Doctor. These professional degrees result in honorific doctor titles, including those found in the table below.

In my 15 years in academia, I would only really refer to someone as a PhD student. However, if someone was to introduce themselves as a doctoral student I would understand them to be a PhD student.

Wrapping up

In this article, we have learned the difference between PhD student vs graduate student.

In summary, a graduate student is an umbrella term that includes anyone that has done an undergraduate qualification and is continuing their education. It includes Masters students, PhD students and others.

All PhD students are graduate students but not all graduate students are PhD students.

Dr Andrew Stapleton has a Masters and PhD in Chemistry from the UK and Australia. He has many years of research experience and has worked as a Postdoctoral Fellow and Associate at a number of Universities. Although having secured funding for his own research, he left academia to help others with his YouTube channel all about the inner workings of academia and how to make it work for you.

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Student Wellness Tip: Investing in Graduate Student Mental Health

Campus leaders at Ohio State University are using state funding to bolster resources and services for graduate and professional students on campus and remotely.

By  Ashley Mowreader

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Ohio State University is scaling its mental health offerings to increase access and support for all students, with a particular focus on graduate students.

Megan Jelinger/AFP

As student mental health needs have grown, more institutional leaders are investing dollars into supporting preventative and interventional measures to aid in student well-being. Ohio’s House Bill 33 allocated $2.5 million to Ohio State University, part of $20 million in funds for university mental health support for students across the state.

University leaders hope to remove barriers to access for students with the funding, particularly for graduate and professional students, through teletherapy, biometric equipment and online resources.

What’s the need: Graduate and professional students face a number of unique life challenges in pursuing their education that vary from their undergraduate peers, including finding social support, navigating life logistics and finances, says Harry Warner, associate director of outreach in Ohio State’s counseling and consultation service (CCS) office.

Incoming undergraduate students often reside in a residence hall surrounded by their peers and experience greater proximity to like-minded individuals. Some graduate students are living alone, with strangers off campus or with their families, making building relationships more difficult, Warner says.

Graduate students can face intense comparison of self to others, burnout and impostor syndrome from rigorous academics and a lack of community.

With age also comes various developmental life markers, further exposing students to new challenges, such as working with a difficult landlord or raising children.

In addition, graduate education can be expensive and have a lower return on investment, which can harm students’ financial wellness and increase stressors while they are enrolled.

Inside Higher Ed ’s 2024 Survey of College and University Presidents found three-quarters of institutional leaders believe they have sufficient clinical capacity to meet the mental health needs of graduate students—but presidents of public institutions were less likely to say this was true, with fewer than one quarter somewhat or strongly agreeing.

At Ohio State’s counseling center, around one in four clients are graduate students (slightly higher proportionally than the graduate student rate at the university), but leaders want to further remove barriers to access.

Dollars at work: OSU will allocate funding to establish in-person and remote supports, including training peer mental health ambassadors, offering teletherapy services, hiring a graduate student administrative assistant, purchasing biofeedback equipment and developing online mental health modules.

Teletherapy and digital mental health modules, specifically, will be targeted toward graduate and professional students. Ohio State partnered with Uwill to offer virtual mental health care, which will be available to all students across the university’s five campuses.

Uwill will extend on-campus services, allowing learners to get after-hours care at night and on weekends and access care wherever they are when off campus, Warner says. “Convenience and accessibility are the big pieces there, so that’s a good extension of how we can support students.”

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Staff will use the biofeedback machine to help students practice self-soothing and grounding skills by tracking their heart rate or breathing.

“The student gets instant feedback on what the effects … while they’re relaxing, while they’re engaging in progressive muscle relaxation, diaphragmatic breathing, those type of things, and it really helps a person get to a deeper level of relaxation,” Warner says.

The university offers a Mental Health Care Grant , housed within the student advocacy center, that provides up to $2,000 to make mental health services accessible. This money can be applied to fund therapy sessions, medications, transportation or childcare costs associated with participating in therapy. Some of the state dollars will be allocated to this fund, providing further reimbursement for students.

Additionally, students can access a mood-tracking app, WellTrack Boost , for free, thanks to the grant.

A larger focus of care: The new funding works to support OSU’s already existing models of care.

One graduate and professional student–focused initiative is CCS’s embedded counseling program, which places 18 practitioners in 16 academic areas such as the dentistry, pharmacy, law and nursing programs. These providers assist in outreach and preventative education as well as therapy and consultation, and they can be highly impactful due to their proximity to learners, Warner says.

“Having a psychologist over in the College of Optometry does a lot, [because it’s] someone right there that they can talk with [who] understands what they’re going through,” Warner adds.

Graduate students can also benefit from group counseling programs offered by OSU’s counseling and consultation service, which include affinity groups.

One impactful outreach program, also Warner’s favorite, is Let’s Talk , modeled after Cornell University’s intervention, which allows students to have free, confidential, drop-in conversations with counseling staff.

In the past, graduate students have used Let’s Talk sessions to address issues like communicating with their faculty mentor or navigating counseling in the U.S. as an international student. These conversations don’t require intake forms and 10 weeks of sessions, Warner says, but they are important to reaching students who need help addressing their mental health and want to connect with an expert.

Removing barriers is a key focus in graduate student support, because of this population’s competing priorities and limited resources such as time and money. So, Warner adds, any way counseling staff can make it easy and low-stakes to engage with students is important.

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Main navigation, cas chronicles, school of public affairs graduate students design survey featured in tampa bay times.

• Michelle Holden, USF College of Arts and Sciences
• August 28, 2024

Megan Corn and Savannah Havird, graduate assistants and researchers in the USF School of Public Affairs , recently conducted a survey that aimed to evaluate immigration and border security.

School of Public Affairs graduate student and researcher Megan Corn (Photo courtesy of Megan Corn)

Shared in the Tampa Bay Times , the survey, which was part of ongoing research, was fielded through an online web panel (May 6-9) and sponsored by the Florida Center for Cybersecurity . Respondents included a nationally representative sample of 1,500 registered voters, and the results are reported with a margin of error +/-2.5% (95% confidence). To ensure the sample was representative of the national population, the pair established quotas based on U.S. Census data, including age, gender, race, ethnicity, education, and political affiliation.

The research duo also implemented quality control measures to ensure data integrity, including attention checks and consistency validations. These measures were crucial in maintaining the accuracy and reliability of the responses. The responses were analyzed using statistical methods to identify trends and correlations among the key measures. Focus was placed on understanding how social media use influences political stress.   According to Corn, care was taken to consider the polarizing nature of the topics being surveyed.   “When designing questions on sensitive topics like immigration and border security, there are several key considerations to keep in mind. First and foremost, it's essential to use neutral and unbiased language to ensure the questions do not lead respondents toward a particular answer or imply any value judgment. Clarity and simplicity are also crucial; questions should be straightforward and free from complex or technical jargon to avoid confusion. Given the personal and emotional nature of these topics, approaching them with sensitivity and respect is important to ensure respondents feel comfortable and valued.”

She added that avoiding leading questions is another critical consideration, which helps to ensure that responses are genuine and not influenced by the wording of the question.

“As a general rule, these questions should be asked in a manner that allows all respondents to feel comfortable answering truthfully, regardless of their beliefs or policy positions.”

Corn and Havird acknowledge that additional surveys on these topics are necessary to more comprehensively understand any significant shifts in public opinion.

School of Public Affairs graduate student and researcher Savannah Havird (Photos courtesy of Savannah Havird)

“The survey is the first in a series to specifically address immigration and border security. So, while we do not have statistical insights into trends surrounding voters’ attitudes on immigration and border security, we are seeing a general increase in issue polarization that can be attributed to the wider political climate, specifically the increasingly hostile rhetoric of political elites and the growing role of social media in political discourse,” Corn explained.   Havird notes that public opinion surveys are powerful tools for data collection and dissemination to better inform various groups in positions of decision-making.   “[These surveys] provide a clear picture of what the public thinks, believes, and prefers. This is essential for policymakers, businesses, and organizations because it helps them make decisions that align with the needs and desires of the people they serve,” she explained.   “For governments and public institutions, understanding public sentiment can guide the development of policies and programs that are more likely to be accepted and effective. It ensures that decisions are made with the public's best interests in mind. Additionally, public opinion surveys are crucial for tracking changes in societal attitudes over time. This helps in identifying trends and anticipating future needs and challenges. It also promotes democratic engagement by giving people a voice and making them feel heard and valued in societal and governmental processes. Surveys can also help mitigate conflicts by identifying areas of dissatisfaction within a population, allowing for proactive measures to address these issues before they escalate.”   Havird added that from an academic standpoint, surveys are fundamental for understanding human behavior and system dynamics, providing valuable data that can inform a wide range of studies and contribute to the advancement of knowledge.   “Overall, public opinion surveys are a powerful tool for ensuring that decision-making processes across various sectors are responsive, responsible, and aligned with the public's needs and preferences,” she said.   For Corn and Havird, the experience of being able to design, evaluate, and analyze this survey as part of their graduate studies, has provided critical hands-on involvement during their research.   “[During this process] students can apply theoretical knowledge and gain experience that enhances their understanding of survey methodologies, data collection, and analysis techniques. Involving graduate students also improves critical thinking and analytical skills,” said Havird. “Assessing survey data requires careful interpretation and the ability to draw meaningful conclusions from complex datasets. This process helps graduate students develop a critical eye for detail and strengthens their ability to analyze and synthesize information, which are essential skills in any research-oriented career.”   She added that collaboration between faculty, researchers, and graduate students also promotes a positive academic environment, encouraging mentorship and the exchange of ideas, which can lead to more comprehensive research outcomes.   “This collaborative approach ensures that the surveys are designed and assessed with a high level of rigor and accuracy. Involving graduate students in this process prepares them for future careers in academia, government, or the private sector. It equips them with the skills and experience needed to conduct independent research, manage projects, and contribute to evidence-based decision-making.”

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Graduate programmes.

If you’ve graduated from university or will do soon, the opportunities here are endless.

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2025 Applications are open

Search and apply for available programmes below. unless stated, applications will close when filled so we encourage you to apply early to avoid any disappointment., your journey begins.

Build better solutions

We’re a global business with all the resources in place to make your career with us a true success story. Our scale, teams and technology are at your disposal – and you'll get to work on projects which positively impact our clients, communities and society.

Join a supportive team

Once you join, you’ll become part of the EY graduate community. You’ll have a buddy who’ll be your first point of call for practical help and guidance. We also provide coaching, so you always have access to impartial advice, opportunities and ongoing support.

Become a future leader

You'll receive dedicated, structured training, a careers counsellor and access to innovative technology. Plus, your EY experience doesn't stop when you've completed the programme. We'll continue to support you on your path to progression.

Graduate opportunities

Unleash your potential as one of our future leaders. Explore our programmes below.

Make problem-solving your day job and build financial trust. Forget endless number crunching – you’ll be working with clients, reviewing strategy, assessing risk, forecasting growth and more. Innovation is the driving force behind our work in Assurance. Embark on one of our programmes and we’ll teach you to harness new skills fit for the modern digital world.

Explore programmes

Realise business transformation through the power of people, technology and innovation. Deliver on your ambitions to progress through a wide-reaching career with real impact. From aiding clients in reducing their carbon footprint and enabling major technology brands, to reinvesting in AI that provides access to critical healthcare .

Make client transformation your forte. help businesses to compete in a fast-moving global market. with the support of our supportive, innovative-thinking professionals, you’ll advise clients both locally and globally. whether they’re buying other businesses, selling parts of theirs, merging with another or transforming themselves to be more competitive., support millions of lives, the communities around you, and our entire society. taxes collected by governments are used for essential societal investments. like welfare and social services, schools and universities, transport systems, and initiatives to create a cleaner, greener planet. tax underpins the country’s essential infrastructure., key dates and information, we're delighted that you're considering making an application to one of our opportunities. below is some information that will help., applications to our 2025 opportunities are open and will close when filled, so we encourage you to submit your application early to avoid any disappointment., keep checking the email address you used to make your application as we'll be sending you guidance on next steps. if you progress through the process, you'll be sent deadlines to complete any assessments so it's important you're doing this in good time, especially as our ey experience days will begin from friday 1 november 2024., if you've applied for a programme which requires a final interview as part of the  application process , this will take place after monday 11 november 2024., if you'd like to meet some of our recruitment team or current students to find out more about life at ey, visit our  events page  and join us at an upcoming event., we wish you the best in your application .

Chat to us online

Speak to EY people who are currently on our student programmes, and our recruiters. Hear their insights, advice and experiences.

Removing barriers

We’re proud of our heritage on driving diversity and social mobility across the professional services industry, and in 2016, we removed the requirement to have minimum ucas points or a degree classification to make an application to ey. we are passionate about giving candidates a fair and consistent recruitment process and are proud of our long-standing partnership with  rare  who help us assess applications using contextual recruitment. and, whilst some academic qualifications will still be considered (check programme pages for more information), it’s no longer a barrier. we also firmly believe that every candidate should have the opportunity to demonstrate their potential in our selection process which is why we use our leading  ey strengths framework  that focuses on your individual strengths..

Adjustments

All candidates should be given the opportunity to be their best selves throughout the process. We have adjustments in place to make all individual applications accessible.

Do you have questions about applying to and working at EY? From choosing a programme to visa requirements, technical help to joining, you're likely to find the answers here.

Applications are open

Applications to our 2025 opportunities are open.

Search and apply for available programmes below. Unless stated, applications will close when filled so we encourage you to apply early to avoid any disappointment.

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Department of Animal Sciences

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Graduate research assistantship - animal behavior and welfare, breadcrumb menu.

The Animal Welfare & Ethology Research (AWER) Lab at The Ohio State University is seeking a graduate student to pursue an MS in Animal Science with an emphasis on animal behavior and welfare based in Columbus, OH. The program deadline is: Sep 15, 2024 (international) or Nov 1, 2024 (domestic). Click here for more information.

Funding and aid: Graduate funding and aid

At the graduate level, financial aid is largely decentralized, as available funds are managed directly by departments.

Funding is usually available from each individual department to support doctoral students for the duration of their time at MIT. Typically, at the time of admission, doctoral students receive offers of funding in the form of research and teaching appointments or fellowships, which cover the cost of full tuition and health insurance, and provide a salary or stipend. Funding for master-level students is more limited, and depends greatly on the program of study , so students may be required to seek their own sources of funding or utilize student loans .

Graduate funding may take the form of research, instructor, and teaching assistantships, fellowships, traineeships, scholarships, grants, and/or other forms of employment , such as working as a resident advisor in an undergraduate residence.

Please note: Applicants are considered for funding after they have been accepted into a graduate program. There is no separate application for financial aid prior to admission for any program of study.

Funding for students in need

MIT provides assistance to graduate students experiencing financial hardships , has established new ranges to stipends and changes to health insurance rates and plan benefits, and offers additional health and well-being support resources .

Hardship funds are tax-reportable income and may reduce eligibility for educational loans. If you want to explore how a fund of this type would impact you, please contact us to discuss your options.