By advancing to doctoral candidacy, a graduate student will officially become a PhD candidate at UT-Austin. This involves identifying a tentative research area and topic, and assembling a committee of faculty members who will evaluate the research, and eventually sign off on the dissertation, while also serving as a resource of complementary experts who will be available to provide advice and guidance throughout the PhD.
A An ECE PhD student is expected to advance to doctoral candidacy within one year after attempting and/or attempting and/or completing 33 hours of coursework within the Graduate Program, excluding approved leaves of absence. Advancing to doctoral candidacy should be done as soon as a general research area and topic have been identified. You are not considered a PhD candidate until you have advanced to candidacy officially.
Advancing to doctoral candidacy consists of two major steps, forming an approved PhD committee and completing candidacy evaluations with the committee members, major steps which are delineated below in a sub-set of six steps.
Please note that you are expected to complete the six steps in order, and to advance to the next step only after you have satisfactorily completed all preceding steps.
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