Continuous Enrollment Policy for PhD programs

A student admitted to a doctoral program must register each fall and spring semester for a minimum of 3 graduate units from original matriculation until the completion of all course requirements, written and oral comprehensive exams, and 18 dissertation units. When these requirements are met, doctoral students not on financial assistance and/or needing to maintain appropriate visa status, must register for a minimum of 1 unit each semester until final copies of the dissertation are submitted to the Graduate Degree Certification Office. While 1 unit satisfies Continuous Enrollment, it does NOT meet requirements for full-time status.  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 full-time status requirements, and should check with their program advisor regarding such requirements to ensure that they remain qualified for funding.

Doctoral students do not have to register for graduate units during summer sessions unless they plan to make use of University facilities or faculty time. If they plan to utilize facilities or faculty time they must enroll for a minimum of 1 unit of graduate credit. If only the Final Oral Exam (the defense) is completed during the summer or winter term, the student has maintained continuous enrollment, and has fulfilled all 18 required dissertation credits, registration is not required.  Unless excused by an official Leave of Absence (which may not exceed one year throughout the student's degree program), all graduate students are subject to the Continuous Enrollment Policy and must pay in-state and out-of-state tuition and fees in order to remain in the program. 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, to pay the Graduate College application fee, and pay all overdue tuition and fees, including cumulative late penalties. No tuition or registration waivers can be applied retroactively.  Any student considering re-application should first check with the Graduate College Degree Certification Office to see whether additional work or updated forms will be necessary.

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