This policy applies to all PhD students in the Biological Sciences Division (BSD). Programs may implement additional requirements as specified in their individual program handbooks.
PhD students must successfully complete qualifying examinations to advance to candidacy. Students should consult their program’s student handbook for details on these assessments.
Exam Structure and Outcomes
Each graduate program establishes specific exam formats and content. Possible examination results include
- Pass: Student advances to candidacy
- Conditional Pass: Student must fulfill remediation requirements set by the examination committee
- Fail: Student is placed on academic probation and granted one retake opportunity within 10 weeks (excluding academic breaks)
Consequences of Failure
Students who do not pass the qualifying exam on their second attempt will be dismissed from the BSD. The academic probation policy provides additional details about probationary status.