PhD students are expected to complete their degree requirements in 6 years (7, if accepted to PhD 1). It is imperative that you plan out your program and research objectives in order to successfully complete your language requirements, comprehensive examinations and thesis within the allotted time. Once you reach time limitation, you will not be allowed to register.
The GPS’ website provides you with more detailed information on Time Limitation.
Students may maintain their connection with the Institute by annual registration for three years after completing enrollment requirements of either three years if accepted to PhD 2 or four years if accepted to PhD 1, according to Time Limitation regulations.
A student must have a completed and approved thesis to be considered readmission at a scheduled IIS staff meeting. An e-copy of the complete thesis needs to be emailed to the GPD and the Director. Also, the student's supervisor needs to email the Director and the GPD to confirm the completion of the thesis. If the support of the IIS Professors has been secured, the student needs to fill out the Request for Readmission web form. Enrollment Services will register the student following the receipt of a support memo from the GPD.
Please note that the comprehensive examinations are no longer valid after five years.
In order to avoid having to retake their comprehensive exams, students must submit a complete draft of the thesis to their supervisor before the five-year deadline is up. The supervisor must confirm that s/he considers the work that the student has submitted to be a complete draft of the thesis in an email to the GPD. The five-year deadline is the end of the same semester in which the original comprehensive exams were taken 5 years previously (i.e., if the original exams were taken in the fall semester of 2020, then the deadline is the end of the fall semester 2025).