Steps to completing your PhD:
- Qualifying Exams: The first milestone in the Mathematics PhD program are the qualifying exams. Exams are offered in Fall (before the academic year begins) and during the Spring quarter. Every PhD student must pass at least one exam (with a PhD Area Pass or a PhD General Pass) before the start of their 2nd year. Students must complete their exam requirements before the start of their 3rd year.
- The qualifying exam requirements are different for students completing the Specialization in Statistics or the Specialization in Computational Science. Please see the linked sites for this information.
- Finding an Advisor: While completing the qualifying exams, students should be exploring areas of research (attending seminars, speaking with faculty, and reading with faculty). Once exams are done, students should be actively reading with a faculty member and making a decision on who their advisor will be. You can see faculty’s area of research here: https://math.ucsd.edu/
research/ - Advancing to Candidacy: Students generally advance to candidacy during their second, third or fourth year (must be done before the end of their 11th quarter). Before advancing to candidacy, a student must form a committee of four faculty members. At least one of the members (but up to two) must be from outside of the department and two out of four of the members must have an academic specialty different than the student’s. The actual advancement is a talk in which the student prepares a presentation of their research topic.
- The student should work with their advisor to form a committee. Policies on doctoral committees can be found at http://grad.ucsd.edu/
academics/progress-to-degree/ committees.html#Appointment- of-the-Doctoral-Com. - Once the members of the committee have been decided upon, the student must submit a Doctoral Committee Form to the PhD staff advisor, at least 2 weeks before advancement.
- The student should reserve a room with the front desk staff either in person or by sending an email to frdesk@math.ucsd.edu – please include your name, date and time of your talk, and how large a room you need.
- After your exam, have your faculty advisor contact mathgradadvising@ucsd.
edu with the results of your exam, so that the forms can be processed.
- The student should work with their advisor to form a committee. Policies on doctoral committees can be found at http://grad.ucsd.edu/
- Final Defense: Students should be prepared to defend their thesis before the end of their 5th year. You should discuss the details of your defense with your advisor, but it is typically a 50-minute talk highlighting the main results of your dissertation.
- If there have been any changes in the members of your committee, submit an updated Doctoral Committee Form to the PhD staff advisor at least 2 weeks before your defense. If there are no changes to your committee, you may skip this step.
- You must notify the Graduate Division (GEPA) of your defense. In the current system, you will complete Part 1 of this Kuali form by Friday of Week 5 of the quarter in which you will defend. An explanation of the form process can be found here.
- Room reservations should be made at the Front Desk (in person in AP&M 7409, or by email to frdesk@math.ucsd.edu)
- Before your defense, the content of your thesis must be finalized. Email your thesis to your committee members. The university recommends this be sent 30 days prior to your defense.
- After your defense, remind your advisor to contact the Math Students Affairs office at mathgradadvising@ucsd.edu
with the results of your defense. The staff will submit the final paperwork for your degree.
