There are different requirements for students who enter the Ph.D. program without an M.S., with an M.S. from another school, and with a UW MSME or MSE degree.
For questions about the Ph.D. degree that are not answered here, contact the graduate academic advising team at megrad@uw.edu.
| PhD entry | Take the Qualifying Exam | Establish your Supervisory Committee | Take the General Exam | Establish your Reading Committee | Take the Final Exam |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-M.S. entry | 12–24 months after entry to Ph.D. program | Within 1 year after passing the Qualifying Exam | With the approval of the chair of the supervisory committee, students are encouraged to take the General exam within 6–18 months after passing the Qualifying Exam | around 3 months prior to scheduling the Final Exam, as soon as the dissertation draft is complete | at least 6 months after passing General Exam |
| Post-M.S. entry with a UW degree | 0–15 months after entry to Ph.D. program | Within 1 year after passing the Qualifying Exam | With the approval of the chair of the supervisory committee, students are encouraged to take the General exam within 6–18 months after passing the Qualifying Exam | around 3 months prior to scheduling the Final Exam, as soon as the dissertation draft is complete | at least 6 months after passing General Exam |
| Post-M.S. entry with a non-UW degree | 6–18 months after entry to Ph.D. program | Within 1 year after passing the Qualifying Exam | With the approval of the chair of the supervisory committee, students are encouraged to take the General exam within 6–18 months after passing the Qualifying Exam | around 3 months prior to scheduling the Final Exam, as soon as the dissertation draft is complete | at least 6 months after passing General Exam |