Advancing to Candidacy
Once students have completed all requirements outlined in the Rackham Graduate Student Handbook for Pre-Candidacy, usually in the winter term of their second year, the department or program will complete and submit to the Graduate School a Recommendation for Candidacy Form. This form certifies that a student has completed departmental requirements for Candidacy.
Certificate of Candidacy
When the Office of Academic Records & Dissertations receives your Candidacy Recommendation Form, the staff will review your academic record to determine if you have completed all of the Rackham requirements for the doctorate except the dissertation, and that you have met the minimum Rackham Fee Totals for coursework done prior to Candidacy. Once that information has been verified and the Candidacy process has been completed, you may request a Certificate of Candidacy.
For more details about this process and Pre-Candidacy, please visit the Records and Dissertations page on the Rackham Graduate School website.
