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Admission to candidacy for the doctoral degree is a judgment by the faculty members in the graduate program that the student is prepared to successfully complete the requirements of the doctoral degree program. Subject to any extension allowances, doctoral students must complete all candidacy requirements within 28 months of first registration. Those students who have transferred from a master’s program must complete all candidacy requirements within 36 months of the first registration in that master's program.

Each graduate program specifies its requirements for candidacy in its Candidacy Requirements document. To be admitted to candidacy, the student must successfully:

1. Complete course requirements for their program as set out in the program’s Calendar entry. Graduate Program Directors have the authority to require additional courses or waive course requirements for students in consultation with the supervisor and supervisory committee (where applicable).
2. Complete any other program-specific candidacy requirements such as language or seminar requirements, as set out in the program’s Calendar entry.
3. Complete a written thesis proposal that is examined and approved by the supervisory committee (and additional examiners, if required by the program).
4. Pass one or more Field of Study examination(s) to demonstrate knowledge in their field of study, as required by the graduate program.

In their Candidacy Requirements, programs will establish what constitutes a “pass” on each examination component (i.e., grade assigned, unanimity of the committee, etc.).

If, for any component related to K.1.4 above, the examination committee requires that a student undertake remedial work, that remedial work must be completed before the student can be admitted to candidacy. Once a student has been admitted to candidacy, s/he cannot be required to undertake additional course work (excluding courses mandated as post-candidacy requirements in program Calendar entries).

A student who fails any component related to K.1.3 and K.1.4 above will be allowed to retake the examination within six months of the failed examination. The second failure of a candidacy component will result in a student being required to withdraw. In the case of failed outcomes, students have the right to appeal. Students must appeal directly to the Faculty of Graduate Studies (see Appeals Against Faculty of Graduate Studies Rulings).

Each graduate program offering a doctoral degree will establish its own Candidacy Requirements document, within the framework set out in K.1 Admission to Candidacy.

Each graduate program must require at least one oral examination and one written component on either the thesis proposal or Field of Study examination.

The Candidacy Requirements document must be approved by the Faculty of Graduate Studies.

The Candidacy Requirements document must be posted on the program’s website.

Candidacy Requirements must be the same for all students in a graduate program, except when they relate to an approved specialization within the degree program.