Second Year (6th Quarter) Review

The purpose of the second year review is to assess a student’s preparation for dissertation research and command of the research area, identify remaining training needs, and determine whether the student should be advanced to candidacy.  Doctoral students are expected to complete their second year review/qualifying paper and advance to candidacy prior to the first day of the seventh quarter (typically fall quarter of the student’s third year); see the Stanford Graduate Academic Policies and Procedures, section 4.6.  The purpose of this policy is to help assure timely progress toward completion of the Ph.D. With permission from the advisor and area chair, students may petition for an extension of the second-year review deadline to the seventh quarter of enrollment.  If students require an extension, they must fill out the GSE Second Year Review Extension Form, have their advisor and area chair review and sign it, and submit it to the Doctoral Programs Officer by the first week of classes of the seventh quarter. Failure to successfully complete the review by the end of the seventh quarter will lead immediately to a review of program status by the Associate Dean of Educational Affairs and may result in suspension of doctoral funding and/or dismissal from the program.

Each Area’s section of this Handbook details the Area-specific requirements for the review. Students must meet with their advisor several weeks in advance of the review to discuss expectations, scheduling, and portfolio due date. Committee membership requirements are discussed in the Committee Composition for First- and Second-Year Reviews section.

Registration (i.e., enrollment) is required for any quarter during which a degree requirement is completed, including the Second-Year review. Refer to the Registration or Enrollment for Milestone Completion section for more details.