Effective for students entering the PhD program on or after September 1, 2026, updated Winter 2026.
By the start of the first summer of study, students must identify a qualifying exam committee satisfying the following requirements:
- The committee must contain at least two members of the graduate faculty.
- The committee must contain at least two AMATH-affiliated faculty members (core, adjunct or affiliate)
- The committee must contain at least one core AMATH faculty member.
- One member of this committee should be the intended PhD advisor.
In consultation with the committee, the student will propose a study program for the summer and the committee will administer an oral exam based on the study material during the fall quarter of the student’s second year. The study program is subject to departmental approval. The department will generally provide funding for this summer study program. The goal of this exam is to ensure that students have sufficient background knowledge in their proposed field of study in order to accelerate and deepen research. The expectation for a successful exam will be made clear by the committee, and will include the demonstration of command of the materials assigned. The format of this closed-door exam, which will include questioning by the committee, may also include a presentation by the student, prepared responses to questions given in advance, or other assessments as determined by the committee.
As with the general exam, the result of this exam is one of the following:
- Pass: The student is encouraged to proceed with their studies.
- Requires re-examination: The student must be reexamined after a further period of study, during which they will be placed on final academic alert. Students who do not pass the re-examination will not be recommended to continue and the program will request an academic drop.
- Fail: The student is not recommended to continue and the program will request an academic drop.
For students who entered the program prior to September 1, 2026, please find qualifying exam requirements here.