Ph.D. Qualifying Examination

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Overview

The Qualifying Examination is an important checkpoint meant to show that you are on a promising research track toward the Ph.D. degree. It is a University examination, administered by the Graduate Council, with the specific purpose of demonstrating that “the student is clearly an expert in those areas of the discipline that have been specified for the examination, and that they can, in all likelihood, design and produce an acceptable dissertation.” Despite such rigid criteria, faculty examiners recognize that the level of expertise expected is that appropriate for a 3rd-year graduate student who may be only in the early stages of a research project. In forming your committee, please see the Qual Committee Page for specific committee rules.

See campus policies about the Qualifying Exam.

See slides (Calnet authentication is required).

Format

Qual may be in format A* or B below, at the choice of the examinee, after consultation with their advisor.

Research area survey, directions, and evidence of research ability.

  • If requested by the chair and your committee, prepare a write-up summarizing a specific research area, preferably the one in which you intend to do your dissertation work. Your summary should survey that area and describe open and interesting research problems. If a write-up is not requested, you can go right into preparing a presentation of your summary.
  • Describe why you chose these problems and indicate what direction your research may take in the future.
  • Prepare to display expertise on both the topic presented and on any related material that the committee thinks is relevant.
  • The student should talk (at least briefly) about any research progress to date (e.g., MS project, Ph.D. research, class project, etc.) Some evidence of the ability to do research is expected.
  • The committee shall evaluate the student on the basis of their comprehension of the fundamental facts and principles that apply within the student’s research area, and their ability to think incisively and critically about the theoretical and practical aspects of this field.
  • The student must demonstrate sufficient command of the content and the ability to design and produce an acceptable dissertation.

Research area survey, directions, thesis proposal defense.

This option includes the presentation and defense of a thesis proposal in addition to the requirements of option A. It will include a summary of research to date and plans for future work (or at least the next stage thereof). The committee shall not only evaluate the student’s thesis proposal and their progress to date, but shall also evaluate according to option A. As in Option A, the student should prepare a single document (only if requested by their chair and committee) and a presentation. In this case, additional emphasis must be placed on research completed to date and plans for the remainder of the dissertation research.

Qual Committee

In consultation with your research advisor, you should choose an appropriate examination committee.

  • Your committee must consist of at least 4 members, with at least 3 being regular faculty members at Berkeley.
  • Your advisor or co-advisors are typically members of the committee, but they cannot serve as the chair. Another committee member must be from outside the EECS Department, representing some area of expertise relevant to your research area, including minors.
  • All members of the Quals Committee must be able to examine the student on at least one of the 3 subjects of the examination (for instance, this could be the major and minors listed on the departmental white card).

Non-Senate Member

The non-senate member can be a UCB faculty member with no more than 0% appointment in EECS, or a faculty member or distinguished researcher from another institution.

Eligibility for Non-Senate Member

Your outside member, if not part of the Berkeley Academic Senate, must have a PhD and have published in the previous three years, and must be approved by your advisor and the EECS Grad Staff Advisor.

Next Steps

Submit a written statement of justification in the EECS Non-Senate Academic Request e-form. Attach the curriculum vitae of the proposed non-Senate member, and the e-form will be reviewed and approved by the staff advisor. Once complete, a memo will be attached to your application by the staff advisor and routed to the Graduate Division for review and final approval.

To avoid any conflict of interest, students are not allowed to pay travel costs and expenses for their committee members.

Hybrid Exam

Effective Spring 2020, if the student requests and/or agrees, a qualifying exam may be held entirely remotely or in a hybrid format (i.e., some members are physically present and some are remote). Students should refer to the Graduate Division’s policy for Qualifying Exams for the most up-to-date procedures.

Criteria

  • Must be within 6 semesters of starting the program
  • Be registered for the semester you take the exam. For summer, you must have been enrolled in Spring. The prelim requirements must be completed before a student is eligible to take the Qualifying exam. However, it is not required that all the coursework (e.g., the courses listed in the major and minors) be completed before taking the Qualifying exam.
  • In the unfortunate case that a student does fail the qualifying exam twice, per the Graduate Division’s policy, a third attempt is not permissible. The student will not be eligible to continue in the doctoral program and may be dismissed.

Instructions (please allow 2-3 weeks for processing)

  • Step 1: Create a Committee
  • Step 2: If any members of your committee are Non-Senate: Submit the Non-Senate Committee Request e-form. This is an internal form used by your Staff Advisor to create the exception letter needed by the Graduate Division for any non-senate committee members. You will not receive formal approval from this form. Approval will happen when the Graduate Division approves your Higher Degree Committee Request (see next step).
  • Step 3: Submit the Higher Degree Committee Request e-form (found on CalCentral>>My Dashboard>>Student Resources>>eForms Center).
  • Step 4: Submit the Ph.D. Application for the Qualifying Exam and theWhite Card to the Staff Graduate Advisor at least one month prior to your scheduled exam here: grad forms.

After the Exam

Upon successful completion of the exam, your committee members will sign an official form, and it will be returned to your Staff Advisor. They will formally submit the decision to the Graduate Division, and it will be officially recorded on your CalCentral record. Once this is complete, you will be eligible to advance to candidacy (see below) as long as no additional PhD requirements are pending.

An inability to successfully pass the qualifying exam on the first attempt will result in probationary status. In the unfortunate case that a student fails the qualifying exam twice, per the Graduate Division’s policy, a third attempt is not permissible. The student will not be eligible to continue in the doctoral program and may be dismissed.

If you have any questions, please contact the Staff Graduate Advisor at EE: grads-ee@berkeley.edu or CS: grads-cs@berkeley.edu.

Job Aids

For more information, please visit our EECS Graduate Handbook.

Advancement to Candidacy

After passing the Qual Exam, you need to organize your Dissertation Committee and have it officially approved by the Graduate Division.

Students should submit the Higher Degree Committee Request eform before the end of the semester in which they passed their Qualifying Exam. The application must be submitted through CalCentral (My Dashboard>>Student Resources>> eForms Center)

If you are assessed nonresident tuition, you are now eligible for an NRST reduction for a maximum of 3 years (assessed whether you are registered or not). You must be advanced by the first day of the semester to take advantage of this NRST reduction.

Committee Requirements:

  • a total of 3 Academic Senate Faculty members (you do not need to have all four of the same members from your quals)
  • 1 member from outside the EECS Department
  • the Chair is your Research Advisor

For more information, please visit our EECS Graduate Handbook.

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