Typical Time Schedule for PhD

1successive master & PhD students

Time

Jobs

1st semester
1study the master courses
2nd semester

Matters needing attention

Notes

Earn 30 credits and GPA no

fewer than 2.0

3rd semester

If

the

student

doesnt

pass

the

qualifying exam, he can not select the

1 Take the qualifying exams
2 Select the supervisor if pass the
qualifying exams

1 Each takes 3 exams

2 Contact the supervisor

supervisor.
If the student fails in the course, please
prepare to take the makeup exam

4th semester

1join the research team and prepare

Some students take the qualifying exam

the thesis proposal

for the second time if they fail in the

2follow the regular procedures to

first time

become the PhD candidate

5th semester

1Become the PhD candidate and

begin to take the PhD courses

6th semester

If the student does not pass the

Earn 16 credits

qualifying exam he can choose to

2finish the thesis proposal

graduate as the master student

1 Research related to thesis

2 Midterm evaluation
3 Writhe the thesis
4 Publish papers

Master

7th semester
8th semester
th

9 semester
10th semester

students

finish

the

thesis

defense and graduate at the beginning

of 8th semester.

1 Preliminary defense
2 Anonymous evaluation
3formal defense

The student may leave when he

finish the thesis defense and

4degree evaluation

submit all the materials

5find the job

End of 10th semester
11th,
th

th

th

Graduate ceremony, get the graduation certificate and degree certificate. Leave SJTU
If the student can not finish the thesis, he/she may ask for one year extension or two years extension (the

12 ,13 ,14 semester

extension application form needed for two years extension). The total time for PhD should be no more than
5 years.

2admission by application,

Time
1st semester

Jobs

Matters needing attention

1 Select supervisor
2 Make the plan of study. Course study
1course study

Complete the courses and earn 16

2prepare the thesis proposal

credits so far

2nd semester

1 Comprehensive exam
3rd semester

2 Thesis proposal and the research

starts

Notes

4th semester

1 Continue the research

2 Midterm evaluation

5th semester

3 Begin to write the thesis

4 Publish papers
3 Preliminary defense
4 Anonymous evaluation
3formal defense

th

The student may leave when he finish

the thesis defense and submit all the

6 semester
4degree evaluation

materials

5find the job

End of 6th

Graduate ceremony, get the graduation certificate and degree certificate. Leave SJTU

semester

7th, 8th, 9th, 10th

semester

If the student can not finish the thesis, he/she may ask for one year extension or two years extension (the
extension application form needed for two years extension). The total time for PhD should be no more than 5
years.