Graduation Information

Students must "declare candidacy" to graduate. CS graduate students should declare candidacy by the end of the first week of classes of the desired semester of graduation.

For specific semester graduation deadlines, please see the Graduate School Calendar; however, please allow at least one week for departmental staff to process requests.

For information about the commencement ceremony, please visit www.purdue.edu/commencement

Declaring:

Students can declare candidacy by following the steps below:

1. Submit a registration request through the Scheduling Assistant for CAND 99100, 99200, or 99300
2. You must be registered for courses and/or research first before submitting CAND 99100 request (it can be done simultaneously). 

• CAND 99100 (General Candidacy): For students registering for at least 1 credit of research and/or coursework in their last session.
• CAND 99200 (Degree-Only Candidacy): For students who have completed all degree requirements except depositing their thesis. Students cannot be registered for any other research and/or coursework.
• CAND 99300 (Exam-Only Candidacy): For students who have completed all degree requirements except completing and passing their final exam and depositing their thesis. Students cannot be registered for any other research and/or coursework.

If you are declaring candidacy for multiple degrees (both PhD and MS) within the same semester, please register for candidacy for one degree, and then contact csgrad@purdue.edu, to let them know information on the second degree. Candidacy will only show on your schedule for one degree, but we will work with the Registrar's Office and Grad School to make sure expectation for both degrees is recorded in their systems.

Ethics Requirements:

All candidates should have completed the Ethics Requirements (lecture and CITI online test) during the first year in the program.

For students seeking an MS degree:

An MS plan of study must be submitted by the student, signed by all advisory committee members and departmental staff, and awaiting only Graduate School processing by the Friday prior to the first day of classes of the desired semester of graduation. Therefore, MS plans of study must be submitted by April 1^st for Summer or Fall graduation and November 1st for spring graduation to ensure adequate time for departmental staff processing.

MS non-thesis option students should complete the Communications Requirement by April 1^st for Summer or Fall graduation and November 1st for Spring graduation.

Late Graduation Deadline Fees:

• Students who are on the candidate list for the same degree for three or more consecutive sessions will be assessed a late fee for each consecutive session, starting with the third session.
• Students who request to be added as a candidate for the current term after the Graduate School deadline will also be assessed a late fee.
• Students who miss the plan of study deadline will be assessed a late fee.