At any time within ten years from the date of the award of the M.Phil. degree and subject to approval for continuation toward the Ph.D. degree by the department chair, a recipient of the M.Phil. degree who has not continued studies in residence at the University may present to the dean, in lieu of a sponsored dissertation, a substantial body of independent and original published scholarship toward completion of the requirements for the Ph.D. degree. A recipient of the M.Phil. degree who has not continued studies in residence at the University is not entitled to regular guidance or supervision by the faculty.

An applicant who wishes to submit such material prepared extra muros should request from the dissertation officer the specific requirements of the Graduate School and the department. The submitted material is reviewed by the dean in consultation with the department to determine whether or not the applicant is eligible to sit for the final examination. If the decision to examine the candidate is favorable, the department, in consultation with the dean, names for this purpose a committee of at least five members, of whom three members are from the department or program, and names one member as chair.

The final examination is designed to satisfy the examination committee that in its judgment the quality of the candidate’s work meets the standards of the University for the award of the Ph.D. degree.

The examination may be taken only once, and it is either passed or failed.

The candidate must register for Matriculation and Facilities in the term in which he or she sits for the final examination. Following a successful defense, the candidate should contact the Dissertation Office for any remaining paperwork. This must be done before the office is able to certify degree completion.