Graduate.
Exam DeadlinesPlease view deadlines for both PhD and MS examinations below. Still confused? Take a look at the exam deadlines for PhD or MS degrees in chart format (PDF files).
PhD Examination Deadlines
Qualifying Exam
- Oral exam must be taken within 14 months of matriculation (date of first registration as a doctoral student)
- Submit your written Qualifying Exam Form at least 4 weeks before your scheduled oral exam
- A change can be made to your committee; it must be done at least 48 hours before the oral exam
- E-mail the DGSA (samantha@ee.duke.edu) the date/time/place/title of the exam at least 2 weeks prior to the oral exam
- Submit hard copies of your written report to the committee at least 2 weeks before the oral exam
- *Suggestion: Turn in your Preliminary Committee Approval form as soon as the Qual exam is passed
Preliminary Exam
- Oral exam must be taken within 3 years of matriculation (date of first registration as a doctoral student)
- Submit your Preliminary Committee Approval form at least 2 1/2 months before the oral exam
- A change can be made to your committee; it must be done at least 48 hours before the oral exam
- Oral exam must take place at least 2 months after the Grad School approves your committee
- E-mail the DGSA (samantha@ee.duke.edu) the date/time/place/title of your Preliminary Exam at least 2 weeks before the oral exam
- Submit hard copies of your written report to the committee at least 2 weeks before the oral exam
PhD Thesis Exam
- Fill out the Intent to Receive Degree (on-line form at GS website) at the beginning of the semester you plan to graduate
- Oral exam must be taken within 5 years of passing the preliminary exam
- Submit your PhD Final Exam Committee Approval form at least 2 months before the oral exam
- If your Final Exam committee is identical to you Prelim Exam committee, you are not required to submit a new Committee Approval Form
- A change can be made to your committee; it must be done at least 48 hours before the oral exam
- E-mail the DGSA (samantha@ee.duke.edu) the date/time/place/title of the exam at least 2 weeks prior to the oral thesis exam
- Submit hard copies of your thesis to the committee at least 2 weeks before the oral thesis exam
- Thesis Format check must be scheduled and completed at least 1 week before the oral exam or by the deadline set by the GS, whichever is earlier
MS Examination Deadlines
MS Course-Only Exam
- Fill out the Intent to Receive Degree (on-line form at GS website) at the beginning of the semester you plan to graduate
- Oral exam must be taken within 2 years of matriculation (date of first registration as a graduate student)
- Submit your MS Final Exam Committee Approval form within the 1st month of the semester you plan to graduate
- Your committee members are: your advisor, the ECE DGS, and the chair of the ECE Graduate Studies Committee
- The DGSA will schedule the course-only exam at the end of the semester you are graduating
MS Project Exam
- Fill out the Intent to Receive Degree (on-line form at GS website) at the beginning of the semester you plan to graduate
- Oral exam must be taken within 2 years of matriculation (date of first registration as a graduate student)
- Submit your MS Final Exam Committee Approval form at least 1 month before your oral exam
- A change can be made to your committee; it must be done at least 48 hours before the oral exam
- E-mail the DGSA (samantha@ee.duke.edu) the date/time/place/title of the exam at least 2 weeks prior to the oral exam
- Submit hard copies of your project report to the committee at least 2 weeks before the oral exam
MS Thesis Exam
- Fill out the Intent to Receive Degree (on-line form at GS website) at the beginning of the semester you plan to graduate
- Oral exam must be taken within 2 years of matriculation (date of first registration as a graduate student)
- Submit your MS Final Exam Committee Approval form 1 month at least before your oral exam
- A change can be made to your committee; it must be done at least 48 hours before the oral exam
- E-mail the DGSA (samantha@ee.duke.edu) the date/time/place/title of the exam at least 2 weeks prior to the oral exam
- Submit hard copies of your thesis to the committee at least 2 weeks before the oral exam
- Thesis Format check must be scheduled and completed at least 1 week before the oral exam or by the deadline set by the GS, whichever is earlier


