Doctoral Final Oral Examination Scheduling

How it Works

•  The student must schedule the Final Oral Examination with the Graduate School online as soon as a date is set, but no later than one week prior to the examination.
•  Once the student schedules online, a confirmation email will be sent to the student's UMN email account.
•  At least one week prior to the exam, an email will be sent to the student's UMN email account that will include information regarding outstanding requirements and/or the status of the Final Oral Examination form.

Please note that the student is responsible for scheduling and confirming the time and place of the examination with all committee members and for following their program’s internal scheduling procedures.  In certain health science fields the faculty requires 30 days' notice of the date of the final oral examination.

Changes to the Examining Committee

Any changes in the make-up of the examining committee must be reported to the Graduate School immediately and approved by the Graduate School prior to the examination. For more information regarding committee changes, click here.

Examination Requirements

The following requirements must be met with the Graduate School before the Final Oral Examination can be authorized:

1. If the Preliminary Oral Examination was passed with reservations, a letter notifying the student and the Graduate School that those reservations have been removed must be on file.

2. A Graduate School approved Thesis Proposal form must be on file.

3. The Reviewers Report form must be on file at the Graduate School before the examination.

Note: Students may schedule their exam with the Graduate School before submitting the Reviewers Report form.

4. All coursework on the doctoral Degree Program form must be complete.

5. The Graduate School must have on file certification of any language requirement as indicated on the doctoral Degree Program form.

6. The student must hold active status in the Graduate School at the time of the examination. 

7. The Final Oral Examination must be taken within 5 years of the term following the Preliminary Oral Examination, or an approved time extension must be on file.

8. The student must have registered for 24 semester doctoral thesis credits (8888).

Note: DMA students are required to have 4 dissertation credits and Ed.D. EdPA students with an Educational Administration track must complete 12 dissertation credits.