Time Allowed for Completion of Degree

In general, graduate students at UHM must complete all degree requirements within seven years after admission to their programs. An approved leave of absence of up to two semesters is not counted in the seven years. Returning UHM graduate students who are readmitted to the same graduate program for the same degree objective are subject to degree requirements at the time of readmission.

Master’s Program

For students enrolled prior to Spring 2007, the basic policy remains the same: Master’s students are required to complete all degree requirements within seven years. Students who have not requested an extension will be placed on probation once they pass seven years. (E.g., a student who began the program in Fall 2004 and has not graduated by Summer 2011 will be placed on probation.) By the new policy effective Fall 2011, failure to complete the degree within five years will result in the student being placed on probation. (E.g., a student who began the program in Spring 2007 and has not graduated by Fall 2011 will be placed on probation.) The probation notice will be rescinded if the student completes the degree within seven years. Students who do not complete the degree within seven years are subject to dismissal. Approved leaves of absence do not count toward these time limits.

By this new policy, if at the end of year seven more time is needed for completion of the Master’s degree due to circumstances beyond the student’s control, and the student has completed all of the degree requirements except the thesis or capstone experience, an extension may be requested. To request an extension, the student’s graduate chair submits a petition to the Office of Graduate Student Services. If the program does not file for an extension, the student will be dismissed.

Doctoral Program

For students enrolled prior to Spring 2007, the basic policy remains the same: doctoral students are required to complete all degree requirements within seven years. Students who have not requested an extension may be placed on probation once they pass seven years. (E.g., a student who began the program in Fall 2004 and has not graduated by Summer 2011 could be subject to probation.) Students who have requested an extension will be placed on probation once they pass ten years. Effective Fall 2011, any doctoral student who has not completed his/her degree after seven years will be placed on probation; no extension is necessary. The probation notice will be rescinded if the student completes the degree within ten years. Students who do not complete the degree within ten years are subject to dismissal. Also effective Fall 2011, a doctoral student who has not advanced to candidacy after five years will be placed on probation. (E.g., a student who began the program in Spring 2007and has not filed Form 2 by Fall 2011 will be placed on probation.) The probation notice will be rescinded if the student advances to candidacy prior to seven years. If the student has not filed Form 2 within seven years the student shall be dismissed. Approved leaves of absence do not count toward these time limits.

If at the end of year ten more time is needed for completion of the doctoral degree due to circumstances beyond the student’s control, and the student has completed all degree requirements except the dissertation, an extension may be requested. Similarly, if more time is needed for advancement to candidacy due to circumstances beyond the student’s control, an extension may be requested. To request an extension, the student’s graduate chair submits a petition to the Office of Graduate Student Services. If the program does not file for an extension, the student will be dismissed.

The extension request should provide a timeline for completion that includes the expected graduation date and the reason(s) necessitating the extension.