Frequently Asked Questions

Students who are considering withdrawing from their program should first speak with their adviser(s) and DGS.  In many cases, students considering withdrawing from the program are better served by taking a leave of absence.  Please keep in mind that once students withdraw from the program, they cannot be reenrolled.  If students would like to pursue a voluntary withdrawal, they should complete the Checkout Form for students departing the University and submit an withdrawal request via TigerHub.

Ordinarily no. You must have completed one academic year before you are eligible.

CPT forms require the approval and signature of one of the academic affairs deans.  Please drop a copy of your CPT form, your position description, and an offer letter from your internship employer at the Graduate School reception desk.  You will be contacted if there are any questions regarding your placement or when your form is ready for pickup.  Approval takes a minimum of 24 - 48 hours so please plan accordingly.

Students who are post-generals and making progress toward the degree can be moved to Enrollment Terminated Degree Candidacy Continues (ET/DCC) status.  ET/DCC status allows student who are no longer enrolled to submit a dissertation for review.  To ease the transition to this status, students retain network and library privileges for one year after entering ET/DCC status.  Students have up to five years past the general examination to submit a dissertation for review.  If more than five years have passed since a student has passed the General Examination, the faculty are not obligated to accept the dissertation for review.

No. You must be enrolled in a Ph.D. program.

Students who end their enrollment for any reason must leave the country within 15 days. 

International students who have earned an advanced degree at Princeton may be eligible for optional practical training (OPT), which allows international students the opportunity to pursue work experience that is directly related to their field of study.  Please contact the Davis International Center for more information.

For those fellowships administered by the Graduate School (i.e.,  Fulbright, DAAD) or those that need institutional endorsement, be sure to follow the application process and campus deadlines provided. For all others you should apply directly to the fellowship.

Students can log into TigerHub to submit changes to the necessary offices.  Supporting documentation may be requested.

It is never too soon.  For many of the fellowships administered by the Graduate School, Ph.D. students must have passed their general examination. Many fellowship deadlines occur in the fall term, so preparation can begin as early as the spring term of the previous year.

Academic Year Sign-in is a yearly process that all graduate students (incoming and current) need to complete in order to be enrolled and to receive student benefits, including stipend support. 

The Writing Center provides workshops on writing research proposals as well as one-on-one meetings. You may also contact the Graduate School for fellowships administered directly by the Graduate School.

Reenrollment is a process that asks each student, adviser(s), and department to review the student’s progress.  Students often find this review of progress helpful in reflecting on their own degree progress and a way to discuss goals with their adviser or department.

Students currently writing their dissertation can participate in dissertation boot camps or Graduate Writing Days, which provide a space for writing to jumpstart the writing process.

Dissertation boot camps offer dissertators a quiet space to work, focused thinking and writing time, and the camaraderie of a writers' community.

Graduate Writing Days offers:

• Plenty of caffeine and a generous spread of food
• Work space to suit your style (quiet zone or cafe atmosphere)
• Tips and strategies for the writing process
• Optional weekly debriefing groups
• A great complement to Dissertation Boot Camp (gear up and maintain momentum) OR an independent low-intensity, flexible writing routine.

All graduate students in the social sciences, natural sciences, and engineering who complete research as part of their degree are required to complete responsible conduct in research (RCR) training.  The training generally is offered in the form of a course but can also be a workshop or an online module.  All RCR training is mandated by certain federal agencies.

Students interested in teaching in higher education should review the many programs offered by the McGraw Center for Teaching and Learning. The McGraw Center offers extensive programs and services to graduate students related to their development as scholars.  These programs include: The Teaching Transcript, pedagogy and professional development workshops and seminars, instructional consultations, and online resources.

You would be eligible for the benefit if you are a single parent or parent whose spouse or partner has returned to full-time employment. A student who was not eligible to request part 1 of the accommodation but wishes to request part 2 must submit a written request to the Graduate School no less than one month before the start of the caregiving responsibilities.  

All students who will serve as first-time AIs are required by the Graduate School to attend AI training.  AI training is run through the McGraw Center, and is offered once every semester.  Departments may also conduct their own AI training to supplement the program run by McGraw.  

You must submit the Request for Suspension for Childbirth and Adoption form to the Graduate School no less than three months prior to the expected due date or placement date (for adoption).

Ph.D. students who are at the end of their program length may apply for Dissertation Completion Enrollment (DCE) status during the annual reenrollment process.  DCE status may be approved by the department for a maximum of two consecutive years for students making progress toward their dissertation. 

No. You must be in your regular enrollment period to be eligible.

No. Students wishing to enter DCE status should apply during annual reenrollment.  Students who have not finished their dissertation during their defined program length and do not wish to enter DCE status may, with department approval, instead enter Enrollment Terminated/Degree Candidacy Completion (ET/DCC) status.

You must register any University-sponsored travel in Concur. A trip is considered sponsored by the University if any of the statements below are applicable:

• The trip is organized on behalf of a registered University organization, including but not limited to: student organizations, religious groups, sport clubs, varsity athletic teams, civic engagement organizations, residential colleges, academic or administrative departments;
• A University account contributes funds, or money is held and disbursed through a University account;
• The trip is organized by a University faculty or staff member; or
• The work will be considered for academic credit.

No, students in DCE status are not eligible to enroll in classes.  The Graduate School makes exceptions for students who wish to enroll in Writing in Science and Engineering (WSE) courses through the Princeton Writing Program.

Travel funding is available from the Dean’s fund for scholarly travel.  Travel funding may also be available conference travel through your department or program as well as various academic centers on campus.  Students who are taking a role in the development or administration of the conference may apply for professional development funding through the Graduate School.

Students who are preparing to defend should review the Advanced Degree Application process, which includes a Timeline to FPO outlining the typical timeframe for preparation and submission of Advanced Degree Application materials.  Always check with your department’s graduate program administrator for department specific instructions.

Students can apply for up to $600.00/academic year.

Most dissertations will not require an embargo.  The Graduate School can approve a two-year embargo of dissertation work, most often awarded to pursue book publication of dissertation materials. An embargo places a two-year hold on the online publication of the dissertation.  

Students take leaves for a variety of personal and medical reasons.  Students thinking of taking a leave of absence should first speak with their adviser and DGS and then Academic Affairs at the Graduate School.  According to our leave of absence policy, students in good standing can apply for a one- or two-semester leave of absence.  Students can request a one- or two-semester extension to a leave of absence, but the total length of a leave of absence cannot exceed a total for four consecutive semesters.  To request a leave of absence, the student needs to submit a leave of absence request via TigerHub.  A copy of the Checklist for Students Departing the University needs to be attached to the online request for the request to be reviewed and approved.

Students approved for a leave of absence will receive a formal confirmation notification from the Graduate School outlining the terms of the leave (if any) and the reenrollment process.

Yes, you may submit multiple applications but may only be awarded a maximum of $600 per year.

If the student is currently enrolled most student benefits end the first of the month following the defense.  Students who have successfully defended the Ph.D. are eligible for a 65-day extension of network privileges and email as well as a 90-day extension of health care benefits.  

Students who are not enrolled at the time of the defense do not receive any benefit extensions.

Leaves are not normally granted to students who have not successfully completed one full term of enrollment, are scheduled to take their general examination, or have entered or are about to enter DCE status, which requires continuous enrollment.

You may take courses through the Ivy-Plus Exchange Scholar Program or through one of the approved cross-registration programs. Applications for each of these can be found on the Graduate School website.

Reenrollment is the process by which you indicate your plans to the Graduate School.  If you are eligible to be reenrolled but do not believe you will need to be reenrolled because you will defend your dissertation before September 1, you should communicate this information through the reenrollment process.  If there is any possibility that you will not defend before September 1 and may require reenrollment, it is best to request reenrollment and then have it cancelled when you defend.

Students working full-time on degree requirements away from Princeton are eligible for in absentia status.  Students should request a leave when they will not be working on degree requirements during their time away from Princeton.

Yes. You can apply for the Ivy-Plus Exchange Program to conduct research at one of our ivy-plus peer institutions for a semester or up to one year. The Graduate School also has a number of partnerships with international institutions.

Students can receive a confirmation of defense from Academic Affairs at the Graduate School.