Master鈥檚 Degree Time Limit

Master鈥檚 degree students have 4 years (6 years for students pursuing an M.E.) from the semester in which they are admitted and begin course work to complete all degree requirements. Students who fail to complete the degree in this four-year period may be dismissed from their program with the concurrence of the major advisor and/or appropriate departmental personnel. To continue, the student must file a petition for an extension of the time limit with the Dean of the Graduate School. Such petitions must be endorsed by the student鈥檚 major advisor and/or other appropriate departmental personnel and may be granted for up to one year.

  1. All degree requirements include the filing of the thesis with the Graduate School if a Plan I student.
  2. Students who need to leave CU Boulder for a period of time may apply for a leave of absence for up to one year. A leave of absence does not extend the student鈥檚 time limit, but may be used as a reason to request an extension, should that become necessary.
  3. Students whose residence at CU Boulder is interrupted by military service may apply to the Dean of the Graduate School for an extension of time.
  4. Students who have not completed their degree within their time limit, and who have received approval for an extension, shall have any course work completed more than 5 years prior to the completion of the degree requirements evaluated by their department for relevance and applicability. At the discretion of the department, the student may be required to validate these courses as part of the completion of their degree requirements.聽

Doctoral Degree Time Limits

Doctoral degree students are expected to complete all degree requirements within six聽years from the semester in which they are admitted and begin course work in the doctoral program. Students who fail to complete the degree in this six-year period may be dismissed from their program with the concurrence of the major advisor and/or appropriate departmental personnel. To continue, the student must file a petition for an extension of the time limit with the Dean of the Graduate School. Such petitions must be endorsed by the student鈥檚 major advisor and/or other appropriate departmental personnel and may be granted for up to one year. If the Dean of the Graduate School and the department chair/program director cannot agree on whether a student should continue, the Executive Advisory Council makes a final recommendation to the Dean of the Graduate School.

  1. All degree requirements include the filing of the dissertation and all accompanying forms with the Graduate School.
  2. Students who need to leave the University for a period of time may apply for a leave of absence for up to one year. Doctoral students who are required to maintain continuous registration may take a leave of absence for parental leave, and may petition for an exception to take a leave of absence in the case of other extenuating circumstances. A leave of absence does not extend the student鈥檚 time limit, but may be used as a reason when applying for an extension, should that become necessary.
  3. Students whose residence at CU Boulder is interrupted by military service may apply to the Dean of the Graduate School for an extension of time.聽

Last updated July 2023