Graduate School Bulletin

Time Limit

• The time limit for a doctoral degree is seven years for a student who has a previous graduate degree or 24 credits of graduate study in such a degree program.
• For all other students, the time limit for a doctoral degree is seven years after completion of 24 graduate level credits at Stony Brook University.

In exceptional cases where the program cannot be completed within these periods, students may petition for an extension of the time limit. The Request for Waiver of Graduate Time Limit form can be found by selecting the forms link from the Graduate School Web site. These petitions require the approval of the student’s advisor and graduate program director.

Requests for a time limit extension must be filed before the limit is exceeded and must contain a significant justification. The final decision rests with the dean of the Graduate School, who may impose additional requirements.