Helpful Links
- Dates & Deadlines
- Ph.D. Academic Timeline
- Master's Academic Timeline
- Graduate Policies and Procedures Handbook
Acceptable Approvals/Signatures for Forms
There are three possibilities for approving or signing the forms below:
- Adobe Signature - Adobe signature with a scanned image of a wet signature. Please see Adobe's Quick Start Guide.
- Wet Signature/Copy of Wet Signature - Traditional original ink signature on paper.
- UC Merced Email - Forms should be completed online and forwarded as an email attachment to the appropriate persons for approval. Signers should indicate, "I approve" or "I do not approve" and add any notes they wish in the body of the email, and then forward it (with form attached) to the next person for approval via UC Merced email. The email approvals should be submitted through a single email trail. The final person to approve/disapprove should forward the form and email trail to gradservices@ucmerced.edu, with a copy to the school's graduate coordinator.
Please note: Forms submitted without acceptable approvals/signatures will be considered incomplete and will NOT be processed. When a form is processed, the student will receive an email notification to their UC Merced email account.
Enrollment and Status Forms
Please submit completed forms to gradservices@ucmerced.edu for Graduate Dean review and processing.
- Change of Advisor (When a student wishes to change their PhD or MA/MS faculty advisor. If a new advisor has not been identified at the time of filing this form, the Graduate Program Chair fills in as temporary advisor).
- Change of Major/Degree (When a student wants to switch from a PhD to a Masters).
- In Absentia Registration (When a students wants to register during a semester when they will be away for an internship or field work. Tuition is reduced. NOTE: this is different from the form for taking leave).
- Filing Fee Petition (When a student has completed all research activities and is working on the thesis writing, they can request filing fee status for one semester).
- Petition for Reduced Fee Part-Time
- Intercampus Exchange Program
- Graduate Taking Undergraduate Course Form
- Application for Readmission (Application MUST be filed by applicants who were absent from any term or who formally withdrew. Readmission is subject to program approval and is not guaranteed).
- Leaving UC Merced Form (previously the University Withdrawal and Educational Leave Program Request)
- General Petition (For all requests not covered by the prior forms).
Qualifying Examination and Advancement to Candidacy
**As of Fall 2022, all qualifying examinations and dissertation defenses are to be held in person by default. The student and all in-residence committee members are required to attend the examination/defense in person.
- Application for Qualifying Examination (Ph.D. students only) - to be submitted one month prior to exam date
- Qualifying Examination Report (Ph.D. students only) - to be submitted by support staff following exam
- Request for Reconstitution of Committee Membership - to be submitted if there are changes to committee membership
Advancement to Candidacy (Master's & PhD students): *Please connect with your Program Support Staff before submitting the electronic form.
- PhD: https://dbsforms.ucmerced.edu/forms/advancement-to-candidacy-phd
- Masters: https://dbsforms.ucmerced.edu/forms/advancement-to-candidacy-ms
Please reference the Advancement to Candidacy approval flow chart once submitted
