Time Limits for ME Graduate Degree Programs

Graduate study is less rigidly structured than undergraduate study and the time needed for a particular student to complete a program depends on many factors. Nonetheless, a student who is actively pursuing a degree should be able to complete the coursework in a reasonable length of time beyond which the relevance and originality of the coursework and/or research may diminish.

On-Campus Master's Degree  |  Online Master's Degree  |  Ph.D. Degree

Expected Time to On-Campus Master's Degree

The School of Mechanical Engineering adopted the following policy, effective September 30, 2021:

The total elapsed time for completion of a ME Residential Master’s Degree (thesis or non-thesis) in the School of Mechanical Engineering shall be no more than three calendar years from date of initial entry into the ME Master’s program. The date of the entry is defined as the first semester where course registration took place in the degree program, even if course(s) were later dropped.  At least one course to meet degree requirements, should be taken every semester to remain actively enrolled.
(Please note: If a student loses their eligibility to register and is readmitted to the program, the initial date of entry, not the re-admitted date, applies for the time limit.  If the time between the last semester in the program and the re-admitted semester is less than 5 years, the previously completed coursework can still be accepted as long as the credits weren’t previously dual-counted with another degree, but a new POS will need to be submitted.)  

Students who have not completed the Master’s by the end of 3rd year in the ME Graduate Program may be dismissed from the graduate program. An extension beyond the three-year limit may be granted by the Graduate Committee upon submission of a written request by the student documenting unusual and extenuating circumstances that led to the delay, along with supporting recommendation statement from the student’s Advisory Committee.  However, such an extension will require re-approval of the Plan of Study. Only one-year extensions will be given if approved.

Expected Time to Online Master's Degree

The School of Mechanical Engineering adopted the following policy effective September 2, 2021:

The total elapsed time for completion of a ME Online Master’s Non-Thesis Degree in the School of Mechanical Engineering shall be no more than ten calendar years from date of initial entry into the ME Online Master’s program. The date of the entry is defined as the first semester where course registration took place, even if course(s) were later dropped. At least one course to meet degree requirements, should be taken every semester to remain actively enrolled. Students who have not completed the Master’s Non-Thesis by the end of 10th year in the ME Online Graduate Program will be dismissed from the graduate program.  No extensions will be given. Students approved to enter the Online Master’s Thesis program will need to follow the regular Master’s time to degree completion of three years from date of entry to program completion.
(Please note: If a student loses their eligibility to register and is readmitted to the program, the initial date of entry, not the re-admitted date, applies for the time limit.  If the time between the last semester in the program and the re-admitted semester is less than 5 years, the previously completed coursework can still be accepted, but a new POS will need to be submitted.)  

Requests to transfer out of the online Master’s degree to another school within Purdue, will be considered through the first academic year, based on your initial admit term, even if registration was postponed to a later term.

Expected Time to Ph.D.

The School of Mechanical Engineering adopted the following policy effective August 15, 2005:

The total elapsed time for completion of a PhD in the School of Mechanical Engineering shall be no more than six calendar years from date of initial entry into the PhD program to final approval of the PhD thesis by the Examining Committee. The date of the entry is defined as the start of the semester following receipt of the Master's degree. For students in the Direct PhD program, the date of the initial entry is defined as the start of the semester in which the status is changed to that of a PhD student. This policy applies to all students including those who register for research in absentia.
(Please note:  If a student loses their eligibility to register and is readmitted to the program, the initial date of entry, not the re-admitted date, applies for the time limit.  If the time between the last semester in the program and the re-admitted semester is less than 5 years, the previously completed coursework can still be accepted, but a new POS will need to be submitted.   However, previous completed PhD requirements like area exams, preliminary exam, etc, would have to be re-taken and passed to remain in the program.)

Students who have not completed the PhD by the end of 6th year (7th year for a D-PhD student) in the ME Graduate Program may be dismissed from the graduate program. An extension beyond the six-year limit may be granted by the Graduate Committee upon submission of a written request by the student documenting unusual and extenuating circumstances that led to the delay, along with supporting recommendation of the student's Advisory Committee. However, such an extension will require re-approval of the Plan of Study and also may include requirements to re-take the Area Examinations and to have a research review examination similar in format to the Preliminary Examination. Only one-year extensions will be given, if approved.

Recommended Milestones for a PhD and D-PhD

  1. Selection of area of interest and Major Professor: 1st semester
  2. Creation and approval of the POS must be done between 3rd and 6th week of first semester
  3. Taking the PhD Area Examinations
    • In 3rd semester for students with a MS, enrolled in the PhD program
    • In 3rd semester for students enrolled as D-PhD at admission, or
    • In the 3rd semester after the change to the D-PhD is effective.
  4. Identification of a thesis topic: As early as possible.
  5. Preliminary Examination
    • Should be completed within one year after passing all of the Area Examinations.
  6. Defense of PhD Dissertation
    • Typically, before the end of four years after entry into the PhD Program, or
    • Before the end of five years for students in the D-PhD.

It is essential that students make steady progress toward a timely completion of the PhD. In cases where students have not completed the Preliminary Examination by the end of the student's 3rd year in the PhD program (4th year for D-PhD students), the following steps may be required:

  1. The Graduate Chair will inform the student and Major Professor of the need to convene the Advisory Committee for a review of the student’s progress.
  2. The Advisory Committee will convene and review the student’s progress within a month of this request.
  3. The Major Professor will summarize the results of the Advisory Committee review including the reasons for the delay and the plan developed with the student for completion of the Preliminary Examination. This summary will be submitted to the Graduate Chair for review.
  4. The Graduate Chair will discuss the Advisory Committee’s summary with the Graduate Committee and may meet with the Major Professor and student to discuss the feedback from the Graduate Committee.

Students who have not completed the PhD by the end of 6th year (7th year for a D-PhD student) in the ME Graduate Program may be dismissed from the graduate program. The student may submit a written request to the Graduate Committee documenting unusual and extenuating circumstances. If this request is approved by the Graduate Committee, the student may be reinstated in the PhD program.

ME Graduate Office
516 Northwestern Ave. (4th floor of Wang Hall)
West Lafayette, IN 47906
MEgradoffice@purdue.edu
(765) 494-5730
Virtual office hours available every Tues/Wed/Thurs