Graduate School of Arts and Sciences

Effective October 2021

Students entering Brandeis with no previous graduate work must earn the doctorate within eight years from the inception of study. In recognition of the extraordinary circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic and the myriad research and health disruptions of our doctoral students' progress, GSAS will be automatically granting an extension of time to degree for any doctoral student who was enrolled during the Spring 2020, Fall 2020 and Spring 2021 semesters, thereby extending their time from eight to nine years. At the end of the student’s eighth year, the Graduate School will still facilitate the extension petition process in the interest of transparent communication between the student, program and GSAS, but all extensions will be granted.