PhD candidacy examination：
 

1. The notice the application of candidacy examination is issued by the department office within the first week of new semester and is held once per semester
2. Graduate students should follow the notice posted by department office and submit their applications in time
3. The candidacy examination is divided into written and oral examinations, respectively. The success of candidacy examination is judged upon the condition that the scores of both examinations exceed the threshold. 
4. The candidacy examination committee is formed by four members suggested by the supervisor and approved by 2/3 of the academic committee members of the department. One of the candidacy examination committee members should be the member of academic committee members.
5. The graduate should select two courses verified by the supervisor and approved by 2/3 of the academic committee members of the department for written examination. The questions of each selected course are given by two of those candidacy examination committee members. Once the courses for written examination are selected, they can’t be altered except for the alteration of supervisor and research direction. However, this alteration is regulated by fourteenth term of these bylaws   
6. The success of written examination is judged should the average score of those two courses given by all committee members exceed 70 points and scores graded by at least three committee members should exceed 70 points
7. The graduate should present his/her research proposal including motivation, literature reviews, methodology, schedule, anticipated outcomes and references within 30 minutes. The graduate will be graded by candidacy examination committee members based on the contents of research proposal as well as written examination. 
8. The success of oral examination is judged should the average score given by all committee members exceed 70 points and scores graded by at least three committee members should exceed 70 points
9. The designated validation period for completing the candidacy examination is two years and the graduate should complete the first round of written examination. Whether he or she passes it or not, the graduate should apply for the extension for completing the candidacy examination with detailed explanations in written form, once it is approved by 2/3 of the academic committee members, the validation period for completing is extended for one year. However, the maximum number for applying the extension is 3.  
10. The failure of oral examination does not jeopardize the success of written examination. The passing score of written examination would be kept for next round of candidacy examination once it is verified by all committee members.
11. The passing score of written examination of those re-entry PhD candidates should be recognized should their research directions remain, however; they are requested to take the oral examination.
12. The maximum number for applying the candidacy examination extension is 2; those who can’t complete the candidacy examination after the second round would be withdrawn from the university.

These bylaws are verified and approved by the department meeting.