Masters students are not automatically advanced to candidacy. Students must submit an application for the master's degree before the end of the fifth week of instruction in the semester during which they expect to file their thesis or take the comprehensive exam. The student must have fulfilled the coursework requirements for the M.S degree (courses in which the student is currently enrolled may be counted), and selected a thesis committee if filing a thesis. Master's students have six semesters after advancement to candidacy in which to complete the requirements for the degree.

The application for advancement to candidacy can be downloaded from the Graduate Division Web site http://www.grad.berkeley.edu/nav/forms.shtml or obtained from the Graduate Division Degrees Unit in 302 Sproul Hall. There is no charge for advancement to candidacy for the masters degree.