Admission to candidacy is a formal University process. It signifies the faculty's recognition that the student has completed certain degree requirements and is likely to complete all other degree requirements.

Candidacy requirements in the Graduate School of Business include the General Program Requirement and the field requirements.

Entering students with substantial relevant graduate work should file for candidacy by the end of the second year of study. Other students may be granted up to an additional year to complete candidacy requirements. Upon approval of doctoral candidate status, the student has a maximum of five additional years in which to complete the degree requirements.