PhD Program Guidelines & Information
ATLAS PhD Handbook
ATLAS PhD handbook with program rules and policies:
- Current PhD Program Handbook for students who started their PhD in Fall 2025 or later.
- Older version of the PhD Program Handbook for students who started between Fall 2021 - Fall 2024.
General ATLAS PhD Resources
:ÌýOneDrive folder with ATLAS-specific files including:
- Student exam examples including Study Plan, Preliminary Exam, and Comprehensive Exam
: Use this form to register for dissertation, internship, or independent study credits.
Navigating Your Degree: Outlines student minimum requirements, pre-candidacy and post-candidacy documentation, leave of absence, transfer credits, and more.
Doctoral Degree Checklist: Summary of key Graduate School requirements for the doctoral degree.
: Use this form to announce your preliminary, comprehensive, or dissertation exam to the graduate committee and the ATLAS community. Please check your PhD Handbook for deadlines on when this needs to be submitted. Once the form is submitted please email that ATLAS Graduate Committee (atlas-gradcomm@colorado.edu) to inform them that the form has been submitted.
Graduate SchoolÌýRules: All graduate students are expected to be familiar with these rules.
Exam Resources
: Use this form to announce your preliminary, comprehensive, or dissertation exam to the graduate committee and the ATLAS community. Please check your PhD Handbook for deadlines on when this needs to be submitted. Once the form is submitted please email that ATLAS Graduate Committee (atlas-gradcomm@colorado.edu) to inform them that the form has been submitted.
: To be completed by the end of the first year of study. Must be signed and reflect "passing" by advisor and committee members.
: To be completed by the end of the second year of study. Must be signed and reflect "passing" byÌýadvisor and committee members.
Candidacy Application for an Advanced Degree: Complete and submit with the Comprehensive Exam Form.
Doctoral Exam Report Form: To be used for comprehensive exam approval and final defense approval. *Must be submitted for approval to the Graduate School at least two weeks prior to exam date.
Dissertation and Thesis
Title of PhD Dissertation Submission:ÌýThis can be a copy of your title page, provided on the leaflet or simply emailed to the Graduate School. Along with your dissertation title, it should include your name and department. This title will appear in the commencement program and your transcript.
Specifications for Preparing and Submitting Your ThesisÌý& Doctoral Dissertation:ÌýThis document has campus-wide specifications for theses and dissertations presented for graduate degrees at the Graduate School of the University of Colorado at Boulder. We recommend that students consult a style guide or standard handbook for more detailed specifications. If you have any questions, please contact: gradinfo@colorado.edu
Graduation
Deadlines for Doctoral Degree Candidates: The Graduate School website outlines all important dates for graduation.
Graduation Application Guidelines: You must apply to graduate through Buff Portal for the semester in which you'll officially and successfully complete all requirements for the degree(s) and major(s) you're pursuing. Degrees are conferred at the end of the fall, spring and summer semesters.
ATLAS PhD Student Travel Guidelines
The following table indicates the amounts of travel support that ATLAS will provide in various categories. The lower bound of the range is the amount that the school can provide, regardless of other support you may obtain. ATLAS may provide up to the upper bound, if your advisor or research sponsor will match this amount. For example, the school will provide $75 for domestic travel to attend a conference, and will match your advisor’s support up to a maximum of $150.
- $75-$150 Domestic travel for conference attendance
- $225-$450 Domestic travel for conference presentation of your work
- $150-$300 International travel for conference attendance
- $450-$900 International travel for conference presentation of your work
You may receive only one conference travel fund award per academic year. Reimbursement will be issued for travel and related conference expenses such as but not limited to: registration fees, accommodation and transportation. You are expected to present a conference report to the ATLAS PhD seminar.
To apply for funding, refer to the CEAS Student Travel Support Request Guidelines page for additional details and request form.
You can also apply for additional funding through the Graduate School Student Travel Grant program.