Academic Standing & Probation

Good Academic Standing

To be in good academic standing a graduate student must meet university and graduate program standards, including;

• maintain a GPA of 3.0 or the equivalent in upper-division, graduate, and professional course work, and must not have accumulated more than a total of eight units of "F" and/or "U" grades overall, unless the student’s graduate program specifies more stringent grade requirements
• complete a satisfactory annual spring evaluation (doctoral and MFA students)
• maintain satisfactory progress toward completion of degree requirements, as defined by the graduate program, the student’s faculty advisor, and/or the student’s committee (if applicable)
• satisfy examination and other program requirements, as defined by the student’s graduate program
• identify an eligible faculty member who agrees to guide the student’s research and to serve as chair of the dissertation/thesis committee, according to the time period specified by the student’s graduate program
• advance to candidacy (if applicable) and complete the degree, within the established time limits specified by the student’s graduate program
• comply with conditions set at the time of admission to the student’s graduate degree program

Some requirements may only be applicable to Doctoral, MFA, and Master’s Thesis students. Students should check with their graduate program to confirm all applicable policies to be in good academic standing.

Good Academic Standing is a requirement for:

1. Holding academic appointments (e.g., GSR, IA).
2. Receiving fellowship, scholarship, or traineeship appointments.
3. Advancing to candidacy for a graduate degree.
4. Participating in UC Intercampus Exchange or SDSU exchange programs or Education Abroad Program (EAP). 
5. Going on a leave of absence.
6. Obtaining a graduate degree from UC San Diego. 

Graduate students who are not in good standing for any reason are subject to probation and/or disqualification from further graduate study. Academic disqualification is determined by the Dean of the Division of Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs in consultation with the student’s graduate program, and normally relates to: unsatisfactory academic performance, e.g., failure to maintain a grade point average of 3.0 or better; failure to meet criteria of performance; failure to advance to candidacy or complete the degree within established time limits; accumulation of more than eight units of F or U grades; or failure to comply with conditions set at the time of admission to a graduate degree program.

Graduate programs are responsible for monitoring their students’ overall progress toward degree. Programs should inform students about the expectations for satisfactory progress through published program descriptions and by written evaluations.  

Probation Process (Due to Unsatisfactory Performance in Coursework)

Graduate students who do not meet the requirements for good academic standing due to having a GPA below 3.0 and/or earning more than a total of eight units of “F” and/or “U” grades are notified of their poor academic standing by a letter from the Dean of the Division of Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs (GEPA). Letters are available to students via GEPA's Student Portal and to staff via the Student Database.  

If it is a student's first instance of academic difficulty and the GPA is above 2.0, the letter serves as a warning and advises the student of their academic probation status,  its consequences, and the next steps.

Following the initial probation warning, in subsequent quarters if the student:

• Raises the GPA above a 3.0, no further action is taken.

• Raises the GPA but not to a 3.0, student may have probation extended either by the GEPA Dean's decision or by request of the program faculty with a plan for improvement.

• Shows no change, then student may have probation extended either by the GEPA Dean's decision or by request of the program faculty with a plan for improvement; however, this is dependent on the overall GPA. A hold may be placed on the student’s registration.

• Lowers the GPA further, a hold is placed on the student's registration.

Depending on the student's academic progress during the quarter following an academic probation notice, the GEPA Dean will advise the student of any further academic action and consequences via a letter posted to GEPA’s Student Portal. Staff access is through the Student Database. A hold is typically placed on the student’s registration in subsequent quarters following a warning notification if the student is not showing improvement towards resolving the academic probation status.

Any student with more than 8 units of "U" and/or "F" grades or a GPA less than a 2.0 will have a hold placed on his/her registration for the next available quarter.

When a student’s academic probation results in a registration hold, continuation in the graduate program requires support from the graduate program faculty with submission of an academic plan to the Division of Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs.

Note: due to the processing of grades after the next quarter has begun, registration holds are usually placed on the 2nd quarter after the problem arises (i.e. Fall quarter problem, registration hold placed on Spring registration. During the Summer, however, registration holds may be placed on students for Fall quarter.

Regardless of the severity of the problem, students are advised to maintain communication with the department. It is the department and student's responsibility to monitor the student's quarterly academic progress.

For details on the academic appeals and non-academic appeals process, please visit the Conflict Resolution and Student Appeals page detailing these processes, along with student resources.