Thesis Research in Absentia
Thesis research is ordinarily done in residence at the Institute. However, on occasion, work away from the Institute may be essential for such tasks as gathering data. Students with compelling educational reasons to do so may therefore apply to take one or two semesters in absentia.
A proposal for thesis research to be done in absentia must be approved by both the faculty of the specific PhD degree program and the dean of the graduate school.
Eligibility
Criteria for thesis in absentia include, but are not limited to:
- Evidence that this opportunity will provide continuing intellectual growth
- Evidence of completion of required coursework, major and minor general examinations, the two language requirement exams, the qualifying paper and successful defense of the thesis proposal
- The thesis must continue to be supervised by an Institute faculty member or by a senior academic staff member approved by the department
- The student must be registered as a regular student during the final term
- The student must devote full time to thesis research while absent from MIT
Students approved for thesis in absentia will continue to be registered as full-time students and receive tuition plus their normal fellowship stipends.
Proposal
The proposal should include the following:
- Name
- MIT ID
- Current address
- Current phone
- Current e-mail
- Degree program
- Completion date of general exams
- Completion date of thesis proposal and working title for thesis
- Proposed terms in absentia
- Expected degree date
- Reasons for requesting thesis research in absentia—the opportunity for continued intellectual growth must be evident
- Thesis advisor’s name and title
- Thesis advisor’s signature of approval
- Degree program director’s signature of approval
- Graduate officer’s signature of approval
- A copy of the signed thesis proposal
The approved and signed thesis proposal must be attached to the research-in-absentia proposal before the latter is submitted to the dean of graduate students.
