Hello! I'm trying to understand the difference between phd "student" and phd "candidate". In spanish, the difference is that a "candidato" is someone who has applied to a phd but has not began working on it, while an "estudiante" is already working on the phd. In english is there any difference?

 

Hi,

This terms vary from university to university, usually a PhD student is granted the candidate status after completion of a "comprehensive examination", which occurs sometime after the first year.

 

Here in the U.S., a "Ph.D. Candidate" is a student who has completed all of the academic requirements for their degree, except their dissertation.

 

thanks a lot!!!!