Generally students complete their coursework during their first two years, and during the third year students demonstrate, through a qualifying exam, mastery of their area of specialization. The department does not offer a program leading to a terminal master's degree. This richness of backgrounds is a source of great strength to the program, because students bring to it new ways of thinking about scientific problems. Although the department does not stipulate the kinds of backgrounds students should have, it does expect applicants for admission to have outstanding academic records, and to be able to demonstrate their capacity for formal thinking and clear expression of ideas. All students admitted to the program are offered graduate fellowships that provide a competitive 12-month stipend, and cover the costs of tuition and other fees.
Support is guaranteed for four years subject to satisfactory academic progress.
Students may be asked to serve as teaching assistants for one course each year during tenure of their fellowships, but in recent practice the load has been less than this.