A student usually advances to a doctoral candidate once he or she has completed all coursework required for the degree and has passed the doctoral comprehensive exam. As a doctoral candidate, the student's final task is to complete the dissertation.

When can you say you are a PhD candidate?

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.

What is the difference between PhD candidate and PhD student?

A PhD candidate's sole task is to conduct their research and write their dissertation. In other words, a PhD student is still completing their coursework. ... A PhD candidate has completed all of the requirements for their degree except their dissertation (yes, that's the infamous “all but dissertation” status).