It is ideal for the student to have completed a significant amount of dissertation work before starting the pre-doctoral internship. Internship is full-time work, so students find it difficult to complete their dissertations during their internships. Also, having defended the dissertation strengthens the internship application. Therefore, students are required to have defended their dissertation proposals by November 30 of the year during which they apply for internship. (See pp. 19 - 22 in the Handbook)

Formal dissertation work begins after the student has advanced to candidacy. Follow the links to learn more about the dissertation process: