When does a PhD student officially stop being a PhD student? To be more specific, are you no longer a PhD student when:
- you have submitted your PhD (and thus stopped working on it),
- been approved for the degree, or
- graduated?
I have looked on the Internet and on Stack Exchange and I cannot find a clear answer to this question. On Academia Stack Exchange, one question asks something similar but from such a different perspective that it provides no help. While I know I can ask some administrative body in the university (and have), I remain sufficiently confused about the general consensus on this matter that I would appreciate answers from experts here.
I have a personal interest in knowing the answer to this question as I am involved in a society which is only open to current students and unsure as to when I will become ineligible.