Business cards for grad students...I'm out of the loop on this?

[TakeruK]

There usually are not rules about using the name of the University to indicate your affiliation since you don't have to ask permission to do so for things like putting it on your resume. However, I would be careful and check the rules for things like the University logo or other things that you don't own the copyright to. Definitely follow surefire's advice and check if there are any requirements for standardized cards etc. In my opinion, if you want to make your own card, you should avoid using any University or department logos and anything else that might infringe copyright!

[educdoc]

You're definitely right about the logo. I could make a small stash of my own cards without any logo or anything, only the actual name of the university and the department. Then I will ask our graduate studies secretary or advisor and ask about standardized cards.

[educdoc]

Is it wrong to name yourself a doctoral student before taking the qualifying exams and advancing to candidacy?

[TakeruK]

"Doctoral student" is not a protected title; that is, anyone can call themselves that if they want to. But it's a good idea to follow whatever the field/community you want to work in does. In my field / sciences related to physics in general, we usually call ourselves "PhD student", "Doctoral student" or "Graduate student" at any point in a PhD program, from admission to graduation. Some people prefer to switch to the title "PhD Candidate" when they have reached candidacy, but some people prefer to keep using one of the above "student" title. I only ever met one person who insisted I refer to him as a "PhD candidate" rather than a "grad student" -- obviously I respected his wishes but most people do not really distinguish between the two. 

[educdoc]

Thanks, TakeruK. That's what I was thinking. I agree with the "PhD candidate" too. Not that I'd want to use that "title" myself in a couple of years, but I understand the idea behind it.