Dismissed from PhD program and reapplying; how to answer question about dismissal? My story is that the research in my department did not match with my background. I worked hard and my GPA is 3.5+, but the research topic was hard to develop. Unfortunately, I was dismissed from the program but was approved to get a master's degree before I leave the university. I do not have any misconduct.

Now I am applying to another PhD program which could be a good match with my research interest. However, I am facing a question from most universities that I am applying to. 

The questions is:


  "Have you ever been expelled, dismissed, suspended or otherwise
  subject to disciplinary sanction by(at or from) any college or
  university".


I need to select yes or no.

In my case, it is not a disciplinary sanction. I was dismissed from the PhD program only due to misfit in research. I stayed at the university for my Master's degree and I was not dismissed directly from the university. As an international student, I am not quite sure how to answer this question.

I am nervous about this application. Can anyone help me figure out how to deal with this issue in a proper way?

Thank you so much!
The fact that you were not allowed to continue toward the Ph.D. is not "dismissal" in the sense that that question means.  (I can certainly see how the terminology could be confusing though.)  The question is there to identify students who have been involved in academic (or other) misconduct.  Academic failure does not fall into the misconduct category, so you should answer "No" to the question.  Doing so will not imperil your application in any way.