Indeed, several degree levels are here in which students can pursue their careers. But a Ph.D. or doctoral degree is the highest attainable degree among all which focuses on academic research and long thesis project. Ph.D. is a long and tiring journey that takes many years to complete, but people who love to go the extra mile in their relevant fields opt for this degree.
In other words, it is a long road to success that needs consistency, enthusiasm, and some extra hard work.
In this article, we will share all the necessary details regarding the Ph.D. degree. For instance, its significance, time required to complete Ph.D., factors affecting the degree program, and much more.
So, stick to it and give this article a thorough read.
What is a Ph.D. degree?
As mentioned above, the Ph.D. degree is the respectable and highest degree to achieve in the world. The literal abbreviation of Ph.D. is the Doctor of Philosophy. This doctoral degree allows the enrolled students to participate in different research topics for further advancements and publish their research work in renowned journals.
Meanwhile, students involved in Ph.D. degrees are famous because of their originality and creativity in independent thesis research projects.
Doctoral Degree Summary:
Degree Levels: Ph.D.
Study Field: Alters by the institution
Requirements: Master’s degree
Degree Program Setup: Coursework, Comprehensive exams, and Thesis project.
Duration:
- Coursework —> 2-3 years
- Exams, Research & Dissertation —> 2-3 years at least.
Time Required to Complete a Ph.D. Degree?
The duration of the doctoral degree depends upon the selected program and institution. Moreover, doing a Full-time Ph.D. program will take around three to six years. But enrolling in a Part-time Ph.D. program due to various other personal reasons might extend your degree duration. So, gear yourself up and be ready to give your life six to eight years to this degree.
However, if a student wants to minimize the course duration, it is better to take advanced courses and complete the comprehensive exams first. Then, opt for the dissertation completion depending upon the feasibility.
Generally, the Ph.D. degree duration depends upon the following things;
- Required credit hours to complete.
- Program requirement.
- Part-time v/s Full-time program.
- University Scheduling.
- Final project requirements.
Nevertheless, students can split their degrees into different stages as per their convenience. Like, in the first two or three years, a student should go through the literature review and then jump onto his research project. Try to support the thesis with case studies, numerical data, and derivations concerning the research topic. In the meantime, also get prepared for some viva voce and examinations.
After spending years in such things, it is time to defend the dissertation statements before faculty members. Admittedly, it is the longest part of a Ph.D. degree that needs extra attention and consideration.
On-Campus Ph.D. VS Online Ph.D. Degree?
Some on-campus classes are 40 in number that often takes many years to complete a course program. However, getting a Ph.D. degree online will shorten the course program and require only a few credit hours. Meanwhile, the classes will conduct in an accelerated format.
Factors that Delay the Ph.D. Degree:
Following are the factors that can play a dominant role in delaying the Ph.D. degree program:
- Type of Program:
Getting enrolled in a full-length Ph.D. program will take three to four years. All thanks to regular classes and required credit hours. However, in some cases, students fail to attend in-person classes. Therefore, they opt for a part-time PhD program.
- Research Nature:
The selected research topic can play a big role in lengthening your duration of the degree. Like, technical subjects are way lengthier than medical-related topics. Or if the research work is complex then it may take more time to complete it.
- Lack of Research Participants:
On the other hand, difficulty in finding a research participant can also cause a delay in submitting the project.
- Special Program Requirements:
Also, some programs demand teaching and training as well. Hence, all such factors contribute to delaying the Ph.D. degree.
- Funding:
Funds have a great influence on the duration of the study. Sometimes, funds are given only for a specific period which means one must complete the course within a set timeline. But if it is self-funding, then a long-time Ph.D. program might cost a student too much money. Hence, take the decision and wisely.
