Studying for the degree of doctor of philosophy or PhD is one of the most challenging exercise one can undertake. This is one of those few degrees, which requires a lot of rigorous coursework, in detail research and extensive reading. The PhD will require prior achievement in higher education and a great amount of dedication. Earning a degree in PhD can take more than four years, even more than your bachelor degree. If you are planning to go for a PhD, then you must know how long does it take to earn a PhD.
Time
- The time required to earn the degree of doctorate will depend on every university, your field of study and whether your course is part-time or full-time. Approximately, a person will have to spend eight and a half years working for their PhD degree. It will also depend on the number of course credits you have. Most of the colleges will want their students to take the courses in the specific discipline, in spite of the fact that they have the option of elective courses. The major problem that most of the students will face, which even leads some of them to drop out from the program, is the doctoral dissertation.
- Once the course is completed, the PhD students will have to research and write a dissertation, which is a book-like document, which must show their knowledge on that topic. Candidates have to present this dissertation and defend it in front of a committee. The time and length for writing the dissertation will depend on the PhD program. Usually it will take nearly five to six years to complete their dissertation project and defend it.
- The students in the doctoral degree have to take a series of exams, which they have to complete in order to complete their PhD. In their first year, they will have to take the apprehensive exam for gauging their knowledge on the chosen field. Therefore, some time also goes in taking these exams periodically.
Requirements
- The specific course of the study will vary, but most of the PhD students will have to spend the first two years of their study in completing the coursework requirement. In this time, the students will be spending long hours in reading and absorbing a huge amount volume through the study books and their academic journals.
- Once they have completed their coursework, most of the PhD programs will require the students to pass one or more of the written examination of the college. These exams are designed for testing their mastery on the body of knowledge in their particular field. If they successfully complete the exams, then they can proceed to the advanced dissertation stage.
Apart from the regular PhD degree, there are two more options available. These are also doctorate degrees but offer more options career-wise. The Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) degree focuses on research-based education model. The Doctor of Education (EdD) degree will be helpful if you want to work in an education-related institution.
The time it takes to complete all three degrees also varies.
- As we have seen above, a PhD requires more than four, almost 5-7 years.
- On the other hand, the PsyD degree can be completed in 4-6 years.
- Lastly, the EdD degree will require 3-4 years.
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