How Long Does It Take To Get a PhD

How Long Does It Take To Get a PhD

The Duration to Get a PhD Degree Depends on Five Things:

1. Location of the University
2. Your selected Research field
3. Registration and approval process
4. Search for funding
5. In-depth study procedure

Different countries offer different time duration for the accomplishment of a PhD. Check the basic list below:

Apart from these aspects, it is the brainstorming process and the modes of offering verified justification to a research work that entitles more years for the accomplishment of a PhD. It is the field of research that also determines the years of PhD. Relevance of the specialised subjects like the implementation of cryptocurrency in the automobile sector, and the vaccine for COVID-19, are subjects that demand more specific and long term research work. It is the significance and consequence of the subject that adds years to the research process. As noted in the list above, the median time needed for the accomplishment of PhD from the UK is 3.5 years, whereas in the US a PhD can take 5.5 years. On the other hand, Saudi Arabia can offer you a PhD degree in 2.5 years. However, the value of a PhD in the UK is considered more than the one earned from Saudi Arabia.

Step-by-Step PhD Timescale

The timescale for PhD varies in different countries and even universities within the same country. It also varies as per the subject or field of research that you have chosen. Above all, it is the justification and the authenticity of the work that determines the completion timescale of a PhD.

However, irrespective of all these variations, the answer to the query-

How long does it take to get a PhD?

The answer is in its step-by-step procedure that is followed in all the universities spread all over the world. Note the following steps to understand the timescale for receiving a PhD:

Step 1: Filling up of Application Form

The foremost step is to fill up the Application Form in the University that you are looking forward to developing your research. This is an online procedure and hence can be initiated from any corner of the world. However, make sure that you apply to a University that you can visit for further admission procedure. For better scopes, it is highly recommended to relocate and reside in the respective place, where you are looking forward to being enrolled. From the day of application to the day of getting permission to pursue the admission process, can take a span of 1 to 2 months. In this duration, the University Departments make necessary investigation over your Application form and offers their approval toproceed further.

Step 2: Meeting Prerequisite Qualifications

The registration process of PhD demands special educational background. You must have the required Undergraduate and Postgraduate qualification. Such qualifications are mandatory. Having a Major in a particular subject opens doors for considering research fields related to the subject. In many universities, there are varied demands for the inclusion of diversified courses in your profile, for pursuing a PhD. The accomplishment of the diversified courses adds a knowledge-based understanding to the process of initiating a PhD in the respective field. For many Universities, these diversified courses are the foregrounds for developing an authentic and highly significant research work. This phase usually takes 1 and half years to 2 years.

Step 3: Submit Research Qualification Proposal

As you meet the necessary qualification criteria for pursuing your PhD application form, there is the need to submit the Research Proposal. The Research Proposal is the road map of your research proceeding. It will justify why and how your research can bring in path breaking solutions to a particular concern or issue.

This processmight take 2 to 2 and half years. The reason for such a duration is the need to justify the significance of your research. Your research proposal will be scrutinised and analysed by the University scholars and professors. They will try to understand how your research can bring an innovative development to your research field. Moreover, if you have applied for a scholarship or funding then your Research Proposal will be further analysed by the investors.

To gain a well-constructed Research Proposal it is highly recommended that you get guidance from an Expert. This Expert should be a Scholar and a Professor from your field of research. As you take guidance from the Supervising Professor, you will realise that your specific topic needs more convincing justifications. Initiate scholarly consultation with the Supervising Professor for drafting your Research Proposal. You can also choose to prepare the Research Proposal based on the diversified courses that you have undertaken in the initial couple of years.

The structuring and the formattingof your Research Proposal is an integral part of its construction. Make sure that you follow all the regulationsset by the University. Give yourself enough time to review the relevant literature. Critical evaluate the declarations made by the former researchers and try to identify the Research Gap. Offer a justified Research Methodology to meet the identified Research Gaps.

As you make the rightful selections, write the draft of your Research Proposal. Offer the Timeframe and declare Ethical considerations to be followed by your research. Spend much time editing and proofreading your Proposal. Get the Research Proposal approved by the Supervising Professor. After attaining his or her approval,submit your Research Proposal to the University.

Step 4: Approval of Candidacy

The approval of your candidacy to pursue the PhD course will depend on your Research Proposal. There are various rules determined by various universities for this particular step. In many cases, universities will arrange a subject specialist committee to verify the relevance of your candidature. On the other hand, some universities will allow you to select a committee. With the help of your Supervising Professor, you can choose to face a more feasible or achievable committee. However, in such a scenario, the universities opt to appoint Graduate Adviser for the approval of the Committee that you select.

Fix a time when you can face the committee for the approval of your candidacy. You need to present your proposal and encounter questions related to your research perspectives. Ingeneral, these kinds of scrutinisation demand genuine presentations from the candidate. Always remember:

• Make yourself aware of the whole subject
• Offer genuine answers to the questions
• Never try to beat around the bush

If you cannot answer a question, then confess it. The best way is to say, “I think I need to study more in this particular domain” or “I shall check into this particular side of the research initiative.”

To start with, your ultimate research process, it is mandatory to pass the interview or viva based on your research field. If you fail to convince the committee members, then the approval for candidacy will be rejected. However, with a well-prepared Research Proposal, you are sure to give the right answers to the proposal exam. You can consider questions like-

• Give the summary of your thesis?         
• State the aim and objectives of your thesis?      
• Justify the relevance of this thesis.       
• What are the research gaps?     
• What is your research methodology?
• Why you selected this methodology?    
• Explain your sampling process?           

Step 5: Research Process and Defending the Thesis

This phase takes 3 to years, as it is the main phase when you initiate your research. This step will help you earn PhD recognition. However, this is the toughest step as in this step you need to undergo strenuous ways of developing your research, which will be subject to regular scrutinisation. As you develop your research process, make sure that you prepare a whole list of justifications to defend your research. In many cases, the researcher gets so engrossed in the research process that they forget to prepare the justification.

In earning a PhD and getting the initial of Dr, it is important to satisfy the University committee with your justifications. The results, the consequences, and the limitations of your research will not be approved unless you have authentic and valid reasons to defend your thesis.

Eventually, as the Supervising committee will gain adequate satisfaction about your research outcomes, you will be granted the prestigious PhD. It is worth the time as you add the initial ‘Dr’ to your name. The initial ‘Dr’ is the recognition that you are the only one in the whole world who spent many years of research on the specifically selected unique topic and knows much more about it than anyone else in the world.