phd full time

• Youth Program
• Wharton Online

How the PhD Program Works

Program Overview

Completing your doctorate at Wharton requires 5 years of full-time study. The first 2 years in the program prepare you for admission to candidacy by taking courses, qualifying exams, and starting research projects. In the last few years, you are primarily conducting research full-time including writing and defending your doctoral dissertation.

Admission to candidacy.

You begin by taking courses required for your program of study. All programs requires a preliminary exam, which may be either oral or written.

Some programs may have further requirements, such as an additional exam or research paper. If you enter with a master’s degree or other transfer credit, you may satisfy the formal course requirements more quickly.

Beginning the Wharton PhD Curriculum How the first two years of the Wharton program helped students discover their interests, learn the tools of the profession, and fuel their passion for teaching.

The Doctoral Dissertation

Upon successful completion of coursework and passing a preliminary examination, you are admitted to candidacy for the dissertation phase of your studies.

Your doctoral dissertation should contain original research that meets standards for published scholarship in your field. You are expected to be an expert in the topic you choose to research.

You are admitted to candidacy for the dissertation phase of your studies upon successful completion of coursework and passing a preliminary examination, but you can start thinking about and working on research of relevance at any time.

The dissertation process culminates with a “defense,” in which you defend the proposal orally before your dissertation committee.

While working on your dissertation, you interact extensively with Wharton faculty. Together with interested faculty, you create your own research community that includes your dissertation advisor and dissertation committee.

Policies and Procedures

Get more detailed explanation of course requirements, academic standards, the Teacher Development Program, time limits, and dissertation procedures and requirements.

Sample Program Sequence

Years 1 & 2.

Coursework Examination Research Papers Research Activities Field-Specific Requirements

Directed Reading & Research Admission to Candidacy Formulation of Research Topic

Years 4 & 5

Continued Research Oral Examination Dissertation

Hear From Our Doctoral Community

From undergrad to phd, uniting great minds, wharton’s stat bridge ma program takes flight, what brought this cdc researcher to wharton's phd program.

• What is a PhD?

Written by Mark Bennett

A PhD is a doctoral research degree and the highest level of academic qualification you can achieve. The degree normally takes between three and four years of full-time work towards a thesis offering an original contribution to your subject.

This page explains what a PhD is, what it involves and what you need to know if you’re considering applying for a PhD research project , or enrolling on a doctoral programme .

The meaning of a PhD

The PhD can take on something of a mythic status. Are they only for geniuses? Do you have to discover something incredible? Does the qualification make you an academic? And are higher research degrees just for people who want to be academics?

Even the full title, ‘Doctor of Philosophy’, has a somewhat mysterious ring to it. Do you become a doctor? Yes, but not that kind of doctor. Do you have to study Philosophy? No (not unless you want to) .

So, before going any further, let's explain what the term 'PhD' actually means and what defines a doctorate.

What does PhD stand for?

PhD stands for Doctor of Philosophy. This is one of the highest level academic degrees that can be awarded. PhD is an abbreviation of the Latin term (Ph)ilosophiae (D)octor. Traditionally the term ‘philosophy’ does not refer to the subject but its original Greek meaning which roughly translates to ‘lover of wisdom’.

What is a doctorate?

A doctorate is any qualification that awards a doctoral degree. In order to qualify for one you need to produce advanced work that makes a significant new contribution to knowledge in your field. Doing so earns you the title 'Doctor' – hence the name.

So, is a PhD different to a doctorate? No. A PhD is a type of doctorate .

The PhD is the most common type of doctorate and is awarded in almost all subjects at universities around the world. Other doctorates tend to be more specialised or for more practical and professional projects.

Essentially, all PhDs are doctorates, but not all doctorates are PhDs.

Do you need a Masters to get a PhD?

Not necessarily. It's common for students in Arts and the Humanities to complete an MA (Master of Arts) before starting a PhD in order to acquire research experience and techniques. Students in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) don't always need an MS/MSc (Master of Science) to do a PhD as you'll gain training in lab techniques and other skills during your undergraduate degree.

Whether a Masters is a requirement for a PhD also varies by country. Australian PhDs may require a Masters as the equivalent of their own 'honours year' (where students work on research). US PhD programmes often include a Masters.

We have a whole guide dedicated to helping you decide whether a PhD without a Masters is the right route for you.

The origin of the PhD

Despite its name, the PhD isn't actually an Ancient Greek degree. Instead it's a much more recent development. The PhD as we know it was developed in nineteenth-century Germany, alongside the modern research university.

Higher education had traditionally focussed on mastery of an existing body of scholarship and the highest academic rank available was, appropriately enough, a Masters degree.

As the focus shifted more onto the production of new knowledge and ideas, the PhD degree was brought in to recognise those who demonstrated the necessary skills and expertise.

The PhD process – what's required to get a PhD?

The typical length of a PhD is three to four years full-time, or five to six years part-time.

Unlike most Masters courses (or all undergraduate programmes), a PhD is a pure research degree. But that doesn’t mean you’ll just spend years locked away in a library or laboratory. In fact, the modern PhD is a diverse and varied qualification with many different components.

Whereas the second or third year of a taught degree look quite a lot like the first (with more modules and coursework at a higher level) a PhD moves through a series of stages.

A typical PhD normally involves:

• Carrying out a literature review (a survey of current scholarship in your field).
• Conducting original research and collecting your results .
• Producing a thesis that presents your conclusions.
• Writing up your thesis and submitting it as a dissertation .
• Defending your thesis in an oral viva voce exam.

These stages vary a little between subjects and universities, but they tend to fall into the same sequence over the three years of a typical full-time PhD.

The first year of a PhD

The beginning of a PhD is all about finding your feet as a researcher and getting a solid grounding in the current scholarship that relates to your topic.

You’ll have initial meetings with your supervisor and discuss a plan of action based on your research proposal.

The first step in this will almost certainly be carrying out your literature review . With the guidance of your supervisor you’ll begin surveying and evaluating existing scholarship. This will help situate your research and ensure your work is original.

Your literature review will provide a logical jumping off point for the beginning of your own research and the gathering of results . This could involve designing and implementing experiments, or getting stuck into a pile of primary sources.

The year may end with an MPhil upgrade . This occurs when PhD students are initially registered for an MPhil degree and then ‘upgraded’ to PhD candidates upon making sufficient progress. You’ll submit material from your literature review, or a draft of your research findings and discuss these with members of your department in an upgrade exam . All being well, you’ll then continue with your research as a PhD student.

PhDs in other countries

The information on the page is based on the UK. Most countries follow a similar format, but there are some differences. In the USA , for example, PhD students complete reading assignments and examinations before beginning their research. You can find out more in our guides to PhD study around the world .

The second year of a PhD

Your second year will probably be when you do most of your core research. The process for this will vary depending on your field, but your main focus will be on gathering results from experiments, archival research, surveys or other means.

As your research develops, so will the thesis (or argument) you base upon it. You may even begin writing up chapters or other pieces that will eventually form part of your dissertation .

You’ll still be having regular meetings with your supervisor. They’ll check your progress, provide feedback on your ideas and probably read any drafts your produce.

The second year is also an important stage for your development as a scholar. You’ll be well versed in current research and have begun to collect some important data or develop insights of your own. But you won’t yet be faced with the demanding and time-intensive task of finalising your dissertation.

So, this part of your PhD is a perfect time to think about presenting your work at academic conferences , gaining teaching experience or perhaps even selecting some material for publication in an academic journal. You can read more about these kinds of activities below.

The third year of a PhD

The third year of a PhD is sometimes referred to as the writing up phase.

Traditionally, this is the final part of your doctorate, during which your main task will be pulling together your results and honing your thesis into a dissertation .

In reality, it’s not always as simple as that.

It’s not uncommon for final year PhD students to still be fine-tuning experiments, collecting results or chasing up a few extra sources. This is particularly likely if you spend part of your second year focussing on professional development.

In fact, some students actually take all or part of a fourth year to finalise their dissertation. Whether you are able to do this will depend on the terms of your enrolment – and perhaps your PhD funding .

Eventually though, you are going to be faced with writing up your thesis and submitting your dissertation.

Your supervisor will be very involved in this process. They’ll read through your final draft and let you know when they think your PhD is ready for submission.

All that’s left then is your final viva voce oral exam. This is a formal discussion and defence of your thesis involving at least one internal and external examiner. It’s normally the only assessment procedure for a PhD. Once you’ve passed, you’ve done it!

Looking for more information about the stages of a PhD?

How do you go about completing a literature review? What's it like to do PhD research? And what actually happens at an MPhil upgrade? You can find out more in our detailed guide to the PhD journey .

Doing a PhD – what's it actually like?

You can think of the ‘stages’ outlined above as the basic ‘roadmap’ for a PhD, but the actual ‘journey’ you’ll take as a research student involves a lot of other sights, a few optional destinations and at least one very important fellow passenger.

Carrying out research

Unsurprisingly, you’ll spend most of your time as a PhD researcher… researching your PhD. But this can involve a surprisingly wide range of activities.

The classic image of a student working away in the lab, or sitting with a pile of books in the library is true some of the time – particularly when you’re monitoring experiments or conducting your literature review.

Your PhD can take you much further afield though. You may find yourself visiting archives or facilities to examine their data or look at rare source materials. You could even have the opportunity to spend an extended period ‘in residence’ at a research centre or other institution beyond your university.

Research is also far from being a solitary activity. You’ll have regular discussions with your supervisor (see below) but you may also work with other students from time to time.

This is particularly likely if you’re part of a larger laboratory or workshop group studying the same broad area. But it’s also common to collaborate with students whose projects are more individual. You might work on shorter projects of joint interest, or be part of teams organising events and presentations.

Many universities also run regular internal presentation and discussion groups – a perfect way to get to know other PhD students in your department and offer feedback on each other’s work in progress.

Working with your supervisor

All PhD projects are completed with the guidance of at least one academic supervisor . They will be your main point of contact and support throughout the PhD.

Your supervisor will be an expert in your general area of research, but they won’t have researched on your exact topic before (if they had, your project wouldn’t be original enough for a PhD).

As such, it’s better to think of your supervisor as a mentor, rather than a teacher.

As a PhD student you’re now an independent and original scholar, pushing the boundaries of your field beyond what is currently known (and taught) about it. You’re doing all of this for the first time, of course. But your supervisor isn’t.

They’ll know what’s involved in managing an advanced research project over three years (or more). They’ll know how best to succeed, but they’ll also know what can go wrong and how to spot the warning signs before it does.

Perhaps most importantly, they’ll be someone with the time and expertise to listen to your ideas and help provide feedback and encouragement as you develop your thesis.

Exact supervision arrangements vary between universities and between projects:

• In Science and Technology projects it’s common for a supervisor to be the lead investigator on a wider research project, with responsibility for a laboratory or workshop that includes several PhD students and other researchers.
• In Arts and Humanities subjects, a supervisor’s research is more separate from their students’. They may supervise more than one PhD at a time, but each project is essentially separate.

It’s also becoming increasingly common for PhD students to have two (or more) supervisors. The first is usually responsible for guiding your academic research whilst the second is more concerned with the administration of your PhD – ensuring you complete any necessary training and stay on track with your project’s timetable.

However you’re supervised, you’ll have regular meetings to discuss work and check your progress. Your supervisor will also provide feedback on work during your PhD and will play an important role as you near completion: reading your final dissertation draft, helping you select an external examiner and (hopefully) taking you out for a celebratory drink afterwards!

Professional development, networking and communication

Traditionally, the PhD has been viewed as a training process, preparing students for careers in academic research.

As such, it often includes opportunities to pick up additional skills and experiences that are an important part of a scholarly CV. Academics don’t just do research after all. They also teach students, administrate departments – and supervise PhDs.

The modern PhD is also viewed as a more flexible qualification. Not all doctoral graduates end up working in higher education. Many follow alternative careers that are either related to their subject of specialism or draw upon the advanced research skills their PhD has developed.

PhD programmes have begun to reflect this. Many now emphasise transferrable skills or include specific training units designed to help students communicate and apply their research beyond the university.

What all of this means is that very few PhD experiences are just about researching and writing up a thesis.

The likelihood is that you’ll also do some (or all) of the following during your PhD:

The work is usually paid and is increasingly accompanied by formal training and evaluation.

Conference presentation

As a PhD student you’ll be at the cutting edge of your field, doing original research and producing new results. This means that your work will be interest to other scholars and that your results could be worth presenting at academic conferences .

Doing this is very worthwhile, whatever your career plans. You’ll develop transferrable skills in public speaking and presenting, gain feedback on your results and begin to be recognised as an expert in your area.

Conferences are also great places to network with other students and academics.

Publication

As well as presenting your research, you may also have the opportunity to publish work in academic journals, books, or other media. This can be a challenging process.

Your work will be judged according to the same high standards as any other scholar’s and will normally go through extensive peer review processes. But it’s also highly rewarding. Seeing your work ‘in print’ is an incredible validation of your PhD research and a definite boost to your academic CV.

Public engagement and communication

Academic work may be associated with the myth of the ‘ivory tower’ – an insular community of experts focussing on obscure topics of little interest outside the university. But this is far from the case. More and more emphasis is being placed on the ‘impact’ of research and its wider benefits to the public – with funding decisions being made accordingly.

Thankfully, there are plenty of opportunities to try your hand at public engagement as a PhD student. Universities are often involved in local events and initiatives to communicate the benefits of their research, ranging from workshops in local schools to public lectures and presentations.

Some PhD programmes include structured training in order to help students with activities such as the above. Your supervisor may also be able to help by identifying suitable conferences and public engagement opportunities, or by involving you in appropriate university events and public engagement initiatives.

These experiences will be an important part of your development as a researchers - and will enhance the value of your PhD regardless of your career plans.

What is a PhD for – and who should study one?

So, you know what a PhD actually is, what’s involved in completing one and what you might get up to whilst you do. That just leaves one final question: should you do a PhD?

Unfortunately, it’s not a question we can answer for you.

A PhD is difficult and uniquely challenging. It requires at least three years of hard work and dedication after you’ve already completed an undergraduate degree (and probably a Masters degree too).

You’ll need to support yourself during those years and, whilst you will be building up an impressive set of skills, you won’t be directly progressing in a career.

But a PhD is also immensely rewarding. It’s your chance to make a genuine contribution to the sum of human knowledge and produce work that other researchers can (and will) build on in future. However obscure your topic feels, there’s really no such thing as a useless PhD.

A PhD is also something to be incredibly proud of. A proportionately tiny number of people go on to do academic work at this level. Whatever you end up doing after your doctorate you’ll have an impressive qualification – and a title to match. What’s more, non-academic careers and professions are increasingly recognising the unique skills and experience a PhD brings.

Other PhDs - do degree titles matter?

The PhD is the oldest and most common form of higher research degree, but a few alternatives are available. Some, such as the DPhil are essentially identical to a PhD. Others, such as the Professional Doctorate or DBA are slightly different. You can find out more in our guide to types of PhD .

Is a PhD for me?

There’s more advice on the value of a PhD – and good reasons for studying one – elsewhere in this section. But the following are some quick tips if you’re just beginning to consider a PhD.

Speak to your lecturers / tutors

The best people to ask about PhD study are people who’ve earned one. Ask staff at your current or previous university about their experience of doctoral research – what they enjoyed, what they didn’t and what their tips might be.

If you’re considering a PhD for an academic career, ask about that too. Are job prospects good in your field? And what’s it really like to work at a university?

Speak to current PhD students

Want to know what it’s like studying a PhD right now? Or what it’s like doing research at a particular university? Ask someone who knows.

Current PhD students were just like you a year or two ago and most will be happy to answer questions.

If you can’t get in touch with any students ‘face to face’, pop over to the Postgraduate Forum – you’ll find plenty of students there who are happy to chat about postgraduate research.

Take a look at advertised projects and programmes

This may seem like a strange suggestion. After all, you’re only going to study one PhD, so what’s the point of reading about lots of others?

Well, looking at the details of different PhD projects is a great way to get a general sense of what PhD research is like. You’ll see what different PhDs tend to have in common and what kinds of unique opportunity might be available to you.

And, with thousands of PhDs in our database , you’re already in a great place to start.

Read our other advice articles

Finally, you can also check out some of the other advice on the FindAPhD website. We’ve looked at some good (and bad) reasons for studying a PhD as well as the value of a doctorate to different career paths.

More generally, you can read our in-depth look at a typical PhD journey , or find out more about specific aspects of doctoral study such as working with a supervisor or writing your dissertation .

We add new articles all the time – the best way to stay up to date is by signing up for our free PhD opportunity newsletter .

Ready to find your PhD?

Head on over to our PhD search listings to learn what opportunities are on offer within your discipline.

Our postgrad newsletter shares courses, funding news, stories and advice

You may also like....

What happens during a typical PhD, and when? We've summarised the main milestones of a doctoral research journey.

The PhD thesis is the most important part of a doctoral degree. This page will introduce you to what you need to know about the PhD dissertation.

This page will give you an idea of what to expect from your routine as a PhD student, explaining how your daily life will look at you progress through a doctoral degree.

Our guide tells you everything about the application process for studying a PhD in the USA.

FindAPhD. Copyright 2005-2024 All rights reserved.

Unknown    ( change )

Have you got time to answer some quick questions about PhD study?

Select your nearest city

You haven’t completed your profile yet. To get the most out of FindAPhD, finish your profile and receive these benefits:

• Monthly chance to win one of ten £10 Amazon vouchers ; winners will be notified every month.*
• The latest PhD projects delivered straight to your inbox
• Access to our £6,000 scholarship competition
• Weekly newsletter with funding opportunities, research proposal tips and much more
• Early access to our physical and virtual postgraduate study fairs

Or begin browsing FindAPhD.com

or begin browsing FindAPhD.com

*Offer only available for the duration of your active subscription, and subject to change. You MUST claim your prize within 72 hours, if not we will redraw.

Do you want hassle-free information and advice?

Create your FindAPhD account and sign up to our newsletter:

• Find out about funding opportunities and application tips
• Receive weekly advice, student stories and the latest PhD news
• Hear about our upcoming study fairs
• Save your favourite projects, track enquiries and get personalised subject updates

Create your account

Looking to list your PhD opportunities? Log in here .

Research Voyage

Research Tips and Infromation

Comparing Full-Time, Part-Time and Online PhD Programs

The pursuit of a PhD is a significant academic and professional endeavour. It represents a commitment to in-depth research, a mastery of a subject, and a contribution to the ever-expanding body of knowledge in one’s field. But, as with any monumental journey, the path to a Ph.D. is not one-size-fits-all. It is here that the pivotal decision emerges: How should you undertake this quest?

In today’s fast-paced, ever-evolving world of education, there is no shortage of choices. You find yourself at a crossroads, contemplating full-time, part-time, or online Ph.D. programs. Each comes with its own set of promises, advantages, and challenges, making the decision not just significant but also complex.

We understand the weight of this choice, and that’s why we’ve crafted this comprehensive guide to assist you in making an informed decision. Our aim is to help you navigate the intricate landscape of Ph.D. programs by examining the three primary roads you can take: the full-time, the part-time, and the online.

Through this exploration, you will find that no one option reigns supreme. The “better” choice depends not only on the nature of your academic and professional aspirations but also on your personal circumstances. This journey, much like a Ph.D. itself, is highly individual. So, without further ado, let’s begin your journey of self-discovery and decision-making, leading you towards the PhD path that best aligns with your unique goals and dreams.

Introduction

Benefits of full-time phd programs:, challenges of full-time phd programs:, advantages of part-time phd programs:, drawbacks of part-time phd programs:, benefits of online phd programs:, concerns of online phd programs:, factors to consider when choosing phd program, comparison of full-time, part-time, and online phd programs, popular universities offering full-time, part-time and online phd programs.

Pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) is more than an academic endeavour; it’s a transformative journey that demands rigorous research, scholarly dedication, and a profound contribution to the world of knowledge. As you stand on the precipice of this educational odyssey, you’re confronted with a pivotal decision that will shape your future—how to embark on this quest for higher learning.

The significance of selecting the right path cannot be overstated. It’s akin to choosing the vehicle for a cross-country journey. Will you opt for the express train, the scenic route, or perhaps the more versatile, off-road terrain? In Ph.D. programs, these choices manifest as full-time, part-time, and online options.

Full-time PhD programs, marked by their immersive nature, promise an intensive experience where research and scholarship reign supreme. In contrast, part-time PhD programs offer a flexible approach for those seeking to harmonize their academic ambitions with professional responsibilities. And then, there are online Ph.D. programs, harnessing the power of technology to bring the Ph.D. journey to your doorstep.

In this blog post, we’ll be your guide, shedding light on the intricacies of these academic paths. We’ll delve into the pros and cons of each, equipping you with the knowledge you need to navigate your way. Just as every traveller has a unique destination in mind, your goals, aspirations, and circumstances will determine which path is right for you. So, let’s begin this expedition towards making an informed and astute choice that will set the course for your academic and professional future.

I have written several articles on PhD programs. These articles include PhD Regisration, presentations, handling doctoral committee , applying for grants and writing PhD thesis etc. Please visit my articles HERE

Full-Time PhD Programs

A full-time PhD program is a comprehensive academic journey that often requires your undivided attention. It typically involves being on campus or closely engaged with your academic institution. Here, your primary focus is on research, coursework, and immersion in the academic environment.

• Immersive Research Opportunities: Full-time PhD programs offer an unparalleled level of immersion in your research. You’re deeply integrated into your academic department, collaborating closely with faculty and peers. This environment provides extensive access to resources, libraries, laboratories, and academic events that can enrich your research.
• Potential Funding and Stipends: Many full-time PhD students receive financial support in the form of research assistantships, teaching assistantships, or scholarships. This funding not only covers tuition but also provides a stipend for living expenses. It can be a significant advantage if you’re looking to focus solely on your research without the financial burden.
• Intense Time Commitment: One of the most prominent challenges of full-time PhD programs is the intense time commitment. Your days are often filled with research, coursework, and academic responsibilities. Balancing your personal life and other commitments can be challenging, and this intensity can lead to burnout if not managed well.
• Financial Considerations: While full-time Ph.D. programs may offer funding, there’s still a financial aspect to consider. Your stipend may cover basic expenses, but the cost of living can vary based on your location and lifestyle. Some students may need to secure additional funding or manage their finances carefully.

Example: Sarah’s journey toward a PhD in Astrophysics represents the quintessential full-time PhD experience. She’s based on campus, working closely with her advisor and research team. This immersive environment provides her with unique access to cutting-edge telescopes, observatories, and a vibrant community of fellow astrophysicists. Plus, she secured a research assistantship, allowing her to pursue her passion without worrying about tuition or basic living expenses. However, the demanding nature of her program means long hours in the lab and late nights studying. Managing her time is crucial as she works diligently to advance our understanding of the cosmos.

Part-Time PhD Programs

Define part-time PhD programs and who they are suitable for: Part-time PhD programs are designed to accommodate individuals with professional or personal commitments that prevent them from pursuing a full-time, on-campus PhD. These programs allow students to balance academic pursuits with their existing responsibilities, making them particularly suitable for working professionals, parents, or those who cannot relocate.

• Flexibility for Working Professionals: Part-time Ph.D. programs offer the flexibility to continue working while pursuing a doctoral degree. This can be advantageous for those who wish to apply their research directly in their current job or maintain a source of income.
• Ability to Gain Practical Experience: Students in part-time programs often have the opportunity to apply their research in real-world settings. This practical experience can be a significant asset, as it allows them to immediately see the impact of their research in their respective fields.
• Longer Time to Completion: One of the primary drawbacks of part-time PhD programs is the extended time it takes to complete the degree. Because students are juggling other responsibilities, they typically take longer to finish their coursework and research. This longer timeline can be a deterrent for those seeking a quicker route to their Ph.D.
• Limited Research Opportunities: While part-time students can gain practical experience, they may have limited access to extensive research facilities and resources compared to full-time students. This could impact the depth and breadth of their research, depending on their field of study.

Example: Meet John, a dedicated engineer with a passion for sustainable energy solutions. He chose to pursue a part-time PhD in Environmental Engineering to align his academic aspirations with his full-time job at a renewable energy company. John’s program allows him to attend evening classes and conduct research on weekends, fitting his schedule seamlessly. The flexibility of his program enables him to simultaneously gain practical experience by implementing innovative solutions in his workplace. However, John is well aware that his part-time commitment means a longer journey to earning his Ph.D. Nonetheless, he believes that the opportunity to apply his research directly in the field is a trade-off well worth making.

Online PhD Programs

Describe online PhD programs and their characteristics: Online PhD programs are a modern alternative to traditional on-campus education. They leverage digital technologies to deliver education remotely. Students in online Ph.D. programs typically have the flexibility to study from anywhere, using web-based platforms and resources.

• Remote Study Flexibility: Online Ph.D. programs provide unparalleled flexibility. Students can access course materials, lectures, and assignments from the comfort of their homes or any location with an internet connection. This eliminates geographical constraints and allows students to study at their own pace.
• Balancing Work and Education: Online Ph.D. programs are well-suited for working professionals who want to continue their careers while pursuing advanced degrees. The flexibility of these programs allows individuals to balance work and education, potentially advancing in their careers while studying.
• Self-Discipline and Time Management: Online Ph.D. programs demand a high level of self-discipline and time management. With fewer structured class hours, students must independently structure their study schedules. This can be a challenge for those who require a more structured learning environment.
• Variation in Research Opportunities: The availability of research opportunities can vary in online programs. Some disciplines require hands-on, laboratory-based research, which may be challenging to conduct remotely. Students pursuing research-intensive fields may face limitations in the scope of their studies.

Example: Meet Maria, a marketing professional with a passion for consumer behavior analysis. Maria chose to pursue an online Ph.D. in Marketing to accommodate her career and family responsibilities. The program allows her to attend virtual lectures, participate in online discussions, and complete assignments at her convenience. This flexibility ensures that she can continue her career while advancing her academic pursuits. However, Maria acknowledges that self-discipline and effective time management are essential to thrive in her online program. She also recognizes that her research focuses more on data analysis and consumer surveys, as hands-on research opportunities in a traditional laboratory setting would be challenging to replicate online. Nonetheless, Maria appreciates the online program’s adaptability to her unique life circumstances and goals.

• Before embarking on a PhD journey, it’s crucial to reflect on your academic and career aspirations. What are your long-term goals? Consider whether a full-time, part-time, or online program aligns better with these objectives. For example, if your aim is to become a university professor, a full-time program with extensive research opportunities might be the way to go.
• Your financial situation plays a significant role in your choice. Assess your ability to cover tuition, living expenses, and other costs. Investigate funding options such as scholarships, assistantships, or part-time work opportunities in your chosen program.
• Your work experience and personal circumstances are key considerations. If you have a career that you want to continue, part-time or online programs can be more accommodating. Conversely, if you’re transitioning directly from a bachelor’s or master’s program, a full-time Ph.D. might be a better fit.
• Consider your time management and self-discipline skills. Full-time programs are highly structured, while part-time and online programs require more self-motivation. Reflect on your ability to manage your time effectively and remain dedicated to your studies.
• Thoroughly research the quality and recognition of the programs you’re interested in. Investigate factors such as faculty expertise, research facilities, alumni success, and program accreditation. Ensure that the program you choose aligns with your academic and career ambitions.

Example: Take Mark, for instance, a recent master’s graduate aspiring to become a clinical psychologist. His ambition is to conduct research in the field while also maintaining part-time work to support his family. After assessing his goals and financial situation, Mark decides that a part-time PhD program in Clinical Psychology is the best option. This choice accommodates his career aspirations and allows him to provide for his family. However, Mark recognizes that he’ll need to enhance his time management and self-discipline skills to excel in a part-time program. He also thoroughly researched programs, ensuring that he selected one recognized for its strong faculty and clinical research opportunities. This comprehensive evaluation led him to the most suitable path for his unique circumstances and objectives.

Tabular format to compare full-time, part-time, and online PhD programs based on key factors:

This table provides a comparative overview of the three options based on various factors, allowing individuals to assess which aligns best with their specific goals and circumstances.

To find detailed information about specific programs at these universities, you can search for the universities online or visit their official websites:

Please note that the availability of specific programs may change over time, so it’s important to verify the latest information on each university’s official website.

In the quest for a Ph.D., choosing the right path is a pivotal decision that can significantly impact your academic and professional future. As we’ve explored, the options are diverse, each offering its own set of advantages and challenges. Full-time programs immerse you in the world of academia, part-time programs cater to those juggling responsibilities, and online programs provide unprecedented flexibility.

Ultimately, there is no one-size-fits-all answer to the question of which is “better.” Your academic and career goals, financial situation, work experience, personal circumstances, time management, and the quality of the program all play a role in your decision.

What’s paramount is making an informed choice that aligns with your unique aspirations. Whether you’re embarking on a full-time research journey, harnessing the flexibility of a part-time program, or embracing the digital realm of online education, your choice is a reflection of your dedication to knowledge and advancement.

Whichever path you choose, may your PhD journey be one of passion, perseverance, and the fulfilment of your academic dreams. Remember, this is your odyssey, and the destination is yours to define.

Upcoming Events

• Visit the Upcoming International Conferences at Exotic Travel Destinations with Travel Plan
• Visit for  Research Internships Worldwide

Recent Posts

• Top Mistakes to Avoid When Writing a Research Paper
• Average Stipend for Research/Academic Internships
• These Institutes Offer Remote Research/Academic Internships
• How to Include Your Journal in the UGC-CARE List? A Guide for Publishers
• Understanding UGC CARE Journals: A Comprehensive Guide
• All Blog Posts
• Research Career
• Research Conference
• Research Internship
• Research Journal
• Research Tools
• Uncategorized
• Research Conferences
• Research Journals
• Research Grants
• Internships
• Research Internships
• Email Templates
• Conferences
• Blog Partners
• Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2024 Research Voyage

Design by ThemesDNA.com

Doctor of Philosophy in Education

Additional Information

• Download the Doctoral Viewbook
• Admissions & Aid

The Harvard Ph.D. in Education trains cutting-edge researchers who work across disciplines to generate knowledge and translate discoveries into transformative policy and practice.

Offered jointly by the Harvard Graduate School of Education and the Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, the Ph.D. in Education provides you with full access to the extraordinary resources of Harvard University and prepares you to assume meaningful roles as university faculty, researchers, senior-level education leaders, and policymakers.

As a Ph.D. candidate, you will collaborate with scholars across all Harvard graduate schools on original interdisciplinary research. In the process, you will help forge new fields of inquiry that will impact the way we teach and learn. The program’s required coursework will develop your knowledge of education and your expertise in a range of quantitative and qualitative methods needed to conduct high-quality research. Guided by the goal of making a transformative impact on education research, policy, and practice, you will focus on independent research in various domains, including human development, learning and teaching, policy analysis and evaluation, institutions and society, and instructional practice.   

Curriculum Information

The Ph.D. in Education requires five years of full-time study to complete. You will choose your individual coursework and design your original research in close consultation with your HGSE faculty adviser and dissertation committee. The requirements listed below include the three Ph.D. concentrations: Culture, Institutions, and Society; Education Policy and Program Evaluation; and Human Development, Learning and Teaching . 

We invite you to review an example course list, which is provided in two formats — one as the full list by course number and one by broad course category . These lists are subject to modification. 

Ph.D. Concentrations and Examples

Summary of Ph.D. Program

Doctoral Colloquia  In year one and two you are required to attend. The colloquia convenes weekly and features presentations of work-in-progress and completed work by Harvard faculty, faculty and researchers from outside Harvard, and Harvard doctoral students. Ph.D. students present once in the colloquia over the course of their career.

Research Apprenticeship The Research Apprenticeship is designed to provide ongoing training and mentoring to develop your research skills throughout the entire program.

Teaching Fellowships The Teaching Fellowship is an opportunity to enhance students' teaching skills, promote learning consolidation, and provide opportunities to collaborate with faculty on pedagogical development.

Comprehensive Exams  The Written Exam (year 2, spring) tests you on both general and concentration-specific knowledge. The Oral Exam (year 3, fall/winter) tests your command of your chosen field of study and your ability to design, develop, and implement an original research project.

Dissertation  Based on your original research, the dissertation process consists of three parts: the Dissertation Proposal, the writing, and an oral defense before the members of your dissertation committee.

Culture, Institutions, and Society (CIS) Concentration

In CIS, you will examine the broader cultural, institutional, organizational, and social contexts relevant to education across the lifespan. What is the value and purpose of education? How do cultural, institutional, and social factors shape educational processes and outcomes? How effective are social movements and community action in education reform? How do we measure stratification and institutional inequality? In CIS, your work will be informed by theories and methods from sociology, history, political science, organizational behavior and management, philosophy, and anthropology. You can examine contexts as diverse as classrooms, families, neighborhoods, schools, colleges and universities, religious institutions, nonprofits, government agencies, and more.

Education Policy and Program Evaluation (EPPE) Concentration

In EPPE, you will research the design, implementation, and evaluation of education policy affecting early childhood, K–12, and postsecondary education in the U.S. and internationally. You will evaluate and assess individual programs and policies related to critical issues like access to education, teacher effectiveness, school finance, testing and accountability systems, school choice, financial aid, college enrollment and persistence, and more. Your work will be informed by theories and methods from economics, political science, public policy, and sociology, history, philosophy, and statistics. This concentration shares some themes with CIS, but your work with EPPE will focus on public policy and large-scale reforms.

Human Development, Learning and Teaching (HDLT) Concentration

In HDLT, you will work to advance the role of scientific research in education policy, reform, and practice. New discoveries in the science of learning and development — the integration of biological, cognitive, and social processes; the relationships between technology and learning; or the factors that influence individual variations in learning — are transforming the practice of teaching and learning in both formal and informal settings. Whether studying behavioral, cognitive, or social-emotional development in children or the design of learning technologies to maximize understanding, you will gain a strong background in human development, the science of learning, and sociocultural factors that explain variation in learning and developmental pathways. Your research will be informed by theories and methods from psychology, cognitive science, sociology and linguistics, philosophy, the biological sciences and mathematics, and organizational behavior.

Program Faculty

The most remarkable thing about the Ph.D. in Education is open access to faculty from all Harvard graduate and professional schools, including the Harvard Graduate School of Education, the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, the Harvard Kennedy School, the Harvard Law School, Harvard Medical School, and the Harvard School of Public Health. Learn about the full Ph.D. Faculty.

Jarvis R. Givens

Jarvis Givens studies the history of American education, African American history, and the relationship between race and power in schools.

Paul L. Harris

Paul Harris is interested in the early development of cognition, emotion, and imagination in children.

Meira Levinson

Meira Levinson is a normative political philosopher who works at the intersection of civic education, youth empowerment, racial justice, and educational ethics. 

Luke W. Miratrix

Luke Miratrix is a statistician who explores how to best use modern statistical methods in applied social science contexts.

Eric Taylor

Eric Taylor studies the economics of education, with a particular interest in employer-employee interactions between schools and teachers — hiring and firing decisions, job design, training, and performance evaluation.

Paola Uccelli

Paola Ucelli studies socio-cultural and individual differences in the language development of multilingual and monolingual students.

View Ph.D. Faculty

Dissertations.

The following is a complete listing of successful Ph.D. in Education dissertations to-date. Dissertations from November 2014 onward are publicly available in the Digital Access to Scholarship at Harvard (DASH) , the online repository for Harvard scholarship.

• 2022 Graduate Dissertations (265 KB pdf)
• 2021 Graduate Dissertations (177 KB pdf)
• 2020 Graduate Dissertations (121 KB pdf)
• 2019 Graduate Dissertations (68.3 KB pdf)

Student Directory

An opt-in listing of current Ph.D. students with information about their interests, research, personal web pages, and contact information:

Doctor of Philosophy in Education Student Directory

Introduce Yourself

Tell us about yourself so that we can tailor our communication to best fit your interests and provide you with relevant information about our programs, events, and other opportunities to connect with us.

Program Highlights

Explore examples of the Doctor of Philosophy in Education experience and the impact its community is making on the field:

The Human Element of Data and AI

Gahyun Callie Sung's journey to HGSE and the LIT Lab is reflected in her research into data and using AI to improve student outcomes

Improving the Teacher Workforce

With her research work, doctoral marshal Mary Laski, Ph.D.'24, is trying to make teaching in K–12 schools more sustainable and attractive

Doctoral Programs

In this section, phd in public policy.

• PhD in Political Economy & Government

PhD in Health Policy

Phd in social policy.

• Job Market Candidates

Health care and politics. Inequality and public policy. Economics and disruption.

You see today's most compelling global issues as complex, interrelated, and urgent. You believe that fresh ideas—and research to carry them through—are critical to building stronger communities and a more just world.

In collaboration with the  Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences  (Harvard Griffin GSAS),  Harvard Kennedy School immerses you in rigorous learning that bridges academic disciplines and draws from leading faculties across the university’s graduate schools. When you pursue a doctoral degree at HKS, you are among extraordinarily bright minds, you’ll work with committed faculty members who are leaders in their fields, and you’ll have unparalleled access to resources across Harvard University.

Prepare yourself for a career in academia or policymaking that demands advanced knowledge of economics, political science, and social policy. Translate your ideas into action that can untangle our world’s unprecedented challenges. Join us.

• How Long Does A PhD Take?
• Doing a PhD

Sometimes, just knowing how long a PhD takes can be enough to sway your decision on whether a research degree is for you. So with that in mind, exactly how long does a PhD take?

In the UK, a full-time PhD takes 3 to 4 years to finish whilst a part-time PhD takes twice as long at 6 to 7 years. Alongside these average durations, there are time limits on how long you can be enrolled on to a PhD programme. To discover these limits, the factors which most influence doctoral degree durations and how the UK durations compare to international PhDs, continue reading on.

How Long Does It Take to Get a Full-time PhD?

In the UK, a full-time PhD will typically take you 3 to 4 years. You will usually spend the first three years on the technical aspects of your doctorate. This includes undertaking independent research, designing your research methodology and collecting and analysing data. You will then spend an additional academic year on writing up your PhD thesis and sitting your viva.

How Long Does It Take to Get a Part-time PhD?

In the UK, a part-time PhD will typically take you 6 to 7 years; twice as long as doing a full-time PhD. The reason for this is that as a part-time PhD student, you would dedicate around 20 hours per week to your PhD as opposed to the typical 40 hours full-time students would put into their subject.

How Long Does a Distance Learning PhD Take?

Similarly, distance learning PhD’s take an average of 6 to 7 years to complete. This is because the vast majority of students who undertake a distance learning PhD do so because they can’t relocate closer to the university. Although these commitments will differ, they often mean the student isn’t able to dedicate 40 hours per week to their studies.

Students in STEM disciplines will often take longer to finish a distance learning doctorate degree than those in non-STEM disciplines. This because the progress of a STEM PhD student will be limited by how often they can access a laboratory for experiment work.

How Does Funding Impact a PhD’s Duration?

In reality, the actual time it will take you to complete your PhD degree will depend on your funding situation.

If you’re receiving  funding , it will usually only cover you for 3.5 years if you’re studying full-time or for 7 years at half the stipend if you’re studying part-time. Although this could vary slightly, most PhD funding providers, e.g. Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), follow this timescale as indicated on their ‘ length of PhD studentships’ page. Because of this, most students who obtain scholarships try to complete their PhD within the timeframe of their funding so they don’t incur additional fees which they need to cover themselves.

It’s also worth noting that some funded PhD positions have additional conditions attached to them as part of their eligibility requirements. For example, they may require teaching undergraduate students, hosting laboratory sessions or attend presentations and conferences. This will be especially true if you’re on a Graduate Teaching Assistantship (GTA). Although these shouldn’t add considerable time to the length of a PhD programme, they have the potential to do so if they aren’t managed properly.

As self-funded students cover their own annual tuition fees and other associated costs, how long they’ll spend to complete their PhD project will largely depend on their own personal financial situation. Because of this, most self-funded PhD students find it best to complete their PhD study in the shortest time-frame they can manage.

Are There Deadlines?

Yes – unfortunately, all good things must come to an end! Within the UK, the deadline for your PhD is defined as the last date which you must submit your final thesis by. This date is set by your university’s overall regulations and varies depending on the arrangements of your PhD, e.g. whether it’s full or part time. In the vast majority of cases, the adopted deadlines are four years for full-time PhDs and seven years for part-time PhDs from the date you were officially registered onto your programme, as shown below from the University of Leicester’s registration guidance page .

This time-frame may vary from university to university. For example, the University of Sheffield adopts an additional year for part-time PhDs as shown below.

Can I Complete It Faster?

Although it’s possible to complete a full-time PhD in under 3 years, it’s a significant feat that’s rarely heard of. When these feats occur, they’re usually where the doctoral student already has extensive knowledge and experience in their field before undertaking their PhD.

Whilst it’s possible to complete a part-time PhD in under 6 years, it largely depends on your commitments outside your studies. For example, if you have a part-time career alongside your PhD, it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to commit the additional hours required to complete your doctorate a year faster.

However, if instead of a steady part-time job you take on occasional work as a freelancer, you’ll be able to set aside many more hours towards your doctoral degree.

Will Having only A Bachelor’s Degree or Being an International Student Limit My Rate of Progression?

Not at all. While there are benefits to having a Master’s degree such as an additional year of learning and greater research experience due to your fourth-year dissertation project, this doesn’t mean not having one would limit you. A PhD is very different to both Bachelor and Master degrees due to being heavily research-based, therefore, both types of students will have just as much to learn on their way to completing their doctorate.

Similarly, whether you’re an international student will bear no influence on the duration of your PhD.

Finding a PhD has never been this easy – search for a PhD by keyword, location or academic area of interest.

How Does This Compare to the Duration of EU and US PhDs?

PhD hosted by universities within the EU, such as those in France, Norway and Spain, have the same programme structure as those within the UK. As a result, there are no noticeable differences in the time to complete a doctorate between UK and EU institutions.

However, this is not the case in the US. Compared to PhDs conducted within the UK or EU, PhDs conducted within the US take considerably longer to obtain. According to a  2017 study conducted by the National Science Foundation, a US government agency which supports research and higher education, the average time to get a PhD within the US is 5.8 years. Besides this, the average completion time can further increase depending on the disciplines. For example, they found doctorates within the humanities and arts to take an average of 7.1 years to achieve.

The primary reason for this difference is the way PhD degrees are structured within the United States. As mentioned previously, PhDs conducted within UK and EU universities are essentially broken into two sections – one covering the analytical aspects and the other covering the writing up aspects. However, within the US, doctorate programmes comprise additional sections. PhD students are first required to undertake 2 to 3 years of courses, which cover a broad range of topics related to their schools’ discipline. This is then followed by coursework and several examinations, which only once passed can the PhD candidate then start working on their research project and dissertation.

Browse PhDs Now

Join thousands of students.

Join thousands of other students and stay up to date with the latest PhD programmes, funding opportunities and advice.

Get the Reddit app

A subreddit dedicated to PhDs.

Part-time PhD with a full-time job, How was your experience?

I'm thinking about pursuing a part-time PhD while keeping my full-time job as a Data Scientist.

I would like to hear your experience if you have finished or still doing your part-time PhD while maintaining a full-time job.

Thanks and have a wonderful weekend.

Clearing Universities & Courses

Clearing advice.

Recommended Clearing Universities

Popular Course Categories

Take our quick degree quiz.

Find the ideal uni course for you with our Course Degree Quiz. Get answers in minutes!

Take our full degree quiz

Get more tailored course suggestions with our full Course Degree Quiz and apply with confidence.

Search by Type

Search by region.

Recommended Universities

Swansea University

Wales · 100% Recommended

University of Surrey

South East England · 98% Recommended

University of Portsmouth

Search open days.

What's new at Uni Compare

University of Law

Ranked Top 20 amongst English universities in the 2023 National Student Survey!

Northeastern Uni London

Want to earn two globally recognised degrees simultaneously? Look no further!

Ranking Categories

Regional rankings.

More Rankings

Top 100 Universities

Taken from 131,500+ data points from students attending university to help future generations

About our Rankings

Discover university rankings devised from data collected from current students.

Guide Categories

Advice categories, recommended articles, popular statement examples, statement advice.

What to include in a Personal Statement

Personal Statement Tips

What is a part-time phd.

With PhDs being offered by universities, more and more have started to offer part-time PhDs as well!

A part-time PhD might be the answer to some of your worries related to committing to long term postgraduate study. Now you have the chance to study a postgraduate degree and work as well!

What is a PhD?

A PhD is a postgraduate doctoral degree, known as a Doctor of Philosophy. Generally, a PhD involves an extensive research project in a specific subject or field. At the end, you will produce a “thesis” on your findings.

What is the difference between a part-time PhD and a full-time PhD?

The difference is the time given to both. As the name suggests, a part-time PhD is a PhD that is studied only part-time, while a full-time PhD is studied in the usual manner.

A part-time PhD typically takes anywhere between five and seven years. Full-time PhDs are, by no means, short affairs, but typically tend to take around three or four years.

How long does a part-time PhD take?

A part-time PhD typically takes five to eight years, but this time period depends on how long the university offers you and how much work you put in. You might have more time than you initially thought and finish it sooner, or your work and life balance may get in the way and it takes longer.

Typically, a full-time PhD is three to four years. However, a thesis deadline can actually be extended for as long as four years.

How many hours a week is a part-time PhD?

There is no set time to how long studying a PhD part-time takes, as it’s down to the hours you put in yourself. If you have a goal of completing a doctorate in five to six years, you’ll find you’ll need to knuckle down in the library a little more often.

Finding part-time PhD courses

It shouldn’t be too hard to find a PhD course.If a university offers a postgraduate course, there’s a fairly high chance that they will offer PhD courses. If you can’t see it listed on the course profile, get in contact with the university - they’ll be happy to help!

You should first decide what area of research you’d like to conduct. After that, research, research, research! Find out whether it has been done before and if it\’s possible to complete it in the time frame you want to. Once you’ve understood this, you can focus on which universities are best suited to you and your project.

Why should I do a part-time PhD?

Whether you choose a part-time PhD will likely depend on your circumstances. There are a couple of key reasons many decide on part-time study.

The cost of study

While the cost of your PhD will be the same as a full-time, many prefer that the costs will be spread out across a longer period of time at a smaller cost.

As you’ll also be studying at your university for less time a week, the costs of travel to and from university will be less than if you were full-time.

Flexibility

It's far easier to adapt your life around your PhD if it is studied part-time. If your life is a bit hectic, then a part-time PhD gives you the chance to attend to other matters in your life without the fear of not completing your PhD.

If your situation changes, there is always the opportunity to change to a full-time study.

The reason you choose part-time is down to you. You may find that a full-time PhD suits you better than a part-time PhD course, so consider your situation before you make your choice.

Is there part-time PhD funding?

Yes, there are PhD funding options available. PhD loans can be found through businesses willing to sponsor your work, charities and trusts who may benefit from your research, nationwide grants , or through the government.

Student finance may also be available to you. Essentially, if you won’t receive a studentship , then Student Finance may step in, but it’s unlikely that it will cover the full cost of your PhD. Loans can be available for up to £28,000 depending on circumstances.

postgraduate Universities

Postgraduate uni's.

Northumbria Uni

384 courses

129 courses

Want to learn more about a university?

Get your questions answered by sending them an enquiry now.

Stack Exchange Network

Stack Exchange network consists of 183 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow , the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers.

Q&A for work

Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search.

PHD Part Time vs Full TIme

Will it make any difference if you do a PHD full time or part time ?

In my case my diploma/certificate will mention that the PHD was done part-time, how will this affect my career afterwards? will it have any implications on an academic career ?

The reason for which i have to complete my part-time PHD in 3 years is that i am working at the same university, and my job is actually a researcher on the exact same topic of my PHD. I was initially registered as part-time due to the nature of my situation, but apparently i can change that in to full time, however i want to see if it will be worth the struggle. I find it unfair that i get the PART-TIME on my diploma although i did in 3 years as any other Full time PHD

Also, i would like to mention that in my case, a part time PHD will also have to be completed in 3 years*, same as the full time PHD.

Lets assume money is out of the question in this case

• research-process
• career-path
• academic-life

• 4 I find it extremely ambitious to attempt to finish a Ph.D. part time in three years, "same as the full time PHD". This obviously means that some of the requirements are relaxed, compared to the full time Ph.D. (otherwise, why wouldn't full time students do their Ph.D. in 1.5 years?). Could you please edit your question to explain where requirements are reduced? This would help us in answering. –  Stephan Kolassa Commented Jun 2, 2015 at 11:55
• 1 Thanks for the edit. Is this understanding correct: Your university offers two PhD programs: (a) you work full-time on the PhD research and have funding for 3 years. Are you expected or guaranteed to finish after three years? (b) you work half-time at the university (as a researcher, or teacher, etc?) and the other half of your time you can dedicate to research. In your situation, your "job" allows you to work on your research, in effect letting you work full-time on your PhD? Please clarify the distinction between (a) and (b). What requirements are there? Do you have to take classes? –  CuriousCat Commented Jun 2, 2015 at 12:18
• i work at the university as a researcher, i research the same topic of my PHD (the reason for that is my engineering experience and knowledge). You can say i am paid to work on my PHD, the Job offer is for 3 years and i will have no funding after that. So in the end i am working full time on my PHD. –  AnarKi Commented Jun 2, 2015 at 12:24
• It's very odd that your diploma is marked with a 'part time' designation. At least for a Ph.D why should this matter ? –  Suresh Commented Jun 2, 2015 at 18:41

2 Answers 2

I will give two answers, you are welcome to choose which one to pay attention to ;)

Short answer: If you can change to full time without negative consequences, then I don't see why not. It might look a little 'cleaner' on the diploma and might prevent some biases or questions that part-time doctoral work might arouse in your country (assuming you want to remain in your country, here you are a better judge, since our countries are probably not the same as 3-yr PhDs are definitely not the norm in the U.S.). So if the benefits outweigh the effort, go for it!

Long answer: I realize everyone's circumstances are different and there may be reasons to rush a PhD for the sake of the diploma and a brighter future with higher salary. With this disclaimer, to me, any (part or full time) PhD done in 3 years by design of the program (rather than special case as with some highly talented students) raises suspicion about the quality of the PhD program. However, from your comment it sounds like it's not that the program is designed to be have 3 year typical duration; it's that you have 3 years of funding on your job contract. That changes the situation, because it means that you are potentially rushing like crazy through a PhD program that is intended for a longer average completion period (e.g. 4-5 years).

This is important because regardless of what your transcript will say, it's what is left in your head that will ultimately determine your worth as a professional in your field.

Students who complete a PhD in 3 years are either highly talented and do so with no detriment to their knowledge - to say it different, they complete the PhD in 3 years because when they are done, their knowledge is at least equivalent to that of typical students who take longer. They are ahead from the start, hence the typical program is too slow for them. That's an OK situation. Different strokes for different folks.

Another situation is that students who complete a PhD in 3 years are in a big rush, the reason being that there are strings attached, and a longer term carries a higher cost either in money, or time (e.g. fellowships that require a student to return for home country for a minimum of 2x the duration of PhD study).

This is problematic for the obvious reason that simply being in a hurry does not make one more qualified by the end of the 3rd year, i.e. more ready to graduate. The reason why this is problematic is the same as the reason why it is problematic if a medical student completes medical school in 2.5 years instead of the typical 5, or an attorney graduates from law school in 1.5 years instead of typical 3. Even if you study really hard, it raises eyebrows. To me personally, a PhD completed in 3 years raises eyebrows in the same way.

I offer this as something to think about because being in a hurry seems to be at least partly the case here. If I am wrong, please correct me. I might also be biased by my own graduate study, which I did not rush. As a result it took longer than average, but I did not see it as a race, and I honestly believe that I have gained more skills, knowledge and experience (and perhaps a little wisdom) than if I had rushed it.

Bottom line: If at all possible, I recommend to reconsider your plans, taking into account factors other than the contract duration of your job. So far it seems that this single factor is the main consideration. The assumption is that once 3 years is up, that's it, life is over, there is no money left in the universe to fund your study. Is that truly the case? Could it be possible to find fellowships, or part-time work with tuition waiver, to fund a continuation of the study for another year or two? Would this make you a better academic, with better skills under your belt? Or would it only make you look lazy and weird compared to all your peers? I hope you use long-term thinking and consider all options. Good luck!

My impression: no difference. Anyone thinking of hiring you will consider primarily the Ph.D. thesis and your advisor's recommendation.

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for browse other questions tagged phd research-process career-path academic-life ..

• Featured on Meta
• Upcoming sign-up experiments related to tags

Hot Network Questions

• What is the relevance and meaning if a sentence contains "Had not"?
• What is the use in arguing for or against the existence of metaphysical things?
• Need to extend B2 visa status but dad is in a coma
• Why some web servers dont have 'initial connection'?
• Movie with a gate guarded by two statues
• Can sacrificing a Queen be considered a brilliant move?
• LTCGY - Let the corners guide you
• What camera could I mount or rig to my bike that can read/recognize license plates
• Best practices for relicensing what was once a derivative work
• Will it break Counterspell if the trigger becomes "perceive" instead of "see"?
• Is it grammatically correct to say 'I suspect this clause to be a bit sloppy English'?
• Leviticus 20:18 on menstruation seems cruel and unusual
• How to create a galvanized pipe with a twist?
• How to make a low-poly version of a ramen bowl?
• Is there any way to play Runescape singleplayer?
• Are there any well-known mathematicians who were marxists?
• Patentability of graphs
• Bibliographic references: “[19,31-33]”, “[33,19,31,32]” or “[33], [19], [31], [32]”?
• さくらが投げられた = Sakura got thrown, so why 私が言われる not "I got said"
• The term 'sfp' is not recognized
• How do I apply the negative of a gate in Qiskit
• If "Good luck finding a new job" is sarcastic, how do change the sentence to make it sound well-intentioned?
• Can I be denied to board a cruise at a US port if I have a misdemeanor?
• Geographic distribution of Bitcoin users

• Interesting
• Scholarships
• UGC-CARE Journals

Is a Part-Time PhD Worth it?

10 differences between Full-time and part-time PhD

PhD programs that are offered full-time or part-time have many differences. The duration of time needed for each program is the most noticeable difference. While a part-time PhD program might take anywhere from six to eight years to finish, a full-time PhD program normally requires four to five years of full-time study. In this article, we have listed the 10 differences between Full time vs part-time PhD.

What is a Part-Time PhD?

A part-time PhD is a research degree that is completed over a longer period of time than a full-time PhD. This allows scholars to work while they study, which can be beneficial for those who want to continue working in their field while also pursuing their studies.

What is a Full-Time PhD?

A full-time PhD is a doctoral degree that is earned by completing all required coursework and research within a set timeframe. This type of PhD typically takes between four and six years to complete.

Full-Time vs Part-Time Ph.D. | 10 Differences

• Full-time PhD scholars are expected to complete their degree within a certain time frame, usually 4-5 years. Part-time PhD scholars may take longer to finish their degree.
• Full-time PhD scholars typically take more courses and have more research requirements than part-time scholars.
• Full-time PhD scholars are usually supported by their university or research institution through fellowships or assistantships. Part-time scholars typically have to pay their own way.
• Full-time PhD scholars usually have to relocate to attend their chosen school, while part-time scholars can often study from home.
• Full-time PhD scholars typically have more contact with their supervisors and other faculty members than part-time students.
• Full-time PhD scholars are usually expected to participate in departmental activities and events. Part-time scholars may have less opportunity to do so.
• Full-time PhD scholars typically have more access to resources and support services than part-time scholars.
• Full-time PhD scholars may be able to take advantage of teaching opportunities to gain experience in their field. Part-time scholars may not have this opportunity.
• Full-time PhD scholars may be able to complete their degree faster if they are able to devote more time to their studies. Part-time scholars may take longer to finish their degrees.
• Full-time PhD scholars may have a higher chance of getting a job after graduation than part-time scholars.

10 Difficulties in pursuing a Full-Time Ph.D.?

There are many difficulties that come with undertaking a full-time PhD, especially if you are also working full-time. Some of the main difficulties include:

• Time management – it can be difficult to juggle a full-time job, family life, and your PhD studies.
• Finances – a PhD can be expensive, especially if you are self-funding your studies.
• Motivation – it can be difficult to stay motivated when you are working on your PhD full-time.
• Time pressure – you may feel like you don’t have enough time to complete your PhD to a high standard.
• Isolation – you may feel isolated from your friends and family as you spend more time working on your PhD.
• Stress – the pressure of completing a PhD can be stressful and may lead to anxiety or depression.
• Procrastination – it can be easy to procrastinate when you are working on your PhD full-time.
• Lack of sleep – you may find that you are sleeping less because you are working on your PhD.
• Poor diet – you may find that you are eating unhealthily because you don’t have time to cook or eat properly.
• Exhaustion – you may feel exhausted from juggling your full-time job, family life and PhD studies.

Is a part-time PhD equivalent to a full-time Ph.D.?

There is no universally accepted answer to this question, as the equivalency of part-time and full-time Ph.D. programs can vary depending on the institution and field of study. However, some reasons why a part-time PhD may be considered equivalent to a full-time Ph.D. include the fact that part-time scholars typically complete the same coursework and research requirements as full-time scholars, and they often have the same opportunities to present their work at conferences and publish their findings in academic journals.

Is a Full-Time Ph.D. Worth it?

A full-time PhD is worth it if you are passionate about your research and want to pursue a career in academia or a related field. It is also worth it if you are able to balance your time between your research and your personal life.

There is no easy answer to this question. It depends on your individual circumstances and goals. If you are certain that you want to pursue a career in academia or research, then a part-time PhD may be worth it. However, if you are not sure about your career goals, then a part-time PhD may not be the best investment of your time and money.

I’m hoping that this article will assist you in understanding the pros and downsides of pursuing a phd as well as the differences between the full-time and part-time modes.

Take the right decision in your life. Happy PhD! ilovephd.com

• Difference between
• full-time phd
• part-time phd
• PhD in Canada
• PhD in India

40 Part-Time Jobs Websites for PhD Scholars to Earn Extra Income!

Advantages and disadvantages of getting a patent, working sci-hub proxy links – 2024, most popular, icmr call for research proposal 2024, call for applications: dst inspire faculty fellowship (2024), should you quit your phd explore reasons & alternatives, india – sri lanka joint research funding opportunity, how to check scopus indexed journals 2024, apply for the dst-jsps indo-japan call 2024, india-eu partner up for explainable and robust ai research, best for you, 24 best online plagiarism checker free – 2024, what is phd, popular posts, scopus indexed journals list 2024, how to write a research paper in a month, popular category.

• POSTDOC 317
• Interesting 258
• Journals 234
• Fellowship 131
• Research Methodology 102
• All Scopus Indexed Journals 92

Mail Subscription

iLovePhD is a research education website to know updated research-related information. It helps researchers to find top journals for publishing research articles and get an easy manual for research tools. The main aim of this website is to help Ph.D. scholars who are working in various domains to get more valuable ideas to carry out their research. Learn the current groundbreaking research activities around the world, love the process of getting a Ph.D.

Contact us: [email protected]

Google News

Copyright © 2024 iLovePhD. All rights reserved

• Artificial intelligence

• Campus Safety
• (866) 825-5426

How Long Does it Take to Get a Psychology PhD?

Obtaining a PhD in psychology comes with a number of benefits, from the freedom to start your private practice to the chance to dive deep into research.

But if you’re charting out the next steps of your academic journey, the big question is, “How long does a PhD in psychology take?”

Ultimately, it depends on a handful of factors, but you can expect to be in school anywhere from five to seven years. 1,2  Let’s break down the timeline together and explore why earning a doctorate in psychology may be well worth the commitment. 

Get Your PhD in Psychology Degree

Psychology PhD Program Overview

A doctorate of philosophy in psychology is a terminal degree that helps prepare graduates for a range of professional pathways. It’s often seen as an ideal choice for students who hope to gain teaching experience or produce fresh insights through scientific research. 3 PhDs in psychology may also earn their licensure and work directly with clients in clinical settings, such as a mental health clinic or a private practice.

PhD in psychology programs may vary from institution to institution. Yet, they’re typically broken down into four primary categories:

• Methods and statistics
• Assessment and treatment of mental health conditions
• Research – Research is an integral component of PhD in psychology programs. Throughout your program, you may fine-tune your ability to gather information, perform interviews, work with participants of your selected study (or studies), gather and evaluate data, conduct literature reviews, and present results.
• Clinical practice and research – The knowledge and skills you obtain through coursework and research are taken from theory into practice through supervised training and/or a doctoral internship. Depending on the school, you may also have the opportunity for teaching assistantships.
• Dissertation – Your dissertation and dissertation defense are the key to the completion of your PhD and a culmination of your academic coursework, research, and hands-on training. While some may compare a dissertation to a thesis, dissertations are much more substantial in scope and typically come in between 100 and 300 pages. 7 If you’re unsure about your focus, we have the top 10 clinical psychology research topics to explore for your dissertation.

Stages of the PhD Program

The phases of a PhD in psychology also range from school to school. Graduate students can expect the following:

• Comprehensive exams
• Research proposal
• Dissertation research
• Dissertation defense

Does this mean you’ll manage each of these one at a time? Not necessarily. You might attend a morning lecture, teach for an hour, see a patient for an intake assessment, and spend your evening working on your dissertation.

Factors Affecting the Duration of a PhD in Psychology

Several factors may influence your particular answer to “How long does a PhD in psychology take?” These may include:

• Part-time vs. full-time status
• Job obligations
• Family obligations
• Domestic circumstances
• Extenuating circumstances that occur during your program
• Area of specialization

The duration of your graduate program may also be contingent upon the strength of your relationship with your mentor/doctoral advisor and, importantly, what you bring to the program, such as time management skills, motivation, and momentum. 8

The Role of Internships and Practical Experience

Internships and clinical practicums are crucial to gaining the skills and confidence required to transition from your doctoral program into the “real” world.

The type of hands-on experience you gain—and where it will occur—will depend on your program and discipline, but PhD in psychology students usually observe a licensed clinical psychologist in action or work directly with clients or groups of clients. In both scenarios, you typically have the opportunity to ask questions and request feedback. 9

Where do these internships and practicums take place? In a range of settings, such as:

• Rehabilitation centers
• Substance abuse facilities
• Private practices
• Correctional facilities

The PhD in Clinical Psychology program at Alliant International University, for example, pairs doctoral candidates with clinical practicum opportunities within the community to further your professional development.

As mentioned, a PhD in psychology usually takes between five and seven years, plus, in most cases, a one-year internship. Bear in mind, however, that the factors noted above could potentially delay completion.

5 Tips for Staying on Track

There are several ways to remain on track throughout your graduate studies: 10

• Establish regular meetings with your mentor/dissertation advisor to evaluate your progress
• Set firm deadlines
• Select a manageable research topic
• Work at building a support system, inside and outside of your program
• Decompress with regular breaks, whether that means exercise, a staycation, or a quick weekend away

According to the American Psychological Association (APA), studies suggest that picturing the completion of your PhD and your future success can boost your motivation. Getting a PhD in psychology is no easy feat, but you are making a difference in the lives of others.

How We Support Our PhD Students

Alliant International University is intent on ensuring students receive the support they need to thrive throughout their academic journeys. We offer a number of resources to nourish your well-being, including libraries, labs, and online databases. Add an encouraging faculty to the list, and you can rest assured that we’ll help you stay on track.

Elevate Your Academic Career at Alliant International University

“How long does it take to get a psychology PhD” is case by case, much in the way your clients may be in the future. However long it does take is incomparable to what you may gain from your program, from in-depth knowledge of the brain to the finest research techniques.

Alliant International University nurtures these very things. We offer two doctoral degrees in Psychology: a PsyD and a PhD in Clinical Psychology . Both come equipped with attributes that can help students flourish—during their PhD degree programs and after.

Imagine your future in psychology by exploring our doctoral programs today.

• Kendra Cherry, MSEd. “Different Timelines for Doctorate-Degree Options in Psychology.” Verywell Mind, November 7, 2023. https://www.verywellmind.com/how-long-does-it-take-to-get-a-phd-in-psychology-2795131.  
• “Home.” Alliant Intl University. Accessed April 20, 2024. https://www.alliant.edu/psychology/clinical-psychology/phd.  
• “Doctoral Degrees in Psychology: How Are They Different, or Not so Different?” American Psychological Association. Accessed April 20, 2024. https://www.apa.org/ed/precollege/psn/2016/01/doctoral-degrees .
• “Psychology Doctorate Phd Defined: Explore Academic, Internship and Research Requirements for a Psychology Phd.” Psychologist, March 24, 2021. https://www.psychologist-license.com/types-of-psychologists/psychologist-doctorate-phd/.  
• “Best Doctorate in Psychology (Ph.D.. and Psy.D.).” Psychology.org | Psychology’s Comprehensive Online Resource, April 12, 2024. https://www.psychology.org/degrees/phd/.  
• “Daily Activities of a Clinical Psychology Phd Student.” Simply Mental Health, November 13, 2022. https://simplymentalhealth.ca/2022/11/13/daily-activities-of-a-clinical-psychology-phd-student/.  
• "How Long Is a Dissertation? Here’s the Average Length.” Dissertation Team. Accessed April 20, 2024. https://us.dissertationteam.com/blog/how-long-is-a-dissertation/.&nbsp ;
• Young, Sonia N, William R Vanwye, Mark A Schafer, Troy A Robertson, and Ashley Vincent Poore. “Factors Affecting Phd Student Success.” International journal of exercise science, January 1, 2019. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6355122/.  
• “Internships and Practicums.” Psychology.org | Psychology’s Comprehensive Online Resource, April 10, 2024. https://www.psychology.org/resources/internships-and-practicums/.  
• “Revive Your Drive--Six Empirically Supported Techniques for Getting Excited about Grad School Again.” American Psychological Association. Accessed April 20, 2024. https://www.apa.org/gradpsych/2008/09/grad-school.&nbsp ;

David Stewart

Dean, California School of Professional Psychology

David G. Stewart, PhD, ABPP, is a board-certified clinical child and adolescent psychologist and Dean of the California School of...

Other Categories

University announcements, featured news, nursing and health sciences, start on your path to succeed on purpose, request information.

• 1 Current Select Interests
• 2 Provide Information

You might also like

7 psychology specializations: which is right for you.

By examining the link between brain function and human behavior, psychology can positively influence collective outcomes and...

Social Worker vs. Psychologist: 6 Key Differences

If you’re contemplating a career in psychology or human services, you might be both thrilled and overwhelmed by the number of...

How to Get a PhD in Psychology (10 Steps)

A PhD in Psychology is the ultimate degree—a symbol of your commitment to the discipline and a representation of your knowledge...

Chairman and CEO Letter to Shareholders

Annual Report 2023

Latest news

An Ohio-Based Company is Protecting First Responders Around the World

With support from JPMorganChase, Fire-Dex is providing protective equipment to firefighters in 100 countries and all 50 states. 

The changing demographics of retail investors

Veteran’s Unconventional Path to Landing her Dream Job in Tech 

U.S. Army Veteran Ashley Wigfall transitioned to a civilian role and charted her path to technologist through mentorship and skills training at the JPMorgan Chase tech hub in Plano, Texas.

• Explore Opportunities

Students and graduates

Gain new skills and find what you love — with programs designed for those early in their careers.

Your career starts here

Lasting connections

Set your career in motion through mentorship programs, networking opportunities and chances to connect with colleagues dedicated to your success. 

Growth opportunities

Our internships and early career programs are designed with your professional growth in mind. Get the experiences and resources needed to pursue your passions. 

Community impact

Contribute to meaningful projects and gain significant experiences as we work toward strengthening the communities where we live and work. 

Early career programs

Explore a wide range of roles that fit your goals and background.

School programs and apprenticeships

From week-long experiences to full-time roles, these opportunities are made for high school students looking to gain insight into our firm and industry. 

Pre-internships

Pre-internship events range from one day to a few weeks and are meant for college freshman, sophomores and juniors, as well as MBA students. 

Internships

Find a summer internship that lets you work with us during your time off. These opportunities last from 10 to 12 weeks and are offered to undergraduate students in their next-to-last year. Postgraduate and PhD-level internships are also offered.

Our full-time programs are available to undergraduate, postgraduate, PhD- and MBA-level candidates and run from 24 to 36 months, depending on the role. 

See where tech can take you

Drive innovation and gain valuable skills for the future with opportunities catered to students and graduates interested in pursuing a tech career. 

Stories for students

Which Student Opportunity is right for you?

Explore the differences between our programs and experiences to help you decide which one to pursue.

Zoom In on Interview Success

My global coding career in Bournemouth

From graduate to vice president, Shree Aggarwal’s passion for coding shines at J.P. Morgan.

Global Nomad: Building an Online Community for Young People Around the World

Want to build an app to connect young people around the world? Start by asking young programmers what they'd want to see...and how they'd build it!

Upcoming events

Click below to find if there are events happening near you.

Explore our business areas 

From Consumer Banking to tech, marketing and beyond — we offer a diverse array of careers. Learn more about our business areas and build a career pathway that suits you.

Helpful resources

Reaching your goals

Learn how we’re promoting growth and honoring the achievements of our employees. 

Our hiring process

Learn more about JPMorgan Chase and get a glimpse into what to expect during the application experience.

Have more questions?

Find the answers you’re looking for on our FAQ page. 

Join our team

Ready for what's next? We’re proud to support our employees with opportunities to grow and thrive. We’re looking for talented people like you from across the globe.

Get the latest updates

Subscribe to our Talent Network newsletter to stay informed about relevant jobs, upcoming events and more.

You are now leaving JPMorganChase

JPMorganChase's website terms, privacy and security policies don't apply to the site or app you're about to visit. Please review its website terms, privacy and security policies to see how they apply to you. JPMorganChase isn't responsible for (and doesn't provide) any products, services or content at this third-party site or app, except for products and services that explicitly carry the JPMorganChase name.

• Study Abroad Get upto 50% discount on Visa Fees
• Top Universities & Colleges
• Abroad Exams
• Top Courses
• Read College Reviews
• Admission Alerts 2024
• Education Loan
• Institute (Counselling, Coaching and More)
• Ask a Question
• College Predictor
• Test Series
• Practice Questions
• Course Finder
• Scholarship
• All Courses
• B.Sc (Nursing)

PhD: Full Form, Admission 2024, Courses, Degree, Entrance Exams, Syllabus, Career Scope

Waqar Niyazi

Content Curator

The full form of PhD is  Doctor of Philosophy derived from the Latin term Philosophiae Doctor. PhD is the highest degree or doctorate awarded for research in a particular subject. The duration of PhD course is 3 years but can vary from college to college. PhD Eligibility requires students to have pursued a master’s degree or an MPhil with a minimum  aggregate score of 55%.

PhD Admission is based on Ph.D entrance exams such as  CSIR UGC NET, UGC NET, IIT JAM, NPAT are the top PhD entrance exams. If a candidate wishes to pursue PhD in Engineering and Technology then they must possess a valid  GATE score. CSIR UGC NET is the national-level PhD entrance exam conducted twice a year. The registration process for the CSIR UGC NET exam will begin soon and the exam is scheduled for the month of December.

Furthermore, there are various  PhD Scholarships available in India which help students to pursue a Ph.D. After completing their PhD degrees, students can choose from a plethora of PhD Jobs and can earn an average salary of INR 6 – 9 lakhs per annum. 

Table of Contents

Doctor of Philosophy: Course Details

1.1  Why study Ph.D?

• What is Ph.D?

2.1   PhD Full form

2.2   PhD vs Doctorate

PhD Admission Process

3.1   Eligibility

3.2   UGC NET

3.3   Important Dates

• PhD Programs Types
• Ph.D Courses

5.1   Science

5.2   Arts

5.3   Medical

• PhD Colleges in India

6.1   Government Colleges

6.2   Private Colleges

•   Ph.D in India

7.1   PhD in IIT

7.2   JNU PhD

7.3   DU PhD

7.4   Mumbai University PhD

Why study Ph.D?

• Ph.D. help the students to start or continue their research in a field they are passionate about. 
• It helps in improving employment prospects. It can unlock many career opportunities. If someone wants to become a lecturer or University researcher then a Ph.D. degree is usually the main requirement.
• The Indian government has reduced the tax incentive for firms conducting R&D, which is consistent with the finding of the previous UNESCO Science Report (2015).
• Academic researchers contribute the bulk of all scientific and technical articles published in India.
•  Higher Education Institutions and Research and Development organizations play an important role in nation building.
• There is an encouraging increase in scientific publications by Indian researchers on cutting-edge technologies.

What is PhD?

PhD or Doctor of Philosophy deals with advanced research regarding a specific subject. PhD courses are available in 3 formats which are Full Time, Part Time PhD and Online PhD. Ph.D Duration is three years which can increase to five to six years depending on the subject. 

PhD Full Form

PhD full form is Doctor of Philosophy. PhD abbreviation is from a Latin term which is Philosophiae Doctor. The term philosophy has little relation to the philosophy subject. In Ph.D the term philosophy comes from the Greek word which means ‘lover of wisdom’.

PhD Full Form –  Doctor of Philosophy

PhD Duration

• PhD duration is 3 years which can be extended. On an average a student completes his/her PhD in 5-7 years. 
• There are many factors that determine the duration of the PhD such as knowledge of the research area, research experience, knowledge of the supervisor, relevance of the research, communication skills, availability of resources and the amount of course work. 
• The minimum PhD duration is 3 years. In NIIT the average PhD duration is 3-5 years and in IITs the average PhD duration is 5-7 years.

PhD vs Doctorate

PhD Degree Requirements

PhD Degree requirements is the process or the prerequisites of getting the Ph.D Degree. This is different in different countries. PhD in India follows rules described by the UGC. 

PhD Degree requirements include completion of coursework, presentation of research proposal or synopsis, submission of progress reports, give pre-submission presentation and then defend the thesis in an oral debating atmosphere.

Also See: PhD Jobs

Who should study for a Ph.D?

• Students who want to make a career out of academics or research should definitely pursue a Doctor of Philosophy. 
• This is a unique opportunity to broaden the horizon of the subject that an individual loves. It brings immense pride and respect to the individual who wants to do Doctor of Philosophy.
• To understand if you are capable of doing Doctor of Philosophy, the individual must have a serious conversation with lecturers and former Doctor of Philosophy students who guide better.
• Students should research different Doctor of Philosophy programs to get a general sense about what PhD Degrees are like. After understanding the whole structure then only students must decide to do a Doctor of Philosophy.

Ph.D. admission  is based on enrollment to several universities. Universities accept the results of either national level or university level entrance exams.  Top Ph.D. entrance exams  are CSIR UGC NET, UGC NET, IIT JAM, and NPAT. If a candidate wishes to pursue PhD in Engineering and Technology then they must possess a valid GATE score. As per the recent directives of the UGC, students who complete a four-year UG degree would be able to directly apply for pursuing a PhD degree in their desired choice of course.

PhD Eligibility

• Master's degree holders are eligible for admission to doctoral programs. For some subjects, Masters in Philosophy is needed for pursuing PhD.
• The students should have at least 50-55% of marks post graduation.
• In some universities admission is offered on the basis of interviews. It may be supplemented with a written exam.
• More preference is given to candidates who have work experience in the field of research.

The National Educational Testing Bureau of UGC conducts the National Eligibility Test to determine the eligibility of Indian nationals for Assistant Professor and Junior Research Fellowship and Research Professor in Indian Universities and Colleges.

CSIR-UGC NET Exam

CSIR UGC NET is a test being conducted to determine the eligibility of Indian nationals for Junior Research Fellowship and for Lectureship /Assistant Professor in Indian universities and colleges subject to fulfilling the eligibility criteria laid down by UGC.

Important Dates

PhD Programs

There are 3 basic types of PhD Programmes in India. They include full time PhD, Part time PhD and Online PhD. 

Full-Time PhD

• Full-Time PhD is a normal Doctor of Philosophy program. The duration of these programs ranges between 4 – 6 years.
• The cost of a full time Doctor of Philosophy program is the highest compared to other modes of PhD degrees.
• Government/ Semi-Government Fellowship Recipients, Institute Research Scholars with Teaching Assistance and Self-financed Candidates generally prefer to pursue full-time PhD program. 

Part Time PhD

• PhD Programs can sometimes be done on a part-time basis. Candidates, who are working in reputed research organizations, academic Institutes and industries, situated preferably in the close vicinity to the campus are majorly granted Part-Time PhD . 
• Part-time PhD takes 7-8 years to complete since Part-time doctoral students must complete the same number of academic credits and other requirements as full-time students.
• Students doing part-time PhD will have to attend a limited number of classes.
• Doctor of Philosophy students doing part-time PhD must have at least 1 year of work experience and must have NOC from the employer.
• Part-time PhD is mainly focused on research for the development of the company rather than individual research work.

A Doctor of Philosophy is an academic degree that requires about four years of extensive study and research to earn. The completion of an Online PhD results in significantly improved career prospects. For students or professionals interested in leadership, academia, consulting, research and entrepreneurship, a PhD degree can offer a required qualification. 

Learn More:   Online PhD Programmes

Fully Funded PhD Programs

Students who wish to be funded during their Doctor of Philosophy must clear the NET exam. Passing the NET Exam guarantees stipend from the Government of India irrespective of the University. The student gets INR 31,000 from the Central Government after passing NET. Check: PhD Scholarships  

Some of the top PhD scholarships in India that help students complete their Doctor of Philosophy courses are mentioned below:

PhD Courses

Students have the option of doing Doctor of Philosophy according to their choice. Doctor of Philosophy is available in various streams and subjects. The various subjects available for Doctor of Philosophy according to different streams are mentioned below. See: List of PhD Courses

PhD Courses: Science Stream

There are several PhD courses in the Science stream such as PhD in Chemistry, PhD in Clinical Research, PhD in Science, PhD in Bioscience, PhD in Bioinformatics, PhD Biotechnology, PhD in Mathematical and Computational Sciences, PhD in Environmental Science and Engineering, etc.

PhD Courses: Arts stream

It is a research-based course that allows students to research in their field. This course involves the study of the complete Arts stream and all its specializations like History, English Literature, Political Science, etc

PhD Courses: Medical stream

Ph. D. courses in Medical stream covers all the major areas of medicine including Neurology, epidemiology, genetics as well as various clinical and non-clinical streams. The PhD courses under medical streams are MD Biochemistry, MD Forensic Medicine, MD anesthesiology, MD Pulmonary Medicine, PhD Physiology, MD Skin and VD, etc.

PhD Courses: Engineering Stream

Candiates can apply for PhD courses related to engineering after B.tech. After completion of PhD course in engineering stream, a candidate can start working as a project manager, electrical engineer, application engineer, research engineer, etc in companies such as Dell, Wipro, ABB, DRDO

PhD Courses: Management Stream

Areas of specialization for the PhD in management often include Accounting, Decision sciences (decision theory and decision analysis), Economics, Entrepreneurship, Ethics and legal studies, Finance and Health care management.

PhD Courses: Pharmacy Stream

PhD courses of Pharmacy stream includes Pharm.D, PhD in Pharmacy, PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences, PhD in Pharmacology, PhD in Pharmaceutics, PhD in Pharmaceutical Chemistry, PhD in Medicinal Chemistry, etc. There are diverse roles available after completion of PhD Pharmacy, including those in clinical research, clinical trials, regulatory affairs, drug safety, business development and medical affairs

PhD Courses: Commerce Stream

Course related to PhD commerce streams are PhD in Commerce, PhD in Statistics, PhD in Commerce and Management, PhD in Accountancy, PhD in Business Economics, PhD in Banking and Finance and M.Phil in Commerce. Job opportunities include working as E-Commerce Executive, Accounts Executive, Consultant, etc in government finance sectors such as Reserve Bank of India, State Bank of India

PhD Courses: Agriculture stream

Ph D courses agriculture stream includes curses such as PhD in Agriculture, PhD in Agronomy, PhD in Genetics and Plant Breeding, PhD in Horticulture, and PhD in Agricultural Economics. PhD in Plant Pathology. In the PhD Agriculture duration, the candidates get to learn how to produce food, fiber and fuel.

PhD Courses: Law

PhD courses related to Law are PhD in Law, Doctor of Law (LL.D.), PhD in Legal Studies M.Phil in Law. The PhD in Law course brings ample opportunities for students to choose from. Interesting job profiles that attract PhD in Law graduates are Attorney, Deputy Program Manager, Administrative Coordinator, Legal Manager, Legal Counsel, Legal Consultant, and Legal Affairs Manager.

Top PhD Colleges in India

Top PhD Government Colleges

Top PhD Private Colleges

Top PhD Colleges in Mumbai 

Top PhD Colleges in Chennai

Top PhD Colleges in Bangalore

Top PhD Colleges in Delhi

Top PhD Colleges in Kolkata

PhD in India

Top Universities in India provide the best doctor of philosophy courses in India. IITs offer good scope for research in the field of science and engineering. 

IIT Bombay PhD

The minimum eligibility required for applying is 60% aggregate marks in Master's degree and the selection of the candidate is done on the basis of GATE/ CEED/ UGC-NET exams scores. A valid GATE score of at least 660 is required. The total fee of PhD is INR 1.83 lakh.

To be eligible for these programs, at IIT Bombay, candidates need to get a master's degree and crack either of these exams - UGC-NET, or GATE, or CEED. Check out the specializations, and the fees for PhD courses at the IIT Bombay, in the tabulation form below.

IIT Madras PhD

The eligibility criteria for admission to IITM PhD is the candidate must have a Master's degree by Research in Engineering/Technology with a good academic record or a 5 Year Dual Degree in Engineering or 5 Year BS+MS Dual degree from Centrally Funded Technical Institute with a good academic record. For candidates with UG from a CFTI, GATE score is not mandatory.

See: IIT Madras PhD

IIT Indore PhD

Applicants must apply online through their official website Applicants are selected for admission to PhD programs through an evaluation process that includes an interview by a selection committee and the mere application does not imply admission into the Ph.D. program. The minimum education qualification required is master’s degree in the relevant Department of Engineering/ Technology and a GATE qualification.

IIT Bhubaneswar PhD

The eligibility criteria for admission to the IIT Bhubaneswar Ph.D. program is a Minimum of 55% marks or 6.0 CGPA (on a 10-point scale) in the Master's degree in an appropriate discipline. A provisional certificate is acceptable or a minimum of 60% marks or 6.5 CGPA (in a 10-point scale) is required in all other examinations with a valid GATE score. The candidate must be UGC-NET(JRF and LS) qualified.

See: IIT Bhubaneswar PhD  

IISC Bangalore PhD

The basic qualification required for IISC Bangalore PhD Science program is M Sc or equivalent degree in Physical Sciences/ Mathematical Sciences/ Chemical Sciences or BE / B Tech or equivalent degree in any discipline or Graduates of 4-year Bachelor of Science programs. Graduates of any course with a minimum duration of 4 years with a minimum CGPA of 8.0 are eligible to apply to the regular Ph. D. program without requiring any other National Entrance Tests.

See: PhD in IISc Bangalore

IIT Hyderabad PhD

The eligibility criteria for Ph.D. admission in the engineering departments is a Masters's degree. Candidates can apply for a direct PhD after B. Tech./B.E. with a valid GATE score. IITH admits students to the PhD program twice a year. Institute provides a monthly stipend of INR 31,000 for the first two years and INR 35,000 for the next three years.

Candidates can apply either online or offline for the VTU Ph.D. program. The minimum eligibility criteria required is 6.5 CGPA. Selection will be based on work experience and previous performance. Admission to the program is merit- based. The annual fee for the program is INR 7,970 for Karnataka state candidates and INR 19,470 for other state candidates. See: PhD in VTU

Bangalore University PhD

Admission is based on the score obtained on University Conducted-Entrance Test and performance in the interview. In order to qualify for the test, candidates need to score at least 50% out of 100.Candidates who have qualified CSIR NET/ UGC NET/ SLET/ KSET/ GATE/ JRF or hold an accredited M. Phil. Degree are exempt from the Ph. D Entrance Test.

Amity University PhD

Applications for admission to a Ph. D. program at Amity University are accepted twice a year, for January and July sessions. The admission form is to be filled and submitted online only. The required minimum qualification for admission to a Ph.D Program is a Master’s or M.Phil Degree from any accredited Indian or Foreign University in the relevant field with 55% marks. Eligible candidates will be required to appear in the Selection Process consisting of PET (Ph.D. Entrance Test) and an Interview round as per UGC’s PhD Guidelines.

Then applicants need to download the application form from Jawaharlal Nehru University's official website to apply for the course. Degree holders are eligible for admission, provided they have scored a minimum of 55 percent marks or equivalent grades. Admission is based on a national-level entrance examination followed by an interview. JNU Ph.D. research students receive a monthly stipend of Rs. 28,000 from the Govt.

For admission to Delhi University Ph.D. program candidates must have completed Master's degree or M. Phil in the respective fields with a minimum aggregate of 55% marks at Delhi University or any other recognized University. The admission to the Program is through an entrance test DUET conducted by the university itself, which results in the shortlisting of the candidates for the interview.

Mumbai University PhD

Candidates can also pursue their PhD degree from Mumbai University . It is a renowned government university, offering the PhD program lasting for 3 years. Candidates need to have a masters or M.Phil degree with a minimum 55% aggregate marks from a recognised educational institute. Also, the candidates should have the valid scores of either GATE, UGC, SET, JRF ICAR, and CSIR.

IIT Kharagpur PhD

IIT Kharagpur is one of the best IITs in India, and also belongs among the best colleges all over the nation. It achieved the 5th rank both in 2020, and 2019, by the NIRF. IIT Kharagpur offers a total of 17 PhD courses. The minimum eligibility to pursue a doctorate degree at IIT Kharagpur , needs a minimum CGPA mark of 6.5 or aggregate marks of 60%, at postgraduate level.

Top Universities around the world that offer the best Phd courses are ranked according to QS World University Rankings. The rankings of both 2021 and 2020 are provided so as to make comparative analysis of the Universities.

Harvard PhD 

Harvard University is one of the best educational institutes all over the world. Millions of candidates set their focus to get admission to this university, to pursue their respective courses. It offers numerous programs, along with Doctorate courses, having 8 different specializations. PhD courses in this institute, bear an average course fee around INR 38 lakhs. 

Also, the university offers the research programs on both full-time and part-time basis. Every candidate must crack the GRE or GMAT exam for admission to this college. The subjects on which aspirants can research in this college are - 

• Computer Science
• Electrical Engineering
• Neuroscience
• Business Administration
• Molecular and Cellular Biology
• Data Science
• Computational Science and Engineering.

MIT PhD 

MIT or Massachusetts Institute of Technology also comes among the top universities in the world. It is a private university, with an employment rate of 82%. It gained 3rd position among the National Universities as per the US news, in 2020. MIT is a very much renowned institute for pursuing PhD courses. It offers a total of 29 different research programs. The average course fee for doctorate programs at MIT is around 21 lakhs. All the students have to submit their GRE entrance exam scores to be eligible.

The PhD specializations offered in MIT are - 

Oxford PhD 

Oxford University , also belongs among the best universities in the world as per the QS World ranking and many agencies It is also regarded as the best university all over the world by many experts. It is a public research university having an acceptance rate of 15%. Oxford University has an international students percentage of 45%, and it is worth-pursuing PhD here. It offers a total of 17 research program, that are listed below - 

Stanford PhD 

Stanford University in the USA, California is one of the most distinguished research institutes all over the world. It is among the top 5 colleges of the world, and has a terrific rating when it comes to pursuing research programs at this university. It is significantly renowned for offering research programs. Candidates can access approx. 60 PhD courses, at the Stanford University. The specializations offered here, are - 

Cambridge PhD 

Brilliants of students all over the world, come to Cambridge University , to pursue their PhD degree here. It is a private university, with a good acceptance rate of 16%. The number of international students at this institute per year is 9,000. 

Candidates have to either crack GMAT or GRE entrance exam, to be eligible for the research programs at Cambridge University. It is arguably the best university to pursue PhD courses. Candidates can access a total of 66 doctorate programs here. Check out the specializations offered here, below.

After pursuing a PhD, students can choose from a number of PhD Jobs . Some of the most popular job opportunities after completing a PhD Degree are mentioned below.

Ques. What is a PhD?

Ans. A PhD, or Doctor of Philosophy, is the highest academic degree awarded by universities. It involves original research and the contribution of new knowledge to a specific field.

Ques. How long does it take to complete a PhD?

Ans. The duration of a PhD varies, but it typically takes around 3 to 5 years. The time can be influenced by factors such as research complexity, program structure, and individual progress.

Ques. What can I get a PhD degree in?

Ans. There are multiple fields on which you can specialize in a PhD program. Some of the popular doctorate level courses are - 

• Clinical Psychology
• Electronics and Communications Engineering
• Educational Leadership and Administration, etc,

Ques. Is a PhD after a Masters?

Ques. Is there an age limit for enrolling in a PhD program?

Ans. Generally, there is no age limit for enrolling in a PhD program. Admissions are based on academic qualifications, research potential, and alignment with the program's objectives.

Ques. What is the salary of a PhD?

Ques. What is the easiest PhD to get?

Ques. Can I skip my Masters and do a PhD?

Ques. Can I complete my PhD in 2 years?

Ques. Which PhD has the highest salary?

Ques. Is it free to get a PhD?

Ques. What qualities characterize a great PhD student?

Ques. Is it OK to start a PhD at age 40?

Ques. What are the right reasons for anyone to pursue a PhD?

Ans. Pursuing a PhD comes with long-term career goals and helps the aspirant make a significant contribution towards his selected field. 

Most Popular Tags

154 Reviews found

Hamara vishwavidyalay

Loan/ scholarship provisions :.

During Phd, you have to pay 6700 rupees fees for the course work and after the course work you have to pay 3700 rupees per sem. For the hostel, you have to pay 2400 yearly for phd candidates. and the university has given non net fellowship which is 8000 per month for every phd scholar.

Campus Life :

lots of seminar conferences and workshops are organized by the university. also celebrated lots of festivals and national festivals. every year university conducts an essay writing quiz competition and many more competitions. also every year university conducts sports week.

Placement Experience :

Student become eligible for campus from 2 second Year means from 4 semester. Wipro and many multi national companies. They have given 3 lakh to 4 lakhs package. 20% of students from course are getting placements offer. I'm trying to get a job in company.

The campus life was really exciting and much more new to learn during annual fest , sports and extracurricular activities on the campus. students of course used to get part in it. It really gives a great platform to show there talent.

Devika Mishra's Review On Indian Institute Of Tropical Meteorology - [IITM], Pune

There are well opportunities available for the students studying here. From clerk staff to research associate officials there are options available to all levels. One can apply online.There are options for the students to apply for the fellowship for which the students can get 5500 as stipend. For scientists in grades such as B, C, D, the approx. salary is Rs 5 lakh to Rs 6.5Lakh. Training Module helps in career improvement with promotion scheme. This leads to medical facilities, Pension benefits, transport services, canteen services etc.

I only have positive reviews to write about the college. They not only provide their students with ample opportunity to grow and learn in an understanding environment but also provide them with facilities that are necessary for the studies. I have learnt a lot and grown as a better person after spending time in this college. The faculty is not just good but understanding as well. The college doesn?t boast about itself but it upholds its reputation very well.

Keshav Bibhuti's Review On Indian Institute Of Tropical Meteorology - [IITM], Pune

Admission :.

To get the entrance in Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology College, candidates should achieve first class marks in M.Sc / M.Tech / MS degree or the same in Meteorology, Atmospheric Sciences, Chemistry, Ocean Sciences, Physics, Applied Mathematics, Statistics, Geophysics, or any other region of Earth Sciences or any related subject with Physics and Mathematics at the graduate stage. Those appearing for final exam can also apply but the final selection will be based on detailed interview at Pune in June or July every year. As you can submit the online forms along with CV.The original documents like mark sheet of qualifying examination and certificate of matriculation exam will be returned to the candidates right away after verification and the attested photocopy of the document will be kept by the institution of higher education for record. The candidate which is selected must pay the required charges at the time of admission.

Extracurricular activities of IITM have huge way to join in an activity you enjoy and convene new people, and they can also be an important part of your institute. In institute, students show your interests and talents. It let you take part in an activity you enjoy, whether that's playing football, painting, Sports, Gym, Computer Labs and vast collection of Books, Journals & Magazines etc. IITM provides the world class infrastructure, with hosting center for climate change research. It make students not only enjoy but also makes you happier but can also give you a much needed break from stress. It organizes obligatory general medical checkup camps for all the members of institutes.

My Ph.D review

Our college have a limited placements opportunities but in the course like Ph.D., there are millions of opportunities available for the students to apply in the government and private sector for jobs and internships and gain experience towards the same.

Course Curriculum Overview :

The course educational program is significantly drawn towards the parts of research in the territory of medication. The structure of the course is progressively useful in contrast and can bring millions of opportunities to the table for students.

Rushikesh's Review On National Institute Of Virology - [NIV], Pune

The college does not host or conduct any events or extracurricular activities for the students. They do conduct a few which are educational for the students and related to their field of study. Other than that not many are conducted.

The faculty of the college are very well qualified and are trained very well. They have a lot of experience in their fields of study and pass on that knowledge to us. They help in clearing doubts and are very professional.

Sarazul's Review On National Institute Of Virology - [NIV], Pune

Our college loves to enhance the skills of ten students and hence why a lot of events such as seminars and talks hosted by different guests are conducted in our college. The students take part in order to gain more knowledge.

Fee Structure And Facilities :

Comparing our institute to other institutes our Institute fee is pretty nominal and feasible. The students are given a Stipend for researching and finding more about the viruses so the students can use that to pay the fee.

PhD in Post Harvest Machinery from CIPHET

The institute was created with the sole purpose of creating practical solutions to the problems of agricultural engineering, and focusing on research and academic training for the next generation of agricultural scientists. And I can proudly say, that it lives up to its expectations.

I wanted to specialize in post harvest machinery, and the Central Institute of Post Harvest Engineering and Technology specializes in the field. I saw an invitation for application for PhD, and applied. This was followed by an interview, after which I was admitted.

PhD in Agro-processing Center from CIPHET

The institute does not have a placement cell, and with the rigorous training, seminars and workshops the employability of the researchers is never in question. There are a few options to choose from, and you can even apply to CIPHET when there are vacancies for ongoing or proposed projects.

My time here is proving to be enriching and inspiring. There are so many things to learn, and I can hardly think of a better place for that. My network circle is wonderful, and we are just a bunch of dedicated, passionate people trying to give our contribution to our respective fields.

Very good Institute

The university has a well established placement cell who ensures that the students are placed in right industries. The placement cell organizes many seminars, guest lectures, conferences, corporate meet, personality development, communication skills and counselling sessions to make the students ready for campus interview. After completing the course, students can take up various competitive examination of UPSC, Banking and other sectors.

College Events :

The seniors of our institute organizes many events and festivals like Foundation day, Freshers day, sports and cultural events, Flag hosting on Republic and Independence day, Teachers day, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, International Yoga Day etc. These festivals are organized in a very big way in which both teachers and students take part.

Good Institute for Research studies.

Overall experience as a student of this institute , i can say that the placement and job opportunities was good in our institute. Many government and private companies come to our college for campus recruitment. The training and placement cell of the institute takes care of training and placement activities for the students by inviting many companies.

Central Institute of Post Harvest Engineering and Technology was one of the best and reputed institute. The institute provides very good facilities and education to the students. The faculty and non faculty members are very good and helpful. The institute provides a very good quality education to the students. It was a proper place for studying.

Good college for Research studies.

The students committee of our college organizes many indoor and outdoor activities in our college. The college has a large playground in which many outdoor games and cultural activities are organized. As, i have very much interest in outdoor activities, so i participate in all outdoor activities organized by the college. It was a very fun and good moment for all the students.

The college organizes many events and festivals like National conference, Yoga Day, celebration of kannada Rajyotsava, World Disabled Day, Krishnamela, Holi, Celebration of Constitution Day, Diwali, observance of Vigilance Awareness week etc are organized. All teachers and students participate in all the events and festivals organized by the college.

Superb college for PhD

The admission to the college is based on the merit list. Once your name lies in the the list you are called for an interview. The interview process is important and holds a lot of weightage for the admission. Sometimes if there are a lot of candidates then a written exam is conducted.

The fee is feasible enough for students hailing from middle class. The course duration is of 2 years. I never felt any difficulty in paying the fee. The examination fee is asked differently prior to the exams which are held every semester.

Fantastic experience of my life

The teachers are educated enough. They are quite strict in terms of assignment and projects which is a good trait for a teacher. The non- faculty staff is professional. During my second year I had a problem with my attendance issue, they helped and sorted the issue immediately.

The course is extensive enough. It is based on a lot of paper work and research stuff. Instead of theoretical approach a lot of practical approach is also done. The course is for 2 year duration. Exams conducted are mostly based on the thesis and journal work.

NBAIR Review

The institute offer various job opportunities to the students. Many renowned companies visit our institute to offer placements. Many of my friends got placed in good companies and are paid quite well. Our institute also provide us with career guidance which build s our personality.

The fee structure is quite reasonable and practical. They charged Rs 62,000 per year which is prudent. The facilities are various therefore, the money we have paid is low. We are even offered guaranteed jobs after the end of the course, so the amount they are charging is justified.

Richa Rathore's Review On The Centre For DNA Fingerprinting And Diagnostics - [CDFD], Hyderabad

After the completion of our research work and PhD, there is an ample of opportunities for the candidates . There are carrier opportunities in the field of diagnostics , administrative officer post and various other golden opportunities knocks the door of the qualified candidates. Candidates can also grab the job opportunity at the same research center itself or the other depending upon their choice and interests.

The fees of the research center is quite feasible. The fees is very much economical and easily affordable. Comparing the opportunities and facilities provided to us and understanding of every thing in a modern way with modern tools and technologies , the fees seems to be the best value for money . The return on investment is great at this research center.

My college Review

The fee structure is more or less feasible the structure of the fee is described well once the student visit the college campus physically. based on which the students can apply further.But as much as i perceived many students earmark this college due to its fee structure.

Students consenting for PH.D curriculum need to apply online with all the details and an Updated Resume with work experience and the organization's name. Once this process is completed the students will receive an automated mail from college.

Raahil's Review On The Centre For DNA Fingerprinting And Diagnostics - [CDFD], Hyderabad

You should have a postgraduate degree with you. The application form is available online you can fill it with required details and then there is a walk-in interview for all the candidates and on the basis of performance in the interview admission will be taken.

After completing the doctorate degree you will have a number of options available for you. You can either apply for the post of professor for any college or university or you can opt some other options according to your preferences.

Ph.D in Science

The Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics is a very famous college which focuses on developing interest to research and make progress in the field of DNA Fingerprinting as well as many other related areas. In order to get admission, the candidate should have completed there post graduation in the concerned discipline. The candidate will be selected on the basis of merit and interview.

The fee structure of Ph.D in Science is very nominal and not at all expensive. The cost is around 20thousand which is a very feasible and affordable amount. Also the institution funds all the research work of the students. Hence the fee structure is very good.

Utkarsh's Review On The Centre For DNA Fingerprinting And Diagnostics - [CDFD], Hyderabad

The admission for the course would be through the interview which would be held for about three days consecutively. The base of the selection would be the candidate should possess a post-graduate in science, agriculture, or the technology related to science in a recognized university.

The events mostly celebrated in the college are the technical events and they would give high importance to the national and the international level conferences as well as the paper presentations at the college. Therefore the whole technical events would be given its importance.

Ph.D. : 43 answered questions

Ques. are master's degrees from ignou acceptable for admission into ph.d courses in top universities.

● Top Answer By Anumita Mukharjee on 28 Apr 22

Ques. Is a Phd from IGNOU worth it/valuable?

● Top Answer By Srabani Guha on 24 Jul 23

Ques. How is the Direct PhD program of IIT Madras?

● Top Answer By Arati Sinha on 29 Mar 23

Ques. What is the value of a Ph.D. degree from IIT Bombay?

● Top Answer By Karuna Nair on 13 Mar 23

Ques. Why do some students in IIT Bombay leave high-paying jobs and join grad schools for PhD?

● Top Answer By Advait Joshi on 23 Mar 23

Ques. What is the placement scenario after PhD in IIT Bombay?

● Top Answer By Advait Joshi on 17 Mar 23

Ques. Is a PhD from IGNOU valid?

● Top Answer By Pankaj Kumar on 18 Oct 22

Ques. What is the placement record of MSc applied statistics students of IIT Bombay?

● Top Answer By Poornima Sahoo on 18 Mar 23

Ques. How difficult is it to get a PhD from IISc Bangalore?

● Top Answer By Bidita Ghose on 14 Jul 23

Ques. Which would be better, IIT Delhi or an average US university for a PhD?

● Top Answer By Aditi Banerjee on 03 Apr 23

Ph.D. (Chemistry)

Ph.d. (physics), ph.d. (mathematics), ph.d. (biotechnology), ph.d. (zoology), ph.d. (psychology), ph.d. (business management), ph.d. (management studies), master of science [ms], ph.d. (computer science), ph.d. colleges in india.

IIMV - Indian Institute of Management

Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research - [PGIMER]

IIM Jammu Indian Institute of Management

PSG Institute of Management - [PSGIM]

Krea University

Indian Institute of Social Welfare and Business Management - [IISWBM]

Bharathidasan Institute of Management - [BIM]

School of Planning and Architecture - [SPA]

Subscribe to our news letter.

At least 35 of America’s billionaires are PhDs. As academic jobs become scarce, doctorates should get down to business

Samantha Dewalt is managing director of the Lehigh@NasdaqCenter, an exclusive education-industry partnership between Lehigh University in Pennsylvania and the Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center in San Francisco .

Traditionally, a doctoral degree is regarded almost exclusively as a passport to scholarly distinction and academic tenure. Any person who committed the time, energy, and expense to attain a PhD appeared inevitably destined for the academy, free to pursue knowledge without commercial intent.

So goes the standard rationale—and training—for a doctorate. Candidates are groomed for careers in academia, where they will research, teach, and publish. That tradition, though well-intentioned, is overdue for a drastic expansion.

Saving research from ‘the valley of death’

Such an expansion has already begun. In December, the National Science Foundation awarded $100 million to 18 academic institutions all across the U.S. to “speed and scale research into products and services that benefit the nation.” The first-ever Accelerating Research Translation awards are designed to enable university scholars to convert academic innovation into commercial value and societal purpose. Each school awarded will partner with a mentoring institution of higher education already equipped with “a robust ecosystem for translational research.”

Lehigh University is among the recipients of the abovementioned National Science Foundation awards, with Carnegie Mellon University acting as its peer mentor. The $6 million award will be earmarked specifically to increase the translation of scientific discoveries in engineering, science, health, humanities, business, education, and other disciplines—by faculty, graduate students and postdoctoral researchers into prototypes, products, and programs that will benefit society.

Meanwhile, as the supply of jobs in academia struggles to keep up with the demand, more PhDs are turning to careers in industry. In 2020, The Princeton Review warned, “If it’s your ambition to become a professor, you should be aware that the PhD. track is no guarantee of a life in  academia .” As such, candidates will need to be prepared differently. 

Make no mistake: Some college graduates bearing PhDs have proven highly enterprising. It is estimated that the private sector now employs about as many PhD graduates as educational institutions.

Most research finds that between one-third and one-half of all PhD graduates globally stay in academia , while others may migrate to the private sector. Almost daily, some entrepreneurial PhDs launch new ventures that eventually hit the jackpot. Indeed, Forbes  has reported that “at least” 35 U.S. billionaires obtained a PhD before plunging into business.

But let’s face it: Academics are rarely trained to be entrepreneurs. They typically focus on conducting research, publishing manuscripts, and at times, developing intellectual property, but without cultivating the business knowledge or resources to turn innovations into viable market solutions. And it’s a shame when university research languishes on the shelf, never reaching the market—the so-called “valley of death”.

How America’s top universities are doing it

Universities are amping up efforts to educate PhD students about how to better capitalize on a doctoral degree. At Lehigh University, we have conducted a competitive analysis of what other higher education institutions, particularly those highly regarded for entrepreneurial activity, are doing to engage PhD students in entrepreneurial courses and programs. Among the schools we studied were Harvard, Stanford, MIT, Princeton, Dartmouth, and UC Berkeley. Overall, our analysis identified a need—and opportunity—to transform PhD education.

More particularly, we found that although most of these top-tier universities offer entrepreneurship education for graduate and undergraduate students alike, few target PhD students. We also learned that because most of the graduate courses in entrepreneurship originate in business or engineering schools, few are truly interdisciplinary. We also found that PhD students are more likely to participate in entrepreneurial activity if they have faculty advisors who are themselves entrepreneurs or at least entrepreneurial-minded.

Stanford University particularly stands out as an exemplary entrepreneurial environment for students. It benefits from education-industry partnerships that provide access to the most innovative companies in Silicon Valley. UC Berkeley distinguishes itself, too, for its emphasis on interdisciplinary entrepreneurial development and close collaboration with nearby startup incubators.

Dartmouth College pioneered the first engineering   PhD innovation program  that provides entrepreneurial training to turn research discoveries into market solutions. The PhD fellows take additional coursework in business, innovation, and entrepreneurship, and spend up to six months at an industry internship. 

Entrepreneurship education should be democratized. Other universities should follow the examples set by the top-tiers. All students—even those on a budget—should have access to the equivalent of an Ivy League experience.

Our university is taking a step in this new direction, to better expose our PhD students to entrepreneurial experiences and career pathways. Last fall, we introduced a hands-on, real-world, interdisciplinary course on entrepreneurship for PhD students. Built on a model designed by the National Science Foundation, the course is offered for credit and available to graduate students across disciplines through Lehigh@NasdaqCenter, partnering with the P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Lehigh’s Office of Technology Transfer. 

It’s time for doctorates to get down to business. More PhDs should treat the ideas that emerge from scholarship as entrepreneurial opportunities. But first, they must know how to harness all that valuable education in the service of both our society and our economy.

More must-read commentary published by  Fortune :

• Booz Allen Hamilton CEO : America needs a whole-of-nation approach in its great power competition with China
• NYC comptroller:  Food delivery apps  are blaming minimum pay for inflation. It’s baloney
• Big Tech employees  missed out on $5.1 billion in 401(k) gains  over the last decade because of fossil fuels, new research finds
• ‘As quick as 5 minutes in California or as grueling as 11 hours in Texas’: Research reveals  new post-Dobbs map of abortion access driving times

The opinions expressed in Fortune.com commentary pieces are solely the views of their authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and beliefs of  Fortune .

Latest in Commentary

Vital signs: America’s health care crisis and the imperative of accessible care

America first declared war on cancer half a century ago. Today’s regulatory hurdles won’t help us win

How we reached profitability by educating Gen Z for free

I won an AI image award with a real photo to show we’re not adapting to the technology fast enough. Then it was my turn to be surprised

200 top CEOs reveal how AI is already transforming their sectors at Yale summit

Gen Z workers are rediscovering interpersonal skills in the post-pandemic AI era—and the stakes couldn’t be higher

Most popular.

Electricity prices in France turn negative as renewable energy floods the grid

Elon Musk’s Neuralink forced a pregnant employee to work with herpes-infected monkeys that scratched her, lawsuit says

Daniel Radcliffe made $110 million as a child star—and now he’s defying the negative stereotypes at 34

Peloton, the fallen fitness unicorn, faces a harsh truth despite its shiny new deal with Hyatt hotels: ‘I don’t think they thought [about] what was going to happen post-pandemic’

Productivity theater is the biggest time suck among workers, study reveals—’we’re in a system that, unintentionally, is set up to steal our attention’

Brides and grooms are cracking down on wedding guests and publicly shaming those who don’t comply with their gift registries and dress codes

The browser you are using is no longer supported and for that reason you will not get the best experience when using our website.

You currently have JavaScript disabled in your web browser, please enable JavaScript to view our website as intended.

Cardiovascular Science MRes

1 year, full-time.

This is for you if... you want to study the cardiovascular science at an advanced level and develop the skills needed to go on to a career in cardiovascular research. Moreover, it is an appropriate pathway to PhD studies in this specialty.

Cardiovascular Science MRes , 1 year, full-time

Course information.

UK fee £9,300

International fee £23,650

Taught by Cardiovascular Sciences

• 20% alumni discount
• International student information

Contact: Dr Veryan Codd, MRes convenor [email protected]

Department of Cardiovascular Sciences

Course description

Please note, this course is being advertised subject to approval .

We are committed to providing high quality training of the next generation of research leaders in cardiovascular science. The MRes in Cardiovascular Science explores the cardiovascular system and relevant disease and is suitable for graduates in Biological Sciences and other related disciplines, such as bioengineering. You will receive training in cardiovascular disease physiology and pharmacology, data analysis techniques and a range of research methods utilised to both understand disease mechanisms and translate these findings into clinical benefit. 

Studying with us, you will join an internationally leading centre of cardiovascular research. You will be taught by a diverse range of both clinical and non-clinical staff, who will provide insight into their own research, highlighting the world leading and inter-disciplinary research that takes place at Leicester. 

Our research covers a broad spectrum, from the molecular and cellular basis of disease to clinical interventions and has a major impact on the treatment of patients nationally and globally. The Department of Cardiovascular Sciences  has strong links to the NHS and leads the Cardiovascular Theme of the National Institute for Health Research Leicester Biomedical Research Centre, which provides opportunities for collaborative working between laboratory, translational and clinical scientists. 

The course is divided into a taught phase (semester 1) and two 11-week research projects (semester 2). These two separate research projects allow you to potentially explore different aspects of cardiovascular research in more depth. As well as expanding your research techniques, you will have the opportunity to contribute to world-leading research taking place at the University.  

Entry requirements

Relevant 2:2 degree (or equivalent)

English Language Requirements

IELTS 6.5  or equivalent. If your first language is not English, you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability . If you do not yet meet our requirements, our English Language Teaching Unit (ELTU)  offers a range of courses to help you to improve your English to the necessary standard.

International Qualifications

Find your country in this list to check equivalent qualifications, scholarships and additional requirements.

Fees and funding

Uk students, starting in september 2024.

• MRes: £9,300

If you are resident outside the UK and the Republic of Ireland, you will need to  pay a deposit of £3,000  to secure your place. This will be subtracted from your total tuition fee.

Find out more about  scholarships and funding .

Did you know you can apply for a Government Postgraduate Loan?  Find out if you’re eligible.

International Students

• MRes: £23,650

You will need to  pay a deposit of £3,000  to secure your place. This will be subtracted from your total tuition fee.

From 2022 onwards, EU nationals will pay the International fee. If you are an EU national with settled or pre-settled status under the EU settlement scheme, you may qualify for the UK fee (subject to criteria).

Careers and employability

The course is ideally suited for students aiming to gain further experience in both cardiovascular science and in different research techniques for a career in clinically-related research. Although focused on cardiovascular research this course provides career opportunities in various research settings compatible with other disciplines. It is also ideal for graduates of related disciplines, such as Engineering, wanting to transition into clinical or biomedical research.

International students who study at the University of Leicester may be eligible for a Graduate Visa which grants permission to stay in the UK for at least 2 years after successful completion of their course.

Our Careers and Employability Service  is here to support you, with advice on interviews, CVs, work experience, volunteering and more. From Freshers’ Week to Graduation and beyond, they are here to help you reach your professional goals.

Receive email updates

Course structure.

• Methods in Bench to Bedside Research
• Physiology and Pharmacology of Cardiovascular Disease
• Fundamentals of Applied Health Research
• Quantitative Methods in Applied Health Research

Plus your Cardiovascular Projects .

Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.

Why Leicester

The University of Leicester is ranked 2nd in the UK for its world leading research in clinical Medicine (2021 Research Excellent Framework - REF). The 2024 Times Higher World University ranking also places Leicester joint 14th in the UK as well as in the top 125 in the world for Clinical and Health Sciences.

The Department has laboratory and clinical research facilities at the world-renowned Glenfield Hospital, the regional cardiac centre, including the £12.5M state-of-the-art University of Leicester British Heart Foundation Cardiovascular Research Centre, as well research facilities on the main campus.

We have an international reputation for excellence in cardiovascular research, with research spanning the full spectrum from bench to bedside. Our work has had a major impact on the treatment of patients nationally and globally.

Teaching and learning

In Semester 1, the taught phase of the course, you will study basic principles of cardiovascular physiology and pharmacology, research techniques used in our world-leading research and experimental design, data analysis and interpretation. 

The taught modules are assessed through coursework in the form of written and data analysis-based assignments and oral and poster presentations. Successful completion of the taught phase is required to proceed to the MRes research project stage in semester 2. In semester 2, you undertake two consecutive 11-week research projects, which comprise two-thirds of the credits for your degree. You will have the opportunity to choose a laboratory research project from projects covering a broad range of techniques and aspects of cardiovascular health and disease. Your research project will involve generating and analysing your research data and is assessed on your independence, initiative and understanding whilst performing the project, as well as submission of a final dissertation.

Assessment of the Research Project is in two parts: your research performance and a dissertation you write about the two research projects. 

These projects are an ideal preparation if you are wishing to proceed to a PhD in the fields of cardiovascular and biological sciences, and offers a great opportunity to enhance your employability as a future researcher.

Independent learning  

In addition to attending lectures and laboratory sessions you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. To help with your independent learning, you can access the Library  and our social study spaces  in halls of residence. 

Academic support

Our Centre for Academic Achievement  provides help in the following areas:

• Academic writing
• Presentations
• Dissertations
• Numerical data skills
• Referencing sources

Our AccessAbility Centre  offers support and practical help for students with dyslexia or other specific learning difficulties, including physical, mental health or mobility difficulties, deafness, or visual impairment.

Applying for

Where are you studying, when would you like to start, how would you like to study.

Oops there was an error.

You are now being forwarded to our online application system!

If you are not forwarded in 5 seconds, please click here or copy the link below in to your browser.