phd whole process

A Complete Roadmap for Degree to PhD

A journey from degree to PhD is full of hurdles and obstacles. One has to do many things starting from competitive exams to presenting the thesis. However, the journey indeed starts from the master’s.

PhD is the utmost esteem to a person henceforth don’t think it is easy to get! It’s a complicated academic process and one has to face problems, deal with stress & frustration and failures. And including me, everyone has faced these problems during their research tenure.

Nonetheless, it’s not always a case, you can do better if you follow some rules, a blueprint or a kind of roadmap that actually needed. The present article is a kind of “roadmap from degree to PhD” that I think helps you to better understand the process but before going into the topic,

Let’s first introduce a PhD.

The PhD is known as a doctor of philosophy and renowned as the highest level of academic honor. It can be given to any student of any subject. Once someone completes their PhD, they can use the prefix “Dr” and be known as a doctor of their subject.

A PhD person can become a research scientist or academician which probably are two evergreen, popular and suitable options with a decent amount of earnings. Notedly, a doctor in science earns more than any other doctorate.

Read further: Life after PhD- doctor of philosophy .

Pre-admission process:

Phd admission: , post admission process: , the phd tenure: , requirement for degree to phd: , time duration for degree to phd: , conclusion:, a roadmap for a degree to phd: .

To start anything, people always wonder where to start! And so it’s a question here also! Where to start for a degree to PhD. First, make sure you have completed your master’s degree or M Phil, or you are sure about it. Now start preparing for PhD. See getting admission into PhD is a lengthy and time-consuming process.

Even after getting admission, you have to complete so many formalities to actually get into PhD. So for that understand the PhD about the process, admission, criteria and requirements from your degree. It will eventually help you to get the doctorate smoothly.

How to start? We are dividing the roadmap into several milestones to understand it properly.

Process of Degree to PhD- milestones

Pre-admission process
Admission process
Post admission process
The PhD tenure.

In this section, we will understand what are the requirements for admission. key things needed in the post-admission phage, important takeaways for you as a PhD student and how to clear the PhD smoothly.

First, you need a master’s degree, with decent credentials, for instance, in India minimum criteria for applying is 55% which is compulsory. If you are sure about getting the honor, do not wait for notifications or examinations, immediately contact some expert, your professor or guide and start preparing a PhD project.

Start with an idea, do literature research and note things. Keep in mind to choose a topic as per your interest and knowledge. Look, the PhD project is the key thing that makes you stand above all! Make your entire research work ready before your admission. Decide which subject and topic you wish to do research on, the running title of your PhD, methods and techniques and other related things.

This article will help you surely: Designing a PhD Project from Scrap to Craft .

Some universities conduct an entrance exam while others allot students directly to the PhD based on their PhD project, merits of masters and personal interview.

The next thing is to select a university or college or place to do a PhD and the supervisor obviously. These have been done before admission, keep in mind. Even if you have completed the entrance exam and no PhD supervisor is ready to take you, you can’t do PhD, it’s a harsh fact! So immediately contact the PhD supervisor associated with the university with whom you wish to do PhD.

In this, your PhD project helps you a lot and will prepare a positive image of yours, because ultimately newbies don’t know these things at all. Now, you can contact them on LinkedIn or email them your Project, meet them and show your research interest. A guide will definitely take interest in you. We have covered an amazing article on how to select a PhD guide, you can read it here: How to become a PhD guide .

Meanwhile, you can prepare for entrance exams. Once A PhD guide will be ready to take you under them! Your admission will be almost stamped.

So during the pre-admission phase:

Prepare a PhD project
Design a research proposal
Form a working title
Contact guides and supervisor
Prepare for the entrance examination.

The second phase deals with the admission process, requirements and related stuff. So if are getting admission, surely you have completed the entrance examination. During the PhD admission process, you have to first submit your PhD proposal and your degree certificates.

A PhD proposal is the working, brief and summarizes draft of your entire research work . It comprises a 10 to 12 page long written draft, a working title, an overview of the topic and the budget information of the entire PhD.

Moreover, master’s degree certification, university transfer certificate and other related documents and their true copies are submitted to the university PhD cell. Meanwhile, you have to select your PhD guide, which we already had done. It’s just formality for you now.

To admit into PhD you need to submit this many documents:

A research proposal
A working title
No objection certificate from you
No objection certification form you guide
Acceptance letter from your guide
Your degree certificates
Certificate of clearing entrance example, if applicable
IELTS or TOEFL score, for foreign students
University migration certificate

Though till now your admission is confirmed you are yet not allowed to do research. For that, you have to fulfill some more criteria.

This phase is a bit tedious and boring as well, excluding research (what are eager to!) you have to and arrange so many other things, simultaneously. First, after getting admission you will enroll in the course work. You will have to study coursework for at least one year in which your major study subjects are related to research methodologies.

If you fail to complete the coursework, you can’t go further. Universities give 3 trials for completing course work with a minimum of 50% marks. Meanwhile, you have to design your entire research work layout for 3 to 6 years, keeping in mind that you will pass the course work. The research design is nothing new but the more elaborative version of your research proposal.

Furthermore, you have to arrange funding, scholarship or fellowship facilities to fund your PhD. So there are so many things for you to do during this whole first year of your PhD. Once you complete the course work, you will become a PhD candidate , an actual PhD scholar to do research. From the second year, you can actually start your research journey.

After the second year onward you can start your actual research work. But mostly lack of planning and plotting lead to deal the completion. Again, directly going further, plan things, what you will do daily, what goals you will have to achieve monthly, quarterly and yearly. Take your supervisor’s help to bifurcate your research work, lab or fieldwork, accordingly.

Give equal time to research and reading & writing. Try to stick with your plan always. Most works, largely done during this tenure are,

Sampling and lab work
literature review
Publication in the peer-reviewed journal
Thesis writing
Thesis submission and viva preparation
Doing a lab work

Lab work is something that is so important in the PhD. Failure results in thesis rejection. You may face failures, problems and hurdles in your theory, technique, method or hypothesis but that is the research. You have to work constantly on it. Identify the loopholes and problems, and try to correct them.

Read related articles, techniques, meet scientists, get suggestions from experts to complete your research. Your lab work should be performed properly and documented correctly.

Another important thing in the post-admission process is the PhD thesis. Your daily journal, documentations and indications help you to write a thesis. Thesis writing is not rocket science. Everyone wonders, it is the hardest thing in PhD, but trust me you need a little knowledge of English and the Grammarly software.

Grammarly is a software that will take care of all your writing errors, you can read our article on its benefits and how to use it. Grammarly: A PhD writing assistant .

If I describe a PhD thesis, comprehensively then a PhD thesis is a written proof or draft of your entire research work.

Elements of PhD thesis: Abstract, introduction, material & methods, results & discussion, interpretations and references.

Whilst you are writing a dissertation thesis, you should worry about your publication. One of the major criteria for appearing in PhD viva is the publication of your research work in the peer-review journal. With your thesis, you can write your research paper, simultaneously. You may submit it in different journals for publications.

After doing all these, a final stage will come when you will appear in your PhD viva voce. It’s a discussion session where you have to defend your thesis. The viva-voce session will be easy for you if you read this article of our: Preparing for PhD viva voce .

Hey there to the students of Genetics, biotechnology or microbiology and those who are working with PCR, RT-PCR, microarray or sequencing, we will help you to prepare a research proposal, thesis, research paper or even your entire PhD project from start to end. contact us: [email protected] .

A roadmap overview of Degree to PhD:

Master’s degree/ M Phil
Good research background and publications (option)
Entrance exam
PhD project
Research proposal
Course work
PhD title
Wet and dry lab work
Publication in peer review journal
PhD thesis
Viva voce

The PhD time duration varies from subject to subject, for instance, PhD in science or applied subject takes a long time in comparison with PhD in history or literature. Broadly it takes up to 4 to 7 years to complete a PhD (or sometimes 8 to 10 years!).

If we include the time duration after degree and take into account your preparation time of 1 to 1.5 years, the whole process of Master’s degree to PhD takes 4.5 to 7 years.

Related article: What is PhD?- History, Definition, Origin, Requirement, Fees, Duration and Process .

Undoubtedly, a PhD-doctor of philosophy is one of the hardest things to do in life. Notwithstanding, determination leads to success. If you, as a student will know these things before deciding to go for PhD, it surely, undoubtedly help a lot. And mark my words no one of your fellow students knows these things.

If you are willing to do PhD, start from today. Prepare for competitive examination and try to make a PhD project. I hope what roadmap I have prepared will help you. Thank you for reading this article.

Dr. Tushar Chauhan is a Scientist, Blogger and Scientific-writer. He has completed PhD in Genetics. Dr. Chauhan is a PhD coach and tutor.

About The Author

Dr Tushar Chauhan

Why is it called a Doctor of Philosophy?

Preparing for a PhD Viva

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

Wharton’s phd program prepared this doctor to perform economic evaluations in health care, from phd student to colleague, faculty expertise in housing economics attracted this phd student to wharton.

How Long Does it Take To Get A PhD? Doctorate Degree Timeline

Starting a PhD means you’re ready for a big academic adventure, full of tough challenges and exciting discoveries.

If you’re thinking about going for it, you’re probably wondering just how much time you’ll need to commit to this big goal.

For full-time PhD students, the journey typically take 3-6 years. However, if you’re juggling other commitments and opt for a part-time PhD, the timeline can extend to 7 years to complete, sometimes more.

This article breaks down what the PhD journey looks like, what can make it longer or shorter, and some tips on how to make it through.

If you’re curious about how long it’ll take to add ‘Dr.’ before your name, you’re in the right place. Let’s dive into the world of PhD timelines!

How Long Does It Take To Get A PhD?

The answer here isn’t straightforward, as it hinges on various factors, including:

the discipline,
the institution, and
whether you’re a full-time or part-time student.

Distance learning PhD programs offer flexibility but similarly require a substantial time commitment, often mirroring the length of part-time studies.

The heart of a doctoral program is the dissertation, a rigorous research project that demands an in-depth exploration of your chosen field. This phase alone can take several months to years, significantly influencing the overall length of your PhD journey.

Beyond the dissertation, coursework, exams, and sometimes teaching responsibilities add layers to the doctoral experience.

The requirements for a PhD vary widely across disciplines and institutions. For instance, a doctorate in the sciences might involve extensive lab work, potentially extending the time to completion.

In contrast, a doctorate in the arts could hinge more on coursework and creative output, leading to variations in the timeline.

Does A Doctorate Degree Take Longer Than Masters?

A doctorate degree typically takes longer to complete than a master’s degree.

While a master’s program can often be completed in 1-2 years of full-time study, a doctoral program usually requires 4-6 years, depending on the:

research complexity, and
whether the student is enrolled full-time or part-time.

The doctoral journey is more than just additional coursework; it involves conducting original research, writing a comprehensive dissertation, and often teaching or engaging in professional development activities.

The dissertation phase, which requires students to contribute new knowledge to their field, is particularly time-consuming and can extend the duration of a PhD program significantly.

The time it takes to complete a doctorate can be influenced by your

research topic,
funding availability, and
the level of support from advisors and faculty.

Master’s programs are typically more structured, with a clearer set of coursework requirements and a shorter thesis or capstone project, leading to a quicker path to graduation.

Why Does It Take So Long To Finish Doctoral Program?

Starting a doctoral program is a significant commitment, often taking longer than anticipated. If you wonder why it takes so long, here are a couple of reasons you can think about:

Extensive Coursework

Initially, you might think coursework in your PhD study is just a continuation of your previous studies.

Doctoral level courses are a different beast. They demand not just understanding but the ability to critically analyze and apply complex concepts.

Each course can feel like a mini research project, requiring more than just classroom attendance. This phase lays the foundation but is time-consuming.

The Dissertation

The heart of your doctoral journey is your dissertation. This isn’t just a long essay or an extended research paper. It’s an original contribution to your field, requiring:

exhaustive research,
experimentation, and

Some students find their research path straightforward, while others may hit unexpected roadblocks or need to pivot their focus, extending the time required.

Part-Time Study

Many PhD candidates choose a part-time path due to work, family, or other commitments. While this flexibility is crucial for many, it stretches the duration of the program.

What a full-time student might complete in 4-6 years, part-time students might take 7 years or more to finish.

Funding and Resources

Access to funding and resources can significantly impact the timeline. Some projects require extensive fieldwork, specialised equipment, or access to rare materials. Delays in funding or accessing necessary resources can stall progress.

If funding is an issue, consider applying for work outside of the university. You can also try your luck with the university, as a research or teaching assistant , or more.

Academic Publishing

As part of the doctoral process, many students are encouraged or required to publish their findings.

However, the process of submitting to academic journals, undergoing peer review, and possibly revising and resubmitting, is lengthy.

This step is crucial for the academic community but adds time to the doctoral timeline. If may help to start writing and publishing work earlier to ensure you have enough time to finish.

Faculty Supervision and Mentorship

The relationship with your advisor or supervisory committee is pivotal. These mentors gatekeep your studies, as they:

guide your research,
provide feedback, and
approve your progress.

Scheduling conflicts, feedback loops, and the iterative nature of research can add semesters or even years to your timeline.

Personal Growth and Professional Development

Beyond the academic requirements, doctoral students often engage in teaching, attend conferences, and network within their academic community. These activities contribute to your professional development but also extend your time in the program.

Factors That Influence The Time To Get A PhD

The time it takes to complete PhD is influenced by a multitude of factors, each significant in its own right. Let’s delve deeper into these elements to understand the intricacies of the PhD voyage.

The Scope of Research :

The ambition of your research can significantly dictate the duration of your PhD. Some projects will need more time and commitment, especially if they:

Demand extensive fieldwork,
elaborate experiments, or
groundbreaking theoretical developments.

Imagine embarking on a quest that not only seeks answers but also questions the very foundations of your field. Such endeavours are thrilling but inherently time-consuming, often extending the PhD journey beyond the typical timeframe.

Program Structure and Requirements

The architecture of a PhD program—its coursework, qualifying exams, and other prerequisites—lays the groundwork for your academic expedition.

Programs with a heavy load of initial coursework aim to equip you with a broad foundation, yet this can elongate the path to your actual dissertation work.

Mode of Study

The decision between full-time and part-time study is pivotal. A full-time commitment allows you to immerse yourself in research, ideally hastening progress.

Yet, life’s obligations may necessitate a part-time route, extending the journey but offering flexibility.

Distance learning, with its inherent flexibility, caters to those balancing diverse commitments, yet this mode, too, can stretch the timeline, particularly if it lacks the immediacy and intensity of on-campus engagement.

Quality of Supervision

The symbiotic relationship with your advisor is the compass guiding your research voyage. An advisor who is both a mentor and a critic, offering timely and constructive feedback, can expedite your journey.

Less engaged supervision may leave you adrift, prolonging the process as you navigate the academic waters largely on your own.

Worse still, if you are unlucky enough, you may end up with supervisors that not only does not help you, but actively attempt to make your study life difficult. These nightmare scenarios do exist, and you should be aware of them.

Financial Stability

The financial underpinnings of your PhD endeavor are more critical than often acknowledged. Consistent funding allows you to dedicate yourself fully to your research, free from financial distractions.

Conversely, the absence of stable support might necessitate part-time employment, diluting focus and extending the timeline.

Resource Availability

Access to specialized resources—be it state-of-the-art laboratories, rare archival collections, or cutting-edge software—can be the wind in your PhD sails.

Limited or delayed access to these essential tools, however, can stall progress, turning what could be a swift journey into a prolonged odyssey.

If you found yourself in a position without the right resources to complete your PhD, consider to propose your university to allow you to work with other universities with what you need. If this is not possible, you can always transfer university, although this would mean more work.

Publishing Requirements

The adage “publish or perish” holds particularly true in the realm of PhD studies. The process of getting your research published, from initial submission to eventual acceptance, is fraught with delays and revisions. Each publication cycle can add months to your timeline,

Yet these publications are crucial stepping stones towards establishing your academic credibility. In fact, some universities want you to publish papers to graduate.

Personal Life and Circumstances

The journey towards a PhD is not undertaken in academic isolation. Life, with its unforeseen challenges and responsibilities, continues.

Personal circumstances can impact your ability to devote time and energy to your studies, necessitating pauses or a reduction in research intensity.

These issues can range from situation such as:

such as health issues,
family commitments, or
significant life events

Tips To Earn Your Doctoral Degree Fast

Earning a doctoral degree is a significant academic endeavor, often perceived as a marathon rather than a sprint. However, with strategic planning and focused effort, you can navigate this journey more swiftly than you might expect.

Here are some tips to help you earn your doctoral degree faster, drawing from the experiences and strategies of successful PhD candidates.

Choose Your Program Wisely

The structure of the PhD program you choose can greatly influence how long it takes to complete your degree. Programs that allow you to start your dissertation research early, even while completing your coursework, can save you a considerable amount of time.

Some program are designed to integrate dissertation work with coursework, enabling a more seamless transition into the research phase.

Opt for Full-Time Study If Possible

While part-time PhD programs offer flexibility for working professionals, full-time study allows for a more immersive research experience.

Dedicating all your working hours to your doctoral research can expedite the process, reducing the time it takes to get your PhD significantly.

Secure Adequate Funding

Financial stability is key to focusing fully on your research without the distraction of part-time work. Look for:

scholarships,
grants, and
funding opportunities from your institution.

You can also try to secure funding from external sources like the National Science Foundation.

Secure funding not only supports your financial needs but also often comes with academic resources that can accelerate your research progress.

Develop a Strong Relationship with Your Advisor

Your advisor is your guide through the PhD process. A supportive advisor can provide invaluable feedback, help you navigate academic challenges, and keep you on track.

Regular meetings and clear communication with your advisor can help you refine your research direction and avoid time-consuming pitfalls.

Focus Your Research

A well-defined research question can provide a clear path forward. The more focused your research, the less likely you are to get bogged down in unmanageable amounts of data or tangential studies.

It’s about depth rather than breadth; delving deeply into a specific area can lead to significant contributions to your field and a quicker path to completion.

Take Advantage of Existing Research and Resources

Don’t reinvent the wheel. Building on existing research and utilizing available resources can save you time. This includes:

leveraging datasets,
using established methodologies, and c
ollaborating with other researchers.

Access to resources like specialized labs or archives, as provided by your institution, can also streamline the research process.

Stay Organized and Manage Your Time Effectively

Good time management is crucial. Set realistic goals, create a timeline for your research and writing, and stick to it.

Tools like Gantt charts can help you visualize your PhD timeline, including key milestones like coursework completion, comprehensive exams, and dissertation chapters.

Get Your PhD Without Taking Too Much Time – Possible

The journey to obtaining a PhD is a unique blend of personal commitment, academic rigor, and research innovation.

While the timeline can vary widely, most candidates find themselves immersed in their studies and research for anywhere from 4 to 6 years. Exceptions can happen, and you may finish earlier or later.

Key factors like your field of study, the nature of your research, and your personal life circumstances play significant roles in shaping your individual journey.

Remember, earning a PhD is more than just a race to the finish line; it’s a profound journey of learning, discovery, and personal growth. Embrace the journey, stay focused, and the day you earn the title of ‘Doctor’ will be a milestone to remember.

Dr Andrew Stapleton has a Masters and PhD in Chemistry from the UK and Australia. He has many years of research experience and has worked as a Postdoctoral Fellow and Associate at a number of Universities. Although having secured funding for his own research, he left academia to help others with his YouTube channel all about the inner workings of academia and how to make it work for you.

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PhD/Doctorate

What are the steps in getting a PhD?

August 22, 2023

Reading Time: 2â3 minutes

The work required to complete a PhD varies across academic disciplines and universities, though earning a PhD typically requires the following elements :

Completing coursework
Completing one or more doctoral residency experiences
Passing a comprehensive assessment or exam
Developing and completing an independent research project
Seeking approval of your completed dissertation manuscript

Hereâs a closer look at each step.

With this primary step in the PhD process, you will participate in courses related to your field of study. The goal here is to develop deep subject-matter expertise.

Youâll also become familiar with the key topics, theories, methodologies and concerns related to your discipline. The skills and foundational knowledge you gain in your coursework will serve as the basis for generating potential research topics, such as those you will use in your dissertation.

Often offered virtually, residencies provide structure, training and detailed feedback to guide you as you develop your research plan and gather essential elements for your dissertation. Residences give you a chance to focus on specific study and activities related to preparing your dissertation.

You will connect with faculty and peers during this rigorous academic experience. They can help you focus your research plan by giving feedback and discussing relevant topics.

Your residency is where you can make significant progress on your dissertation, including selecting an acceptable topic and developing a robust proposal for the project.

Learn more about doctoral virtual residency .

Capella offers both PhD and professional doctorate programs. Hereâs how theyâre different .

Comprehensive assessment

The comprehensive assessment is where you demonstrate what youâve learned and present your knowledge of the academic competencies required for your discipline. This examination may be oral, written or both.

Upon successfully completing this step in your doctoral journey, you should be prepared to begin work on your dissertation.

Learn more about the comprehensive exam .

Dissertation

A dissertation is a written compilation of your academic research and provides a detailed description of your project (typically a five-chapter document).

Most dissertations address a question or problem that has not been fully addressed within your field. Before you begin your independent research, other faculty experts representing your dissertation committee and the Institutional Review Board will assess the rigor and ethical underpinnings of your project.

Learn more about the dissertation .

Once the research and writing are complete, the dissertation must be approved by a faculty committee and the school dean.

There is a final defense involved in which you will answer questions about your research, analysis and conclusions.

In many fields, there are also specific professional standards expected of learners. For example, a PhD learner in a Counselor Education and Supervision program will be expected to meet the guidelines of the American Counseling Association.

Once all approvals have been received and youâve successfully defended, youâll publish your dissertation. Youâll have then completed all your program requirements and be conferred your PhD.

Capella University offers PhD and professional doctoral degree programs in a number of different fields:

Health Sciences
Information Technology
Social Work
Counseling & Therapy

Learn more about Capellaâs online doctoral programs

Can I transfer credits into a doctoral program?

January 8, 2020

What are the steps in writing a dissertation?

December 11, 2019

The difference between a dissertation and doctoral capstone

November 25, 2019

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The Savvy Scientist

Experiences of a London PhD student and beyond

PhD FAQs – A Complete Beginner’s Guide to Doctoral Study

Tempted to do a PhD but have lots of questions? Hopefully this collection of popular PhD FAQs will help you to tick a few off the list!

Note – If you’re already sure that you want to do a PhD, and are looking for guidance on the applications process, check out my post on How to apply for a PhD which includes advice from successful PhD applicants. My post-PhD reflections on the things I regretted from my own PhD may be useful for you too, you can find that post here .

Let’s start with the absolute basics of PhDs!

What does PhD stand for?

PhD stands for Doctor of Philosophy. Doctor of Philosophy ? No matter which subject area your PhD is in you’ll become a Doctor of Philosophy because philosophy derives from Greek to mean “Love of wisdom” which make a bit more sense.

What is a PhD?

A PhD is a type of research degree classified as a doctorate. You get a PhD by doing original research into a topic, typically for at least three years.

There are loads of other types of doctorate and a PhD is simply the most common. EngD is another which is relatively common for industry-funded engineering students here in the UK.

PhD & DPhil what’s the difference?

There is no real difference between a PhD and DPhil, they’re both Doctor of Philosophy qualifications. A small number of historic institutions in the UK such as Oxford and York offer DPhils but the degree itself is equivalent.

How common are PhDs amongst the population?

Approximately 1% of the working population (25-64 years old) have a PhD. This varies a lot by country:

Can you call yourself Doctor with a PhD?

Yes you can. Though to avoid confusion with medical doctors, rarely will PhD-holders use the “Dr” title outside of their workplace.

Sometimes PhD-holders will add the abbreviation PhD after their name if they want to make it clear they are a non-medical doctor, for example “Jeff Clark PhD”.

What have I done about my title since getting my PhD? Nothing so far!

Why do a PhD?

Unlike a lot of other degrees, most PhD students get paid to study . Read more in the finances section below.

There are lots of potential reasons to want to do a PhD. The PhD students from our monthly PhD Profiles series said the following:

Sara found research the most enjoyable part of her undergraduate degree and a PhD was a way to carry on with research.

Ornob wants to pursue a career in evolutionary biology so began with a PhD in the field.

Vivienne has aspirations to be a professor so a PhD is a job requirement to progress in academia.

Jeff (me!) had an interest in the field and enjoyed research. I wrote a whole post with a deep dive on why I decided to do a PhD here .

Floor had enjoyed research during her Masters and didn’t think that she wanted a career in industry, so decided to do a PhD.

It’s important to mention that you don’t need to have a desire to stay in academia to do a PhD. In fact, even if you do want to go into academia afterwards, it’s probably good to know early on just how competitive it can be. Many people sadly cannot make a career out of academia long term.

Enjoy the subject matter and want to spend a few years researching it? That is reason enough to do a PhD. I’ve also now written a whole post about the benefits of having a PhD .

Applying for a PhD

Do you need a masters degree to do a phd.

No you don’t necessarily need a Masters degree to do a PhD as long as you can demonstrate you’d be suitable for a PhD without it.

For a more in-depth answer see the separate post here :

Can You Get a PhD Without a Master’s?

If you don’t have a Masters, I’d recommend checking out Centres for Doctoral Training (CDTs) which offer combined Masters + PhD courses. We have discussed CDTs with a graduate in Floor’s post here .

What grades do you need to do a PhD?

Entry requirements for PhDs can vary. In regards to the UK system usually you’d generally be expected to have at least a 2:1 from your undergraduate degree, plus some research experience.

My experience : I (narrowly) got first class honours in my undergrad (MEng) which certainly does help. But if you can demonstrate aptitude in research you usually don’t need a 1:1. It would be expected for you to have done well in any research projects. If you can get your name on a publication then even better!

The easiest way to find out what is expected is to check the PhD advert for entry requirements. For details on applying for a PhD, including how to find PhD adverts, check out my guide here :

How to apply for a PhD

I work in industry, can I come back and do a PhD?

Absolutely! I worked for almost four years between finishing my first degree and starting my PhD.

A PhD is more similar to a job than any other point in your education, so if you’ve spent time in a structured role it can provide you with a good work ethic. If your time in industry adds relevant skills and experience to your application, even better!

I’ve met loads of people older than me who are pursuing PhDs. If it’s your dream, it’s never too late to start a PhD!

What is the social life of a PhD student like?

Let me get this out the way first: PhD students should be able to have a life outside of the lab! If a PhD student has no time away from research I would personally suggest that they were doing things wrong.

Even if you really enjoy your project, it is good for your mental health to have a social life!

No matter the size of your research group there are often departmental and university-wide events. Plus, besides everyone you may meet through your research and department, PhD students can still join societies and sports clubs through the students’ union. I spent one of my birthdays during my PhD on the beach in Morocco with the surf club, don’t let being a PhD student put your off getting involved!

Check out the full post I’ve written: Do PhD Students Have a Social Life? Sharing My Experiences Making Friends and Avoiding PhD Loneliness

If you do go on to do a PhD, make sure to make the most of all the opportunities ! Your time as a PhD student is fantastic for personal growth.

How much holiday do PhD students get?

Sadly unlike undergraduates, PhD students don’t follow fixed semesters. This means no more three month long summer holiday, sorry!

However most departments recommend PhD students take 7-8 weeks of holiday a year , which is more than practically any job outside of academia.

I kept track of all the time off I took during my PhD and you can find the details here , including a month by month breakdown:

Do PhD Students Get Holidays? Sharing How Much Annual Leave I Take

Getting a PhD

How much work is a phd.

For a month I tracked how many hours I was working and what I was working on, so you can see a breakdown of my calendar here . I found I was working for roughly 40 hours a week. Now that I’ve recently finished my PhD, I’d say that that amount of hours was pretty representative of the whole PhD.

How Much Work is a PhD?

I do of course know some people who worked much longer hours, but most PhD students were on a similar schedule to me. Working roughly 9-5 on weekdays. Treat it like a job and you’ll be fine. PhD students don’t need to be slaving away long hours.

I managed to be strict with my time, largely avoiding work late nights or going in at the weekends. One of the main perks of doing a PhD is that you have autonomy and can be flexible with when you work. As long as you get the work done, any reasonable supervisor won’t mind when you’re there.

Yes I’ve heard stories of PhD students having to clock in and out with an expectation that they spend a certain number of hours in the office. I personally think this is stupid and doesn’t build trust. Try to speak to current PhD students from the group when choosing a supervisor .

How is a PhD assessed?

What you submit at the end of your research varies between universities and countries. Sometimes it’s a thesis and other times it can be a bunch of published papers. In all situations you give some kind of presentation and answer questions about your work.

In the UK you usually submit a thesis in preparation for a viva voce . The viva is an oral exam where you discuss your research with several academics and at least one will be an expert in your field. My viva wasn’t as scary as I thought it might be, but nonetheless it was five hours ( FIVE HOURS! ) long. At the end of your viva you’ll get told the outcome of your PhD with any changes to be made to your thesis.

There is often no requirement , to publish your work in journals during a PhD in the UK but it does help.

In other countries you may have to publish a certain number to pass your PhD and effectively these can be submitted instead of the thesis. This approach makes much more sense to me.

How long does it take to get a PhD?

In the UK, typically between three and four years to complete your research and submit the thesis. It can then take a few months for the exam (viva voce) to take place and then for any corrections to the thesis to be made.

Nosey about my PhD? For me personally, I started the PhD on 1st October 2016, submitted my thesis on 17th February 2020, had the viva on 25th March, submitted my minor corrections on 30th March and had the email to say it was officiated on 1st April 2020. Yep, April Fool’s Day…

When you realise your degree certificate will forever say your PhD was awarded on April Fools Day! #academiclife @imperialcollege pic.twitter.com/hKsGFyuc0x — Jeff Clark (@savvy_scientist) April 14, 2020

We cover all the stages of a PhD here, including putting the length of a PhD in the perspective of a whole career:

How Long Does It Take To Get A PhD?

Are PhDs really difficult?

No, well not how you might think.

You don’t need to be a genius, but you do have to be smart with how you work. Here I go into how a PhD is pretty different to all the prior years spent in education:

How Hard is a PhD?

Check out my new post covering academic challenges and failures relating to my own PhD: Overcoming Academic Challenges and Failure During a PhD

Money-Related Questions

How much does a phd cost.

If you have funding, which is explained below, all your fees are paid for by the funding source. If you are looking to self-fund, then you’ll have to pay bench-fees/tuition fees, which are usually approximately £4,000 a year for home students in the UK.

Fees vary massively depending on both the country the PhD work takes place in and where you’re from. For example, I believe Australian universities charge around $100,000 in fees to overseas PhD students. Of course ideally you have funding which covers both this and pays a stipend!

Do PhD students pay taxes?

In the UK, PhD students do not pay income tax, national insurance, council tax and student loan repayments. This means that if you can secure funding, even though you may earn less than friends in typical jobs, you get to keep all your earnings!

Do PhD students get paid?

Most PhDs, at least in STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) get a stipend: basically a tax-free salary.

How much do PhD students get paid?

At the time of writing, most PhD students in the UK get around £16,000 a year . Doesn’t sound like a lot, but:

As mentioned above, you don’t pay income tax, national insurance, council tax or make any student loan repayments. My most popular post is this one , comparing the income of PhD students vs grad jobs and the difference really isn’t that big. Plus it’s only for 3 to 3.5 years!
You’re getting paid to learn science, working on something you’re really interested in. It’s amazing.
You have a lot more freedom than practically any “proper job”.
You’re getting paid, to be a student…

PhD Salary UK: How Much Do PhD Students Get Paid?

In summary, PhD stipends are really not that different to grad starting salaries. Please don’t be put off from a PhD simply because for a few years you might be earning a bit less than if you were working in another job.

Depending on what you want to do with your career, having a CV may lead to higher salaries. What is 3 years of lower wages out of a 40+ year career? The answer: nothing!

Where do I find PhD funding?

Getting funding will likely be the biggest hurdle for you to secure a PhD. I have a post here detailing the different types of funding and how you can find a project with funding attached.

How to Find PhD Funding in the UK

Can you self-fund a PhD?

Yes you can self-fund a PhD, and some students are in a position to do so. Just be careful that you account for university fees and not just your living costs.

Are you allowed to have another job at the same time?

Most universities encourage you to get involved with work within your department as a graduate teaching assistant (GTA). Some countries even insist that you work a certain number of hours as part of a contract for your monthly stipend.

Working as a GTA you might be invigilating exams, helping in tutorials, marking coursework etc and at Imperial you usually earn around £15-£26 an hour.

If you’re looking to work a full time job in tandem with your PhD (and doing the PhD full time), it is best checking your university’s policy. Some may have regulations against you working over a certain number of hours which could impede you from concentrating on the PhD.

There are extra ways to make money on the side which I address here :

How to Earn Money Online for Students

Can you get a mortgage as a PhD student?

Since I did my PhD in London I didn’t even consider buying somewhere during my PhD. I’m not interested in being tied into a massive mortgage for 25 years to buy a shoebox!

If I’d accepted my PhD offer for a CDT at Leeds I certainly would have tried to buy somewhere with my partner. I found this page useful when doing research. Buying a property with a partner who has a normal job would definitely make the mortgage application a whole lot more successful.

Will a PhD help your career?

This depends on what you want to do with your career. Some example scenarios:

Staying in academia – a PhD is usually required
Certain technical jobs in industry – a PhD may be required or a big bonus
Non-technical jobs – a bonus

I do not imagine any scenarios where having a PhD is worse than not having one. It is true though that for certain careers there may be other things you could do which would be a better use of your time, for example gaining more direct work experience.

If you want to do a PhD that shouldn’t stop you though, and considering the length of your career taking a few years out for a PhD is inconsequential.

Whichever career path you fancy taking, if you are at all interested in doing a PhD I think you should at least apply.

PhDs in London

Can someone afford to live in london as a phd student.

Yes! I lived in London for my PhD and actually was able to save money every single month while taking many holidays and not living in a tent.

I have a few posts sharing my experiences living in London which you may find useful:

For a month last year I tracked all my expenses to get an idea of my costs living in London as a student, you can find it here .

Sharing my monthly living expenses as a student in London: September 2019

Related to reducing costs, I learned to cycle in London and loved it. It saved me about £100 a month too!

Learning to cycle in London: my first 1000 miles

On top of that, for the whole of 2019 (third year PhD) I tracked my money, and the report is here :

My personal finances report for 2019

Where is good to live in London?

I’ve lived in three different houses during my PhD in London and have a pretty good idea now of good places to live in London. You can read this whole post talking about living in London as a student and the associated costs including a breakdown of rent :

London student accommodation: Breaking down the cost of living in London for students

Bonus: Read the journeys of PhD students

Before I started my PhD I had a ton of questions and nobody who I could ask about their experience. The reality is that many of these PhD FAQs have a variety of answers as everyone’s PhD story is different. Therefore if you’d like to hear first hand from people who are going through the journey check out my series of PhD profiles , with a new profile every month. You can also discover some of their top tips for applying!

If you’d like personalised help with your PhD application I am now starting to offer a small number of one-to-one sessions. Please contact me to find out more or click here to book a call.

Is there anything else you’d like to know to help with a potential PhD application? Let me know and I’ll write about it! You can subscribe to stay up to date here:

PhD Salary UK: How Much Do PhD Students Get Paid Compared to Graduates?

5th February 2024 5th February 2024

The Benefits of Having a PhD

7th September 2022 30th January 2024

My top PhD regrets: 10 lessons learned by a PhD grad

21st April 2022 25th September 2023

Privacy Overview

How to Apply For a PhD: Step-By-Step

Written by Hannah Slack

Deciding to do a PhD is a big step and the road to submitting applications can seem long. To help you wade through all the information out there we’ve put together a simple step-by-step guide to the PhD application process.

Complete with top tips and links to further information, applying for a PhD has never looked simpler.

Step 1: choose your research area

The first, and most obvious, step to applying for a PhD is to decide what research area you want to work in. Whether you’re looking for an Arts and Humanities PhD or a STEM one, each individual subject is made up of a vast array of research topics.

Most PhD courses will expect students to have a degree in a relevant field, although your previous qualifications do not have to be in the exact same discipline as the PhD you apply for. Students with a Masters in History, for example, may apply to research within the Religious Studies department. As long as the nature of research is similar and your chosen topic correlates with your experience, it’s possible to apply for a degree in a different department.

It’s worthwhile spending a bit of time considering what department you might want to join and what type of research you want to conduct.

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Step 2: decide what kind of PhD you want to do

There are two main types of PhDs: predesigned projects and self-proposed projects. The route you choose to take will mainly depend on your personal preference and situation.

While STEM subjects tend to have more predesigned projects, there are many students who choose to plan their own. Similarly, most Arts and Humanities PhDs are self-proposed but there are also many advertised projects out there.

Predesigned project

Advertised projects usually come in three different forms:

Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT)
Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP)

The main difference between these three types of PhDs is the level of industry experience offered to students, DTPs usually having the least industry involvement and iCASEs the most. However, all three do offer internship opportunities.

Some of these terms are used interchangeably, but you can read more about the differences between predesigned studentships in our guide.

The benefit of predesigned projects is that they are typically fully-funded four-year studentships. There are also many that come with an integrated Masters during the first year for those applying with only a Bachelors degree.

You also won’t have to research and plan your own project, which can save a lot of time.

However, as multiple students will be applying for the same advertised PhD opportunities, places can be competitive. Your choice of projects will also be limited to whatever research is currently advertised.

Design your own project

Many students in all fields choose to design and propose their own research project for PhD study. This option can be extremely rewarding as it allows students a lot more control over their work.

The downside is that not every self-proposed PhD is funded. While there are lots of funding opportunities available, there is not enough to cover the amount of PhD applications each year. Students may have to apply for part-time work or small grants throughout their studies.

Additionally, you will have to put in more time to your application as you need to design a viable PhD project.

For students choosing this route some additional steps are needed:

Step 2.1: research

To be able to propose a viable research project, you will need to spend a significant amount of time researching your chosen field. You may have already conducted some research during your previous degrees, giving you a good starting point.

The point of this step is to become familiar with the main academic arguments in your research area. You should then be able to identify a gap in the academic discussion which you will be able to fill in the timeframe of a PhD. This could include discussing an underused or new source base, criticising an academic argument or applying a new or different theory to the current discussions.

You should then look to identify a preliminary source base and decide how you intend to use the information.

Step 2.2: draft a research proposal

After completing a period of research, you should write up a draft research proposal. While this won’t be your final piece for submission with your application, having a draft can be useful when it comes to step three, contacting prospective supervisors. You can find out more about how to write a good PhD proposal in our guide.

Step 3: contact prospective supervisors

Once you have decided on which projects you intend to apply for, or drafted a research proposal, it’s time to reach out to prospective supervisors. This is an important step as it allows you to gain more insight into how your potential PhD might go. Our top tips for getting in contact with potential PhD supervisors can help you to reach out.

For predesigned projects the supervisor will be listed in the advertisement. By contacting them you can introduce yourself and discuss the research in more detail.

If you are proposing your own PhD research then you will have to search for potential supervisors yourself. The research stage of step two should mean that you have a good grip on the prominent academics in your field. This is a good place to start. It is also worthwhile looking through staff lists on university websites to find other experts who are perhaps earlier on in their career.

Contacting prospective supervisors is a good opportunity to receive feedback on your ideas and research proposal. You should first ask if they are able to take a look at your draft after briefly explaining who you are and summarising your project. Any feedback can be extremely useful as their expertise and experience could help them notice any holes in your proposal that you should consider and fix before applying.

Receiving feedback from an inhouse academic will also help you tailor your proposal specifically to the expertise of your prospective institution and supervisor expertise.

Step 4: check entry requirements

The next major step is to check the entry requirements of the institution or project. Most PhD applicants should have a Masters degree in a relevant field as well as a history of strong academic achievement.

PhD without a Masters

Some funded studentships will allow Bachelors graduates to apply. There is also the possibility to apply for an integrated programme that will include a year of Masters level training before beginning PhD research.

International applicants

If you are applying as an international student, make sure to check what visas may be required and how to obtain them. To study in the UK, international applicants will need a Student Route visa. To apply for this, you will need:

a confirmation of acceptance into a university
proof of sufficient funds
proof that you meet the English language requirements

Make sure to check beforehand the eligibility criteria of the visa you need to apply for in case you need to undertake a language exam or entry test .

Step 5: check fees and potential funding options

Once you have decided which PhD opportunities you want to apply for, and know that you’re eligible, it’s time to look more deeply at the financial practicalities. PhD study is not cheap and often has many unforeseen costs such as books, equipment, travel and conferencing fees. Knowing your potential funding options can help you plan ahead.

Funding options

Practically all PhD applicants hope to be fully-funded. If you are applying for an advertised project then you will typically receive full funding if successful. This funding most commonly comes from Research Councils who outline their own restrictions on how the money can be used and deadlines for thesis submission. It’s a good idea to read the funder’s terms and conditions and make sure you understand what would be required of you as a researcher.

Those designing their own PhD are likely to apply for Research Council funding. Unfortunately, there is only a set amount of money available from Research Councils for self-proposed projects and so some PhDs are unsuccessful in their application. However, this does not mean you can’t go on and complete a successful PhD.

As receiving fully-funded studentships can be very competitive, it’s important to know other potential sources of funding. These can include:

Universities – Many institutions offer their own funding , ranging from small fee discounts to full studentships. Make sure to research any financial support your chosen universities may offer and what you and your project could be applicable for.
Charities, trusts and societies – some independent organisations offer to partially (and sometimes fully) fund PhD students if their research correlates with the groups’ interests. Support is available for a large variety of subjects so make sure to do some research.
PhD loans – The UK government offers doctoral loans to English and Welsh PhD students who were unable to secure a full studentship. This will not usually cover the full cost of a PhD. Students wishing to self-fund with the help of a PhD loan will potentially have to take up part-time work such as teaching within the university.

PhD funding

Find out more about PhD funding options and how it works on FindAPhD.com.

Step 6: prepare to apply

Now that you have thought about the practicalities of PhD study you can start to gather the required documents to apply.

The most important thing to note down when starting to prepare is the PhD application deadlines. Many universities will have different deadlines and if you are applying for funding, applications may need to be submitted even earlier.

It’s a good idea to aim to submit your application with plenty of time to spare, taking into account any difficulties that might arise gathering together the relevant paper work.

The documents you need for your application will depend on the university and funding you are applying for. Some things you may be asked to provide are:

Personal statement / cover letter
Research proposal
Details of at least two referees (make sure to contact them beforehand so they know what you are applying for and why)
Academic transcript

International students may also need to provide:

Proof of language proficiency
Proof of funds
Student visa

Step 7: submit your application

Once you have written, polished and gathered all the documents you need, it’s time to apply. Most PhD applications are done through the university’s application portal. Many also allow you to start your application and come back to it at a later date, so don’t feel like you have to submit everything all in one go.

If you are applying for funding separately make sure to read the details of how to apply on the funder’s website. Typically, Research Council funding is applied for with the same application you submit to the university. Other sources of funding may have a different application system.

Still looking for the perfect PhD course?

Head over to our PhD course listings to keep up to date with the latest opportunities.

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How to Apply for a PhD – Application Process Explained
Applying to a PhD

This guide explains the PhD application process and outlines the steps you will need to follow, and information you will need to provide when applying to a PhD programme.

How to Apply for a PhD – Application Process

There is no single guide that can cover the entire application process for applying to PhDs, as it differs not only between universities, but also between programmes. In the same sense, what a supervisor might consider a strong application for one of their programmes, they may consider a weak application for another of their programmes.

Furthermore, the process of applying for a PhD in the UK can be slightly challenging to navigate as there is no centralised application system, as is the case with undergraduate degrees, and the process can vary from university to university.

Regardless of this, the below outlines the most common steps you will need to follow when applying for a PhD. Pay particular attention to each stage, as slipping on a single one of them can significantly affect your chances of securing the PhD you want.

1. Find Research Projects you like

Identify research areas that align with your research interest.

This should be done by thinking about all topics, courses, projects, recent publications, recurring questions or experiences that have caught your curiosity over the past year.

Once you have a better understanding of your preferred research area, browse through our PhD listings or the ‘postgraduate research degree’ and ‘research centre’ sections of a university’s website if you already have a particular one in mind.

This is probably the most important thing to consider before you apply to PhD programmes given you will be working on your project for the next three to eight years – make sure not to rush it.

Note: If you intend to study part time or via distance learning, make sure to check the university offers this option as not all do.

2. Contact Potential PhD Supervisors

If you are proposing your own research project, which is usually the case with a self-funded postgraduate programme, you will need to find your own potential supervisor.

The best way to find a suitable PhD supervisor is to review the staff profiles on the department’s webpage and examine the topics they have published on in the past two years, as well as the research projects of the students they have supervised in the past. This will help you decide whether their research interests coincide with yours. Outside of research interests, there are other aspects you will want to look for, such as their level of support and patience, and how successful their former students have been. For further information on this, you can learn how to find a good PhD supervisor here .

If you are applying to a pre-determined research project, which is usually the case with funded programmes, you do not need to find a supervisor, as they already have a supervisor assigned to them.

Before you formally apply to funded PhD projects, most PhD supervisors will prefer you to apply informally by sending them an email with your CV. This is so they can better understand your motives for applying and where your academic strengths lie before you start the formal application process.

3. Online Application Form

Once you have found a research programme you are interested in, most universities will require you to make a formal application via their online application portal. The below outlines the supporting documentation you will likely require when completing your online application form.

Academic Qualifications and Transcripts

If you have completed your studies, you will be asked to provide original or certified copies of your academic qualifications.

If you are still studying, you will need to provide an interim transcript of the grades you have received to date and details of any previous qualifications you have acquired.

Academic CV

An academic CV outlines your contact details, academic background and relevant experience. You can read our guide on how to prepare an effective academic CV here .

Cover Letter

An academic cover letter can be requested alongside your CV. An academic cover letter explains why you are applying for the particular PhD project, why you are a strong candidate for the position and what you can offer the department as a research student. You can read our guide on how to prepare a strong cover letter here .

Personal Statement

Instead of a cover letter, you may be asked to submit a personal statement. A personal statement is a short document describing your interest in the research programme and explaining why you believe you are suitable for it.

Research Proposal

Most universities will require you to submit a research proposal, especially if you are not applying to a pre-determined research project.

A research proposal is a short document describing your proposed research project. It outlines your research question, which topic it concerns and why you consider it valuable. It is used to show you have the potential for postgraduate-level research by showing that you can communicate complex ideas and evaluate them at their fundamental level. A research proposal also allows the academic department to match you with a suitable PhD supervisor with the expertise to support you if needed.

To support your application, you will be asked for an academic reference, ideally from one or more academic referees.

This is so the university has evidence from another academic source that you are a person who is capable of undertaking PhD study, not only in terms of your credentials and academic abilities but also in terms of your character, as someone who demonstrates commitment, perseverance, independence and the ability to communicate effectively.

To ensure the legitimacy of your references, universities often have strict requirements for how they are to be provided, such as requiring the use of official letterheads and original signatures from the reference provider. Therefore, you must check the specific requirements of each institution and forward them to your referee to minimise the risk of any rejections.

Other Supporting Information

Most online forms also have sections where you can upload any additional supporting information. This can include example evidence, such as previous papers you have published or conferences you have participated in.

Note that e xample evidence, especially of scientific research, is rarely required for STEM subjects

4. Entry Requirements

Academic qualifications.

The entry requirement for most UK universities is a 2:1 (Upper Second Class Honours) undergraduate degree, or equivalent qualification, in a relevant subject.

Note that while many universities require a Masters degree, not all do; it’s possible to enrol in a PhD programme with just a Bachelors degree , as many students have successfully done so in the past.

In both cases, you will be asked to submit a copy of your degree certificate if you have completed your undergraduate study.

English Language Requirement

If you are an international student from a non-native English speaking country, most universities will require you to either meet their English language requirements or complete an English course with them before starting your PhD.

The two most common tests used to examine English language proficiencies for postgraduate study are the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) and the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language).

Although the score requirements will vary depending on the course and institution, the typical requirements are:

IELTS – Overall score of 6.5, and no less than 6.0 in each test category.
TOELF – Overall score of 88.

International Applicant

If you’re an international student, you may need a Tier 4 (General) Student Visa to study in the UK. If this is the case, the university will require your passport details or a copy of your first page and photo page.

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

5. Other Things to Keep in Mind

In most countries, including the UK, a PhD studentship starts in September or October of each academic year. However, it’s worth noting that most PhD projects are flexible and can therefore start at any time throughout the year.

Application Deadline

The deadline for a PhD position will be indicated in its advert description, however, you should apply to them as early as possible as a PhD position can sometimes be filled before its official closing date.

As well as monitoring the course deadline, also be aware of the closing dates of associated doctoral research funding opportunities. This is because some funded PhD projects require you to apply individually to both the course and the funding opportunity.

Standardised Tests

Depending on the type of doctorate you are applying for, you may need to take examinations as part of the application process.

While this is uncommon in the UK, most graduate schools in the US and Canada integrate standardised tests into their doctoral course admissions process, with minimum test scores set as an entry requirement for their PhD programs.

MPhil Registration First

In the UK, most PhD students first have to register for an MPhil ( Master of Philosophy ) for the first year of their studies, and only if they pass it, which usually requires the production of a report and an informal interview, will their course be upgraded to a PhD.

Making Several Applications

Unfortunately, for various reasons, you may not always get your preferred supervisor or research project, so it is best to apply for several projects on one or more research topics you interest you.

Please note that the application process for a professional doctorate, such as a DBA or EngD, is slightly different from the one mentioned in this guide . Therefore, please consult the guidelines of the university you wish to apply to before applying.

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Wharton Stories

How to prepare a strong phd application.

Doctoral candidates and departmental coordinators at the Wharton School outline a few tips to help you navigate the PhD application process.

It’s no secret the application process can be intimidating. Where do you start? What exactly are schools looking for on your application? What materials do you need to submit? Doctoral candidates and departmental coordinators at the Wharton School have outlined a few tips to help you navigate the process.

Don’t Delay the Process

A successful PhD applicant starts thinking about their application months or even years before the deadlines. For Alejandro Lopez Lira , a third year student in Finance, the application process began a year before he actually submitted the paperwork. He said, “I spoke to my advisors way before, like one year before, about my letters of recommendation, where to apply, everything involved in the process.”

Each program has different requirements, which can make for a tedious process. Karren Knowlton , a third year in Management, said, “I took a little while to draft a personal statement. I had my mom, who teaches creative writing, and a few other people that I trust just read over it. Then you have to tweak it for different schools because they want slightly different things.”

Taking time to prepare your application is critical. Starting the process sooner rather than later gives you several advantages:

It allows your letter of recommendation writers enough time in advance to thoughtfully prepare a letter that speaks to who you are as a PhD candidate.
It gives you more time to review your materials, fix any errors, and proofread, proofread, proofread.
Finally, it means a lot less stress when the deadline starts rapidly approaching. By planning ahead, you’ll have a much smoother process applying.

Get Letters of Recommendation

Prof. Matthew Bidwell , who previously served as the doctoral coordinator for the Management program , said a common mistake he sees are letters of recommendations from employers. Although he said it is impressive to see work experience, having an employer write a letter is not the best choice.

“We don’t pay very much attention to those because rightly or wrongly, we worry that they’re not looking for the kinds of things that we’re looking for,” he said. “If you have one, it’s not a disaster, but when you see people with two or three — most of their recommendations coming from their work — that kind of heightens our concern. You’re committing to a fairly specialized career, do you really know what that career entails?”

Instead, he suggests getting to know an academic who will be able to write a recommendation attesting to your ability to manage doctoral-level research and work.

Include Research/Work Experience in Your Field

Each program has a unique set of criteria to evaluate applicants, but several doctoral coordinators agree that some research and work experience in your field of interest will strengthen your application overall.

Prof. Fernando Ferreira , doctoral coordinator for the Business Economics and Public Policy and Real Estate programs, thinks work experience can be useful in demonstrating an applicant’s abilities. He said, “Any work experience after undergraduate school is important. If that experience is more related to research it’s even better, but work experience in general is always good.”

Prof. Guy David , doctoral coordinator for the Health Care Management & Economics program , thinks that work experience benefits applicants in terms of giving them a broader view of business. “Work experience creates retrospection about how the world works, how organizations make decisions, and how people function in various situations,” he said.

However, he warns that spending too much time away from an academic setting can have its drawbacks too. “It may lead people to start their PhD later when they are not in the habit of immersing themselves in rigorous studies and have a shorter horizons to develop a name for themselves,” he said.

Although having both research and work experience can strengthen your application, you will not be denied entry because you are lacking either.

Prof. Bidwell said, “I think research experience does give us some confidence that people have some idea about what it is that we do. In terms of work experience, I think we don’t have a strong view. We quite like work experience, but we also take people straight out of undergrad.”

Prepare for the Standardized Tests

Most PhD programs require students to take the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE). Having high test scores is a key part of an application as it tests skills learned over the course of many years in school. Quantitative skills are especially important when applying to doctoral programs in business areas. Much like any other standardized test, the GRE requires preparation.

Karren, who took the GRE twice to ensure her scores were high enough, offered advice to those who may be struggling. “I would absolutely recommend practicing the writing beforehand. Look up examples and have your outline structured,” she said. “So much of it is just getting the right structure and how you formulate your arguments so knowing what they’re looking for is key.”

Test prep can be time-consuming, but like anything else, practice makes perfect. There are multiple text books and online sites to help you prepare for the exam. Karren aimed to improve her math scores the second time she took the GRE and recommended this site to help strengthen math skills.

Taking advantage of resources to help you study can limit the number of times you need to take the GRE while ensuring you score high enough to remain in the applicant pool.

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Posted: August 4, 2017

Admissions and Applying
Advancement and Transition

Doctoral Programs

Start your doctoral journey.

Whether you’re just starting your research on PhD programs or you’re ready to apply, we’ll walk you through the steps to take to become a successful PhD candidate.

Deciding to get a PhD

You might be surprised to find out what you can do with a PhD in business.

Is an Academic Career for You ? What Makes a Successful PhD Student

Preparing for the Doctoral Path

The skills, relationships, and knowledge you need to prepare yourself for a career in academics.

How the PhD Program Works How to Become a Successful PhD Applicant

Choosing the right program

What’s the difference between PhD programs? Find out how to choose one that fits your goals.

What to Consider When Choosing a Doctoral Program What Differentiates R1 Universities?

Starting an application

Tips for a successful application process.

Application Requirements Preparing Your PhD Application

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For my first (two-part) blog post, i'm going to discuss my own path through graduate school and try to generalize the experience where I can in order to give general advice that can help students currently (or thinking about) pursuing a PhD in Science/Engineering. The views expressed here at strictly my own and do not reflect the position of EECS or the computer science division here at UC Berkeley. ***Getting in*** My acceptance into graduate school was not standard. I worked for 4 years after graduating college, enrolled in Berkeley as a non-matriculated student, engaged in research with the faculty in the computer science department, and finally published some papers, sealing my acceptance. The whole process took 2 years, from 2005-2007. Mid-way through the PhD program, I participated (twice) in the computer science division's admissions committee. From my own experience, I can say that the main thing the department is looking for is demonstrated ability to do excellent research. Why is this the case? In a very general sense, professors in the computer science department have a budget for their graduate students. They have a vision for a set of multi-year projects they want to invest time (and money) into, and they're looking to build a team. The time-frame for that vision is typically 5-7 years and they want to make sure they're getting the very best student to help that vision come to fruition. The best way to demonstrate that you can do excellent research is to, well, do excellent research. This is much harder than getting good grades. For your application packet you, ideally, you want a mix of good grades and co-authored papers (even if you're not the lead author). This is especially true in the CS department where the acceptance rate is about 2-3%. You have to stand out from the majority of applications and doing research is the best way to do that. If your grades are not that great, then you MUST have done research and your position in the author list needs to rise. The better your grades, the less they expect your impact on a previous research projects to be. For systems research in computer science, papers tend to have multiple authors -- since systems typically take a team to build -- so becoming a co-author is not as difficult as, say, computer science theory. Still, you have to demonstrate initiative and ability. You won't be "hired" for a job you've never done. Getting research done as an undergraduate is difficult. Places like MIT, Stanford, and Berkeley make that much easier. In most cases, the best way is to engage is a summer research opportunity somewhere and work hard. Show your graduate mentor that you really, really want to publish something. They'll almost always respond positively to this attitude -- graduate students are HIGHLY incentivized to publish. It is THE metric used to evaluate your career as a researcher and it starts as soon as you start publishing! Furthermore, and most importantly, if you publish you'll get great recommendations. The best recommendations in computer science come from students who have research exeperience. Optimize for this. ==Lesson== The bottom line is that you need to demonstrate that you're going to be an asset. They examine your entire "score card" (grades, GREs, previous research) in order to make that assessment. GRE's matter only if they're bad. Nobody cares if they're good. Everyone who gets in has good GRE scores. That said, if you write a good paper or two, it (and the recommendation it induces) can trump everything. It's the metric that carries the most weight. ***The Beginning*** The beginning of the program is when you try to transition into the role of a researcher from an undergraduate. Classes generally matter a lot less than they did in undergrad. In computer science, they end up not mattering at all -- except to attain a passing grade. In the computer science department, you take some classes mix it with some research. The classes you take are more of a tool-building activity, to give you the right set of tools to engage in cutting-edge research. In my case, I took a machine learning course and a few advanced systems courses. At Berkeley, the advanced systems courses consist of reading many (dozens) of systems papers. You must become trained in reading, writing, and distilling those papers into their core idea. You read a mix of good and bad papers, the bad are really so you can identify them, and the good are to teach you how good papers are written. At the end of each course, you're expected to do a research project. In some cases (mine included), those research projects are the beginning of publishable work. As you build your tool box and engage in some research, you start to get a sense for what your're really interested in and you start to get a sense for which faculty and student teams you fit best in. In other departments, this whole process is more structured, with explicit matching processes and time frames. In computer science at Berkeley, it's more ad-hoc. You attend few research meetings, take classes with future colleagues interested in the same area, and you eventually settle with a research advisor that will guide you at least through your masters. ==Lesson== Decide what you're really interested in here, but like most choices, it's important to look around and try your hands at doing a few things. Most classes will give you that opportunity. If I had to do it again, I would not only work with my peers, but also look to do some work with more senior graduate students. They can teach you a lot about the culture of the lab your happen to join to about how to do research in general. They can also make you a co-author on a paper early in your graduate career, which will give you the confidence that you could go ahead and start leading a team after doing that a couple of times. DO NOT think in terms of the PhD here. Think in terms of the masters project-horizon. If you find something you're really into, explore it and think about how a set of 1-3 projects are going to come together in a common theme for writing your masters report at the end of your 2 year (or so). ***The Masters (Should I stay or should i go?)*** After a few years (typically 2-3 in computer science), you have the option to write a masters report and decide if you're going to opt out to go into industry or continue in the program. It's a hard choice for a lot of people in computer science, since what's waiting is typically a nice cushy job with a pretty decent paycheck (to say the least). But if you've really enjoyed your time and feel like research is the right professional venue for you, then you stay. Another thing you have the option to do here, is break away from your current advisor (in computer science, you can do this more easily than in other departments). If you're pivoting to a new area or decide that the direction your advisor is headed in is not the direction you want to head in, make the hard choice to switch. ==Lesson== Your master's project is a nice breaking point, professionally. It can either serve is an indicator to jobs that you know how to engage in the practice of your field and apply what you learned as an undergraduate or it can set a good foundation for your PhD research. In either case, use it as a driver for exploring a topical interest you have, rather than something that will lead to your PhD research. ***Dissertation work (the beginning)*** In some cases, your master's research leads into your PhD research. In either case, you need to start thinking more broadly about the next set of 3-4 projects your're going to work on and their general theme. That could be in a completely new area, in which case, it'll be a redux of the beginning, where you're checking out new project areas you want to dive into. In other cases, that means you should but the master's results in a broader context and go from there. ==Lesson== Read, read, read. Read as much as you can about a topic you're interested in. Even if you're pretty close to an expert in that area, you should read and start writing down ideas what for something you want to explore. Think of it scientifically and think about the experiments you're going to run to dig through those results. Where possible, be systematic. I was not as systematic as i should have been and it only leads to more confusion as you eventually manage to put all the pieces together. For any big questions you have, run small experiments that can help make you more confident that it's the right direction. FAIL FAST! That's the most important thing here. Run as small an experiment as you can run that tells you whether you should explore further. Otherwise, you run the risk of going down a rat-hole. It won't make you feel good and it's going to extend your time in the program. In the worst case, you'll quit from discouragement. So be sure to distill your questions and ideas into the simplest set of experiments and use those results to guide forward. For the next blog post i'll dive more into the dissertation process and how to close it out. I'll also discuss what I've learned about diving into the job market and when you should start thinking about what you want to do after you're finished with your PhD.

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10 stages of the PhD journey: advice from many experts

Designing, executing and writing up a PhD study takes a large chunk of your time and energy. Here is an overview of each stage of the PhD journey, along with links to excellent articles that will help you along the way. Some of the advice offered here may be specific to a discipline, country or university, or may be heavily dependent upon some author’s experience and background. Nevertheless, you are likely to find most of this advice and instruction helpful.

It is important to seriously consider why you are undertaking a PhD and what you hope to achieve by completing a PhD. Completing a PhD can be extremely useful even for those who may not continue doing research later on.

2. Write a research proposal

You might be offered a PhD project where the research proposal is already planned or you might need to devise a research proposal yourself, either before or after you have chosen a supervisor. This proposal and confirmation of candidature will need to be approved by your university’s research committee.

3. Choose a PhD supervisor

Some students have one key supervisor with one or two additional supervisors, while it is not unusual for some students to have three or four. It is important to remember that your supervisor may have many students under their direction, so their time may be strictly limited. At Monash University, research supervisors receive accreditation training .

4. Design your project budget

An essential project management skill when conducting research is the ability to effectively design and manage research budgets. If you need to request finances through a grant application, ensure you thoroughly investigate the necessary guidelines.

5. Start writing in the early stages of your project

Don’t wait until you have collected and analysed your data before you start writing. Most universities encourage students to write about their project while they are conducting their research. Project proposals can be rewritten and methods sections developed as data is collected and analysed. Literature reviews can be updated and conference talks and posters can be prepared even before you have started to collect data.

6. Consider the structure and the format of your thesis

Exactly how to structure and format your thesis will vary greatly depending upon your project, your discipline, your department and your university and your discipline. Always refer to your university’s guidelines for thesis format requirements. For example:

How to find completed PhD theses

It is always a good idea to check other PhD theses that are similar to your topic, have been completed recently and have been produced by your university department. You can gain a wealth of ideas about structure, size and overall thesis design.

And on this page, there are other useful inks:

* Australian & New Zealand Universities – Institutional Repository Contacts

How to write a literature review

Reviewing the literature is important to assist your knowledge and understanding of your topic and integral to establishing your position in the academic landscape. Writing good literature reviews is crucial to show your examiners how well you know the literature and how well you are able to explain the importance of your project. It is a common requirement that you write a separate chapter as a stand-alone literature review. However, for those theses that are predominantly composed of complete published papers, there might not be a requirement for a separate review section.

7. Get feedback on your writing

In addition to your supervisor, seek feedback on different aspects of your writing from appropriate advisors: accuracy, clarity and brevity. Increasingly, projects are written for a variety of aim to get academic audiences so ensure that your writing is clear and succinct.

* Getting Feedback – University of North Carolina (USA)

8. Learn how to publish peer-review papers

Increasingly, students are expected to submit a large proportion of their thesis as published papers. Not every PhD project can be easily prepared as separate papers; however, remember to look at recently submitted theses within your discipline and within your department to see how people have completed their thesis.

9. Submit your thesis

The process of submitting your thesis may include preparing additional tasks and preparation of paperwork (i.e. the Originality Statement).

10. Understand the examination process

Usually there are three examiners. However, the process of thesis examination will vary widely according to discipline and university. Broadly speaking, your examiners will recommend that your thesis be accepted without alteration, accepted with minor alteration, accepted providing major changes are made or rejected. Usually your supervisor will choose who your examiners are and you may have the opportunity to choose one of your examiners.

If there are any problems...

Most problems with your project are surmountable and remember that your supervisors and your university are there to help you. If things go drastically wrong at any time, it is essential that you seek assistance as early as possible. There are people within your university administration who are there to help you. To help dealing with problems, document any issues as they arise. It is essential for you to have excellent time-management and record-keeping skills.

and remember...

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Is it a good time to be getting a PhD? We asked those who’ve done it

Researcher, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Flinders University

Postdoctoral Research Associate, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Flinders University

Disclosure statement

Career Sessions was sponsored by a grant from Inspiring SA ( https://inspiringsa.org.au/ ).

Flinders University provides funding as a member of The Conversation AU.

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The number of Australian PhD graduates reached around 10,000 a year in 2019, twice as many as in 2005. However, the number of PhDs has been exceeding the available academic positions since as early as the mid-1990s. In 2020, universities purged around 10% of their workforce due to the pandemic, and many university careers are still vulnerable .

Given these statistics, you might wonder if doing a PhD is still a good idea. Based on our discussions with PhD holders, there are still plenty of very good reasons, which is good news in 2021.

Read more: 2021 is the year Australia's international student crisis really bites

In June 2020 we interviewed 12 PhD holders from multiple disciplines for our podcast Career Sessions to investigate the question: why do a PhD?

Why do a PhD?

The PhD is a mechanism for developing high-level research skills, learning about rigours of science or the development of theory. It sets you up with project management, problem-solving and analytical skills that are meaningful within and beyond academia.

“It just taught me all those transferable skills, project management, and also now starting businesses. I’m amazed at how close starting a business is to doing a science project.” – Dr Andy Stapleton

For our interviewees, the PhD is an opportunity to dive deeply into a topic they are passionate about. They also considered contributing new knowledge to be a privilege. The process taught them to be better thinkers, critical thinkers, and to view the world through new eyes.

“The mental fitness to work at a high level, to be able to think at a high level, to be able to write it […] The topic is less important.” – Dr Gareth Furber

The PhD is a voyage of discovery to a better understanding of how things work. It gives them a credible platform from which their voice can be heard and respected, and they can contribute to change.

“I think it’s definitely like a springboard or something. It launches you into a whole other place and it gives you […] more of a voice. It’s a political act for me. It’s about making change.” – Dr Elizabeth Newnham

The PhD is a tough and sometimes painful journey, but ultimately rewarding. The extraordinary was tempered by frustration, and the experience shaped their lives, increasing self-confidence and leading to new self-awareness.

Read more: PhD completion: an evidence-based guide for students, supervisors and universities

When asked whether they would they do it again, no-one hesitated in saying “yes”.

“You will never stretch your brain in a way that a PhD forces you to.” – Professor Kate Douglas.

The PhD is not necessarily a golden ticket to an academic career, but the experience and skills you develop will be meaningful for your future.

“What I’d done in my PhD gave me a lot broader sense than just my own personal experience. There were a lot of people that have heard me speak and a lot of that’s been informed by the PhD. So it might not be direct, but it’s informed who I am.” – Dr Susan Close

Advice from our guests

Keep both your eyes and your mind open. Pick a topic you are passionate about. Speak to people both within and outside academia to find out where this could lead. Think about whether you actually need a PhD to get to where you want to be.

You’ll have to make some judgement calls about how a PhD can fit into your life.

And find the right supervisor! They are the most important relationship you will have throughout your candidature, and they are a solid reference for what comes next. Finding the right supervisor will always enhance your PhD experience .

Read more: Ten types of PhD supervisor relationships – which is yours?

A PhD isn’t right for everyone. Ask yourself, is it the right time for you and your research interests? Are you resilient? Mental health among PhD students is poor

Our podcast guests have witnessed PhD students’ struggles. The pathway of a PhD candidate is not linear. There are many ups and downs. You will meander in many unplanned directions and often take wrong turns.

When you have completed your PhD, the hard work is really just starting. It is a gateway, but there are a lot of PhDs out there. It is what comes next that really counts.

“It’s a gateway. You’re learning how to do research. But if you really want to be successful afterwards, you need to apply that, and be diligent about that as well, and have a good work ethic.” – Dr Mark Krstic

Read more: 1 in 5 PhD students could drop out. Here are some tips for how to keep going

A PhD in any field is an achievement. Even the most niche topics will contribute knowledge to a field that is important for many people. The reward is intrinsic and only you can identify how doing a PhD will contribute to your life. It gives you a great toolkit to identify the doors that are appropriate for you.

“The first paper was the most exciting thing. […] at that time I thought of papers as like a version of immortality. My name is on something that will last forever. I think this is my legacy.” – Dr Cameron Shearer

Table showing guests of Career Sessions podcast, their PhD thesis titles, and what they are doing now

Higher education
PhD supervisors
PhD students
PhD research
PhD candidates

PhD Scholarship

Senior Lecturer, HRM or People Analytics

Senior Research Fellow - Neuromuscular Disorders and Gait Analysis

Centre Director, Transformative Media Technologies

Postdoctoral Research Fellowship

PhD Completion Process

Congratulations!

As a PhD student, you have spent spend significant time at the University of Rochester taking courses, completing research in your field, completing milestones and are now ready to complete your degree.

The final requirement in earning a PhD degree is the completion and defense of the doctoral dissertation. Understanding the steps and associated deadlines in the dissertation submission and degree conferral process is necessary to establish a successful plan. For complete descriptions of the process, please review the Regulations and University Policies Concerning Graduate Students .

The page below is organized by before, during and post-oral defense. Please read the page in it’s entirety and email questions you have to [email protected]

Doctoral Qualifying Exam / Admission to Candidacy

All PhD programs must administer a qualifying examination as part of the PhD program requirements. The qualifying examination may be either written or oral or both, at the discretion of the department/program, and must be passed at least six months before the final examination may be taken.

The associate dean of a school certifies that a student has passed the qualifying examinations and is recommended for candidacy.

For more details, please review page 12 of the Regulations and University Policies Concerning Graduate Students .

Planning for the Final Oral Exam / Dissertation Defense

At least six months before you plan to defend your dissertation, you should contact the graduate coordinator of your program for details regarding the submitting the defense. During the months leading up to the anticipated defense, your graduate coordinator will walk you through the process and explain any department specific nuances.

Pay careful attention to the five PhD degree cycle deadlines. In each degree cycle, there is a deadline for the last day to complete your degree requirements. There are no exceptions to the deadlines. If a deadline is missed, your name cannot be approved by the Council on Graduate Education and presented to the Board of Trustees until the following degree date.

The oral exam/defense/dissertation is approved at multiple levels of the University. Starting with the program, oral exam/defense/dissertation committee, school graduate deans and the University Dean of Graduate Education. You will receive emails a few days before your defense confirming that the approvals for the defense have all been received.

PhD academic calendar

PhD students can reference their specific academic calendar in the drop-downs below.

To enable review by the Graduate Education Offices in the Schools and University Graduate Education, online dissertation committee and program director approvals must be completed the following number of working days before the defense:

SMD and SON: At least 10 working days before the defense
AS&E, Warner and Simon: At least 15 working days before the defense
ESM: At least 20 working days before the defense

A minimum of five working days must elapse between the approval of the candidate’s School Dean to advance the record to University Graduate Education and the day of the defense. This time has been included in the schools’ lead times listed above.

Defenses may be held during regular business hours on any University working day with the exceptions listed below. See calendar below for additional non-working days.

Monday, May 27: The University is closed in observance of Memorial Day. This day cannot be counted as a working day.

Wednesday, June 19: The University is closed in observance of Juneteenth. This day cannot be counted as a working day.

Thursday, July 4: The University is closed in observance of Independence Day. This day cannot be counted as a working day.

Friday, August 23, 4 p.m.: Last day to submit final corrected dissertation to the ProQuest website to fulfill degree requirements for an August 2024 degree conferral.

Monday, August 26: Fall semester begins.

Saturday, August 31: August 2024 PhD date.

Monday, August 26 at 4 p.m.: Last day for students who have completed defenses to submit final corrected dissertation for October 2024 degree to the ProQuest website without having to register for Fall 2024. AFTER THIS DATE, SUBMISSION OF DOCUMENTS FOR DEGREE COMPLETION REQUIRES REGISTRATION FOR THE FALL SEMESTER.

Monday, September 2: The University is closed in observance of Labor Day. This day cannot be counted as a working day

Thursday, September 26, 4 p.m.: Last day to submit final corrected dissertation to the ProQuest website to fulfill degree requirements for an October 2024 degree. NOTE: Students must be registered for the Fall 2024 Semester if submitting documents after August 26.

Friday, October 4: October 2024 PhD conferral date.

Monday, September 2: The University is closed in observance of Labor Day. This day cannot be counted as a working day.

Wednesday, November 27 through Friday, November 29: The University is closed in observance of Thanksgiving. These three days cannot be counted as working days.

Monday, December 16 at 4 p.m.: Last day to submit final corrected dissertation to the ProQuest website to fulfill degree requirements for a December degree. NOTE: Students must be registered for the Fall 2024 Semester if submitting final documents after August 28.

Friday, December 13: Last day for dissertation defense registration approval by University Dean of Graduate Education for defenses scheduled January 2, 2025.

Thursday, December 19 through Friday, December 31: Due to recess and holidays, no dissertation registrations will be completed in the University Graduate Education office. No PhD defenses may be held during this time period.

December 31: December 2024 PhD conferral date.

Tuesday, February 28 at 4 p.m.: Last day to submit final corrected dissertation to the ProQuest website to fulfill degree requirements for a March degree.

March 7, 2025: March 2025 PhD conferral date.

Wednesday, April 30 at 4 p.m.: Last day to submit final corrected dissertation to the ProQuest website to fulfill degree requirements for a May 2025 degree.

Friday, May 16: University Doctoral Commencement

Additional Information about Planning for your Defense

Writing your dissertation.

The dissertation process webpage offers several writing resources to help you get started, meet your goals, and complete your thesis/dissertation on time.

You also will want to take full advantage of internal reviews of the dissertation before uploading the thesis for defense registration, in order to minimize the number of errors in the registration version.

Final Oral Examination Committee

Page 11 of the Regulations and University Policies Concerning Graduate Students (“Redbook”) goes into detail about the make-up of the committee.

PhD Committee Matrix

Approval Process for Non-Standard Committee Membership

Approval must be obtained in writing, based on a petition that includes a rationale for the request and a CV of the proposed nonstandard member.

Contact your Graduate Coordinator to start the petition process.

Page 12 of the Regulations and University Policies Concerning Graduate Students (“Redbook”) goes into detail.

Scheduling your Defense

Contact the graduate coordinator of your program for details regarding the scheduling the defense.

Click here to Download a checklist of information needed to schedule defense

Rubric for Oral Defense

Click here to download the Oral Defense Rubric.

After the final oral exam / defense

Submitting your final dissertation.

Approximately, 24 hours after oral exam, an email is sent that details out the next steps. Including uploading the final abstract and dissertation to ProQuest®, submitting a UR Research authorization form, and completing two required surveys.

UR Research Form

The libraries at University of Rochester, electronically store and publish the dissertations based on a students embargo restrictions.

You can access our database of dissertations on the UR Research page hosted by the library.

Survey Completion

There are two required survey’s for completion of the PhD Process. The University of Rochester PhD Survey and the national Survey of Earned Doctorates. The links to completing these surveys will be included in the completion memo sent post-defense.

We use a service called ProQuest to administer the electronic final thesis/dissertation (ETD) submission. ProQuest provides services that enable strategic acquisition, management and discovery of information collections. Once you have made any necessary revisions and the thesis/dissertation is final, you are ready to begin the submission process.

PhD Completion Confirmation

Once you have completed the steps above, you will receive an email the confirms that all of the requirements have been completed and will include a PhD Completion memo.

We offer both an electronic diploma and a paper copy diploma to students after their graduation date. Information on ordering replacement diplomas is located on the registrar’s webpage .

Commencement

The University holds one doctoral commencement ceremony each year in May. Eligibility to walk in the May ceremony includes students that graduated between August of the previous year through August of the current year. As an example, the May 2025 ceremony is for students who graduated August 2024, October 2024, December 2024, February 2025, May 2025 and August 2025. Doctoral students are only eligible to walk once.

You will receive information about the ceremony that your are eligible to walk in during the Spring semester.

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5 Tips for Writing Your Ph.D. Dissertation

Somewhere around the end of the first year of your Ph.D. program, you will probably start (or have already begun) thinking about your Ph.D. dissertation — that all-encompassing body of work that is the pinnacle getting a doctorate .

Your Ph.D. dissertation can seem intimidating. After all, it is the culmination of years of sacrifice and dedication and something that is a representation of those efforts. But, rest assured, with a well-thought-out plan, ample time, a strong support system, and some effort and determination you can confidently write a dissertation to be proud of.

To help you along the way, we’ve put together five tips for writing your dissertation. Read on to get started!

If you are still applying to graduate school, download our digital resource: " Choosing, Applying for, and Thriving in a Ph.D. Program" to help with your search!

Plan WAY Ahead: Develop A Dissertation Timeline

The whole Ph.D. dissertation process can vary greatly from person to person, depending on the topic you have chosen, your writing abilities, and the number of drafts and revisions you have to do. Typically, after 1 to 2 years of coursework, Ph.D. students are able to complete their dissertations in an additional 3 to 5 years.

One of the best ways to ensure that you will cross your dissertation finish line is to develop a plan to get there. From the very beginning of your Ph.D. program, outline a tentative timeline that will take you from the start of your topic search, through the end of your dissertation defense. Although you might deviate from your schedule, planning far in advance will ensure that you don’t get too far off track.

For example, here is a rough outline of what students need to accomplish every semester in order to complete their dissertation in 4 years:

Semester 1 — Acquaint yourself with your school’s resources, databases, and libraries.

Semester 2 — Begin looking at topics that interest you and reading the relevant literature.

Semester 3 — Continue with your review of the literature, while you search for and choose a dissertation topic.

Semester 4 — Search for and choose an advisor/committee.

Semester 5 — Develop your topic, meet with your advisor, and craft your proposal.

Semester 6 — Defend your proposal and make edits if necessary. Begin conducting research.

Semester 7 — Analyze the data and begin drafting and revising the dissertation. Consult with your advisor and ask for feedback.

Semester 8 — Finalize the dissertation and defend it.

Don’t live and die by this timeline. This is just an example. If your research takes you two semesters instead of one, that is okay! If you are able to complete your review of the literature over the summer, that’s fine too. Develop a schedule for yourself, but also be flexible and understanding if things don’t move at the planned pace.

Meet with Your Advisor (Then Meet Again, and Again)

Your advisor is your best friend throughout the dissertation process. You have never written a Ph.D. dissertation before, but they have! A great place to start is to begin by reading (or skimming) their dissertation. This will give you a good idea of what they will expect from your body of work.

It is easier to seek advice and counsel at the beginning of the writing process (and at several check-points throughout) then to charge ahead unguided and have to make major course-corrections in the final stretch of your degree. Plan a few meetings a year with your advisor and stick to them. You don’t need to update your advisor every step of the way, but it is good to check-in at regular intervals.

Don’t be afraid to look to them for advice, but do be mindful of their time. While they are here to help you, your dissertation is not their only responsibility. Be sure to give them enough time to read your work and provide feedback, and ask questions that are direct and specific so they know exactly how to help you.

Write the Easiest Sections First

Not all sections of a dissertation are created equal — there are some that are more challenging to write, and several that are easier because they require less in-depth analysis. The sections of a dissertation can vary greatly based on your field and subject, as well as your school’s procedures. It is best to determine with your advisor what sections are expected of you at the beginning of the dissertation process. Here are the most commonly required sections of a Ph.D. dissertation:

Introduction

Literature Review

Methodology

Chapters/Articles

Bibliography/Works Cited

Among these sections, you should start by writing the methodology section. This is the easiest to write and the quickest to finish. Accomplishing this section will give you a confidence boost to dive into more challenging writing. Similarly, leave editing your abstract for last. The abstract is the section that provides an overview of your entire body of work, so it is simple to finalize once the major writing and organizing is complete.

Write Small Sections Every Single Day

Writing a little every day is a much better plan for success then cramming thousands of words into a few short months. It takes discipline and dedication, but committing to writing a small portion of your dissertation every day will not only strengthen your writing skills, but it will also help you avoid writer's block and keep you from feeling overwhelmed as your deadline approaches.

Another tip is to break each of the larger sections of the dissertation into smaller, more manageable pieces. Staring down the nose of a 20-page literature review is daunting and discouraging, but break that into 10 two-page chunks and suddenly that you can accomplish one in an afternoon.

Take Criticism Constructively and Learn from It

Finally, ask as many people as possible to read pieces (don’t give them the whole thing at once) of your dissertation and ask for their honest feedback. Employ the help of not only your advisor but your study and research partners, family and friends, and other professors within your field. The more people you can get to look at your dissertation, the better.

Also, don’t be discouraged by the feedback you receive in your formal committee reviews. Rather, take it as an opportunity to improve and learn from the best and brightest in your discipline. Your dissertation committee wants you to succeed and to help you produce your best possible work.

Your Ph.D. dissertation is an opportunity to showcase the work that you have done and highlight how your contributions have furthered the limits and understanding within your discipline. It is a great opportunity to present your best efforts for recognition, so don’t let the gravity of the document deter you. With a solid plan, a thorough understanding of what is expected, and people to support you, you are well on your way to succeeding!

Learn more about earning your Ph.D. by downloading our Guide to Choosing, Applying for and Thriving in a Ph.D. Program!

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PhD Journey: 15 Tips to Stay Motivated During The PhD Process

When academics start their PhD journey they are driven and extremely enthusiastic. Driven by the prospect of earning a doctoral degree, they are excited about their subjects, eager to learn and conduct experiments, and look forward to contributing new knowledge to their field. But the PhD process is often long, filled with obstacles, and requires unwavering dedication. For example, their research may not yield the results they were hoping for, milestone breakthroughs become fewer, or they find themselves struggling to understand complex theories or methodologies. So, how do you stay on track? In this article, we explore effective PhD steps and strategies to stay motivated during your PhD journey, enabling you to not only survive but thrive in this rewarding academic endeavor.

Table of Contents

Understanding the PhD Journey

As PhD students dive deep into research and academia, they encounter hurdles that test their mettle and dedication. Many early career researchers experience feelings of self-doubt, imposter syndrome, and anxiety during the PhD journey. Add to this the stresses of having to balance research work with family responsibilities and things naturally become overwhelming, often leading to anxiety and burnout in the PhD process. It is no wonder then that an alarming 40-60% of doctoral students end up opting out of the doctoral program 1 as they feel demotivated, lose focus, or struggle to achieve their research goals.

PhD steps and strategies to stay motivated

Here are some simple, practical PhD steps and tips that doctoral students can adopt to stay motivated and on track during their PhD journey.

Set clear goals with realistic deadlines

One of the most important things for PhD students is to set clear goals with realistic deadlines and work toward these throughout the PhD journey.

Divide your goals into smaller tasks

Break down your research goals into smaller, manageable tasks and timebox these to avoid being overwhelmed and stay on track with everything that needs to be done in the PhD process.

Establish a daily/weekly routine

With so much to handle, it’s easy to feel scattered and exhausted. Here, having a structured daily or weekly routine, including dedicated research and relaxation time, can work wonders for PhD students.

Organize your work and research materials

Use physical systems or project management tools to keep your work and research materials organized. Having everything in order reduces unnecessary stress and improves productivity in the PhD journey.

Celebrate small wins and milestones

Acknowledging and celebrating achievements, no matter how small, helps boost motivation levels along the PhD journey. So make sure to treat yourself on reaching milestones or completing complex tasks.

Stay informed to stay ahead

Make time for research reading, so you are always updated on the latest developments in your field. Not only does it help with your own work, it keeps you curious and enthusiastic about the PhD process.

Build a strong support system

Having a support system makes a significant difference in motivation levels during a PhD journey. Seek out a mentor, advisor, or even a peer who can provide guidance, advice, and feedback on your research.

Join academic communities

Participate in academic or research communities to meet like-minded individuals who understand the PhD journey. This helps builds a supportive network and provides opportunities for future collaboration.

Seek feedback and constructive criticism

Getting timely feedback and accepting constructive criticism on their research can help PhD students improve their work, find solutions to seemingly impossible problems, and consequently stay motivated.

Think differently to solve PhD problems

When faced with seemingly unsurmountable challenges, experts suggest thinking laterally. Using thinking tools like the 40 TRIZ principles 2 can help you view problems creatively, helping you come up with interesting solutions and deliver innovative research results throughout your PhD process.

Be flexible; adjust and adapt quickly

Be open to changes in your research plan and adapt as needed, staying flexible in your approach. Look at unexpected developments or roadblocks as great opportunities for growth and improvement.

Track progress of PhD processes

Keep a journal to record your progress, setbacks, and lessons learned throughout your PhD journey. Understanding that setbacks are part of the PhD process helps you stay resilient and push forward.

Focus on the bigger picture

When you feel low, remember why you started your PhD journey and the impact your work may have in your field and beyond. Focusing on the bigger picture can reignite passions and lift motivation levels.

Stay inspired and visualize future success

Feeling uninspired or uncertain is normal. Read inspiring stories of successful researchers who overcame challenges and envision your future accomplishments to stay motivated and raring to go.

Take timely breaks to avoid PhD burnout

Finally, prioritize self-care by taking regular breaks and maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Take care of your mental health to avoid burnout and stay motivated on the long PhD journey.

In conclusion, the PhD journey can be a long, challenging, and complex process that requires high levels of dedication, discipline, and motivation. Employing the PhD steps above can help you achieving your doctoral degree a little easier. It’s important to remember that fluctuating motivation is a normal part of the PhD process, and while the journey may not always be easy, it is definitely worth it in the end.

References:

Prieto, L.P. Who drops out of the Ph.D.? A Happy PhD, April 2019. Available online at https://openriver.winona.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1016&context=jaep
Mostafa, J., Peyman, A., Hamid, Z. et al. Exploring the Effectiveness of Inventive Principles of TRIZ on Developing Researchers’ Innovative Capabilities: A Case Study in an Innovative Research Center. SSRN. Available at https://www.zbw.eu/econis-archiv/bitstream/11159/188861/1/EBP074093533_0.pdf

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What nobody tells you about doing a PhD…

Jul 29, 2023

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When you start a PhD, you’re thrown into the deep end. Unlike starting a new job, there’s often no onboarding process to guide you through. You’re lucky if you even receive methods training. If your PhD is anything like mine, you’ll be shown your desk on day one and told to get on with it.

Now, that’s part of the PhD journey; figuring out what you need to be doing and then actually doing it. It requires self-motivated learning and exploration. Over time, by asking the right questions (of yourself and others), you start to build up a picture of what indeed you need to be getting on with.

But there are some things I found out the hard way, and which only really became apparent to me after I finished my PhD and when I started working with and guiding other students in my role here at The PhD Proofreaders. These are the things that no one ever really tells you about doing a PhD.

PhDs are Janus-Faced

On one hand, they can be very solitary endeavours, defined by countless hours spent reading and writing alone, many of which are tinged by feelings of doubt and uncertainty, with the door seemingly always open for imposter syndrome to derail or devalue what’s going well.

On the other hand, they’re communal endeavors. As a PhD student, what you’re feeling and navigating isn’t unique. You’re part of a web, a community, a network; part of something much, much bigger. While every PhD is, by definition, unique, the ups and downs, and the emotions that accompany them, are very much not. The problem is that, too often, it’s easy to forget this. You can think you’re unique in feeling the way you do, in struggling with the things you struggle with, and in feeling the joys and victories that you do.

What’s easier? Doing a PhD while feeling isolated, working in a silo of one, feeling the weight of the world on your shoulders, and feeling just awful because of it. Or, doing a PhD knowing that there are others around you in the same boat? Knowing that there are others out there going through the same ups and downs, feeling the same pains and joys, each managing the unique challenges that come with the PhD journey. Each crossing their fingers and hoping for the best.

No One Else Knows What They’re Doing Either

At least some of the time, and to varying degrees, most (perhaps all?) PhD students feel like impostors. The more convinced we become of our own ineptitude, and the brilliance of others, the less motivated we become to do the work. Why bother, our brain tells us, if it’s never going to be good enough?

Part of the challenge of doing a PhD is learning to manage and ultimately silence this inner impostor.

You might think that the best approach is to remind ourselves of our strengths and talents. But that will only take you so far.

Instead, you should accept those feelings of doubt and remind ourselves how refreshingly normal and unproblematic they are. These thoughts aren’t offering any concrete evidence of our impending failure or evidence that we’ll never have what it takes to reach the lofty heights of wherever it is we’re headed.

Instead, they’re a reflection of the fact that no one really has it all figured out. You may look to those around (and above) you and wonder how they manage to glide through professional life with such ease, but on the inside, they’re likely feeling as confused and unsure as you.

To put it differently, if we feel resigned to the fact that we will always be children in an adults’ world, it can be helpful to remind ourselves that there aren’t really any true adults in the first place. No one has it ‘figured out’, and the door to self-doubt and critique is always open.

There are lots of competent people – including you – doing their best to make good decisions, say the right things, and put things in the right order. But they’re doing so in spite of their own respective incompetences, not because of some explicit brilliance.

So if you’re feeling like an impostor as you try to navigate through the PhD – and let’s not forget the enormity of such a journey – then everyone else around you likely feels like one too.

The PhD is an act, where all the performers are giving it their all, hoping that they don’t fluff their lines.

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You’ll Run Out of Time

I was talking with a friend earlier this week about the progress they were making on their PhD. With a few months to go, they were panicking about whether they would have everything done in time.

Notwithstanding the fact that they’re a brilliant student, and have so much of the PhD puzzle already in place, it did get me thinking.

I remember the feeling well; as the deadline loomed, my fear and panic rose. Would I really get everything done? It didn’t seem possible.

It made me wonder how many others feel the same way. Did most students, nearing the end of the journey, start panicking about whether there was enough time left?

I suspect it’s common to feel this way as the end of the PhD comes into view. It’s natural when you think about it; so many years of your life are leading up to this moment. It’s to be expected that panic sets in.

In reality, I didn’t get it all done in time. Not really. There were so many loose ends with the thesis; some I knew about, others I didn’t. I came up against the deadline and had to submit, even in spite of the incompleteness. And even in spite of that – in spite of what, for many of you, may seem like a living nightmare – everything turned out okay.

There are three points to take away from this. The first is that the thesis will always be unfinished. That’s sort of the point – nothing in life is perfect, not least research. The key is avoiding the perfectionist trap.

The second is that, as you near the end, you need to have faith in all the work you’ve done prior to this point. You haven’t been living under a rock; the final stages of a PhD represent the culmination of years of hard work. Have faith that you’ve already done most of the work, and that all of the decisions you’ve made thus far were made in good faith.

The third is perhaps a more contentious one. Statistically speaking, it’s likely that your examiners will require you to make at least minor corrections (major corrections, in my case). In some ways, writing the corrections was the easiest stage of the PhD. It’s the only time in the whole process where you have someone telling you exactly what needs to change, and where. I found it quite cathartic.

Your PhD will never be really finished, and that’s okay. There’s no magic lightbulb moment where you think, ‘ah-ha! I’ve done it!’. You do your best, you embrace imperfection, and you submit the best you can, having faith that it’s good enough. Seen this way, deadlines are nothing to be scared of. Instead, they’re there to be embraced.

Making Mistakes Doesn’t Make You Stupid

The real skill in the PhD is not the avoidance of mistakes but rather the ability to be kind to ourselves once they’ve happened.

To be human is to make mistakes, and to pretend otherwise is to fall into the perfectionist trap; aiming unrealistically high and chastising yourself when you inevitably fall short.

If we’re not careful, we can expect too much of ourselves and expect the path between where we are now and where we need to be, whether that’s an experiment, a chapter, or an exam, to be traversed flawlessly, without incident.

This is dangerous (and wishful thinking).

Similarly, when we do make mistakes – remember, they’re inevitable – it’s easy to pile on the guilt and be unnecessarily harsh on ourselves. By seeing mistakes as avoidable, it becomes easy to ruminate obsessively about what we could have done differently or how we could have been so foolish. Why didn’t we see it coming? How could we have been so blind?

Thinking like this becomes a form of torture. At best, we’ll conclude that we are a fool undeserving of a PhD. At worst, it’ll drag us down into a dark place from which it’ll be a struggle to recover.

But there is another approach. By seeing mistakes as unavoidable and by adopting a more pragmatic perspective on our own intelligence and agency, we can be more forgiving. Our mistakes no longer reflect our foolishness but rather our humanity.

During your PhD, you operate in conditions of uncertainty, both regarding the outcome of your particular decisions and whether those decisions are even the right ones to be making. You’re steering blind much of the time, and that’s why it becomes inevitable that you’ll make mistakes.

So next time you slip up, be kind to yourself. And give yourself permission to slip up again and again and again.

Your PhD Thesis. On one page.

This won’t last forever.

The overriding feeling for many on their PhD journey is one of discomfort, made worse by the belief that the discomfort will last forever.

If this is you, people around you are able to see what you’re going through for what it is: temporary discomfort in pursuit of your doctorate.

But you can’t, because it’s all new to you. This is your new forever.

Too many people quit their PhDs when they feel like this. Their decision has nothing to do with how well they can tolerate feeling the discomfort, but the mistaken belief that it will never end. Because it seems permanent, it looks unbearable.

It works the other way, too. When things are going well, we can mistakenly think that the good times will last forever. It’s at times like this that we take things for granted, drop the ball, and bring the discomfort back.

However your PhD is going, recognise that your reality is temporary. The good times don’t last, but the bad times don’t either.

Motivation Isn’t Stable

When I start anything, I’m the most enthusiastic person in the world. It’s a thrill, really. I’m bursting with ideas and, crucially, I’m fully motivated.

And then a few weeks go by, and that motivation is nowhere to be seen.

The same was true during my PhD. On day one, I remember how keen I was. Full of beans, ready to tackle the doctorate.

And then fast forward a month or two, and I was starting to question everything.

This was a cycle that repeated itself throughout the PhD. A new year, a new chapter, a new set of data, whatever it was, that sense of newness was motivating. It was a chance to get excited all over again.

And then the newness wore off, the stress kicked back in, and once again I found myself procrastinating.

Can you relate? Do you find your motivation ebbs and flows like this?

The further I went along the PhD journey, the more I started to realize that managing this constant motivated/unmotivated cycle was, in itself, part of the PhD. Learning to ride the waves and deal with the falls was one of the many skills that were necessary to learn to get through to the other side.

And the further I went down the more I realized that in fighting it, in trying to treat motivation as a stable, constant thing, I was creating stress, pressure, and ultimately disappointment and self-critique.

Accepting that motivation isn’t stable, and that it comes in ebbs and flows is empowering. It means you can plan your workload in a more realistic way and start to go easier on yourself when your productivity and enthusiasm naturally decrease.

So next time you find your motivation lacking, remind yourself that it’s normal. We can’t be fully motivated to do everything all the time. Go easy on yourself when you’re in second gear and take full advantage when you’re firing on all cylinders.

You’ll Need to Rewrite Everything

Some of the best advice I got during my PhD was to start writing as early as possible.

But what no one told me was that most of what I wrote would be so off the mark as to render it basically useless. Or that I would end up with notebooks and folders full of crappy drafts. Or that everything would need to be edited at best and rewritten at worst.

I know I’m not alone here. Every student I work with has tons of crappy drafts.

With this in mind, it’s easy to feel like everything you’re putting down on paper is garbage.

But here’s the thing: it’s not garbage. It’s just a draft. And every great piece of writing starts as a draft.

One of the most important things you can do is to write without judgment. Don’t worry about whether it’s perfect or if it’s even making sense. Just get those ideas out of your head and onto paper. You can always go back and edit later. And trust me, you’ll be doing a lot of editing.

It’s also important to remember that writing is a skill, and like any skill, it takes practice to get better. The more you write, the easier it will become, and the better your writing will be. Plus, it is through the act of writing that you work out what it is you actually want to say. Or, put another way, it’s by going down the dead ends that you know which is the right path.

You’re Not Stupid

I spent most of my PhD feeling so confused.

And I spent a good chunk of it feeling just plain stupid. It sounds silly looking back, but I often managed to convince myself I was, in fact, an idiot.

What was worse was that all the while, I thought I was the only one feeling this way. Now, five years on, and having worked with hundreds of students, I realize how common this feeling is.

It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that everyone else knows exactly what they’re doing, while we struggle to keep up. But the truth is, most PhD students go through periods of confusion and self-doubt. And a big chunk also thinks they’re idiots (spoiler: they’re 100% not).

It’s important to remember that feeling confused or uncertain doesn’t mean you’re not cut out for a PhD. It’s a natural part of the learning process. And there are steps you can take to help yourself navigate these difficult feelings.

Firstly, talk to someone. Whether it’s a friend, family member, or your supervisor, it’s important to have a support system in place. Don’t suffer in silence. By reaching out, you’ll surprise yourself how many other people feel the same.

Finally, take advantage of the resources available to you. Your university likely has a range of support services. Make use of them. You can also check in with our free PhD Knowledge Base. This article is a good place to start. Or, if you want some more hands on support, we offer one one one coaching , mock-vivas, skills workshops and language proofreading . We want to be by your side during your PhD.

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Can someone share the whole process of getting a PhD?

Often people post about different stages of their PhD journey. But I believe,…there must be many youngsters like me,…who have an idea of wanting to pursue a PhD in the future, and possibly know the field in which they want to pursue as well. But,…they may be clueless about the whole journey from the start till the end.

Now,…I can “Google” it as well. But NO!!! I want to know about real human experience, not that of a search engine.

So,…please,…can you take us through the whole journey of your PhD in brief?

Edit: I’m from Asia and wish to pursue my PhD either in Europe or The US.

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Yes, Democrats Can Still Replace Biden. Here’s How

President Joe Biden ’s stumbling, confused, and disjointed performance on the CNN debate stage Thursday threw back the curtain on an issue his campaign, the White House, and allies have long attempted to convince the public isn’t true: that he’s too old. The party must weigh whether to stick with Biden or take the nuclear option of convincing him to step aside and finding another nominee to take on Donald Trump.

So what happens now?

Both publicly and privately, prominent Democrats, commentators, and surrogates have admitted that it’s time to have some hard conversations about the viability of Biden’s candidacy based on his performance on Thursday. As former Democratic Senator Claire McCaskill told MSNBC , “Joe Biden had one thing he had to do tonight, and he didn’t do it.”

There are less than 130 days left before Americans head to the ballot box. Is there even enough time to find a replacement? How would that work? Who is even up to the task?

Here’s everything you need to know about the potential upheavals being discussed in the aftermath of the debate, and what they might mean for Biden.

Biden withdraws of his own volition

Editor’s picks, every awful thing trump has promised to do in a second term, the 250 greatest guitarists of all time, the 500 greatest albums of all time, the 50 worst decisions in movie history, if he does, who could replace him.

If he decides to do that, there are very few scenarios in which Kamala Harris does not replace him as the nominee. Yes, there are a number of up-and-coming Democrats whose names have been floated as substitutes — Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Georgia Sen. Raphael Warnock, California Gov. Gavin Newsom — but there is also a line of succession and, four years ago, Biden chose Harris as next in line.

Major Democratic groups like EMILY’s List have committed millions to boosting her profile, and in polls gauging Democrats’ appetite for someone other than Biden, Harris is voters’ second choice. According to a recent Morning Consult survey , the highest share of voters — 21 percent — wanted Harris if Biden is not the candidate, compared to 10 percent each for Buttigieg and Newsom, 4 percent each for Whitmer and Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly, and 3 percent for Shapiro.

What about a “brokered” convention?

Watch elton john join president biden at opening of stonewall monument center, ‘we are so screwed’: dems churn out increasingly desperate ideas to dump biden, gerontocracy says biden is a-ok.

Hypothetically, if Biden were to step aside, the selection of a replacement would fall not to American voters at large, but to the delegates and superdelegates who cast their ballots at the convention. Over the course of the campaign and Democratic primaries, Biden has been amassing what are known as “pledged delegates,” or representatives from districts and states who have pledged to support him in the convention. Should Biden no longer be a candidate for the nomination, the 3,894 delegates currently bound to him would become free to support whomever they want.

The president only needs 1,976 delegates to secure the nomination, only a teensy bit more than half of the total amount of pledged delegates he’s already collected. There is also a cadre of 739 “superdelegates,” a mix of party officials, state and federal lawmakers, lobbyists, and donors who are not required to pledge their support to a specific candidate and are not beholden to the results of primary elections in their state. Superdelegates can only vote if the first ballot fails to decisively elect a nominee, but if Biden were out of the running, the two groups would hold successive rounds of votes until a nominee gained the needed majority.

What if Biden refuses to walk away? He could, potentially, be ousted by vote, but first someone would have to convince the almost 2,000 delegates not to cast their ballots in his favor. It’s hard math to overcome, discard the option now.

It’s worth noting: talk of a brokered convention bubbles up every four years. Republicans floated the idea with designs on “stopping Trump” in 2016 and Democrats mused about the possibility in 2020 when Bernie Sanders was leading the delegate count . The last time an open convention actually took place was more than 70 years ago, in 1952. The Democratic Party’s eventual nominee that year, Adlai Stevenson, lost in a landslide.

The Cabinet could also invoke the 25th Amendment

The Constitution outlines a process by which the vice president and a majority of the cabinet can remove the president if they agree he has become mentally unfit. The comedian Jon Stewart spoke the possibility out aloud after the debate, describing Biden as having “resting 25th Amendment face.”

As much as some voters would like this scenario to be plausible, it’s just not.

This doesn’t mean that Biden’s opponents in Congress won’t at least make a performative show of demanding the 25th Amendment be invoked.

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) told reporters on Friday that “there’s a lot of people asking about the 25th Amendment, invoking the 25th Amendment right now because this is an alarming situation.”

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Research Seminar at the Institute of Applied Statistics

June 20 th :

William Peden, PhD, Institut für Philosophie und Wissenschaftstheorie, Johannes Kepler University Linz, Austria: "Philosophy of Science and the Statistics Wars"

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Meeting-ID: 280 519 2121 Passwort: 584190

For over 150 years, there have been debates between Bayesians, Frequentists, and hybrid views, called the "Statistics Wars". These debates involve complex disagreements about standards of evidence, the interpretation of probability, and the purposes of statistics. Contributors have come from across different disciplines: from economics to physics, philosophy to mathematics. Statisticians often have the sensible view that we do not need to make an absolute choice between Bayesianism or Frequentism. Instead, different techniques are better for different types of problems. However, this "pluralist" view has its own unanswered questions. For example, what constitutes a method being "better"?

In this talk, I provide (1) the background and (2) a brief introduction to a philosophical answer to that question. I call it Calibrationism, developed by Henry E. Kyburg and Jon Williamson. Calibrationism was also approved by Ronald Fisher in his later years.

First, I explain the most common contemporary Frequentist and Bayesian views in the philosophy of statistics. I also describe how Bayesian epistemology (the most popular view in the philosophy of statistics) is actually significantly disconnected from Bayesian statistics.

Second, I provide a brief formal introduction to Calibrationism. I describe how Calibrationism uses imprecise probabilities for a hybrid philosophy of statistics. Like Bayesians, Calibrationists agree that hypotheses can be more or less probable, and that we can sometimes reasonably use Bayesian statistical tools like Bayes Factors, Bayesian parameter estimation, and Bayesian evidence amalgamation. However, Calibrationists also argue that the application of these tools must always be governed by our information about relative frequencies, so Frequentist reasoning is fundamental. It provides a formal and systematic account of what makes a method "better" in a context. I finish by noting an important way that Calibrationism needs to be updated to reflect contemporary applications of statistics.

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