phd's?

[Fran666]

How long does it take to get a PHD, can you apply for one after obtaining a Masters degree and is it really hard?

Thanks

[Clanad]

Depends almost entirely on the field of study... A Phd. in business economics can take as little as 2 years of full time application, while others may take as much as 6 years, with 4 years being an average.  Masters is not required in most cases, but makes the course work more difficult.  The degree of difficulty for each course leading to Phd. is dependant on the applicant's ability and preparation... at least as difficult as understanding the instruction booklet for our new dvd... after two months it still indicates 12:00 and flashing...

[incitatus]

in a science subject it is necessary to have a 2.1 degree or above or a masters before embarking on a PhD.

The length of study will be at least 3 years, or sometimes 2 after the masters route.  Youwill need to work at least 9-5 on it for 3 years, but 12 hour days 7 days a week is not untypical in year 3.

At the end of this time you will write a thesis  summarising your work, and defend it in presentation at a viva.

 

Yes it is hard.

[littleoldme]

Hi Fran,

I'm in the first year of a PhD at the moment and I'm intending to take 3 years over it, with an option for a 4th if anything goes wrong! Many people do a Masters first, but I didn't. The usual route for people without a Masters is to register for an MPhil first, with a transfer to a PhD Course at the end of the first year, as long as sufficient progress has been made.

It does require an awful lot of self-discipline, as the vast majority of the time you're own your own doing your own research. It's also important to have a good supervisor, someone who strikes the right balance between being visible enough to be supportive, and leaving you alone enough to get on with things.

Is it hard? Ask me again in a couple of years :O) I guess the most difficult bit is making an original contribution to your chosen field. Merely analysing the work of others is not enough at this level. It can certainly be hard, and I'm told nearly everyone goes through a spell where they wish they hadn't started it (usually in year 2, so mine is yet to come), but with luck at least being Doctor Littleoldme should get me into a decent job and some swanky restaurants!