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9 things you should consider before embarking on a PhD

June 23, 2021 | 15 min read

By Andy Greenspon

The ideal research program you envision is not what it appears to be

Editor's Note:  When Andy Greenspon wrote this article, he was a first-year student in Applied Physics at Harvard. Now he has completed his PhD. — Alison Bert, June 23, 2021

If you are planning to apply for a PhD program, you're probably getting advice from dozens of students, professors, administrators your parents and the Internet. Sometimes it's hard to know which advice to focus on and what will make the biggest difference in the long-run. So before you go back to daydreaming about the day you accept that Nobel Prize, here are nine things you should give serious thought to. One or more of these tips may save you from anguish and help you make better decisions as you embark on that path to a PhD.

1. Actively seek out information about PhD programs.

Depending on your undergraduate institution, there may be more or less support to guide you in selecting a PhD program – but there is generally much less than when you applied to college.

On the website of my physics department, I found a page written by one of my professors, which listed graduate school options in physics and engineering along with resources to consult. As far as I know, my career center did not send out much information about PhD programs. Only after applying to programs did I find out that my undergraduate website had a link providing general information applicable to most PhD programs. This is the kind of information that is available all over the Internet.

So don't wait for your career center or department to lay out a plan for you. Actively seek it out from your career center counselors, your professors, the Internet — and especially from alumni from your department who are in or graduated from your desired PhD program. First-hand experiences will almost always trump the knowledge you get second-hand.

2. A PhD program is not simply a continuation of your undergraduate program.

Many students don't internalize this idea until they have jumped head-first into a PhD program. The goal is not to complete an assigned set of courses as in an undergraduate program, but to develop significant and original research in your area of expertise. You will have required courses to take, especially if you do not have a master's degree yet, but these are designed merely to compliment your research and provide a broad and deep knowledge base to support you in your research endeavors.

At the end of your PhD program, you will be judged on your research, not on how well you did in your courses. Grades are not critical as long as you maintain the minimum GPA requirement, and you should not spend too much time on courses at the expense of research projects. Graduate courses tend to be designed to allow you to take away what you will find useful to your research more than to drill a rigid set of facts and techniques into your brain.

3. Take a break between your undergraduate education and a PhD program.

You are beginning your senior year of college, and your classmates are asking you if you are applying to graduate school. You think to yourself, "Well, I like studying this topic and the associated research, and I am going to need a PhD if I want to be a professor or do independent research, so I might as well get it done as soon as possible." But are you certain about the type of research you want to do? Do you know where you want to live for the next five years? Are you prepared to stay in an academic environment for nine years straight?

Many people burn out or end up trudging through their PhD program without a thought about what lies outside of or beyond it. A break of a year or two or even more may be necessary to gain perspective. If all you know is an academic environment, how can you compare it to anything else? Many people take a job for five or more years before going back to get their PhD. It is true though that the longer you stay out of school, the harder it is to go back to an academic environment with lower pay and a lack of set work hours. A one-year break will give you six months or so after graduation before PhD applications are due. A two-year gap might be ideal to provide time to identify your priorities in life and explore different areas of research without having school work or a thesis competing for your attention.

Getting research experience outside of a degree program can help focus your interests and give you a leg up on the competition when you finally decide to apply. It can also help you determine whether you will enjoy full-time research or if you might prefer an alternative career path that still incorporates science, for example, in policy, consulting or business — or a hybrid research job that combines scientific and non-scientific skills.

I will be forever grateful that I chose to do research in a non-academic environment for a year between my undergraduate and PhD programs. It gave me the chance to get a feel for doing nothing but research for a full year. Working at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory in the Space Division, I was the manager of an optics lab, performing spectroscopic experiments on rocks and minerals placed in a vacuum chamber. While my boss determined the overall experimental design, I was able to make my own suggestions for experiments and use my own discretion in how to perform them. I presented this research at two national conferences as well — a first for me. I was also able to learn about other research being performed there, determine which projects excited me the most, and thus narrow down my criteria for a PhD program.

4. Your current area of study does not dictate what you have to study in graduate school.

You might be studying the function and regulation of membrane proteins or doing a computational analysis of the conductivity of different battery designs, but that doesn't mean your PhD project must revolve around similar projects. The transition between college or another research job to a PhD program is one of the main transitions in your life when it is perfectly acceptable to completely change research areas.

If you are doing computation, you may want to switch to lab-based work or vice versa. If you are working in biology but have always had an interest in photonics research, now is the time to try it out. You may find that you love the alternative research and devote your PhD to it, you might hate it and fall back on your previous area of study — or you may even discover a unique topic that incorporates both subjects.

One of the best aspects of the PhD program is that you can make the research your own. Remember, the answer to the question "Why are you doing this research?" should not be "Well, because it's what I've been working on for the past few years already."While my undergraduate research was in atomic physics, I easily transitioned into applied physics and materials science for my PhD program and was able to apply much of what I learned as an undergraduate to my current research. If you are moving from the sciences to a non-STEM field such as social sciences or humanities, this advice can still apply, though the transition is a bit more difficult and more of a permanent commitment.

5. Make sure the PhD program has a variety of research options, and learn about as many research groups as possible in your first year.

Even if you believe you are committed to one research area, you may find that five years of such work is not quite what you expected. As such, you should find a PhD program where the professors are not all working in the same narrowly focused research area. Make sure there are at least three professors working on an array of topics you could imagine yourself working on.

In many graduate programs, you are supposed to pick a research advisor before even starting. But such arrangements often do not work out, and you may be seeking a new advisor before you know it. That's why many programs give students one or two semesters to explore different research areas before choosing a permanent research advisor.

In your first year, you should explore the research of a diverse set of groups. After touring their labs, talking to the students, or sitting in on group meetings, you may find that this group is the right one for you.

In addition, consider the importance of who your research advisor will be. This will be the person you interact with regularly for five straight years and who will have a crucial influence on your research. Do you like their advising style? Does their personality mesh with yours? Can you get along? Of course, the research your advisor works on is critical, but if you have large disagreements at every meeting or do not get helpful advice on how to proceed with your research, you may not be able to succeed. At the very least, you must be able to handle your advisor's management of the lab and advising style if you are going to be productive in your work. The Harvard program I enrolled in has professors working on research spanning from nanophotonics to energy materials and biophysics, covering my wide range of interests. By spending time in labs and offices informally chatting with graduate students, I found an advisor whose personality and research interests meshed very well with me. Their genuine enthusiasm for this advisor and their excitement when talking about their research was the best input I could have received.

6. Location is more important than you think — but name recognition is not.

The first consideration in choosing a PhD program should be, "Is there research at this university that I am passionate about?" After all, you will have to study this topic in detail for four or more years. But when considering the location of a university, your first thought should not be, "I'm going to be in the lab all the time, so what does it matter if I'm by the beach, in a city, or in the middle of nowhere." Contrary to popular belief, you will have a life outside of the lab, and you will have to be able to live with it for four or more years. Unlike when you were an undergraduate, your social and extracurricular life will revolve less around the university community, so the environment of the surrounding area is important. Do you need a city atmosphere to be productive? Or is your ideal location surrounded by forests and mountains or by a beach? Is being close to your family important? Imagine what it will be like living in the area during the times you are not doing research; consider what activities will you do and how often will you want to visit family.

While many of the PhD programs that accepted me had research that truly excited me, the only place I could envision living for five or more years was Boston, as the city I grew up near and whose environment and culture I love, and to be close to my family.

While location is more important than you think, the reputation and prestige of the university is not. In graduate school, the reputation of the individual department you are joining — and sometimes even the specific research group you work in — are more important. There, you will develop research collaborations and professional connections that will be crucial during your program and beyond. When searching for a job after graduation, other scientists will look at your specific department, the people you have worked with and the research you have done.

At the Asgard Irish Pub in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Andy Greenspon talks with fellow graduate students from Harvard and MIT at an Ask for Evidence workshop organized by Sense About Science. He grew up near Boston and chose to go to graduate school there.

7. Those time management skills you developed in college? Develop them further.

After surviving college, you may think you have mastered the ability to squeeze in your coursework, extracurricular activities and even some sleep. In a PhD program, time management reaches a whole new level. You will not only have lectures to attend and homework to do. You will have to make time for your research, which will include spending extended periods of time in the lab, analyzing data, and scheduling time with other students to collaborate on research.

Also, you will most likely have to teach for a number of semesters, and you will want to attend any seminar that may be related to your research or that just peaks your interest. To top it all off, you will still want to do many of those extracurricular activities you did as an undergraduate. While in the abstract, it may seem simple enough to put this all into your calendar and stay organized, you will find quickly enough that the one hour you scheduled for a task might take two or three hours, putting you behind on everything else for the rest of the day or forcing you to cut other planned events. Be prepared for schedules to go awry, and be willing to sacrifice certain activities. For some, this might be sleep; for others, it might be an extracurricular activity or a few seminars they were hoping to attend. In short, don't panic when things don't go according to plan; anticipate possible delays and be ready to adapt.

8. Expect to learn research skills on the fly – or take advantage of the training your department or career center offers.

This may be the first time you will have to write fellowship or grant proposals, write scientific papers, attend conferences, present your research to others, or even peer-review scientific manuscripts. From my experience, very few college students or even PhD students receive formal training on how to perform any of these tasks. Usually people follow by example. But this is not always easy and can be quite aggravating sometimes. So seek out talks or interactive programs offered by your department or career center. The effort will be well worth it when you realize you've become quite adept at quickly and clearly explaining your research to others and at outlining scientific papers and grant proposals. Alternatively, ask a more experienced graduate student or your advisor for advice on these topics. In addition, be prepared for a learning curve when learning all the procedures and processes of the group you end up working in. There may be many new protocols to master, whether they involve synthesizing chemicals, growing bacterial cells, or aligning mirrors on an optical table. In addition, the group may use programming languages or data analysis software you are unfamiliar with. Don't get discouraged but plan to spend extra effort getting used to these procedures and systems. After working with them regularly, they will soon become second nature. When I first started my job at Johns Hopkins, I felt overwhelmed by all the intricacies of the experiment and definitely made a few mistakes, including breaking a number of optical elements. But by the end of my year there, I had written an updated protocol manual for the modifications I had made to the experimental procedures and was the "master" passing on my knowledge to the next person taking the job.

9. There are no real breaks.

In a stereotypical "9-to-5" job, when the workday is over or the weekend arrives, you can generally forget about your work. And a vacation provides an even longer respite. But in a PhD program, your schedule becomes "whenever you find time to get your work done." You might be in the lab during regular work hours or you might be working until 10 p.m. or later to finish an experiment. And the only time you might have available to analyze data might be at 1 a.m. Expect to work during part of the weekend, too. Graduate students do go on vacations but might still have to do some data analysis or a literature search while away.

As a PhD student, it might be hard to stop thinking about the next step in an experiment or that data sitting on your computer or that paper you were meaning to start. While I imagine some students can bifurcate their mind between graduate school life and everything else, that's quite hard for many of us to do. No matter what, my research lies somewhere in the back of my head. In short, your schedule is much more flexible as a PhD student, but as a result, you never truly take a break from your work.

While this may seem like a downer, remember that you should have passion for the research you work on (most of the time), so you should be excited to think up new experiments or different ways to consider that data you have collected. Even when I'm lying in bed about to fall asleep, I am sometimes ruminating about aspects of my experiment I could modify or what information I could do a literature search on to gain new insights. A PhD program is quite the commitment and rarely lives up to expectations – but it is well worth the time and effort you will spend for something that truly excites you.

Contributor

Andy greenspon.

How hard is a PhD? What every PhD student needs to know

Embarking on a PhD journey is a commendable endeavour that many consider a pinnacle of academic achievement. 

The challenges of a PhD often extend beyond mere intellectual rigour. While it’s easy to assume that the hurdles would involve complex research or profound theoretical concepts, the truth is more nuanced.

Embarking on a PhD is not just an intellectual endeavour; it’s a test of one’s resilience, adaptability, and perseverance through various personal, emotional, and financial challenges. While many assume the difficulty lies primarily in complex research, PhD candidates often grapple with distractions, mental health issues, and the pressures of consistent progress.

Thus, a successful PhD journey involves not just academic rigor, but also effectively navigating these multifaceted challenges.

From battling internal distractions and self-doubt to navigating financial constraints and mental health issues, PhD candidates face a multifaceted journey that demands resilience and perseverance.

In this blog, we’ll delve deep into these often-under-discussed challenges, shedding light on the realities of what people find out when they start a PhD and provide guidance on how to navigate them. Join us as we uncover the true essence of what makes academia and a PhD both demanding and rewarding.

Misconceptions About Why a PhD Is Hard

When discussing the challenges of a PhD, it’s vital to debunk some prevalent misconceptions. Many outsiders often attribute the difficulty of a PhD to its intellectual rigour or the depth of study.

While these aspects are undeniably challenging, they often aren’t the primary concerns of PhD students.

Instead, it’s the blend of personal, financial, and mental hurdles that make the journey uniquely demanding.

• The general belief that only the ‘smartest’ can pursue a PhD is a myth.
• It’s not just about intelligence but about resilience, determination, and adaptability.
• Many PhD students often report that distractions, rather than the actual research work, are their most significant hurdles.
• Such diversions could range from personal life events, mental health struggles, and financial constraints, to feelings of isolation.
• A PhD demands consistent focus and progress over several years.
• Small achievements and advancements compound over time, leading to ultimate success.
• While research, ideas, and lab work are crucial, the unseen pressure often comes from watching peers’ progress and unintentionally comparing one’s journey with others.

Common Struggles Faced by PhD Students and PhDs

• Work-Life Balance : Achieving a harmonious balance between rigorous academic pursuits and personal life is a perpetual challenge. The constant demand of a PhD can often overshadow personal time, leading to burnout and strained relationships.
• Financial Stress : Many PhD students grapple with financial concerns. Whether it’s the looming burden of student loans, insufficient stipends, or the cost of attending international conferences, money worries can often eclipse academic priorities.
• Isolation : The solitary nature of research can sometimes lead to feelings of isolation. Unlike more structured academic programs, a PhD often requires long hours of independent work, distancing students from peers and social interactions.
• Imposter Syndrome : Many PhD candidates wrestle with self-doubt, constantly questioning their worthiness or fearing they’ll be exposed as frauds. This can be exacerbated by the high expectations and competitive environment.
• Time Management : Juggling various responsibilities – from teaching assistant roles to attending seminars and conducting research – can make effective time management a daunting task.
• Mental Health : The constant pressure to produce groundbreaking work, coupled with the challenges listed above, can take a toll on a student’s mental well-being. It’s not uncommon for PhD students to experience bouts of anxiety, depression, or overwhelming stress.

In recognizing these challenges, it’s crucial to emphasize that they are as integral to the PhD experience as the research itself.

Addressing these external distractions and personal struggles is pivotal for a fulfilling and successful academic journey.

The Distractions That Impact the PhD Journey – more than time management

While the PhD journey is undeniably about academic rigour and deep research, numerous distractions often act as significant roadblocks. Understanding these distractions is pivotal to navigating the path successfully and ensuring a more holistic and healthier PhD experience.

A. Financial Strains

• The Sacrifice of Adult Life Luxuries : Embarking on a PhD often means prioritizing studies over many of the comforts and luxuries that peers in full-time employment enjoy. This can range from vacations to even simple pleasures like dining out or entertainment.
• Low Income During PhD Years : Most PhD students subsist on stipends or grants, which can be meagre. The income, often barely enough to cover basic necessities, can make financial independence a challenging endeavour.
• The Difficulty of a Self-Funded PhD : For those without scholarships or funding, the financial strain is even more pronounced. Self-funding a PhD means grappling with tuition fees, research costs, and living expenses, all while trying to focus on research.

B. Mental Health

• Imposter Syndrome : A common affliction among PhD students, imposter syndrome is the pervasive feeling of being a fraud, despite evidence of one’s accomplishments and capabilities. It can significantly impede progress and confidence.
• The Emotional Toll of Rigorous Research : The highs and lows of research, with moments of breakthroughs juxtaposed with periods of stagnation, can be emotionally draining.
• The Importance of Support During the Journey : Given the mental challenges, having a solid support system, be it friends, family, or mental health professionals, is paramount to staying grounded.

C. Supervisor Relationships

• The Ideal vs. The Reality : While every student hopes for a nurturing and supportive supervisor, the reality can be starkly different. Not all supervisors are a good fit, and some relationships can be more challenging than others.
• Personal Experience with a Supportive Supervisor : A harmonious supervisor-student relationship can greatly enhance the PhD experience. When guidance, mentorship, and understanding are offered, it fosters a conducive environment for academic growth and personal well-being.

The Compounding Effect During a PhD

The journey through a PhD program is akin to a marathon, not a sprint. At the heart of this journey lies the concept of the compounding effect: the power of small, daily progress.

Much like the principle where small investments grow exponentially over time due to interest, in a PhD, consistent effort and incremental advances in research can yield significant results in the long run.

The distractions we previously delved into can severely disrupt this momentum.

Financial strains or mental health issues can divert focus, causing days, if not weeks, of stagnation.

Such disruptions can delay progress and even demotivate students, making it harder to pick up where they left off.

The Real Skillset Needed for the Doctoral Journey

The skills that qualify someone to embark on a PhD journey aren’t necessarily the same as those required to complete it.

Getting into a PhD program often means mastering exams, understanding how you learn, and other academic hacks.

However, once in the PhD realm, these skills can feel inadequate.

Suddenly, you are plunged into the unknown, where cramming won’t help.

You’re tasked with literature reviews, experiments, and research, sometimes without having been thoroughly trained in these areas.

This gap in training and the realization that the previous academic accomplishments might not be directly applicable can be jarring.

And though foundational knowledge of a subject is crucial, navigating the uncharted waters of personal research is where the real challenge lies.

Every PhD is a Unique Journey

No two PhDs are the same. It’s an inherently individual journey where each student is uncovering something new.

Comparing oneself to peers, though a natural instinct, can be counterproductive.

Everyone’s challenges, pace, and outcomes will differ due to a myriad of factors, from the research topic to supervisor guidance and sheer luck.

This comparison often leads to feelings of inadequacy and imposter syndrome. But the key is to focus on personal growth, measuring today’s progress against yesterday’s . Everyone has their unique hurdles; the goal is to surpass them one at a time.

Obtaining a PhD isn’t just about academic prowess but navigating a maze of personal and professional challenges. Recognizing and addressing these challenges, along with a clear understanding of the shift in skillset required, can pave the way to success.

Wrapping up – how to get a PhD even when it is hard

Navigating the tumultuous waters of a PhD program is no small feat. As we’ve discussed, this journey extends beyond mere intellectual challenges to encompass personal, emotional, and financial trials. It’s about perseverance, resilience, and adaptability, as much as it is about intelligence and academic rigor.

Key Takeaways :

• Acknowledge the Challenges : Recognize that you’ll face various distractions and hurdles beyond your academic responsibilities. By acknowledging them, you’re better equipped to tackle them head-on.
• Lean on Support Systems : It’s essential to surround yourself with a community of supportive peers, mentors, family, or professionals. They can offer guidance, emotional support, and sometimes even financial advice to ease your journey.
• Celebrate Small Achievements : With a PhD being a long-term commitment, it’s vital to celebrate small milestones along the way. These will act as reminders of your progress and fuel your motivation.
• Stay Adaptable : The PhD landscape is ever-evolving, and the challenges you face might change over time. Being flexible and open to new strategies or methodologies can make the journey smoother.
• Personal Growth Over Comparison : Remember that your PhD journey is unique to you. While it’s natural to gauge your progress against peers, it’s more productive to focus on personal growth and development.
• Invest in Self-Care : Your well-being, both mental and physical, is crucial. Engage in activities outside of your research, practice mindfulness, or even seek professional help if necessary. Prioritizing self-care can make a tremendous difference in your PhD experience.

Embarking on a PhD is indeed challenging, but with the right tools, mindset, and support, it’s a rewarding journey with invaluable learnings.

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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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

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

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PhD Admission Guide

Gain admission to your dream school, guide to phd admission.

While some students swear off further education after undergrad, some love the thrill of intellectual discovery and research. For these students, graduate school is a natural choice. Graduate degrees are separated into “professional” and “academic” categories. Professional degrees are JDs and MDs, while academic degrees are PhDs (literally “Doctorates of Philosophy” regardless of what field you actually study).

Whether or not you need to pursue a PhD depends entirely on what career you wish to have. Some require higher education, while many others do not. In this guide we’ll go over how to apply to PhD programs, what they are looking for, and how the application process works. This guide is focused on the US and Canada; Europe has a system which is simultaneously similar and very different.

What PhD Programs Look For

PhD programs want to make sure you are prepared academically for the rigors of the program, and that you have a concrete research goal in mind. PhD programs culminate with each student answering a research question they devise, contributing new knowledge to the world in the process. 

Thus these programs seek to evaluate your intellectual ability, research goals, previous research experience, and how you will contribute to their program. To determine this, they ask for the following:

Letters of Recommendation

We’ll go through each of these in turn, and explain what graduate programs are looking for from each.

Your GPA in undergrad is the single most important factor in PhD admissions. If your GPA is too low your application will be dismissed out of hand. While there are no hard limits, we suggest a minimum GPA of 3.5 for serious contention, especially at top schools. If your GPA is below 3.0 then you will likely not get admitted into any PhD programs.

The reason for this is that PhD programs are a lot of work. Being intelligent is necessary, but is far from sufficient alone. Everyone in PhD programs is intelligent, and everyone is also willing to do the work. Your GPA is seen as the primary indicator of your willingness and ability to do academic work to a high standard, and your preparation for the rigors of a PhD program.

Along with your overall GPA, schools request your major GPA. This is your GPA when calculated only using courses in your major. This is usually expected to be higher than your overall GPA. Your major GPA should be over 3.5.

While taking harder courses in undergrad is a great experience, they can also harm your overall GPA. Of course, the best approach is to take very hard classes and do well in them, but this is not always possible. We recommend taking a blend of courses, so you are never overloaded, and able to give each the attention it needs to do well.

Academic Preparation

Your GPA and transcript is also used to judge your academic preparation for the program. You should have a solid grounding in the field, and have taken advanced courses as well. Taking graduate level courses in undergrad can exemplify this. 

Some PhD programs also require research languages. This is more common in the social sciences and humanities, but all students will benefit from knowing other languages well enough to do research in them. You should look up language requirements when researching programs to apply to.

The Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) is a standardized test meant for students who intend to apply to graduate programs. Both MA and PhD programs ask for GRE scores. Much like the SAT or ACT in college exams, the test is meant to be a standardized measure of academic preparation and logical skill.

The test consists of six sections. The first is writing, next are two on verbal reasoning, then two on quantitative reasoning, and finally a research or experimental section, meant to test new questions. The entire test is offered on the computer, with one minute breaks after each section, and a ten minute break after the third section. While there is also a paper-based test, almost all testing is now done on a computer. Due to the pandemic, both testing centers and at-home testing are offered. The GRE is a multi-stage test, and how well you do on earlier sections determines the difficulty of later sections and questions. 

The verbal sections each consist of 20 questions, to be answered over 30 minutes. The whole is scored on a scale of 130-170. The quantitative section is scored the same, and consists of two 20 question sections, each of which should be completed in 35 minutes. The writing section is scored from 0-6. For this section, you write an essay on a given issue in 30 minutes, and offer a response critiquing a provided argument for 30 minutes.

Your total score from the GRE is given from 130-170. While the exact scores you need to enter graduate school vary, higher is better. In addition, some programs only care about your verbal score, while others only care about your quantitative score. How much weight each program puts on GRE scores varies greatly.

We recommend studying for the GRE for some time before testing. You can take the GRE up to five times per year, but must wait at least 21 days between testing dates. Only scores from the past 5 years will be released or considered by graduate programs.

Curriculum Vitae

This is akin to a resume, but is dissimilar enough that the two cannot be used interchangeably. The purpose of a CV is, like a resume, to detail what you have accomplished academically and in your career. It is far more focused on academics however, and is widely used for academic careers.

We recommend finding a template for a CV online, or asking your college’s advisors for help in creating one. If you already have a resume, then you will easily be able to convert it into a CV.

What admissions officers are looking for in your activities is primarily signs of research. This should be in whatever field you intend to pursue a PhD in. Publications are also incredibly valuable. All of academia runs on publication, and getting an early start helps your career at every step.

You should try to do research while still in undergrad. What this looks like depends entirely on what field you are pursuing. While the research does not have to exactly line up with what you wish to pursue, it should teach you skills which are cross applicable. Higher level academic research has its own set of methods and language which must be learned, and students who are already familiar with the forms and structures of research have a leg up in graduate school. 

Publication is not required, but is nice to see. If you have completed a master’s degree, you should have some publication history; of your thesis if nothing else. Speak with your academic advisors about getting your work published.

Each graduate school you apply to will ask for an essay. You will be able to use the same basic form for each, but will need to edit it to be about the particular program you are applying to. Most schools only require a single essay, although some programs ask for a second on diversity.

The purpose of this essay is to explain your research interests, what you have studied, your intended area of specialization, and what your focus will be on. Every PhD student is asking and trying to answer a very specific research question. This question forms the basis of their dissertation, and will be the focus of your life for several years if you are accepted.

Thus the essay is the most important part of your application. Your grades and GRE are required to see if you are academically ready for graduate school, but the essay lets readers know if you are a match for their program, and serious about your research.

Your essay should begin by stating which program you are applying to, and why. Next, go through your previous academic experience in the field, both coursework and research. You don’t have to go through every class, but cover the ones most relevant to your desired research topic.

You should discuss any prior research you have done in the field. If you completed a thesis for your undergraduate degree or a master’s program, cover that here. If you have any publication credits, cover those as well. This should relate directly to the field you are trying to enter. If you wish to pursue lab work, discuss your previous experiences; if instead you are pursuing field work, talk about your experiences there.

Next you should talk about the research you specifically wish to pursue through a PhD. You don’t need to have an exact research question worked out, but it is helpful to have some idea; you should at least know the subfield you will be focusing on. The more specific you are, the better. Having some discussion of methodology can be nice, but is not always necessary.

If there are any ongoing research projects ongoing at the school you wish to work on, cover those next. You should discuss how these projects specifically relate to your own research interests. Finally, you should talk about which professors you wish to work with. Professors take on graduate students to advise, and you ideally want one with a specialization at least tangentially related to your field of interest. The more closely related the professor’s studies are to your own, the better.

You will be able to leave much of this essay the same for each school you apply to, changing only the name of the program, the research projects, and the professors you wish to work with. 

This essay should be a page and a half to two pages long, single spaced. You should go into sufficient detail for those reading it to understand the research you want to pursue. These essays are reviewed by the faculty who run the department, and they make the admissions decisions for PhD programs. There are many more applicants than there are spaces, and admissions rates are low. The more specific and detailed you are in this essay, the better the faculty will understand your research aims, and the better your chances will be.

Diversity Statements

Not all programs ask for these, but you will likely be able to reuse the same essay for those that do. The purpose of the diversity statement is to see what unique points of view and experiences you will be able to contribute to the program. PhDs are about learning, and the more viewpoints and ideas within a program, the broader the experience will be.

If you are a member of an underrepresented group, an immigrant, come from an underprivileged background, or come from an area which is generally underrepresented, we suggest discussing that in this essay. You should not write an essay about your interactions with members of these groups, or a study abroad experience.

Above all, this essay should be authentic to you and your experience. The goal is to show how your background has shaped you as a person, and how it impacts your view of the world.

As with college applications, letters of recommendation are required for PhD admissions. These tell admissions committees who you are as a student and researcher, and give their opinion on how you will perform when doing graduate level work. Academic fields are small and often insular, and the professors writing your letters will often be known by those reading them, either by reputation or in person.

Programs ask for two to four letters. These should primarily come from professors who know you and your work well. If you had a thesis advisor, they should write one of your letters. If you’ve worked doing research for some time, then a mentor or lab director can also be a good source of a letter, even if they haven’t taught you in class. Letters should not come from non-academic sources, unless you have worked professionally in that field. 

While you have the option to read the letters that are written for you, you should always waive that right. If you don’t trust your writers to craft good letters for you, then you shouldn’t be asking them for letters. Asking to see letters is considered a sign of lack of trust, and is gauche. Many professors will decline to write letters if you insist on seeing them.

You should ask for letters well in advance of when they are due; we recommend at least a month or two. If you are asking non-tenured faculty for a letter, more leeway is recommended, as they have more on their plate, and are often more stressed. You may need to send a reminder as deadlines approach. You should also share a copy of your essay with letter writers, so they know exactly what subfield you intend to pursue, and can discuss this in their letters.

Finally, you should be aware of politics when asking for letters. Some professors do not like each other at all. If you are seen as the protege of a professor who others detest, this can impact your admissions chances. Always discuss which schools and programs you are applying to with your letter writers. You should also discuss your choices of writers with an advisor (for example a thesis advisor) familiar with the field. Academic politics are incredibly petty, but if you plan to pursue a PhD you need to be aware of the game, and how it is played.

If your application passes the first review, you will be invited to do an interview. This will be with faculty in the program you are applying to. This is to further get to know you, and to understand your research objectives. 

You should be able to clearly explain what you want to research, and how this program will help you do so. The people talking to you will all be familiar with the field, though not necessarily your specific subfield. They are looking for your ability to communicate and explain your view. Be prepared to answer some questions about the specifics of your goals, though it’s ok if you don’t know everything right now.

Interviews are generally in person, though due to the pandemic, virtual interviews have become more common. This is also your chance to ask any questions you have about the program you were unable to find answers to online. You can practice for this interview with an advisor or mentor; many schools have career centers which hold mock grad school interviews as well.

When and How to Apply to Grad School

There is no unified platform for PhD applications. Instead you must apply to each program individually, through the school’s website. This will mean filling out information multiple times, but they fortunately don’t ask for much. Once you have your documents in order, the rest is personal, demographic, and contact information.

You will need to pay to have your GRE scores sent to each school you apply to. Even though this is all electronic, they still charge dearly for it. 

Applications are generally due in December or January, with interviews held over the next few months. Applications open in September or October. We recommend getting your applications in before the due date, though most programs don’t use rolling admissions. Each program sets their own deadlines, so you should track when each of your applications is due carefully to make sure nothing gets overlooked.

Paying for Grad School

PhD programs are for the most part fully funded. This means you will not be paying tuition, and will also get funding to live on. This funding is generally contingent on academic standing, and doing work TAing, teaching, or on ongoing research projects (or most commonly, all of the above). Many grad students also work full or part time to support themselves. 

While you will not need to take on additional debt to pay for graduate school, you will not be well paid either. While the exact amount graduate students receive varies by school and program, it is generally in the range of $20-30,000 annually. This goes towards food, housing, and supplies.

While you are in a PhD program, you will not have to make payments on any government loans you took out to pay for undergrad, though they will continue to accrue interest. Making payments on them during grad school is difficult, but will greatly cut down on the amount you need to pay back later.

There are also outside scholarships available to help pay for graduate studies. While the amounts offered by these vary, most are small. They can help greatly with paying for the necessities however, and applying to them is usually worth the time investment.

Grad School Admission FAQ

Now we’ll answer some of the most common questions about applying to PhD programs.

Can older students apply?

Yes. Many professionals return to school for a PhD long out of undergrad. We suggest taking some courses at a local university in the field you plan on entering before you do this however. Academic research advances quickly, and this will familiarize you with the latest developments. Further, this will introduce you to professors who can provide you with letters of recommendation.

What are my odds of acceptance?

This depends on both your field and program. Generally, however, it is quite difficult to gain admissions to a PhD program, and admission rates hover around 10%. Only the best students get accepted, and this is even more the case at the top schools and programs.

When should I start thinking about applications?

When you choose your major, you should decide what level you want to reach within that field. Some majors lend themselves to PhDs if you want to work in that field, while others allow employment at various levels.

Where should I apply?

You should find programs with professors who are dedicated to your particular subfield. A prestigious institution which does not focus on your area is far less useful, regardless of how famous its name is. You are looking for someone who will be able to advise you, and help you perform worthwhile research. Further, professors are looking for students studying fields similar to their own when they admit graduate students.

How long are PhD programs?

Generally programs last 4-5 years, though this can vary based on field. The exact structure of the programs also varies a lot based on field and program.

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• What’s Actually Hard About a PhD

If you’ve been enquiring about doing a PhD you’ve probably heard time and again how hard it is, whether that’s from online articles or actual university staff and students. But what’s actually difficult about it?

I’m a History PhD student coming towards the end of my third year and I’m here to give it to you straight. No matter your department, students struggle with these things universally. That doesn’t mean these difficulties can’t be overcome, but it’s good to go in prepared. So let’s get started.

#1 Maintaining motivation

Every PhD student will agree that the hardest part of the degree is maintaining motivation. You start a PhD because you’re passionate about a subject. What could be better than spending all your time researching your favourite topic? But as soon as you make it your nine-to-five (and sometimes longer) for at least three years the passion eventually becomes shrouded by stress and deadlines.

I’m not saying you won’t have fun in your PhD, or that you’ll lose interest in your topic (although, truthfully, sometimes this does happen). I’m saying that three to four years is a long time to commit yourself to one thing. It takes dedication. Sometimes motivation will be hard to find but you’ll still need to write 80,000 words by the end of it.

#2 Writing (a lot)

Usually it’s during the writing-up period that people’s motivation starts to dwindle. That’s because writing isn’t easy, particularly academic writing. Turns out saying exactly what you mean isn’t all that simple!

Starting is always the worst. The cursor blinking on a blank page teases you but you can’t seem to find those first, punchy words. The best way is to push through. The first draft is for your eyes only so it can be as terrible as you’d like! Editing is inevitable anyway, and often easier than getting the initial words down. Then, once you’ve drafted one section, you get to write another, and then another, and another, oh and then another.

#3 Receiving criticism

One of the things that can make writing difficult is receiving criticism from your supervisor . This is a very necessary and useful part of the process. You will never improve without someone showing you your weaknesses and mistakes. You will also never write a perfect thesis first time. Always receive criticism with open ears.

But that doesn’t mean it won’t hurt sometimes. You might have spent months on a section of research, pouring your heart and soul into it. Hearing that it’s not good enough yet can be a knife to the heart of your motivation. That’s ok. It’s important to take time to process any emotions before going back to the feedback. Then you look at it from a more detached viewpoint, take the comments on board and continue to improve. Always remember, your supervisor is on your side.

#4 Isolation

A different aspect that makes the PhD difficult is the isolation it can bring. Unless all your friends and family are also academics, chances are people won’t really understand what you actually do. Some might not even understand why, and you may question this yourself sometimes. My parents are prime examples of this. Neither went to university and while they’re very supportive they don’t really know what a PhD is all about.

Get togethers might feel a little isolating when your friends and family talk about their normal office careers, something most people understand. But as soon as you get into the nuances of fish in seventeenth-century English thought, you tend to be met with blank faces. Of course you’ll be able to find lots of understanding people in your university department, but adjusting to this change isn’t always easy.

#5 Knowing what to do next

The last thing that truly makes a PhD hard is knowing what to do with it. Do you stay in academia or do you get a job in industry ?

Many prospective PhD students assume that you’ll go straight into a cushy academic job after graduation. This isn’t often true. In the UK, PhD graduates usually apply for postdoctoral or fellowship positions. Contracts tend to range from six months to five years. After a few years of additional experience then you might begin applying for permanent academic positions. Finding these roles without having to move can also be difficult.

Alternatively, industry jobs might seem more appealing. They’re more likely to offer job security and, at least initially, higher wages. But then you have to decide what you’re interested in. Many students feel that choosing this route means your PhD was a waste of time. Just because you’re not in academia does not mean your doctorate won’t be useful. The PhD teaches many important soft skills that can benefit a range of careers .

So, the options are endless! Does that make choosing what to do any easier?

The hardest thing about a PhD isn’t the research, it’s the lifestyle. But the lifestyle also comes with amazing benefits such as choosing your own working hours and indulging in your personal passions. There’s a lot of freedom involved which can be both a benefit and a drawback. Do you think you’re ready for the challenge?

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The Savvy Scientist

Experiences of a London PhD student and beyond

How Hard is a PhD?

Amongst the general population, having a PhD is often seen as the pinnacle of academic achievements but how hard is it to achieve?

Having passed my PhD viva yesterday I now feel I’m in a position to really judge how difficult a PhD is!

Congratulations to Jeff @savvy_scientist who passed his PhD viva today, remotely! Now we're having a celebration – remotely! #StayHome pic.twitter.com/4rI0ZiCF5z — ImperialBiomechanics (@ICBiomechanics) March 25, 2020

A dive into the unknown

Any time we don’t have experience in something, the element of the unknown can make it hard to evaluate how hard it is.

Coming from your previous qualifications you may extrapolate and think that since your undergraduate degree was a step up from high school in work and difficulty, a PhD must be another step change in difficulty.

With PhDs it’s not helped by the fact that a lot of the time only the most academically capable students are interested in them, which may make you think you have to be really clever to do one. Plus, as they’re not that common it’s not always easy to find people with experience to speak to.

Growing up I didn’t know anyone who had done a PhD degree, heck none of my immediate family had been to university, so I appreciate that gaining an insight about PhDs isn’t available to everyone.

So how hard is a PhD?

The reality is that a PhD can be difficult, but mostly it’s just different .

How hard you might find certain aspects of a PhD really depend on your own working style and to a lesser extent personality. Let’s discuss the factors one by one.

How hard is it to manage the PhD workload?

During a PhD there will be times you have to stay late, or work weekends (every so often) but it’s nothing like undergraduate degrees, with relentless deadlines and all-nighters being a regular occurrence for a lot of us.

Something that studying for a PhD does have in common with undergrad is that there is always more work that you can get on with, which can be disconcerting. Though unlike undergrad this feeling doesn’t stop after exams where you can enjoy a long study-free summer, because there are no term times for a PhD. I’ve previously shared how much holiday I’ve taken as a PhD student .

You need to find a way to switch off, otherwise your mental health will suffer.

Prior to starting my PhD I worked as a research assistant for three years and I found it helpful to view my PhD as a full time job. Even all the way through to submitting my thesis, working consistently 9-5ish every day was enough. I do hear of people working every hour of the week but these are the exception rather than the norm.

For a deeper insight into my typical working schedule check out the post below where I shared my calendar.

How Much Work is a PhD?

PhD depth and breadth of study

If you’ve been in higher education for a while, you’ll have probably got used to learning a wide amount of topics in a short time. Topics are covered at a fast pace, sometimes in not much detail, without much time to build your understanding.

I can’t have been the only person who during undergrad was effectively have to fight fires, not having much time to concentrate and fully understand each topic before having to move on to the next one.

PhDs provide a step-change, where you focus in on a single topic to a much greater depth.

For most PhDs there will be a certain amount of knowledge you’re expected to have picked up from your previous degree(s), but the pace of a PhD is undoubtedly much more slow. The reality is that the breadth of a PhD topic is really quite limited, though it can often span several disciplines. It’s common for your project to involve topics you’re not completely comfortable with.

You have a lot of time to focus on just one topic and you’re expected and required to know the topic inside out. The good news is that you’re given more than adequate time to learn the ropes.

As a PhD student there is nothing wrong with refreshing your knowledge of basic topics, especially if it’s something you haven’t studied in years. I still look things up on YouTube and Wikipedia and there is no shame in doing so: you’re in this position to learn and produce scientific outputs, so it’s much better that you’re comfortable with the topic.

I would suggest that for most people a PhD is generally more relaxed than an undergraduate degree. That’s not to say there isn’t work involved, but the pace gives you breathing room to understand the topic comprehensively.

If there’s one key message I’d like to get across, it’s please don’t ever be scared to ask your supervisor questions. You’re not on your own.

That’s assuming your supervisor is interested in supervising, which sadly isn’t always the case. Lack of supervisor support is one of the main difficulties I’ve seen students face (in other research groups I should add!). I wrote some tips here for choosing projects and supervisors .

How to Choose a PhD Project & Supervisor

Essentially as long as you are willing to learn, I wouldn’t worry too much about this aspect of a PhD.

Is a PhD intellectually difficult?

You’ve probably heard the metaphor about standing on the shoulders of giants, and it’s true that as a PhD student you’re building on previous work carried out in the field.

However there usually isn’t an expectation to make massive intellectual strides forwards. In reality you’ll probably be giving a small nudge forwards to a small area of the field. For some people this can be a relief and make the idea of doing original research much more obtainable, whereas for others it may belittle the entire idea of doing research!

The reality of the situation is that PhD students may be seen as a cost effective source of labour to advance science. Although we’re often working on projects with complicated lofty descriptions such as “ nanoparticles impregnated with silver ions for cancer treatment ” or “ biphasic lubrication mechanics of soft engineering materials ” in reality the practical side of them does not require genius level intellect.

Oftentimes you’ll be doing pretty menial things behind these grand topic titles. These tasks require you to know what you’re doing, but rarely will you have devised the whole thing yourself.

Fun fact: at my first job after undergrad, working at one of the most prestigious universities in the world, my boss would sometimes bring in her gardener to pick up any slack, doing the same work as me and some of the post-docs.

A full house for @trayanovalab at the @ImperialBioeng annual lecture. Amazing work & images! #ComputationalCardiology pic.twitter.com/R2dxE7csbg — Jeff Clark (@savvy_scientist) June 18, 2018

Of course you need to be able to understand the concepts behind what you’re doing, but I wouldn’t worry too much if you’re worried that you have to be a genius to complete a PhD.

So is a PhD easy?

In terms of workload and difficulty a PhD isn’t necessarily as difficult as you might think, so don’t be scared off. That’s not to say it’s not without challenges which we’ll now go on to discuss.

How a PhD can be hard

Of course there are differences between projects, supervisors and universities but I’d say generally the main things which can make a PhD hard are:

Self motivation

Looking after yourself, dealing with isolation.

• Your ability to problem solve
• Fear of public speaking

Prior to studying for a PhD, your studies will likely have been structured by a timetable of contact hours, coursework deadlines and exams. Working towards a PhD is the first time you’re likely to experience fully independent working for extended periods of time. It will also involve work where no one, not even your supervisors, know all the answers. This can be daunting and I think this is where difficulties may stem from for many students.

A PhD is a long-term commitment so you need dedication to reach the end of a PhD.

By the end of your PhD you’ll have to demonstrate that you’ve contributed to your field with a thesis and/or peer-reviewed publications. This can be a challenge and without the regular undergraduate format of deadlines and exams, you may quickly lose focus. Regaining that focus and dedication is key to seeing your PhD through.

If this is something you struggle with check out my post on maintaining motivation during your PhD .

At Imperial we have two progress points throughout the PhD: one at 9-12 months (Early Stage Assessment) and another at 18-24 months (Late Stage Review). These formal progression checkpoints help by giving deadlines and a structure to work towards.

Solution: I believe one of the best ways to keep up productivity, and ensure you’re on the right track, is to meet regularly with the supervisor. I suggest meeting at least a few times per month. I do know some people who meet much less regularly and this can work for some people. However, I personally find myself chatting with my supervisor about far more than the types of things I’d want to ask in an email and this is where the mentorship aspect of a PhD can be made or broken.

In summary, working closely with your supervisor can make your PhD a lot less difficult.

It’s very easy to develop bad habits during your PhD such as:

• Eating badly and drinking too much coffee
• Getting stressed and working long hours
• Not getting exercise and sleeping poorly

From not cycling at all I've now cycled 1k+ miles in London, mostly commuting to @imperialcollege . Great way to get around with so many benefits. Started because of a free course by @RBKC & @Bikeworksuk w/ a refurbished bike! Few words about my experience: https://t.co/rGwSqomikD pic.twitter.com/joyVftxuVn — Jeff Clark (@savvy_scientist) August 30, 2019

Solution: Remember that working longer hours won’t necessarily help your productivity. Instead take time out of your day for breaks and go for walks. Dedicate time to look after yourself. If you’re looking for ways to stay efficient, think of doing things like commuting by walking or cycling. I’d also highly recommend cooking your own meals to stay healthy (and save money ).

When I say isolation I really mean a few different things:

Owning your own project

Every PhD project is different, you may collaborate with friends or colleagues for bits of your work but you are the only person driving forwards your project.

This means that you may face problems other people in the research group or department haven’t encountered. Not only could this be isolating but it may also set your project back if you don’t mitigate the risks.

Solution: Firstly, don’t be afraid to ask people for help. Maybe someone from your group doesn’t have the answer to your problems but they may offer useful advice or know someone else in the department who may help. Coffee breaks offer an opportunity to informally chat with colleagues, which can both be fruitful for your work and your mental health: here is a nice Science article about the positives of coffee breaks.

Imposter Syndrome

As every project is unique it can be very difficult to tell how you measure up to other people. At times you may struggle to understand what other people in your group are working on, but this doesn’t mean you’re not cut out for it! Supervisors have a good idea of what’s required for a project when you’re applying: if you’re accepted you’ll more than likely be fine in this regard.

Solution: Don’t compare yourself to others. This is fruitless, especially when every project is different anyway. Make sure you understand your own project well and you’ll be fine. Having a chat with other students can be a good way to reassure you that everyone goes through difficult times.

Staying social

If I asked you to close your eyes and picture a PhD student, what would you see? Personally I used to conjure up an image of a fatigued student wearing goggles and trapped in a lab, rarely seeing daylight.

That’s not always a hundred miles away from the truth, but it doesn’t have to be the case. We’ve already covered how working such long hours can be counterproductive, but also putting yourself in a solitary position like this can be both demoralising and awful for your mental wellbeing. Please don’t!

Solution: Take frequent breaks, get involved with activities your lab-mates or department are organising: or organise something yourself. Find something you enjoy and can look forward to going along to, you can still join clubs and societies as a postgrad. Being isolated can make a PhD so much more mentally difficult: it doesn’t need to be!

Solving problems

You hear people saying that to be a good researcher you have to be inquisitive and questioning everything. These are certainly good traits to have which can make the work more meaningful, but at the level of a PhD student I believe it’s much more important to work smart.

To me this includes the ability to:

• Think on your feet
• Don’t be afraid to ask your supervisor questions
• Be forward thinking and catch problems early

Solution: Set up a framework to overcome problems and always think of ways to mitigate risks by having a Plan B. For example I work with people who’ve waited six months for consumables to arrive: if you don’t consider risks like this you immediately set yourself up for a less productive and more stressful experience. As before, I really do recommend meeting with your supervisor frequently.

Public speaking

I’m not sure whether presenting your work is a requirement for every PhD but it’s certainly an expectation for most. If nothing else you’ll likely have to present in your viva.

A fear of public speaking is very common and as such it’s a common PhD difficulty to tackle.

It’s completely natural to be nervous with the idea of presenting, however that’s not a reason to avoid public speaking completely. On the contrary you’ll only get comfortable with it by practicing. We’re fortunate as researchers to get regular opportunities to try public speaking.

I certainly still get nervous myself but would rather face the fear than shy away from it: plus you feel great afterwards.

Solution: Take opportunities to give presentations, whether it be at lab meetings, departmental events or conferences. The great thing with being a PhD student is that you get to practice with no expectations that you’ll be perfect. It’s much better to face it now than push the problem back later in to your career. I’ve written some tips for how to keep your presentation interesting.

Presentation Skills for Students: How to Stay On Topic and Keep Audience Attention

Some example issues you might have to overcome as a PhD student

Common phd challenges.

Now that we’ve covered the categories of common PhD difficulties here are some common day to day challenges:

• You need to use a technique or piece of old lab equipment and there’s no one to teach you how to use it
• You’re scared to ask for help because you think you should already know the answer
• You’re not getting the results from an experiment you’re expecting to see
• You need to write a code to do something and have never coded before
• You’re struggling to understand a concept
• You’re bored of reading or are losing interest in the topic
• You feel lonely
• You’re stuck waiting for something to arrive
• You need to create nice looking diagrams
• You need to build a rig or piece of equipment from scratch
• You’re worried about giving a presentation
• Your supervisor isn’t providing support
• You’ve no idea what statistical analysis to use
• You’re facing funding limitations, meaning you can’t do all the experiments you ideally would
• You’re struggling to motivate yourself to write a 100+ page thesis!

I’ve written a separate post covering a range of challenges I faced during my own PhD and you can find that post here: Overcoming Academic Challenges and Failure During a PhD .

Overcoming PhD challenges

It’s normal to face problems during a PhD. It’s how you tackle these problems that will be the defining factor in how difficult you find the PhD.

Part of the joy in completing a PhD is knowing that you’ve managed to overcome these difficulties.

In all these scenarios having a chat with other people will help. Even if other students or staff can’t directly provide assistance, most people are very friendly and supportive which will boost your morale.

I can’t overstate how useful scheduling regular meetings with your supervisor is. It’s so much better to face problems early rather than awkwardly have to deal with it six months later. I meet with my primary supervisor every week and we work together to set short-term deadlines for my work which tie in with the larger targets.

For problems outside of your supervisor’s remit lots of universities provide additional support. For example the graduate school at Imperial lays on courses for PhD students covering how to code, using reference managers, statistics etc.

Plus there are usually facilities for dealing with things such as stress and anxiety via counselling, student support and chaplaincies. Don’t make the PhD more difficult than it needs to be, these facilities are put in place to help you.

Has my PhD been hard?

I’ve been surprised by how manageable the PhD has been. I wouldn’t say that any of the research work was particularly difficult, it has simply required dedication.

Good time management and taking my mental health seriously have helped a lot, as has considering it a full time job. Slow and steady wins the race. Simple steps like always having a backup plan to mitigate the chance of getting stuck if things go wrong has served me well.

I’ve never been a fan of presenting but have learned to expose myself to it in an effort for self improvement. Of the five conference presentations I gave during my PhD, I won prizes for two.

Remember that you may lack self confidence but how you come across to other people may not be how you perceive yourself: this can be very uplifting. If I can do it so can you!

Thesis-writing

I’m currently in the process of writing up a separate post dedicated to my experience of writing a thesis. In summary, for me personally, it wasn’t anything like as stressful as I was thinking it would be.

I gave myself approximately six weeks to write most of it. Mine was 190 pages in total which may sound daunting but I actually only had about 120 pages of proper content and it’s all with 1.5 line spacing. Each chapter was only about 20 pages which sounds much more manageable and really isn’t much for 3 years work!

Things which helped me included:

• Having already written up some results.
• Using figures I’d made for presentations.
• Not expecting it to be perfect.
• Setting myself tight deadlines. I gave myself two weeks to write the introduction, literature review and discussion chapters.

Some of us PhD students make things more difficult than they need to be, trying to make everything perfect. I’ve heard some staff say “good enough is good enough” which I’ve found a useful mantra.

I recommend not spending too long on the thesis because:

• Papers are what count, put your energy into them instead.
• There is no point trying to second-guess what your examiners may want to see, you could spend months deliberating and they’ll still potentially have corrections to suggest.

I was a bit nervous before my viva, which is normal. I was confident in the work I had done for the PhD, but was actually more concerned about being asked any theoretical or technical questions you’d be more likely to encounter in an undergraduate course.

Although it lasted more than five hours, mine was a supportive environment, mostly a discussion to give feedback to improve the thesis and publications. Remember to be honest and be reassured that you know your work better than anyone else.

In summary, how hard is a PhD?

• Most PhDs are not intellectually difficult but they do present other challenges
• How hard you may find a PhD depends on your ability to self motivate, look after yourself, deal with isolation, problem solve and master public speaking
• Everyone experiences challenges during their PhD but it’s how you confront those challenges that matters
• Make the most of your supervisor for support and guidance

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.

If you’re interested in doing a PhD but are scared of the difficulty, please don’t be put off.

As long as you’re willing to learn and are dedicated I am sure you can succeed.

Finally, remember to enjoy the experience!

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10 Comments on “How Hard is a PhD?”

I have really been struggling on whether to apply for a PhD. This post has given me the realistic picture I needed. Thank you

Yay, I’m so pleased you found it useful, Ankita! If you can think of any other questions you’d like answered be sure to let me know. Best wishes

Thanks for sharing your experiences and insights, Jeff 🙂 I find this post really helpful in terms of being aware of what’s to come as I start my PhD journey – and more importantly, what I can do to overcome these potential obstacles!

Hey Julie, I’m pleased you’ve found it useful. Best of luck with your PhD!

Jeff, Thank you very much for putting this together. Im a second year PhD student who regularly finds themselves in crisis of confidence. This article really helps to give me a little perspective, empowering me to plough on regardless of nagging doubts!

Thanks very much for your comment, Callum. I’m really glad the article has helped. Best of luck with the rest of your project: you’ve got this!!

I am currently a full time MBA student who will graduate in December. My professor in Leadership actually approached me about whether I would consider becoming a higher ed professor and researcher. She noticed qualities in my writing and research that she said the job would suit me perfectly. I have been back and forth on the idea and your site has truly been a great boost for me in getting the confidence I need to apply for my PhD, so thank you :)!

Hey Sarah. Yay! I’m so glad the website has been useful for you, thanks so much for your comment. Do let me know if you have any other questions or suggestions for other content which would help. Best of luck with the end of your MBA and future PhD application! Best wishes, Jeff.

Jeff, Thank you for taking the time to put this together. I am entering my final term of my MS in Cybersecurity and graduate in May 21 and I was curious on the level of effort for a PhD. When my wife saw me looking at PhD programs however she lovingly made me close the browser so it may not be in the cards right now. Granted I do have 2 young children under 5, a full time job and am an Army Reservist so she isn’t wrong 🙂 However, I do really appreciate you putting this together to help other students interested in PhD programs. This has given me great insight into what to expect and what it will take. Thanks again! George

Hi George, Thanks so much for your kind comment, I’m glad it has been useful for you. In terms of how much effort a PhD is: anecdotally I did mine keeping pretty strictly to normal office hours of roughly 9-5 Monday-Friday and had the official letter confirming my PhD within 3.5 years of the day I started. Admittedly this is in the UK, I expect in the US it would take a little longer overall but the weekly workload doesn’t need to be overwhelming. I think my peers on average worked similar hours. The nice thing about research is that, assuming you have a reasonable supervisor, you are typically much more in control of your hours than in a traditional job. As long as you get the work done a good PhD supervisor doesn’t tend to care how you schedule your time so could fit quite nicely around other commitments such as childcare. Sometimes people think the flexible hours can only go badly for them: being expected to work longer hours than normal, but I don’t think this needs to be the case. Of course chucking endless hours at a task isn’t always useful, better to work smart! Sure some projects may involve intense sets of experiments but these are either usually few and far between or limited to fields like biology with cell experiments. In my experience anything based on a computer tends to be more flexible so you’re good. Basically the level of effort doesn’t need to be any more intense than a normal job. I hope this helps. Let me know if you have any other questions or I’d be happy to jump on a quick call if that’d help. Best of luck! Jeff.

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• CAREER FEATURE
• 13 November 2019

PhDs: the tortuous truth

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Chris Woolston is a freelance writer in Billings, Montana.

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Getting a PhD is never easy, but it’s fair to say that Marina Kovačević had it especially hard. A third-year chemistry student at the University of Novi Sad in Serbia, she started her PhD programme with no funding, which forced her to get side jobs bartending and waitressing. When a funded position came up in another laboratory two years later, she made an abrupt switch from medicinal chemistry to computational chemistry. With the additional side jobs, long hours in the lab, and the total overhaul of her research and area of focus, Kovačević epitomizes the overworked, overextended PhD student with an uncertain future.

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Is a PhD Worth It? The Pros and Cons of Getting a Doctorate

To get a PhD or not to get a PhD? That is the question.

Valerie David

Lifestyle and Career Expert

Reviewed by Hayley Ramsey

Entering the job market for the first time can be a stressful experience, especially if you don't feel completely prepared. When deciding how to take those first steps toward your ultimate career , and how to give yourself a chance at the best jobs, you may find yourself asking: “Should I do a PhD?”.

While academics looking forward to a life of learning may consider this a no-brainer, there are important factors for everyone to consider. Finances, job prospects and quality of life issues can greatly affect the success of furthering your education.

To help you decide if the time and effort of a PhD is worth it, here are the major benefits and disadvantages of getting that doctorate.

After four or more years of intellectual pursuits, adding a PhD may seem like overkill. Before you make your choice, let's look at all the benefits that are exclusive to earning the most advanced degree.

1. You can contribute new knowledge to the world

Embarking on a PhD programme means delving into your preferred subject in a much deeper way than you have in any of your previous studies. The beauty of this advanced degree is that it allows you to sail in uncharted waters. Your goal is to find new information, draw new conclusions and, hopefully, make a significant contribution to your field.

Your intensive research, travel, collaboration and study will lead you on an unpredictable path to telling a story that no one has heard before. For some students, this pursuit of knowledge and discovery is enough to make all the hard work of earning a PhD worth it.

2. You'll have access to more prestigious jobs

One of the key benefits of a PhD is that it opens doors to careers at the highest levels. This can include leadership positions in science and engineering, government roles in economics and political science, and prestigious teaching posts for English and arts majors. Even if an advanced degree isn't required for the job you want, that PhD can give you an extra air of authority in your field and an edge over other candidates.

Another obvious upside to continuing your postgraduate studies is that landing these powerful positions can lead to large financial rewards. Some areas of study, like medicine and the law, tend to be more lucrative, but it can also depend on the type of job. For example, a university professor or researcher post can pay well for a wide variety of disciplines. Check out sites like the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the National Careers Service to investigate potential salaries.

3. Employers look for candidates with your superior writing skills

A study arranged by the National Commission on Writing discovered that blue-chip businesses (long-standing companies with stable stock growth) are spending more than $3 billion a year on remedial writing course for current employees. This includes staff with undergraduate degrees.

So, when a hiring manager peruses your résumé and sees that you've earned a PhD, they'll know immediately that you've spent years honing your skills at compiling research, organizing mountains of data and writing about your results in a cohesive and persuasive way. This will clearly set you apart from your competition, while landing your dream job will prove that pursuing that advanced degree was worth it.

4. You'll improve on all your soft skills

While pursuing your undergraduate degree, you likely noticed that you were learning more than just the subject matter taught in each class. Completing your studies also required time management skills , focus and problem solving .

Getting a doctorate degree requires even more of the soft skills that employers look for in applicants . Your intensive study and finished thesis should lead to improvements in your problem solving, critical thinking , patience and adaptability . These desirable skills won't just help you land a job but also excel in whatever career you choose to pursue .

5. You'll collect an extensive network of professional colleagues

When weighing the pros and cons of earning a PhD, consider all the professional contacts you'll make during the course of your studies. Working closely with professors, department heads, experts in your field, as well as fellow researchers, helps you develop an important resource. This network of colleagues can provide continual assistance with references, job leads, career advice and collaboration.

6. You can wait for a more favorable job market

Job prospects may not look that promising when you've completed your undergraduate degree, or even after you've been in the workforce for a few years. While there's no guarantee things will improve after a delay, some students may appreciate the benefit of a steady graduate assistant salary while they work on enhancing their résumé with a doctorate.

If you couldn't get a good internship during or after your undergrad studies, the PhD work also gives you the time to build that professional network . These contacts could prove to be the key to breaking into a specialized or highly competitive field.

You may still be thinking about all that time and commitment and wondering, “Is a PhD worth it?”. While there are always positive results from improving your education, there are some downsides to getting your doctorate.

1. It's expensive

This is a substantial factor for many students when weighing the merits of pursuing a PhD versus entering the job market right away. If you already have student loans , continuing your education will just increase your burden and add substantial pressure when you eventually begin your job search.

If cost is a concern, investigate graduate assistant jobs that help with expenses. Some programmes offer tuition assistance in return for teaching or research work. For those who already work full time and are hoping a PhD will help them advance in their career, consider keeping that job and pursuing your studies on a part-time basis.

2. Getting a PhD can be a lonely experience

Despite your interactions with professors and other students, pursuing a doctoral degree is ultimately a solitary pursuit. Your thesis topic is unique to you, and you'll spend a lot of time alone doing research and writing. Your social life can suffer, especially if you're also working in addition to your studies.

Career experts often talk about the necessity of work-life balance for physical and mental health, and this is just as important for PhD students as anyone else. It may take you a little longer to complete your degree, but it's worth taking the time to visit family and hang out with your friends. These positive interactions can help you stay motivated through the most tedious parts of your work.

3. You'll experience extreme stress and frustration

Pursuing a PhD may seem like a noble and interesting endeavor, and extended life as a student can appear more attractive than wading into the job market. You must be aware, however, that getting a doctorate can be a very stressful and frustrating experience.

A topic that seemed intriguing at first may not live up to years of scrutiny, causing boredom at best or requiring a complete thesis change at worst. Not all programmes are well-run, either, and you may have a supervisor who is too critical, offers poor advice or is just unavailable and unhelpful.

The difficulties of a PhD programme lead to rather substantial dropout rates. In the US alone, only 57% of PhD students obtained their degree within a decade of enrolling. If you want to be in the successful half of those stats, take extra time to review your choice of supervisor and topic focus. Ask every professor you have for advice on making the right decisions and talk with current graduate students to see what their experience has been.

4. There may be limited job openings

While getting a PhD can qualify you for better and higher-paying jobs , it can also put you in a position where you're competing for an extremely limited number of job openings. This is especially true of university jobs, where the number of advanced degree graduates far outpaces the need for full-time instructors, researchers and administrators.

Earning your PhD with a very obscure thesis in a niche speciality can also limit your options. When there are only a handful of jobs that suit your expertise, and they're already occupied, it can make you feel that your doctorate was a waste of time. Consider the job market before you make decisions about getting another degree. If you're determined to study in a niche area, think ahead of time about related fields or industries where your knowledge and skills will also prove useful to employers.

5. There may be little to no financial reward

While most studies concur that having a PhD increases your income potential substantially over the lifetime of your career, it's not a guarantee of job security or a financial windfall. A study by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) found that 5 years after earning their doctorates , 45% of grads in Germany were still on temporary contracts and 13% ended up in lowly occupations.

Other European countries, including Slovakia, Belgium and Spain, had similar results. In the US, in fields like engineering, the difference in pay scales between employees with a master's degree and a PhD was a mere 7%. When that small bump in salary is weighed against the amount of debt taken on in order to get your degree, you may decide it's not worth it.

6. You could lose out on valuable job experience

New forms of technology continue to change how organizations operate, and those changes can happen fast. If you've already spent several years in school, toiling away in solitary study of obscure subjects can cause you to fall further behind in learning the skills you'll actually need for a future career.

Before you invest in getting a PhD, research your chosen field and learn which type of degree will give you the most value. Many scientific, financial and computing careers rely more on skills acquired on the job, rather than in coursework that can quickly become outdated.

Questions to ask yourself

You’ve listed out the pros and cons, but that still may not be enough to help make your decision. When it comes to a life-altering change like getting a doctorate, it’s okay to take enough time to ask yourself specific questions to ensure you’re making the right move. Consider asking yourself the following:

• Why do I want to get a PhD?
• Do I have the pre-requisites to move forward to a PhD?
• What are my strengths and limitations?
• Am I financially prepared?
• Am I mentally prepared?
• How will this affect my relationship with my family or friends?
• Where will I study?
• What am I trying to achieve?
• What jobs will be available to me after I get my PhD?
• Are there other options or avenues to consider?

Unfortunately, you may not have the answer to every one of these questions, because let’s face it, you don’t know what you don’t know. You might not know how it will affect your relationship with family or friends, but why not ask them? Reach out to those closest to you and see how you pursuing this degree could trickle down to them and allow that to play into your decision. Evaluate the answers to these questions and use it to help you make an educated decision on your future moving forward.

The best PhD degrees

If you’ve weighed out the pros and cons, asked all the important questions, and now you’re set on getting your PhD, congratulations! To help you along the way, let’s look at a list of the most valuable PhD programs to start you on your way to this degree.

• Criminal Justice
• Engineering
• Cybersecurity
• Business Administration

These fields are rapidly growing and are among the highest-paying doctorate degrees in 2022 , so they might be worth considering as you start your journey.

Key takeaways

Pursuing your PhD requires an incredible amount of commitment, and it's important to take the necessary time to make the decision. As you’re evaluating a doctorate degree, remember the following:

• Evaluate the pros and cons list right from the beginning to ensure you’re weighing out both sides of the coin.
• Ask yourself the necessary questions. A doctorate degree commitment can affect more than just you, so be sure you’re factoring that into your decision.
• Review specifically which PhD would be best for you and your field progression.
• Research your chosen field carefully and evaluate the job market before you finalize your degree choice.
• Once you’ve selected your degree, stay focused and stay driven. It’s going to be a hard few years, but it will be worth the work!

Who knows, this may prompt you to move on to postgraduate study — never stop achieving!

Have you decided to pursue your PhD, or are you still considering your options? Join us in the comments below and let us know what’s stopping or encouraging you from getting a PhD.

Originally published on July 24, 2019. Updated by Shalie Reich.

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Preemptive Action

10 biggest struggles of phd students.

Read a summary or generate practice questions using the INOMICS AI tool

Starting a PhD is an incredibly daunting task. Normally at least 3 years, there are some challenges that you are almost certainly going to have to face during the program. Below we look at some of the biggest (and most common) problems that PhD students encounter.

If you are considering a PhD program , or just beginning one, advanced awareness of these stresses may help you overcome them if you ever have to make their acquaintance (don't worry, we have our fingers crossed). Plus, knowing that they are frequently experienced and nothing out of the ordinary will hopefully provide you some comfort. Okay, let's begin.

1. Isolation

One of the  most common problems for PhD students is the feeling of isolation. PhD candidates often work alone, having few or sometimes no other people on their project. This happens while friends may be working in offices and in teams, enjoying a far more social side to the 9-5. Predictably, this can lead to loneliness, lack of motivation, and the fear that no one understands, or can relate to the problems you are experiencing.

As an antidote to this, it is advisable to make an effort to get into contact with other graduate students. There are many ways of doing this, for instance, through journal clubs, conferences, or networking. Being in contact with other PhD students will give you someone to talk to, complain to, and will help alleviate these disruptive and negative feelings. Simply breaking up the routine of studying can do you a whole world of good!

2. Stress

With looming deadlines, large scale projects, and a huge amount of personal investment, a PhD can be extremely stressful. This is compounded by the fact that everything is always riding on you and you alone - making the highs higher and the lows, well, let's not go there. It has been found that PhD students have high levels of mental disorders - likely related to high levels of stress they have to endure.

For this reason, it is imperative that one finds healthy ways to decompress, whether through exercise, meditation, the arts, or anything else. Any university worth its salt will also have mental health services which can be sought if things get particularly difficult. Regardless of how bad you're feeling, its always helpful to talk it through with someone. No problem is too small.

3. Conflict with your supervisor

Another common problem can be issues arising between PhD students and their supervisors. Supervisors are part-boss, part-mentor , and occasional friend. It's an odd combination, the balance of which sometimes can be hard to maintain.

When disagreements surface - and of course, over 3 years it is only natural that they will - some students can feel that they have to defer immediately to the wishes of the more senior and experienced supervisor. Again, here a supportive network of PhD students around you can help navigate these challenges.

Additionally, familiarity with the faculty in a broader sense (which is encouraged) will allow you to canvass more opinions. This may help you clear up a point of particular contention. Who knows, maybe you were right all along!

4. Funding issues

Most PhD students rely on external funding to support themselves while studying. Unfortunately, this too can be a source of concern. Funding can, at times, be insecure. It has been known, for example, for funding to be reduced while still in the middle of the PhD.

This is a precarious position to be left in and it can be extremely stressful to secure new funding. Ideally, supervisors should be on hand to help with this. One should never think twice about approaching them for advice - it's what they are there for. Still, it's also recommended that students at least have some money saved in case of emergency.

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5. time management.

So much to do, so little time to do it! This is probably the mantra of our age. Learning when to jump at new opportunities and when to say no to extra tasks is a skill which every academic should develop if they are to avoid going mad. This can be honed by knowing how to prioritize. What is absolutely essential that I finish today? What, at a push, could I postpone till tomorrow? 

Setting aside enough time in your day to fulfil these tasks will help this process and enable you to, when necessary, say 'nope, I literally do not have the time for that'. Rather obviously, it helps to be organized and to calendar your appointments carefully. And remember, it is better to do a few things well, than a number of things badly.

6. Work/life balance

It sometimes seems like PhD students are expected to study all the time; to be in the office every weekend and to work late every day. But this is not sustainable. You also need time for hobbies, friends, and family in order to function at peak level. This may seem a really obvious point to make, and yet, many students still suffer from the effects of having an incredibly lop-sided schedule.

Students should always remember: making time for activities outside of the PhD is vital for long-term success. A healthy social life, regular exercise, and cultural activities will be stimulating and fun. And, they're likely to make you happier. Even though you might not think about “happiness” when considering your goals for studying, you surely deserve some every now and then.

7. Lack of institutional support

Some universities are better than others at supporting PhD students. The best universities have extensive programs for helping them, through mentoring, workshops, and social events, while at other universities students are left to fend for themselves.

Graduate schools can be helpful here, as they are geared towards meeting the specific needs of PhDs. Try to find out what kind of support is offered by your institution – there may be more than you think!

8. Lack of personal support

Another challenge for PhD students is dealing with a lack of personal support. Friends, partners, and family members may not understand the worth of a PhD, and may not be supportive of the choice to pursue one. Many a PhD candidate has been distressed by a well-meaning relative asking when they will be finished with their PhD and get a real job.

This is another reason to get in contact with other PhD students, who can understand the stresses you are experiencing and give you the support you need. Sharing these commonalities also helps to make light of them. Nothing builds camaraderie like shared experiences.

9. Concerns about the future

In addition to worrying about their current projects, many PhD students feel concerned about their future too. In an uncertain job market , and with academic positions being intensely competitive, there is no guarantee that getting a PhD will lead to a desirable job (we hope it will!).

That said, research does show that having a PhD under your belt hugely increases your chances of getting one. It also increases your chances of being paid better and enjoying greater job satisfaction. Economics PhDs in particular have excellent job placement rates. To help ensure you get to enjoy all of these benefits, it's sensible to start the job hunt early.

Remember, too, all the transferable skills you develop during your PhD studies could help you to get an industry job ,  if you feel you have had enough of academia.

10. Problems with motivation

When things are not going so well, and motivation is low, you should consider giving yourself a break. A few days or even a week away from your project can sometimes be really helpful, allowing you to come back to your work invigorated and able to look at it from a fresh perspective.

Maybe when you come back, you see something that before you had missed? Or even better, maybe you realize that the work you've done is actually a whole lot better than you had previously thought. THIS can be brilliantly motivating. Plus, you probably deserved a break anyway!

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How difficult Is a PhD Program?

I am a Master's student in math who is doing pretty well so far. I aced my first two classes (real analysis) and my summer session in probability theory is going well, too. Even before my Master's study, I already thought of a PhD. Nonetheless, there are concerns:

My good grades were the result of grit, not brain, meaning that I had to spend time to understand what the book is telling me. Furthermore, a lot of times during exam and homework, I had to try and fail a few times before arriving at the solution.

I did not study math during undergrad. Before my Master's study, I gulped down three semesters of calculus, plus LA and DE in one year. So compared to other students, I am already behind. In the next two months, I will learn complex numbers on my own and review my linear algebra.

I am a professional in a field that has nothing to do with math or research. After the holiday, I will speak to my advisor about taking a thesis class. It's not an insurmountable obstacle, but, in an unrelated field, I do have less time to concentrate on math.

At the end, how big is the jump from Master's to Phd? Especially after what I said in (1), I do worry that it is beyond my ability. I do not hold anyone responsible for my decision. So, please kindly offer your best assessment of my situation.

• research-process
• mathematics

• 6 I don't think a bunch of strangers on the Internet can possibly answer this question for you. Do you know a professor in real life who will be honest with you? –  Austin Mohr Commented Jul 1, 2013 at 2:17
• 24 My good grades were the result of grit, not brain — Do not listen to the Impostor Syndrome! Everybody has to try and fail a few times to truly learn anything . –  JeffE Commented Jul 1, 2013 at 5:28
• 6 Coursework is one thing; doing a PhD is about doing research . You can be great at coursework and not be a good researcher, and vice versa. Don't let struggles with coursework make you dispirited about doing research. –  aeismail Commented Jul 1, 2013 at 6:32
• 1 Difficult enough that you won't really understand until you do it yourself :) –  cartonn Commented Jul 1, 2013 at 21:47
• 2 I wouldn't worry about abilities. Maybe it is not the right question: the right question what do you want to do (after)? Do you need a PhD or helps to you? Be careful: a PhD doesn't guaranteeing you a job or higher payment. –  Greg Commented Aug 1, 2014 at 7:27

4 Answers 4

I'll answer your title question and sub-questions in three words (then add to that): Difficulty is relative.

Noam Elkies finished his PhD in math at the age of 20. The average graduate student would probably take anywhere from 4 - 5 years. That doesn't mean Noam was a god among graduate students when he was a graduate student, and that's the reason he was able to finish his thesis faster than Joe Schmoe (though he is quite exceptional) and Joe Schmoe should just give up. Far from it. The fact that you're doing well in your master's courses is a good indicator you're well qualified for the coursework part. Working on a PhD thesis means producing original research. Producing original research means dealing with not so cut-and-neat problems like ones you'd encounter in your homework or textbooks. It means working with problems that you're not sure are close-ended, open-ended, or neither. In other words, different skill sets are needed for research in addition to the problem-solving heuristics which you've already acquired from your coursework.

Since you've never wet your foot it seems to me you have no indication of your ability to do research . So what do you do? Just go for it! You only live once as far as we know, and it seems to me that your real problem is your self-imposed doubt. Get that out of your head. Research is about staring and thinking about a problem long enough then coming up with an answer which turns out to be completely wrong and in that, the process repeats until you get your "Eureka!" moment.

You should also stop worrying about others being ahead of you. There'll always be someone faster and better than you (unless your name is John Von Neumann :-) especially in academia. A good algebraic geometer from UGA by the name of Roy Smith didn't get his start in advanced mathematics until his late 20's, after working in industry as a meat lugger. He received his PhD at 35. Over 30 years later, he's still going strong. What you should learn from him is if passion calls for it, then there should be no stopping you. If you fail at a career, then that's that. It's not the end of the world. But if you never bother to even try, then you'll never know and you'll always have a "What if?" moment.

So just to sum all of this up : Apply to a PhD program and see what happens.

https://mathoverflow.net/questions/7120/too-old-for-advanced-mathematics/45644#45644 (if you're interested in Roy's post)

There are a few different things going on in this question, I'll try and address them separately.

First of all, heed JeffE's words about the impostor syndrome. The idea that some people are effortly geniuses (which is inevitably followed by "but not me") is untrue and distinctly unhelpful.

Moreover trying and failing a few (or many!) times before coming to a solution is the very definition of doing research! The important question you should ask yourself is if you enjoy the challenge of struggling against a problem; if so, then research would be a great fit.

As for your background, you seem to have a plan to address the gaps in your background, and if you're doing well in your master's programme, I wouldn't worry too much about being behind the other students. Another challenge may be if you have a full-time job; doing a Ph.D. with a fulltime job is by no means impossible, but requires a some great time management skills. Anyway there's plenty of resources on this forum to help with this issue.

Finally, as for the question in the title, I would say it depends the most on what you plan to do with your Ph.D. after you graduate. I'm a recent graduate (in math) from a well-known North American school, and the quality of the Ph.D's varied greatly. I think it really depends on what you want to do with the degree. If getting a Ph.D. is the farthest one wants to go in academia, the standards for graduating are pretty low, and I think can be achieved not too strenuously. If one wants to be competitive in the academic research job market, the bar is quite a bit higher.

As Austin Mohr, pointed out, it is unlikely a stranger on the net fully answer this for you, but what you are experiencing is similar to what I experienced, so I can tell you how it was from my perspective.

Given what JeffE commented, studying through true 'grit', does involve 'brains' as you are developing and applying problem solving skills and stategies - which has clearly been effective, as you mention, you have good grades. So, it seems you have developed effective study techniques.

Point 2 is pretty much not an issue, based on the skills and strategies you developed in point 1.

If you do an unrelated thesis, as you mentioned in point 3 - look at this way, you'll be developing the research and synthesis skills needed for a PhD.

What I found about the transition between the Masters and PhD, was that it wasn't so much of a leap, but a case of using the skills developed a lot more thoroughly.

I hope this helps.

In your shoes, if I were applying for a PhD program, I might be thinking in terms of an "ABD" (All but dissertation.)

From the sound of it, "grit not brain" will get you through your PhD courses. You likely will pass the "comprehensive" examination. And then the fear is that you will "freeze up" when it comes time to write the dissertation because you are behindhand in "natural" (as opposed to synthetic), talent compared to others.

You will have to balance these real concerns against the benefits of "taking courses" and getting as far as you can, before possibly running up against a brick wall with your thesis.

This was basically my story (some decades ago). I was "counseled out" of a PhD program by a dean who observed that I had the preparation and the brains for the program, but lacked the "spark," "thirst," or drive that would see others through, but maybe not me.

What's worse, as a history undergraduate with mostly As, I had trouble finding a senior thesis topic, and spent the first part of my senior year wondering if I would be able to graduate, and thinking about writing a "trivial" paper that would earn a C. In the middle of the first semester, I stumbled on a viable topic that earned me departmental honors.

I can see one of three outcomes for you. 1) A "light bulb" will go off in your head at some point before you approach the end of the PhD program. If this happens, you're fine. 2) You will somehow squeak through, not quite knowing how you did it, and come out of the process a bit shell-shocked. 3) Neither of the above will happen, as you feared, in which case you might "bail out" as an "ABD."

I can't predict the outcome for you, but am sharing my experience. Just understand what the risks are, take into account your circumstances, and (hopefully) make the best decision for you.

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• PhD Failure Rate – A Study of 26,076 PhD Candidates
• Doing a PhD

The PhD failure rate in the UK is 19.5%, with 16.2% of students leaving their PhD programme early, and 3.3% of students failing their viva. 80.5% of all students who enrol onto a PhD programme successfully complete it and are awarded a doctorate.

Introduction

One of the biggest concerns for doctoral students is the ongoing fear of failing their PhD.

After all those years of research, the long days in the lab and the endless nights in the library, it’s no surprise to find many agonising over the possibility of it all being for nothing. While this fear will always exist, it would help you to know how likely failure is, and what you can do to increase your chances of success.

Read on to learn how PhDs can be failed, what the true failure rates are based on an analysis of 26,067 PhD candidates from 14 UK universities, and what your options are if you’re unsuccessful in obtaining your PhD.

Ways You Can Fail A PhD

There are essentially two ways in which you can fail a PhD; non-completion or failing your viva (also known as your thesis defence ).

Non-completion

Non-completion is when a student leaves their PhD programme before having sat their viva examination. Since vivas take place at the end of the PhD journey, typically between the 3rd and 4th year for most full-time programmes, most failed PhDs fall within the ‘non-completion’ category because of the long duration it covers.

There are many reasons why a student may decide to leave a programme early, though these can usually be grouped into two categories:

• Motives – The individual may no longer believe undertaking a PhD is for them. This might be because it isn’t what they had imagined, or they’ve decided on an alternative path.
• Extenuating circumstances – The student may face unforeseen problems beyond their control, such as poor health, bereavement or family difficulties, preventing them from completing their research.

In both cases, a good supervisor will always try their best to help the student continue with their studies. In the former case, this may mean considering alternative research questions or, in the latter case, encouraging you to seek academic support from the university through one of their student care policies.

Besides the student deciding to end their programme early, the university can also make this decision. On these occasions, the student’s supervisor may not believe they’ve made enough progress for the time they’ve been on the project. If the problem can’t be corrected, the supervisor may ask the university to remove the student from the programme.

Failing The Viva

Assuming you make it to the end of your programme, there are still two ways you can be unsuccessful.

The first is an unsatisfactory thesis. For whatever reason, your thesis may be deemed not good enough, lacking originality, reliable data, conclusive findings, or be of poor overall quality. In such cases, your examiners may request an extensive rework of your thesis before agreeing to perform your viva examination. Although this will rarely be the case, it is possible that you may exceed the permissible length of programme registration and if you don’t have valid grounds for an extension, you may not have enough time to be able to sit your viva.

The more common scenario, while still being uncommon itself, is that you sit and fail your viva examination. The examiners may decide that your research project is severely flawed, to the point where it can’t possibly be remedied even with major revisions. This could happen for reasons such as basing your study on an incorrect fundamental assumption; this should not happen however if there is a proper supervisory support system in place.

PhD Failure Rate – UK & EU Statistics

According to 2010-11 data published by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (now replaced by UK Research and Innovation ), 72.9% of students enrolled in a PhD programme in the UK or EU complete their degree within seven years. Following this, 80.5% of PhD students complete their degree within 25 years.

This means that four out of every five students who register onto a PhD programme successfully complete their doctorate.

While a failure rate of one in five students may seem a little high, most of these are those who exit their programme early as opposed to those who fail at the viva stage.

Failing Doesn’t Happen Often

Although a PhD is an independent project, you will be appointed a supervisor to support you. Each university will have its own system for how your supervisor is to support you , but regardless of this, they will all require regular communication between the two of you. This could be in the form of annual reviews, quarterly interim reviews or regular meetings. The majority of students also have a secondary academic supervisor (and in some cases a thesis committee of supervisors); the role of these can vary from having a hands-on role in regular supervision, to being another useful person to bounce ideas off of.

These frequent check-ins are designed to help you stay on track with your project. For example, if any issues are identified, you and your supervisor can discuss how to rectify them in order to refocus your research. This reduces the likelihood of a problem going undetected for several years, only for it to be unearthed after it’s too late to address.

In addition, the thesis you submit to your examiners will likely be your third or fourth iteration, with your supervisor having critiqued each earlier version. As a result, your thesis will typically only be submitted to the examiners after your supervisor approves it; many UK universities require a formal, signed document to be submitted by the primary academic supervisor at the same time as the student submits the thesis, confirming that he or she has approved the submission.

Failed Viva – Outcomes of 26,076 Students

Despite what you may have heard, the failing PhD rate amongst students who sit their viva is low.

This, combined with ongoing guidance from your supervisor, is because vivas don’t have a strict pass/fail outcome. You can find a detailed breakdown of all viva outcomes in our viva guide, but to summarise – the most common outcome will be for you to revise your thesis in accordance with the comments from your examiners and resubmit it.

This means that as long as the review of your thesis and your viva examination uncovers no significant issues, you’re almost certain to be awarded a provisional pass on the basis you make the necessary corrections to your thesis.

To give you an indication of the viva failure rate, we’ve analysed the outcomes of 26,076 PhD candidates from 14 UK universities who sat a viva between 2006 and 2017.

The analysis shows that of the 26,076 students who sat their viva, 25,063 succeeded; this is just over 96% of the total students as shown in the chart below.

Students Who Passed

The analysis shows that of the 96% of students who passed, approximately 5% required no amendments, 79% required minor amendments and the remaining 16% required major revisions. This supports our earlier discussion on how the most common outcome of a viva is a ‘pass with minor amendments’.

Students Who Failed

Of the 4% of unsuccessful students, approximately 97% were awarded an MPhil (Master of Philosophy), and 3% weren’t awarded a degree.

Note : It should be noted that while the data provides the student’s overall outcome, i.e. whether they passed or failed, they didn’t all provide the students specific outcome, i.e. whether they had to make amendments, or with a failure, whether they were awarded an MPhil. Therefore, while the breakdowns represent the current known data, the exact breakdown may differ.

Summary of Findings

By using our data in combination with the earlier statistic provided by HEFCE, we can gain an overall picture of the PhD journey as summarised in the image below.

To summarise, based on the analysis of 26,076 PhD candidates at 14 universities between 2006 and 2017, the PhD pass rate in the UK is 80.5%. Of the 19.5% of students who fail, 3.3% is attributed to students failing their viva and the remaining 16.2% is attributed to students leaving their programme early.

The above statistics indicate that while 1 in every 5 students fail their PhD, the failure rate for the viva process itself is low. Specifically, only 4% of all students who sit their viva fail; in other words, 96% of the students pass it.

What Are Your Options After an Unsuccessful PhD?

Appeal your outcome.

If you believe you had a valid case, you can try to appeal against your outcome . The appeal process will be different for each university, so ensure you consult the guidelines published by your university before taking any action.

While making an appeal may be an option, it should only be considered if you genuinely believe you have a legitimate case. Most examiners have a lot of experience in assessing PhD candidates and follow strict guidelines when making their decisions. Therefore, your claim for appeal will need to be strong if it is to stand up in front of committee members in the adjudication process.

Downgrade to MPhil

If you are unsuccessful in being awarded a PhD, an MPhil may be awarded instead. For this to happen, your work would need to be considered worthy of an MPhil, as although it is a Master’s degree, it is still an advanced postgraduate research degree.

Unfortunately, there’s a lot of stigma around MPhil degrees, with many worrying that it will be seen as a sign of a failed PhD. While not as advanced as a PhD, an MPhil is still an advanced research degree, and being awarded one shows that you’ve successfully carried out an independent research project which is an undertaking to be admired.

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

Additional Resources

Hopefully now knowing the overall picture your mind will feel slightly more at ease. Regardless, there are several good practices you can adopt to ensure you’re always in the best possible position. The key of these includes developing a good working relationship with your supervisor, working to a project schedule, having your thesis checked by several other academics aside from your supervisor, and thoroughly preparing for your viva examination.

We’ve developed a number of resources which should help you in the above:

• What to Expect from Your Supervisor – Find out what to look for in a Supervisor, how they will typically support you, and how often you should meet with them.
• How to Write a Research Proposal – Find an outline of how you can go about putting a project plan together.
• What is a PhD Viva? – Learn exactly what a viva is, their purpose and what you can expect on the day. We’ve also provided a full breakdown of all the possible outcomes of a viva and tips to help you prepare for your own.

Data for Statistics

• Cardiff University – 2006/07 to 2016/17
• Imperial College London – 2006/07 to 2016/17
• London School of Economics (LSE) – 2006/07 to 2015/16
• Queen Mary University of London – 2009/10 to 2015/16
• University College London (UCL) – 2006/07 to 2016/17
• University of Aberdeen – 2006/07 to 2016/17
• University of Birmingham – 2006/07 to 2015/16
• University of Bristol – 2006/07 to 2016/17
• University of Edinburgh – 2006/07 to 2016/17
• University of Nottingham – 2006/07 to 2015/16
• University of Oxford – 2007/08 to 2016/17
• University of York – 2009/10 to 2016/17
• University of Manchester – 2008/09 to 2017/18
• University of Sheffield – 2006/07 to 2016/17

Note : The data used for this analysis was obtained from the above universities under the Freedom of Information Act. As per the Act, the information was provided in such a way that no specific individual can be identified from the data.

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Why You Shouldn’t Get a PhD

The road to a doctorate is long, arduous, and paved with abandoned scholarship. Don't start the PhD process before you consider all the obstacles (and rewards). Here's what you need to reflect on before making the leap.

1. What is your motive for getting a PhD?

Examine your true motivation for wanting to earn a PhD and how the degree makes sense within your larger plan. Despite the obstacles, people stay in doctorate programs because they enjoy learning for learning's sake. They relish the opportunity to tackle intellectual problems and explore new areas of knowledge. For some there is the added appeal of taking time out from the traditional job market as you pursue what you love. But if it's your ambition to become a professor you should be aware that the PhD track is no guarantee of a life in academia .

2. Have you thought realistically about your job prospects?

Many PhD students hope to find a tenure-track position at a good college or research university after graduating (although others do pursue satisfying careers outside of academia). The reality is that academic positions are increasingly difficult to come by. Many PhDs have to settle for temporary or non tenure-track teaching positions, which can be just as demanding as full-time work but without the salary. Be prepared to follow jobs to colleges on the other side of the country or to adjust your career expectations.

Read More: Graduate School Application Timeline

3. Can you live frugally?

Getting a doctorate is intellectually rewarding. Unfortunately, it doesn't tend to be financially rewarding, at least not in the short term. Most PhD students live on their earnings from teaching and research assistantships or other low-paying employment. So, your starving student days may not be behind you.

4. Are you ready for the workload?

Graduate courses are far more rigorous than those you took as an undergrad, and first-year PhD students usually take around three classes. Many grad students also serve as teaching assistants (TAs) and must learn how to juggle their needs along with their students. And of course, in the final three years of the PhD program, you'll mainly focus on writing the dissertation and preparing for oral exams.

5. How do you handle pressure?

Each year, some PhD candidates do not meet the requirements of their graduate programs and are asked to leave. Others choose to leave because they are burnt out, or their interests have changed. Some students who don't complete the PhD leave with a master's degree; others leave with no degree at all. You should be prepared for these scenarios by making a back-up plan.

Successful PhD students thrive in a highly intellectual environment, are willing to work very hard with only a possible payoff, love their field of study, and don't mind forgoing impressive paychecks. If this sounds like you, forge ahead!

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How Long Does It Take to Get a Ph.D. Degree?

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Earning a Ph.D. from a U.S. grad school typically requires nearly six years, federal statistics show.

(CAIAIMAGE/TOM MERTON/GETTY IMAGES)

A Ph.D. is most appropriate for someone who is a “lifelong learner.” 

Students who have excelled within a specific academic discipline and who have a strong interest in that field may choose to pursue a Ph.D. degree. However, Ph.D. degree-holders urge prospective students to think carefully about whether they truly want or need a doctoral degree, since Ph.D. programs last for multiple years.

According to the Survey of Earned Doctorates, a census of recent research doctorate recipients who earned their degree from U.S. institutions, the median amount of time it took individuals who received their doctorates in 2017 to complete their program was 5.8 years. However, there are many types of programs that typically take longer than six years to complete, such as humanities and arts doctorates, where the median time for individuals to earn their degree was 7.1 years, according to the survey.

Some Ph.D. candidates begin doctoral programs after they have already obtained master’s degrees, which means the time spent in grad school is a combination of the time spent pursuing a master’s and the years invested in a doctorate. In order to receive a Ph.D. degree, a student must produce and successfully defend an original academic dissertation, which must be approved by a dissertation committtee. Writing and defending a dissertation is so difficult that many Ph.D. students drop out of their Ph.D. programs having done most of the work necessary for degree without completing the dissertation component. These Ph.D. program dropouts often use the phrase “ all but dissertation ” or the abbreviation “ABD” on their resumes.

According to a comprehensive study of  Ph.D. completion rates  published by The Council of Graduate Schools in 2008, only 56.6% of people who begin Ph.D. programs earn Ph.D. degrees.

Ian Curtis, a founding partner with H&C Education, an educational and admissions consulting firm, who is pursuing a Ph.D. degree in French at Yale University , says there are several steps involved in the process of obtaining a Ph.D. Students typically need to fulfill course requirements and pass comprehensive exams, Curtis warns. “Once these obligations have been completed, how long it takes you to write your dissertation depends on who you are, how you work, what field you’re in and what other responsibilities you have in life,” he wrote in an email. Though some Ph.D. students can write a dissertation in a single year, that is rare, and the dissertation writing process may last for several years, Curtis says.

[ READ: What Is a Doctorate or a Doctoral Degree?  ]

Curtis adds that the level of support a Ph.D. student receives from an academic advisor or faculty mentor can be a key factor in determining the length of time it takes to complete a Ph.D. program. “Before you decide to enroll at a specific program, you’ll want to meet your future advisor,” Curtis advises. “Also, reach out to his or her current and former students to get a sense of what he or she is like to work with.”

Curtis also notes that if there is a gap between the amount of time it takes to complete a Ph.D. and the amount of time a student’s funding lasts, this can slow down the Ph.D. completion process. “Keep in mind that if you run out of funding at some point during your doctorate, you will need to find paid work, and this will leave you even less time to focus on writing your dissertation,” he says. “If one of the programs you’re looking at has a record of significantly longer – or shorter – times to competition, this is good information to take into consideration.”

Pierre Huguet, the CEO and co-founder of H&C Education, says prospective Ph.D. students should be aware that a Ph.D. is designed to prepare a person for a career as a scholar. “Most of the jobs available to Ph.D. students upon graduation are academic in nature and directly related to their fields of study: professor, researcher, etc.,” Huguet wrote in an email. “The truth is that more specialization can mean fewer job opportunities. Before starting a Ph.D., students should be sure that they want to pursue a career in academia, or in research. If not, they should make time during the Ph.D. to show recruiters that they’ve traveled beyond their labs and libraries to gain some professional hands-on experience.”

Jack Appleman, a business writing instructor, published author and Ph.D. candidate focusing on organizational communication with the  University at Albany—SUNY , says Ph.D. programs require a level of commitment and focus that goes beyond what is necessary for a typical corporate job. A program with flexible course requirements that allow a student to customize his or her curriculum based on academic interests and personal obligations is ideal, he says.

[ READ: Ph.D. Programs Get a Lot More Practical.  ]

Joan Kee, a professor at the University of Michigan  with the university’s history of art department, says that the length of time required for a Ph.D. varies widely depending on what subject the Ph.D. focuses on. “Ph.D. program length is very discipline and even field-specific; for example, you can and are expected to finish a Ph.D, in economics in under five years, but that would be impossible in art history (or most of the humanities),” she wrote in an email.

Jean Marie Carey, who earned her Ph.D. degree in art history and German from the  University of Otago  in New Zealand, encourages prospective Ph.D. students to check whether their potential Ph.D. program has published a timeline of how long it takes a Ph.D. student to complete their program. She says it is also prudent to speak with Ph.D. graduates of the school and ask about their experience.

Bennett urges prospective Ph.D. students to visit the campuses of their target graduate programs since a Ph.D. program takes so much time that it is important to find a school that feels comfortable. She adds that aspiring Ph.D. students who prefer a collaborative learning environment should be wary of graduate programs that have a cut-throat and competitive atmosphere, since such students may not thrive in that type of setting.

[ READ: 4 Fields Where Doctorates Lead to Jobs.  ]

Alumni of Ph.D. programs note that the process of obtaining a Ph.D. is arduous, regardless of the type of Ph.D. program. “A Ph.D. is a long commitment of your time, energy and financial resources, so it’ll be easier on you if you are passionate about research,” says Grace Lee, who has a Ph.D. in neuroscience and is the founder and CEO of Mastery Insights, an education and career coaching company, and the host of the Career Revisionist podcast.

“A Ph.D. isn’t about rehashing years of knowledge that is already out there, but rather it is about your ability to generate new knowledge. Your intellectual masterpiece (which is your dissertation) takes a lot of time, intellectual creativity and innovation to put together, so you have to be truly passionate about that,” Lee says.

Erin Skelly, a graduate admissions counselor at the IvyWise admissions consulting firm, says when a Ph.D. students struggles to complete his or her Ph.D. degree, it may have more to do with the student’s academic interests or personal circumstances than his or her program.

“The time to complete a Ph.D. can depend on a number of variables, but the specific discipline or school would only account for a year or two’s difference,” she wrote in an email. “When a student takes significantly longer to complete a Ph.D. (degree), it’s usually related to the student’s coursework and research – they need to take additional coursework to complete their comprehensive exams; they change the focus of their program or dissertation, requiring extra coursework or research; or their research doesn’t yield the results they hoped for, and they need to generate a new theory and conduct more research.”

Skelly warns that the average completion time of a Ph.D. program may be misleading in some cases, if the average is skewed based on one or two outliers. She suggests that instead of focusing on the duration of a particular Ph.D. program, prospective students should investigate the program’s attritition and graduation rates.

“It is worthwhile to look at the program requirements and the school’s proposed timeline for completion, and meet current students to get their input on how realistic these expectations for completion are,” Skelly says. “That can give you an honest idea of how long it will really take to complete the program.”

Searching for a grad school? Access our  complete rankings  of Best Graduate Schools.

College Reality Check

Are PhDs Worth It Anymore? Should You Do It?

A bachelor’s degree can make you earn more money than someone whose highest educational attainment is a high school diploma or an associate degree.

On the other hand, a master’s degree can make you make even more. And if that’s not enough, you can consider getting a PhD, although it’s something that you will have to work hard for.

PhDs are worth it for individuals willing to devote resources to the attainment of the degree that can make them experts in specific fields and open doors to more career opportunities and higher salary potential. This is especially true for those who want to pursue a career in academia or research.

Continue reading if you are thinking about enrolling in a Ph.D. program.

Below, I will try to answer as many pressing questions as you probably have in your mind about getting a PhD, thus allowing you to determine whether you should give it a go or go get employed instead.

Why Should You Do a PhD?

Getting a PhD allows one to enjoy broader career opportunities where having the highest academic degree is an advantage. Naturally, a PhD paves the way to greater earning potential. Typically, individuals who do a PhD wish to reach their full capabilities, become experts in their chosen fields and make a difference.

Let’s get one thing clear: a PhD is an academic degree that takes a lot of time and money to get.

Individuals who are PhD holders, because of this, are quite rare . As a matter of fact, in the US, only around 1.2% of the entire population has a PhD — and this is why they are considered valuable.

While it’s true that completing a PhD program requires a lot of money and hard work as well as can cause stress, anxiety and many sleepless nights, it’s not uncommon for some students to still dedicate much of their resources to earning a PhD. It’s because the returns in terms of career opportunities, earnings and prestige are all worth the commitment.

What are Reasons Not to Do a PhD?

Expensive, time-consuming, requires lots of work, can cause psychological distress — these are some of the disadvantages of getting a PhD. Individuals who are not financially stable, don’t like working for several hours a week and are not fully invested in a discipline should think twice before working on a PhD.

Although there are lots of reasons for you to get your hands on a PhD, there are also some that may keep you from considering applying to a PhD program.

Leading the list is the exorbitant cost — in a few, I will talk about just how expensive a PhD is, so don’t stop reading now. And then there’s also the fact that it can take twice as long to earn a PhD than a bachelor’s degree. Typically, a PhD program can take anywhere from 4 to 5 years to complete. But for many, it can take up to 8 long years!

How long it will take for you to earn a PhD all depends on the program’s curriculum rigor and requirements.

When deciding whether or not you should push through with your plan on getting a PhD, carefully weigh the pros and cons. Dropping out somewhere in the middle of your studies can result in the wastage of both time and money.

How Many Hours Do PhD Students Study?

The vast majority of Ph.D. students spend anywhere from 35 to 40 hours per week studying and completing coursework tasks. In many instances, around 20 hours per week go to lab time or assistantship. As a result of this, enrolling in a Ph.D. program is said to be similar to having a full-time 9-to-5 job.

Undergraduate students are typically encouraged to devote 15 to 20 hours of their time per week studying in order to get good grades — for a final exam, 20 to 30 hours per week is recommended.

Since a PhD is harder, students should study twice as long (or longer) as when they were undergraduates.

During some of the busiest periods in a PhD program, such as when one is writing a dissertation, working substantially longer hours may be warranted. While a timely completion of the coursework and other tasks is obligated, however, students are free to manage their time in a way that goes with their preferences and lifestyles.

Part-time PhD students, by the way, usually work around 17.5 hours per week.

Can Students Work While Earning Their PhDs?

Although challenging, it’s possible for students to work while enrolled in a PhD program. Many working PhD students teach undergraduates at their respective universities. Some are full-time PhD students with part-time work, while others are part-time PhD students with full-time work.

First things first: earning a PhD can be hard and working on a PhD while employed can be harder. But it’s completely doable, particularly with excellent planning and time management.

As mentioned, teaching at a university is one of the most common jobs among working PhD students. But there are many other jobs available for them on and outside of the campus. Some of them are part-time jobs, while others are full-time jobs. Some have contractual work, while others take on more permanent workforce roles.

You can be a full-time employee and a part-time PhD student for better juggling of roles. But just make sure that you will be able to complete your studies within a certain period if such is a requirement at your university.

Do PhD Students Have a Social Life?

PhD students, despite all the rigorous academic and research activities they do, can have a social life. They can socialize with the members of their research group and meet new people during departmental parties and public engagement events. PhD students also have the freedom to manage their own schedule.

Everyone knows that a PhD is the highest level of degree that students can obtain. And it’s also no secret that earning a PhD is associated with a lot of time, stress and anxiety.

It’s a good thing that it’s still very much possible for you to have a social life while working on a PhD.

One of the reasons for such is that PhD students are usually allowed to follow their own schedule for as long as they get the work done. Paired with great time-management skills, you can have room to go out with friends and make new ones. Besides, there are plenty of activities PhD students attend where they can mingle with others.

However, there’s no denying that enjoying a social life can be challenging for PhD students who have to work, too. And, in some instances, one of the two tasks may fail to get ample focus and attention.

Do I Need a Bachelor’s and a Master’s to Get a PhD?

Many PhD programs require a master’s degree. However, there are some where a previously earned master’s degree is not a prerequisite. So, in other words, one may apply straight from a bachelor’s program. In some cases, however, completing a master’s program even if not a requirement can come with benefits.

Saving both time and money — arguably, this is the biggest benefit to have for completing a PhD without a master’s. And then there’s also the fact that you can flex your degree and earn money ASAP.

While there are perks that come with earning a PhD without a master’s, there are some downsides, too.

In some industries, for instance, candidates with both a master’s and a PhD may enjoy an advantage in both employability and salary potential, too. In addition, a prior master’s degree can help you decide much better on the path of your PhD studies and research for a more satisfying and fulfilling outcome.

But keep in mind that while a university may admit applicants to a PhD program without a master’s degree, it may require top-notch and impressive performance in an undergraduate program in exchange for an acceptance letter.

What are Integrated PhDs?

An integrated PhD is a combination of the taught study of a master’s program and the research element of a PhD program. It can take anywhere from 4 to 5 years to complete, depending on the program. At some universities, an integrated PhD degree is commonly referred to as an integrated master’s degree.

Earlier, we talked about the fact that you can work on a PhD without a prior master’s degree.

If the PhD requires a master’s degree or you want to earn one before applying to a PhD program, you may consider what’s referred to as an integrated PhD. As the name suggests, it’s a PhD with a master’s degree integrated into it.

Typically, a traditional PhD takes anywhere from 4 to 6 years to complete. On the other hand, an integrated PhD can take 4 to 5 years to complete — the first 1 to 2 years are for studying the master’s course and the remaining ones are for the completion of the PhD course.

But since an integrated PhD is relatively new, not too many universities offer it.

What are the Easiest PhDs to Get?

Although all PhDs require a lot of time and hard work, some are easier to obtain than the rest because of either lighter coursework and other program requirements or a shorter completion time or both. Many of the easiest PhDs to earn are available online, but only for students with the appropriate learning style.

Naturally, some of the easiest PhDs are those without dissertations, which can take 1 to 2 years to write, not to mention that most PhD students spend a couple of years conducting research and reviewing literature.

The following are some examples of Ph.D. programs minus any dissertation:

• Adult and career education
• Business administration
• Criminal justice
• Educational administration
• Grief counseling
• Human resources
• Information technology
• Nursing practice
• Public administration
• Social work

But keep in mind that different universities may have different PhD completion requirements.

Of all the easiest PhD programs, the general consensus is that most can be found online. But if you are like some students who find online learning more difficult than traditional learning, earning one can still be hard.

What are the Hardest PhDs to Get?

Some PhD programs are longer to complete and involve a lot of complex coursework and other completion requirements, thus making them some of the hardest to earn. Just like among various bachelor’s degrees, some of the most challenging PhDs to earn include those in the STEM- and healthcare-related fields.

In most instances and for most students, a PhD is harder to earn than a master’s degree. And, needless to say, it’s so much harder to obtain than a bachelor’s degree.

But some PhDs are simply more challenging to get than other PhDs.

Just like what’s mentioned earlier, STEM PhD programs are some of the hardest. Many agree that the likes of pure mathematics, theoretical physics, aerospace engineering, chemical engineering and computer science can prove to be so taxing. The same is true for healthcare PhD programs such as pharmacy, nursing and optometry.

Are PhDs Expensive?

The cost of enrolling in a PhD program amounts to $28,000 to $40,000 per year. So, in other words, a full PhD can cost anywhere from $112,000 to $200,000 or up to $320,000 (8 years). Tuition and living expenses are the primary costs of a PhD. There are ways PhD students can get funding for their studies.

Other than time, a PhD can also take up lots of money. Certain factors can impact just how much you will have to spend to get your hands on a PhD, and some of them include the university, program and length of completion.

But did you know that many PhD students don’t have to pay full price?

Because of the steep cost, it’s not uncommon for those who are enrolled in PhD programs to fund their studies through things such as studentships, research council grants, postgraduate loans and employer funding. As a matter of fact, some of them do not pay for their PhD programs — they are, instead, paid to take them.

And just like what we talked about earlier, it’s very much possible for you to be a PhD student and an employee, whether part-time or full-time, at the same time in order to earn money and fund your postgraduate studies.

Is a PhD Worth It Financially?

Without careful planning, completing a PhD program can hurt one’s finances. And if the return on investment (ROI) isn’t that substantial, it can be a waste of resources, too. For many, however, earning a PhD to secure their dream jobs or follow their true callings makes all the financial and time investments worth it.

After discussing just how much a PhD costs, it’s time to talk about if investing in it financially is a good idea.

It’s no secret that, generally speaking, the higher the educational attainment, the higher the earnings. True enough, the median weekly earning of a PhD holder is $1,909.

Doing the math, that’s equivalent to about $99,268 per year. On the other hand, the median weekly earning of a master’s degree holder is $1,574 or $81,848 per year — that’s a difference of $17,420 per year. Please keep in mind that it’s not uncommon for some master’s degree holders to make more than PhD holders.

The difference, however, becomes substantial when the average salary of bachelor’s degree holders is taken into account: $1,334 per week or $69,368 per year, which is $29,882 lower than the annual salary of those with PhDs.

Let’s take a look at the estimated annual median earnings of some PhD holders in some disciplines:

• Engineering: $107,000
• Mathematics: $104,000
• Healthcare: $98,000
• Business: $94,000
• Social science: $90,000
• Physical science: $89,000
• Public policy: $84,000
• Agriculture: $83,000
• Social work: $78,000
• Architecture: $73,000
• Communications: $72,000

Are PhDs in Demand?

PhDs are especially in demand in areas where highly specialized and very high-level research skills are important. Some of the most sought-after PhDs are those in STEM- and healthcare-related fields such as information systems, environmental engineering, chemistry, nursing and physical therapy.

As a general rule of thumb, some of the hardest PhDs to earn tend to be the most in-demand, too.

Simply put, PhDs in disciplines required for a better understanding of currently existing knowledge and challenges, development of modern-day technologies and discovery of new life-changing stuff are highly employable.

And this is why industries such as scientific research and development, manufacturing, health and social work are on the lookout all the time for promising PhD holders. Areas where PhDs are also commonly required include the education sector as well as various segments of the business industry.

Numerous transferable skills learned and developed by students, many of which are appreciated by employers across various industries, also help those with PhDs have increased job market value.

Just Before You Get a PhD

Does getting a PhD still sound great after everything you have read above? Then the smartest step for you to take next is to find the right PhD program for you and apply to it.

But keep in mind that while there are many perks that come with being a PhD holder, there are some sacrifices you will have to make before you get your hands on the prestigious academic degree. But by working hard and staying committed, it won’t take long before you are one of the country’s highest-paid and most satisfied professionals!

I graduated with BA in Nursing and $36,000 in student loan debt from the UCF. After a decade in the workforce, I went back to school to obtain my MBA from UMGC.

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