How long is a doctorate course?

Question

How long does it usually take to receive a Ph.D. degree in pure sciences such as chemistry, physics, or biology in outstanding universities?

Answer 1

I know of people who got their Ph. D. in Physics in three years after graduation and of some who completed their doctorate in English in the same time, although the Humanities generally take much longer. If you can isolate an original problem in your very first year in graduate school and pesuade a Professor of its significance, you will have a head-start. It is more usual, however, in the sciences to work in an area a Professor is already doing research in . That way, you can join the team working with him and get paid for your efforts, for many faculty members in the sciences have subtantial research grants. In many cases the doctorate may take, say, seven years, and some, alas, never finish. I will end with a joke. A Frenchman (in English) once told me that the Ph.D. dissertation in his country takes so long that many are on the verge of retirement before they finish.

Answer 2

It depends upon how hard you're willing to work, how many classes you can take and what you end up doing for a thesis and dissertation. In general it's 4 years for a bachelor's, 2 years for a master's and around 7 for the doctorate. You usually have to take two years of general courses for the doctorate (things like research and grant writing), then specialized classes and the research for and writing of the dissertation.

Answer 3

Based on the research I've done, although some may not consider psych to be a "pure" science, most doctoral students receive funding for 5 years. My friend is an analytical chem doctoral student @ MSU and I believe she is on a 5 yr track.

Answer 4

Usually 3-4 years to do the undergrad course (+1 to do honours which you will need to be offered a PhD), then another 3-4 to complete the PhD. But sometimes it can take longer to do the research than 4 years.

Answer 5

Of course it depends on several factors. But, on average, you will take 2 years to do your doctorate courses (general), and then another 2-3 years for your dissertation.

Answer 6

Eight years, give or take a few for your dissertation. 8 is the minimum, but it can take upwards of a decade to complete, depending on a lot of things.