How flexible is a PhD program?

Question

I'm turning 30 soon and starting to wonder if I might be better suited to an academic career. I have an undergraduate business degree and a master's in journalism. I've been in Asia for several years and would like to continue living and making my career here. Unfortunately, I'm not very impressed by universities in the region. I've heard that some institutions tend to avoid hiring their own graduates in favor of foreign-educated academics.

I've met people who are pursuing PhDs at US/UK/Canadian universities but somehow manage to live here most of the time and even work full time. This is very appealing to me as I now have a lot of business contacts and personal connections here. Does anyone know which reputable universities allow PhD candidates the most freedom to pursue their research/studies while overseas?

I'm interested in Asia-focused economics/political economy and am open to considering reputable universities located anywhere in the world!

Answer 1

Every PhD program with which I am familiar (in the US) begins with two years of coursework, and requires residency for either two or three years. The third year is most commonly spent preparing for and taking qualifying exams and language exams, as well as researching, writing, and defending the dissertation proposal.

One could conceivably fly in for qualifying and language exams, as well as for the proposal presentation and defense. PhD programs that only require two years of residence are clearly allowing for this possibility.

In one's fourth year, when researching and writing the dissertation, one obviously need not be in residence, as long as one has access to an excellent academic library.

Therefore, I am assuming that the folks you've met are ABD (all but dissertation).

If you can manage four semesters away from your career, then you should be able to complete a PhD program in the traditional manner.

I should add that three-year long fellowships and assistantships are the usual means of financing doctoral study. Assistantships in particular would necessitate residency, since they involve research and/or teaching responsibilities on campus.

I am not sure if this is at all helpful to you, but I do wish you every success.

Answer 2

In the US at regular schools PhD progarms are NOT very flexible. Its a machine and they want you there on the scene as a cog.

You know what I would do if I had your qualifications (and if I was 30 again---oh, so young!--)? I would look at a PhD in International Studies. These programs tend to be a lot more flexible than standard PhD programs in traditional (old-fashioned) subjects like Political Science, History, English, etc.

As far as wanting a career in academia-I bet you will find you do not like it much. It is not what you think it is.

You probably think that university academics discuss heady and important concepts, right?

Nope, faculty meetings run like this: Whaa Whaa Whaa. People are talking too loud in the hall. The coffee was not strong/weak enough. I am not getting my messages. My office is too cold, cramped, hot. The President of the University/Football coach/Basketball coach just built a huge new house and I cannot afford to ----fill in the blank-----. Etc etc.

Maybe you will want to get a PhD and expand father into International Studies, or become an ambassador, or something.

Answer 3

For most PhD programs there are some very specific requirement for courses that must be taken in residence at the university. But, once those are completed in the second year, then you start on your dissertation. If you were doing Asian studies, most schools would expect you to go to Asia. You would be expected to speak the language and be very familiar with the culture. You aren't going to get your degree until you finish your dissertation, so if you head off to Asia, spend ten years diddling around writing a dissertation, most universities wouldnt care, as long as you kept paying your tuition and fees every semester. Some schools set a time limit - at UCal I believe they give you three years after you finish your courses to work on your dissertation at a very reduced tuition fee. THen if you dont finish in three years they figure you need a kick inthe pants so they dramatically increase your tuition after the third year of dissertation writing.

Interesting, isn't it, that someone who claims to direct a PhD program has time in the middle of the day to be doodling around here on Yahoo with us retired guys?