How long does it take to do a PhD?

You’re probably familiar with people being in the process of writing a thesis. This is the final, concluding step in a PhD programme. This process involves someone making an original contribution to science. As such, it requires a lot of research that calls for major investment in terms of time as well as perseverance. 

Do you have a keen interest in science, and would you like to pursue a PhD? If so, you’re going to be doing PhD research as well as become a PhD.  But what is a PhD, why should you start a PhD programme, and exactly how long does a PhD take? We tell you all about it in this blog.  

Pursuing a PhD

You’ll be working on independent university research when doing a PhD. You’ll often be part of the university’s academic staff. You can also do a PhD as an external PhD candidate. In this case, you won’t be employed by a university as such but will already have another job.  

PhD students make an original contribution to science. You do so by presenting your results in a thesis. A PhD committee will assess this, and you will subsequently defend it in public. Have you succeeded? You’ll then be awarded a PhD and be able to use the title Dr or PhD.  

Benefits of doing a PhD

Why do people do PhDs? And why should you do a PhD? Below we discuss some of the benefits: 

  • Professional and personal development: among other things, you develop your perseverance and increase your knowledge. 
  • Varied work: you give lectures to students when joining a university as a PhD student. You may also take courses and go to relevant conferences.  
  • Great freedom: anything goes as long as it’s well-founded. That’s because you’ll be working on your own project during a PhD programme. 
  • Small chance of unemployment: there are many research-related jobs that are only available to people with a PhD. Both in academia and industry.  

You can’t just do a PhD

You first have to get a master’s degree or equivalent to be allowed to do a PhD. In very exceptional cases, someone who hasn’t obtained this can still be admitted to a PhD programme. He/she/they must then demonstrate the ability to conduct independent scientific research. This will require finding a researcher and supervisor willing to vouch for him/her/them. 

Nowadays, higher vocational education students are also allowed to do a PhD, provided they have an academic level of work and thinking. In addition, they must have a demonstrable affinity with science.  

Doing a PhD can take years

o there’s still quite a lot involved in a PhD programme, and you don’t just do one overnight. Exactly how long does a PhD take? You often get a four-year contract with a university if you’re doing a PhD. What if you’re an external PhD candidate? In that case, you’ll often be doing a PhD for longer, because you’ll be doing your PhD research alongside your regular job. You’ll then be doing your PhD part-time instead of full-time. 

The time it takes to do a PhD also depends on your personal circumstances and the time you can free up for it. Most PhD students are between 25 and 35 years old. There are, of course, lots of exceptions; after all, you could theoretically be doing a PhD your whole life. The oldest PhD student to ever complete a thesis was 92!   

You conclude your PhD with a thesis

So, although doing a PhD takes at least four years, it’s well worth the effort and time. Are you already a PhD student? Or are you going to be starting your PhD soon? If so, you’ll be required to conclude your PhD by presenting your results in a thesis. We can help you create a fantastic version of your work. We will also take care of the layout of your thesis. 

Is your thesis ready, or almost ready, for printing? Let us know what your requirements are! 
Ask for a quotation 

Team Proefschriften.nl