How long does it take to finish a phd

playboy

Just out of curiosity, how long does it take to finish a phd?

One of my prof's finished his phd in math in 3 years, and their is an engineering student at my school who is now in his 5-6th year of his phd.

Their is also this math student at my school who is now like 10 years into her phd.



But generally, what is the average time to a phd in math?

arunma

It takes two years to complete a physics PhD, after which you are appointed as a tenure-track professor...and then I wake up.

Seriously though, the figure I've heard Is 5-6 years. One of my fellow graduate students in the astrophysics department is a fourth year, and he's set to graduate next year. Seems like that's the average amount of time it takes, assuming that you take 10-12 credits a semester for your first two years, make sufficient progress in your research, pass your quals and orals, and so on. But I've heard of people who take time off to get a job, start a family, or do various other things, and then return to complete their dissertation. Maybe that's why your friend has taken ten years to get it done.

Saladsamurai

Are we talking from start (freshmen yr) to finish? . . . or three years from a BS? Seems a rather short period of time.

cristo

Three years from entering grad school I'd imagine. I can't see how one could obtain a bachelors degree and a PhD in 3 years! Incidentally, PhD's in the UK are normally completed in 3-3.5 years.

Locrian

I think there is likely to be some difference in this figure between Europe and US. In the US the PhD takes two to four years, plus two more for a masters along the way. Thus we get the usual 4-6 year number. I believe in Europe their starting physics degree is closer to the US masters, so they take a bit less time to finish their PhD.

Please correct me if I'm wrong.

playboy

Sorry,

I meant starting from the masters, how long to completion of the phd.

and my prof, yeah, he did his bachelors somewhere in south America (Brazil i think) and his phd somewhere in the uk in 3 years. (this is in mathematics)

I guess it all depends on many factors.

But my guess is 2 years for a masters and 2-4 years for a phd.

mathwonk

I entered my last stint as a math grad student with a masters in hand, and finished the PhD in 3 more years, which was all I was allowed.

At my current school, PhD's often take (in math) 6 years, for students entering without masters. But we take a lot of students who need some undergraduate work first.

It all depens on the preparation and speed of the student. I understand that at Princeton students traditionally finish more quickly, as they are expected to do. I.e. 2-3 years after the BA.

arunma

You sure about this? I just started a PhD (no MS, straight out of college), and even though I don't need to catch up on any undergraduate coursework, it's still going to take me 5 or so years. From what I understand, it would take the same amount of time even if I didn't get a master's along the way, since the PhD requirements include all the requirements for an MS.

I suppose I could fill out the paperwork and get an MS along the way, but I'm pretty sure that wouldn't lengthen the time it takes me to finish.

mathwonk

the point is whether you know the material for a masters going in or not.

quark80

Big difference between Australia and the US as well actually.

4 years to get Bachelor of Science (with Honours). Then, assuming you got high enough marks in 4th year, straight to PhD which generally only takes 3-3.5 years.

Locrian

No, that's why I asked for a correction ;). . . But I have heard it from many different people. Since my point was comparing US and Europe, and you didn't mention where you are, I don't even know which part of my post you think might be wrong!

Karatechop

Hey arunma where are you going to gradschool at if your don't mind me asking.

mathwonk

as i was thinking today, a phd is a degree without a well defined exit point. i.e. it is not a standardized thing, like an SAT test. The phd is over when the fat guy says it is.

so it all depends on your Uni and their ideas and your prof. some unis will say we want more phds so we can get listed higher on the scale by these stupid publications that measure phd profgrams by productivity.

so they will lower the criteria for beginning and encourage advisors to shoo the grads out the door without a lot of foundational training. sometimes this backfires when they get on their own.

the criterion is often something nebulous like " a non trivial original piece of research". but even this can in practice mean reproving some theorem someone else already proved.

so be sure to find out the ground rules and averages at yor uni.

Locrian

Ahahaha!

I like that one.

arunma

Oh, sorry for not being specific. What I meant to ask is: are you sure that it takes more time to get an MS on your way to a PhD, as opposed to getting a PhD without the MS? I was under the impression that all the MS coursework is part of the PhD program, meaning that for a PhD student can get an MS by simply filling out the paperwork after his first two years.

Iowa State University.

playboy

LOL That is the best line I have ever heard!!


Thanks for your thoughts and input



It's not over until the fat lady sings

Locrian

At the same university, this is probably true. If you get your MS one place and start your PhD another, you can almost certainly expect to do a bit more. If you are willing to make the switch, it may not be a big deal.