So you're thinking of doing your PhD? First of all, congratulations on considering this next big step in your professional career! Getting a PhD is a big deal - it's something to be proud of and also not something to be undertaken lightly. 

If you already have your degree and your master's, then you know that a PhD is a big step up in terms of time commitment and academic rigor. How long it takes depends on a few factors like the program you choose and how much time you can commit to your PhD. 

So let's discover how this might look for you.

How Long Does It Take to Complete a PhD?

The typical timeframe for a PhD is usually around 3-7 years full-time and 6-10 years if you choose a part-time route. That's about the same as a bachelor's degree, but the structure is usually very different. You can expect fewer classes and a lot more research. Many full-time PhDs follow the structure of a year of coursework, a year of exams, and then a dissertation which takes at least a few years.

This is typical, but it varies widely across disciplines, so it's worth doing more specific research about your chosen field. Reading course descriptions is a great way to get a feel for how long you can expect a PhD to take in your field. 

Factors That Influence The Timeline For a PhD

The amount of time that it actually takes to complete your PhD can vary quite significantly and multiple factors influence how long it takes -  from a quick three years all the way up to ten years or more.

Program Structure

How structured is your PhD of choice and what is required? Is there a coursework component or is the focus mostly on your dissertation? 

Some programs like psychology require PhD students to complete long residences in a medical setting while others like those in the biological sciences are commonly quicker. 

Research Focus

Defending your dissertation is usually the most time-consuming and variable part of any PhD. Research is not known for being predictable and sometimes you can spend a significant amount of time going in one direction, only to discover it's not yielding the results you hoped for. 

I have a friend who started her PhD hoping to build further on someone else's research. As she progressed it became more and more obvious that the research couldn't be replicated and that the original results had been adjusted to make them seem more significant than they were! She had to scrap her research and many hours of work and start again. 

Obviously, that's a serious ethical problem and quite an extreme situation. But the point stands- research is unpredictable and not all results are dissertation-worthy.

Professional Obligations

How demanding is your job? And how supportive is your employer of your studies? The amount of time (and energy) you can dedicate to your PhD makes a big difference in how long it takes. 

Some employers will offer dedicated study time off. Others, like universities, colleges, and other academic institutions might be able to help with ways to incorporate your research into your day-to-day work.

Personal Circumstances

Your family responsibilities, health, and other life events can all influence how long your PhD takes. When you're undertaking such a long and time-consuming task, the chances that life gets in the way increase. 

A sudden illness, death in the family, or job change is not uncommon in the space of 6-10 years. Knowing this upfront can help you avoid panic if life knocks your PhD timeline off track.

Supervisory Support

It's common practice to be assigned a supervisor when you start a PhD. Their role is to help and guide you through the process. Their competency as well as the time that they can dedicate to you both play a significant role in how quickly you can finish your PhD.

Impact of a PhD on Career Progression

A PhD is the ticket to progressing in some careers, but for others, it might not make much difference. If you're in academia or a position that requires specialized knowledge, then a PhD is probably the best choice for you. 

If you're just feeling stuck in your professional career, then it's worth chatting to a mentor and doing some good research into what the best next step might be for you. Something in business, project management, or leadership might be a better direction if you don't need specialized, field-specific knowledge.

A PhD can bring career progression, job satisfaction, and increased pay in the long term. However, it's a big undertaking that's likely to impact your life in significant ways in the short to medium term. It really is a labor of love and not just a box to tick. 

Before you begin it's worth taking stock of the immediate financial impact. Will you work fewer hours and receive less pay? Do you need to cover the cost of your PhD? Will you make more money once you're done? The sacrifices are usually worth it, but it's always wise to do a cost analysis and make sure that you're aware of the financial implications.

Is a PhD Right for Me?

Still not sure if a PhD is your next step? Appily Advance can help you figure out what you need to do to take your career to the next level. 

Try the education career quiz or the health care quiz to see if a PhD is a good for for you. It only takes a few minutes and should help set you on the path to making the best career decisions you can. 

Is neither of those a good fit for you? Try the business career quiz to see if another advanced degree like an MBA or M.S. in management might be more in line with your goals.