Sandeep Reddy [Reddy - Finish Your PhD !: The Proven Way

CHAPTER 1-PhD in a Nutshell
What is a PhD?

First, let us be on the same page as to what is a PhD program? PhD is the short term for a Doctor of Philosophy. PhD can sometimes be abbreviated as DPhil. A PhD is the highest university qualification a student can achieve with some exceptions. In some countries like the UK and Germany, one can achieve a higher degree than PhD. These are however uncommon and as it stands a PhD qualification remains as the terminal degree in most countries. Completion of a PhD means the student has demonstrated the necessary competencies to function as an independent researcher. This competency is proven by extensive and original contribution to the students field of research during their studies.

Generally, it takes about three to four years full time to complete a PhD, but the duration may differ depending on the students individual circumstances and the country in which you are enrolled in the PhD program. For instance, the average duration for completion of PhD studies in Australia and New Zealand is three to four years while in the USA it is five to six years. This is because; in the USA there is a requirement to complete coursework before continuing into the research component. This requirement adds to the duration of PhD studies. This requirement does not apply in most instances in Australia and New Zealand PhD programs as it is expected that admitted students have acquired necessary skills to undertake research in the chosen field of study.

In the first year of a PhD the student, following discussions with the supervisory panel, prepares a research proposal- a plan outlining how the student intends to collect data/obtain results for and analyse the same with associated time frames. It is also generally expected that an extensive literature review be undertaken in this year and presented to your supervisors. In the second year the student embarks on collecting research data or laboratory results. You may during this year present some of your results in conferences or seminars. In the third year with all having gone smoothly in the previous years, you write up your research findings in the form of a thesis. However, in reality, these time frames are not necessarily adhered to. It is, therefore, the purpose of this book to enable you to follow these timelines as far as possible.

What are the different types of PhDs?

Figure I. A PhD can be studied in different ways.

As we discussed PhD programs differ by country but the format of studying and completing PhD can differ within a country by each University. The most common way of completing a PhD is starting afresh with a research project and collecting data to support your research statement followed by writing up of your thesis. We will discuss this PhD route throughout this book. However, it is pertinent to discuss here an alternative PhD route. Some universities offer a PhD by Publication route for PhD applicants. Some universities require applicants to have substantial prior research and publication history but some other universities do not. So what is involved in this PhD study?
This type of PhD involves the candidate producing a series of publication ready articles or published articles, which take the place of traditional chapters in a thesis. The publications can be book chapters too. The publications are wedged between two substantial chapters-the introductory and conclusion chapters. While each article in the thesis can be read on their own there needs to be continuity or link across all the chapters/articles in the thesis. It is usually expected that you are the first author of all the publications and the articles written after your PhD enrolment. It is also expected the publications still meet the requirements for completing a PhD such as substantial, original contribution to the knowledge in discipline and meet conventional referencing standards.
There are several advantages in undertaking this type of PhD. An academic career, nowadays, is very much defined by publications. By publishing when you are undertaking your PhD itself gives you a head start. Publishing early provides you the skills to write and publish, thus helping your academic career later on. As publishing is a central feature in this PhD route you wont be able to push aside publishing for other considerations as you do with PhD by conventional routes. Also, completing your PhD through this pathway gives you the valuable experience of dealing with journals and the peer review process, which again will benefit your emerging academic career. Further considering each publication as a mini-project helps in completing your PhD pragmatically.