How long is the average PhD thesis?

Unfortunately, there's no one size fits all answer to this question. However, from the analysis of over 100 PhD theses, the average thesis length is between 80,000 and 100,000 words. A further analysis of 1000 PhD thesis shows the average number of pages to be 204.

How long should a PhD thesis be?

A PhD thesis (or dissertation) is typically 60,000 to 120,000 words (100 to 300 pages in length) organised into chapters, divisions and subdivisions (with roughly 10,000 words per chapter) – from introduction (with clear aims and objectives) to conclusion.

Can I write my PhD thesis in 2 months?

Assuming you've got all the research done and your supervisor is on board so it's simply a matter of writing things up in a coherent form it may be possible. Just don't expect to have any sort of outside life for those two months.

Is 30000 words enough for a PhD thesis?

Dissertation word counts vary widely across different fields, institutions, and levels of education: An undergraduate dissertation is typically 8,000–15,000 words. A master's dissertation is typically 12,000–50,000 words. A PhD thesis is typically book-length: 70,000–100,000 words.

Is 100 pages enough for PhD thesis?

An undergraduate thesis is likely to be about 20 to 50 pages long. A Master's thesis is likely to be between 30 and 100 pages in length and a PhD dissertation is likely to be between 50 and 450 pages long.

How long is a doctoral dissertation?

What is the shortest a PhD thesis can be?

“The world record for the shortest doctoral dissertation is held by a mathematician: nine pages for a PhD obtained from MIT in 1966.” Mr. Roy also discovered that titles have become longer over time. “This would suggest that we are losing our capacity for abridgement,” he notes.

Why is a PhD thesis so long?

One of the primary reasons they are so long is that it is a single document that summarises many years of hard work. Also, summarising the research field to date and making sure that all of your references and citations are included so you avoid plagiarism will bolster the word count of the thesis dramatically.

Can I write my PhD thesis in 6 months?

It is possible to finish your thesis in 6 months, even if you don't know what to write or haven't finished your research. In this short ebook, Scott Rank distills the principles that helped him go from crippling writer's block to writing 500-1000 words a day.

How hard is it to write a PhD thesis?

Writing a thesis or a dissertation can be a challenging process for many graduate students. There are so many chapters to complete, and writing each individual chapter requires an immense amount of hard work and a strong motivation.

How many people read a PhD thesis?

Typically, about 7: ¾ of the thesis committee, the roommate/spouse of the candidate, one other student in the research team, the person responsible for format approval, and maybe one or two people who are doing their theses in the same area. Everyone else will read at most the abstract and conclusions.

Is 30 too late to finish PhD?

The average age of a PhD student varies depending on the field of study and individual circumstances but generally ranges from late 20s to early 30s. The average age upon graduation across multiple fields, in the US, is 31.5 years old.

At what stage of PhD does one write thesis?

PhD thesis research

The form that this original contribution takes will largely depend on your discipline. Depending on the nature of your research, you may 'write up' your findings as you go, or leave it until the dedicated 'writing-up' period, usually in the third year of your PhD.

Should I quit my PhD after 2 year?

Sometimes the best plans can go badly. It is worth quitting your PhD if you have got nowhere with your research after two years. Sometimes research does not reward you for hard work and it can be a very frustrating time. Look at the progress of your research and focus on stuff that is working.

What is the longest thesis ever written?

The longest PhD thesis was written by historian Joachim Schuhmacher, regarding the development of sailing. His thesis, originally contained 2,654 pages, but was shortened to 2,200 pages and is even mentioned in the Guinness World Records. The thesis was submitted at the University of Konstanz in Germany.

How many pages is a typical PhD thesis?

Most dissertations are 100 to 300 pages in length.

What does a PhD thesis look like?

The typical PhD thesis structure will contain four chapters of original work sandwiched between a literature review chapter and a concluding chapter. There is no universal rule for the length of a thesis, but general guidelines set the word count between 70,000 to 100,000 words.

Can I write my PhD thesis in 2 weeks?

It's possible to complete your thesis in two weeks, but it will likely require a lot of hard work and long hours. Here are a few tips that might help you get it done: Set a schedule and stick to it. Determine how much time you can realistically work on your thesis each day, and schedule your work accordingly.

Can you get a PhD just by writing a thesis?

PhD by thesis only: It is possible nowadays to acquire a PhD by submitting only a thesis. You may research to find out which institutes offer such a program. While this might be more suited to your present circumstances, note that there may be some disadvantages to this compared with a PhD by coursework.

Can you do a PhD without writing a thesis?

A doctorate degree without a thesis is a terminal degree that does not require a student to conduct original research and write a dissertation. Instead, students may be required to complete a capstone project, comprehensive exam, or a final project that demonstrates their knowledge and skills in their field of study.

Can I finish my PhD in 2.5 years?

A select group of students complete their PhDs in two years, while a tiny number of elite students can get it done in 12 months. It's hard to overstate how rare and impressive this is, but it is always a possibility. The key to a fast-track PhD is building up a strong academic CV before you even start.

Is 35 too late to start a PhD?

It's not too old. I started taking statistics classes when I was 34 and finished up a PhD in statistics when I was 39. There was no problem at all doing it at that age.

Is it too late to start a PhD at 25?

There are no age limits on getting a PhD, so it can be done at any stage of life. In fact, those who pursue a doctorate later in life often bring with them valuable experiences from the workplace that can benefit their research and writing projects.

What is the hardest year of a PhD?

It depends: if by the 3rd year you have a viable idea, then the 1st year of Phd is the hardest. If no workable idea by the 3rd year, then 4th year is the hardest.

What is a good PhD thesis?

A good PhD thesis contains many references to original work and demonstrates a thorough, critical understanding of the context of the own work. Any one of above reasons should trigger a clear reference in the text that points to a suitable original source.

How do you finish a PhD thesis fast?