What is the average length of a 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.

What is the ideal length of a PhD thesis?

A PhD thesis must not exceed 80,000 words, and will normally be over 60,000 words. This word limit includes footnotes and endnotes, but excludes appendices and reference list / bibliography. Figures, tables, images etc should be counted as the equivalent of 150 words for each page, or part of a page, that they occupy.

How long does a PhD thesis have to be?

While the standard length of a master's thesis is around 100 pages, a doctoral dissertation can be upwards of 400-500 pages. While most students can finish their PhD dissertation or thesis in as little as 1-2 years, it can take as long as 7 years depending on the school, program, and dissertation topic.

How many pages is a typical PhD thesis?

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 a 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 Long Should A Thesis / Dissertation Be? (Words / Pages In An Average PhD Dissertation)

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.

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.

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.

Why is a PhD thesis so long?

A Master's dissertation focuses on concluding from existing knowledge whilst a PhD thesis focuses on drawing a conclusion from new knowledge. As a result, the thesis is significantly longer as the new knowledge needs to be well documented so it can be verified, disseminated and used to shape future research.

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.

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 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.

How difficult is 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.

Does a PhD thesis have to be perfect?

A good thesis is a done thesis!

There is honestly no perfect thesis because science is not perfect. I think once I got to grips with the idea that what I was writing up didn't have to be perfect, it just had to be done to the best of my ability then that allowed me to push through the writing process.

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.

Can a PhD thesis be 60000 words?

This work can be accompanied by an exegesis (commentary and interpretation of the work) or a dissertation (on a topic related to the work). Any written work accompanying a thesis by creative works must be substantial; between 30,000 and 60,000 words for a PhD and between 15,000 and 30,000 for an M. Phil.

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.

Can a PhD thesis be too long?

A PhD thesis must not exceed 80,000 words, and will normally be over 60,000 words. This word limit includes footnotes and endnotes, but excludes appendices and reference list / bibliography. Figures, tables, images etc should be counted as the equivalent of 150 words for each page, or part of a page, that they occupy.

Why is it so hard to finish a PhD?

Overall, how hard it is to successfully complete a PhD degree depends on a number of factors including your project, institution, background, financial situation and even the state of research in your field. You're also far more likely to drop out due to personal circumstances or changes in motivation than fail.

Can you write a PhD in 3 months?

Practice analysis early and don't neglect your data! I've had some comments on this post reacting as if I completed my entire PhD in 3 months. No, I did three and a half years of research first, then wrote the thesis. I also do not claim that anyone can write that fast, as it depends on a lot of different factors.

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 100 pages enough for a PhD thesis?

Average, good, size for a thesis is 150 pages all in. Perhaps up to 50 extra pages for a big appendix and bibliography. Beware of the trend to write long and boring doctorates (papers, &c), improve your communications skills.

What was Einstein's PhD thesis?

Einstein's thesis ``A New Determination of Molecular Dimensions'' was the second of his five celebrated papers in 1905. Although it is -- thanks to its widespread practical applications -- the most quoted of his papers, it is less known than the other four.

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.

What is the fastest someone has gotten a PhD?

Alessio Figalli did his PhD in one year.