How to Get a PhD: Degrees & Requirements

How do you get a doctorate degree? For those wondering how to earn a PhD, the basic process is simple enough, if rather lengthy. The steps to earning a PhD include:

1. Obtain a bachelor's degree
2. Take the GRE or other entrance exams
3. Apply for graduate schools
4. When accepted, work on either a master's or PhD
5. If in a master's program, complete master's and apply for doctoral programs
6. Perform coursework in early years of PhD
7. Establish a dissertation topic and begin research
8. Defend dissertation and publish research
9. Receive PhD

The first step to earn a PhD is to attend a college and complete a bachelor's degree program relevant to the PhD you hope to earn one day. With the bachelor's degree complete, students should consider carefully how best to proceed. Would a master's be advisable in this particular field, or can you head straight into a PhD program? Either way, it will usually be necessary to take entrance exams such as the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) in order to apply for graduate schools. Once accepted into a PhD program, the early years are spent doing coursework much like an undergraduate program. The final years are spent in research and developing a dissertation of a question you have in your field. After which, you defend the dissertation and publish the research, completing the steps to earn a doctorate degree.

This is a commonly asked question, caused by some confusion over the fact that a PhD is the highest degree level, which makes it sound like it would come after a master's degree. Both a master's degree and a PhD are considered graduate degrees, which exist in a capacity higher than the undergraduate bachelor's degree. Is a master's degree part of the minimum qualifications for a PhD? It is possible to progress straight from a bachelor's to a PhD in some instances, although students with a master's degree may be able to skip certain courses and accelerate their PhD. In general, earning a master's and then proceeding to a PhD program will take roughly the same amount of time until graduation as going straight from bachelor's to PhD. Having a master's degree may, however, make a student look more appealing in applications, and that advantage is sometimes necessary for highly competitive spots in doctoral degree programs.

Once you are in a PhD program, how do you get a PhD? In a PhD program, the first year will mostly consist of coursework, much like undergraduate classes, but concerning topics that are more complex or require advanced knowledge of the field. Coursework is likely to continue in some capacity until the third year. During the second year, students will typically begin to plan and work on their major research project, often referred to as the doctoral thesis. With the help of advisors, a student will devise an experiment or begin a study to answer a particular question, and then begin working on an extensive dissertation discussing their theory, experiments, and findings. This process can take years, depending on the particulars of a thesis, and dissertations are often as long as some books. The final step in the PhD requirements is that students must defend their dissertation before a committee of professors, including their advisor, and prove its merit. Upon successful defense of the dissertation, a graduate student is ready to be awarded their PhD.

Depending on a few factors, such as what field the degree is in and if you are earning a master's degree first, how long it takes to achieve a PhD can vary by a few years. The average length of time once admitted is six years for those going from a bachelor's right into a PhD program or three for those coming from a master's program. A master's degree often takes two to four years to complete, so the time spent earning a PhD after is roughly the same amount of overall time. Fields or dissertations with in-depth research can take longer to complete due to having a longer time spent in research.

The cost of getting a PhD can vary greatly for non-residents, online programs, and public or private institutions. The average cost of graduate tuition and fees for all post-secondary institutions has been around $19,000 since the 2015-2016 academic year (it should be noted that this includes master's degrees). For online institutions, the cost can be as low as $6,000, while for private institutions, the cost can be as high as $90,000. Students interested in earning a PhD will need to check with the institutions they are interested in applying to for budget considerations. Many students will choose to get financial aid to help cover the cost of attending, and the amount covered can depend on the field, program, and institution. Other ways students can cover the cost is through grants, scholarships, and work-study programs.

While a student might pursue a master's degree to advance their career, one usually aims for a PhD if they are interested in academic research. PhD recipients often work as professors at universities when not performing research, so individuals interested in teaching college-age students might also want to pursue a doctorate degree. Alternatively, a PhD holder can also lead research projects for government organizations and corporations, act as consultants for media, and write books and articles related to their degree and research.

For those wondering, 'how to get a PhD certificate' might find the number of options for PhD alternative routes helpful on their path for how to earn a doctorate degree. While there may not be any 1-year online doctoral programs, it is possible to earn a PhD online at an accelerated rate or part-time. Online PhD programs are often very flexible with transfer credits, and while still exclusive, may not have the maximum seating restrictions that other PhD programs must face. Online programs might rely on summer courses and independent study, so individuals considering this path may want to be highly motivated. Dissertations and their defense are still common among online PhD programs.

Alternatively, there are other graduate degrees at the doctoral level that aren't PhDs, such as Doctor of Education (Ed.D.). While a PhD in education also exists, these programs may have differences in how they progress, and may be better suited to your needs. Always do research on the available possibilities before committing to a degree program.

Considering the number of steps in how to achieve a doctorate degree, it is important to decide if achieving a PhD is worth it to you. The time spent earning a PhD can offer many opportunities. PhD students often teach undergraduate level classes, get research published, and present at conferences. This can be practice for those on track to become professors as it gives you the chance to try it first-hand. Earning a PhD can slightly increase your employment likelihood, however, not much more than a master's degree. Deciding between a PhD, master's, or alternative degrees depends on what you want out of the degree, some of the pros for each are seen in the table below.