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Dissertations look like a bitch. I just want the PhD title. Any out there that get to skip the 200 page book they call a dissertation?

That's why Ph.D.'s are hard and everyone doesn't already have one.

Difficulty of dissertation relative to other efforts toward PhD = highly dependent on field. Dissertation is an afterthought for many. Would offer a better reply but this thread seems silly.

Are you serious? The dissertation seems like the best part!

There are some online degrees that don't require any effort at all

LOL. I have a PhD. The dissertation was the easy part.

If they're going to fail you, they do so before you write the PhD - there are exams for that. Once you get past the exams, so long as you're persistent and just keep writing you'll eventually get the degree. It doesn't have to be all that good, unless you want a job in the discipline you wrote it in (and then you'd better be able to get a couple of good articles out of it, perhaps a book).

At any rate, the trend these days in many disciplines is to write a dissertation as a series of thematically connected articles - or something approaching that. If you can write one article, you can write five on the same theme.

It's probably different in the sciences, though.

^you must be talking about the US - the oral is difficult but the dissertation is easy
In the UK, it normally takes even shorter to complete it. even a science phd can be done in 3 years. however, there is no guarantee that the outside examiners will not fail you and give you a masters instead.
i think it seems 'difficult' to some people because they like following rules and do not want to produce something 'relatively' original.

so, if you want it done quickly, do it in the UK
if you want the relative certainty, do it in the US.

cantaboot wrote:^you must be talking about the US - the oral is difficult but the dissertation is easy
In the UK, it normally takes even shorter to complete it. even a science phd can be done in 3 years. however, there is no guarantee that the outside examiners will not fail you and give you a masters instead.
i think it seems 'difficult' to some people because they like following rules and do not want to produce something 'relatively' original.

so, if you want it done quickly, do it in the UK
if you want the relative certainty, do it in the US.

The system in the UK is sufficiently different from the US that it can be jarring.

PhD programs vary wildly from country to country and school to school, not to mention by subject matter.
don't look at the generalities. If you know what PhD you're going for, research the schools and the individual requirements & The importance of oral v dissertation v research project, etc which can be completely different

yeah. thanks.
just personal anecdotes my pals had no problem getting science phds within 4 years. and i'm talking about top british research universities.
as said, go to those websites and find for yourself.

btw, I have included sydney on my must-travel list.

cantaboot wrote:yeah. thanks.
just personal anecdotes my pals had no problem getting science phds within 4 years. and i'm talking about top british research universities.
as said, go to those websites and find for yourself.

btw, I have included sydney on my must-travel list.

I was ginna send you a PM, but I can't (?)
Ate you from England?

i'll talk to you later