Pathways of Persistence: The Part-Time PhD Experience

A PhD or Doctor of Philosophy is the highest degree a student can pursue. The Doctor of Philosophy program is a full-time program. A student pursues a PhD degree to achieve their dream of earning the ‘Dr’ title, and those who want to have a career in academics, like professors, or in research. It takes around 3 to 6 years of the program to receive a doctoral degree. The students in PhD are required to submit their dissertation, coursework, and interview to earn the ‘Dr’ title.

Individuals who are working and wish to earn their doctoral degree through a part-time PhD program. Where the enrolled students will receive their doctoral degree and dream of earning the ‘Dr’ title after 3 years of the program. There are many universities from which students can earn their doctoral degree through a part-time PhD. The eligible students can consider receiving an award through an honorary PhD online.

Key highlights of the part-time PhD program

Here are a few features of the part-time PhD program for students to better understand:

•  The duration for a part-time PhD is usually 3 years, depending on the course and university
• The enrolled students can take their classes at their convenience.
• The students will also learn research skills, so they can submit their research paper at the end of their program.
• The learners will get a chance to talk to their field experts online and learn more about their field.
• Students can also receive their doctoral degrees from foreign universities that are globally recognized.
• The enrolled students will also get the chance to interact with other students from various backgrounds.
• On receiving their doctoral degree, many doors will be open to them in terms of career prospects.
• The students will not only earn their doctoral degree, but they will also get their overall personality development

Who is eligible for the part-time PhD

The part-time PhD program is designed for individuals who are working and want to earn their doctoral degree without leaving their jobs. There are a few eligibility criteria for the interested students who wish to apply for this PhD program- 

• Students who have completed their bachelor’s degree in any of the specializations and have 3-4 years of working experience. 
• Master’s degree or related course. 

 The required working experience may vary from university to university.

What is an honorary PhD online?

An honorary doctorate degree is a prestigious award given to individuals who have made exceptional contributions to their field of study by a university. This award doesn’t require any mandatory educational qualification. To earn the honorary doctorate degree, individuals can apply to the university where they want to receive the award. There are various universities from which individuals can receive their degrees.

To earn this degree, individuals do not need to enroll in any of the universities. The university selected a candidate on the basis of their interview and the alignment of the individual's contribution to the university’s goals.

Key aspects of an Honorary PhD online

Here are a few features of an honorary PhD online-

• Interested individuals do not require any coursework to be eligible for the honorary degree
• The individuals are nominated on the basis of their interviews, which will be held online 
• The nominated candidates will receive the ‘Dr’ title after the interview. 
• Candidates from various backgrounds, like a social worker, social scientist, or philanthropist, are eligible to receive this award. 
• On receiving the honorary degree, the candidate will be a role model to other students. 
• There is no age limit to achieve this honorary award.
• The selected candidates will receive their degrees online or through convocations, whichever they prefer. 
• The individuals will get wider job prospects after receiving the honorary award.

Who can receive this award?

Here is the eligibility criterion for individuals who are eligible to receive this award.

• Individuals who have made a remarkable contribution in their field of study.
• Those who have a reputable professional and private life
• Those who made impactful contributions to social development.
• No specific educational background is required

Honorary PhD online application process

 Here is the application process to receive an honorary PhD online; the process may vary according to the university’s guidelines. 

1. Registration- The candidates must check before applying whether they are eligible to receive the honorary doctorate or not.
2. Upload documents- While filling out the application form, the candidates are required to upload the required documents. 
3. Nomination fee- The candidates are required to submit a fee, which is regarded as a nomination fee. 

After filling out the application form, the University reviews the application and nominates the candidate based on its criteria- 

• Application review-  The university verifies the candidate's application to determine whether they are eligible according to the university’s criteria or not. The university may take a few days to reply.

1. Welcome call- If the candidate is shortlisted, they will receive a welcome call from the university regarding the day and time of the interview. 
2. Interview- The shortlisted candidates will be selected based on an interview, which will be conducted in detail for 1 to 1.15 hours. The interview will be held online. 
3. Selection- If the candidate is selected, they will receive an E-degree or participate in convocation and ceremonies based on their preferences.  

Conclusion

The part-time PhD program offers an opportunity for those individuals who are working and want to pursue the highest degree in PhD without leaving their jobs. On the other hand, individuals who have done something extraordinary in their field of study can also earn the title of ‘Dr’ through an honorary PhD online.