How to Choose the Right Online PhD Program for You
You’ve spent years earning your bachelor’s and master’s degrees, but you still aren’t satisfied with your knowledge base. You want to get into the doctoral program of your dreams and you’re ready to take it to the next level — online!.
The right online PhD program can help you build on the knowledge you already have, develop new expertise in areas that interest you and take your career to the next level. But how do you know if an online PhD program will be the right fit for you?.
How to Choose the Right Online PhD Program for You
What is an online PhD?.
Despite what you may have heard, an online PhD program is not a cheap and easy way to earn a degree. To get an online doctoral degree from an accredited institution, you will be expected to complete all of your work at home, on your own time—just like every other graduate student in every other kind of doctoral program.
There are a few exceptions, but they're rare. If you want help with coursework or personal counseling—as well as some other benefits that come along with attending classes in person—then you'll need to find a traditional program in your area.
For most people, though, an online doctoral program is going to require hard work and independent study just like any other kind of doctorate.
Types of Online Doctoral Programs.
There are a number of types of online doctoral programs, from those that offer a wide range of course options and flexible scheduling to those that focus on specific specialties and only require attendance in class one day per week.
- Depending on your intended area of study, program level (master's vs. doctorate), and personal interests, you'll want to be sure you're considering all available options.
- Some schools may offer both in-person and online programs or a combination.
- Use these resources as you begin looking at your options: What is an Online Doctoral Degree? Where Can I Get a Cheap Online Doctoral Degree? How Do I Choose Between In-Person & Online Classes? What Kinds of Financial Aid Are Available?.
Should you get an online PhD?.
Is an online Ph.D. right for you? How can you determine if it’s worth pursuing or not? To figure out whether getting a degree online is right for you, ask yourself some of these questions: Is my current location an issue in my daily life and/or career goals? If so, will obtaining a doctoral degree online help me move beyond that issue? Will I be able to find employers who are open-minded enough to hire me based on my degree instead of where I went to school? Do I have consistent access to high-speed internet and reliable computer hardware and software? If your answers to these questions are all yes, then pursuing an online Ph.D. may be a good option!
So, how do you choose?.
There are multiple factors to take into consideration when choosing an online PhD program. These factors include cost, degree type (online or traditional), location and program structure.
Make sure you find out how long it takes on average for a student in your field of study to earn their degree and consider how far along you are in your academic journey before deciding whether or not getting a degree online is right for you.
Most importantly, get as much information about an institution’s accreditation, financial aid offerings and reputation before applying so that you don’t end up with regrets later down the road!
How many years does it take to complete a doctoral degree?.
To answer that question, you need to first look at what kind of degree you want. Within two years, with full-time study and coursework taken each semester, a student could earn a PhD in psychology or education.
But if you are looking at philosophy programs or business schools, it can take longer; six years is not unheard of. A doctoral program in literature might take 10 years.
And some very rare disciplines—like geology—could require more than 20 years! Most fields have about a five-year minimum time requirement but there is often flexibility in how long it takes to finish.
What is the most common doctoral degree?.
A Doctor of Philosophy or Ph.D. is an advanced academic degree earned in a field of study such as science, engineering, law, or medicine. Earning a Ph.D. requires many years of schooling and hard work beyond earning a bachelor’s degree—typically three to five years after obtaining your master’s degree and two more years beyond that if you want your doctorate in education! It can be life-changing, though: A psychologist with a doctoral degree may charge $150 per hour or more; similarly high hourly rates are not uncommon among other doctoral-level professionals (lawyers and medical doctors). On top of that, most careers with big salaries have average hours which fall well below 40 hours/week.
Can you get a PhD Online Canada?.
Yes, and with just a few exceptions, you can get your doctorate degree from anywhere in Canada.
- However, not all schools are created equal so it’s important that you take your time researching before enrolling in an online program.
- Wherever you choose to study, keep these things in mind: Accreditation is crucial – Accreditation is just a fancy word for ensuring that schools are legitimate institutions of higher learning.
- In Canada, accreditation bodies include the Council of Ministers of Education Canada (CMEC), which governs university studies at both master’s and doctoral levels; Canadian Association of Degree Authorization (CADA), which maintains national standards regarding private career colleges; National Association of Career Colleges (NACC); and more.
Is PhD in Canada free?.
A PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities. A PhD normally takes about three years full-time to complete.
This time period can be extended if there are delays in obtaining approval and funding, or due to other circumstances such as examinations, etc.
In most countries where the degree is offered it is accepted as equivalent to a Master's degree qualification, although some require an additional viva voce examination (defense of research) before admission onto a PhD programme.
Can you get a PhD for free online?.
For many, an online PhD in psychology is a viable option—if you can find a school that actually offers free tuition.
- Make sure to do your research before applying though; if you're looking at an online program that has high application fees or large course loads, you may end up paying as much as $15,000 per year (or more).
- If you can find a high-quality school with lower tuition costs and low course loads though (like Western Governors University), it may be possible to get free online help on your dissertation or thesis.
Where can I do my PhD for free?.
Perhaps you have no interest in paying tens of thousands of dollars every year just to earn a degree. Good news! There are plenty of free options out there, particularly if you don’t mind earning your doctorate outside of North America.
For example, Germany and Sweden both offer free public doctoral programs. But what is a public doctoral program? A public doctoral program is any PhD program that takes place at an accredited German or Swedish university and is paid for by their government rather than by private companies.
Comments
Post a Comment