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Komal
21 July, 2025
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Doctor of Philosophy or PhD is the highest academic qualification in India. Typically, a PhD course duration is three to six years. You can pursue a PhD in a wide range of subjects. If you have completed your master’s and are planning to go towards research and academia, then this is the right choice for you. A doctoral programme requires in-depth research and understanding of the subject. Your progress is mapped throughout the course duration of PhD. Every year, you are required to submit your work so far, including literature, data collection and tools.
Moreover, it can open a gateway to a wide range of career opportunities for your future. This is why you must know year-by-year details of the PhD course. In this blog, we take a deep dive into everything you must know about the PhD course duration and structure. What your doctoral journey would look like and how long it would be.
The full form of PhD is Doctor of Philosophy. You can pursue a PhD degree in any discipline of your choice. It is your chance to provide a groundbreaking research contribution to your field. Some of the PhD degree subjects are mathematics, English, economics, management, history, science, and more. The course includes academic writing, thesis submission, and new findings in your field of discipline.
Typically, PhD course duration in India is three to six years. For this research-based course, you must qualify for the entrance tests such as UGC NET, CSIR NET, TISSNET, ICAR AICE-JRF, and more. After the completion of your PhD degree, you earn the title of doctor, highlighting your ability to think critically and work independently.
Also read: Understanding PhD Full Form: Significance and Specialisations
Pursuing a PhD is not just about the research work; it is about critical thinking, time management, communication, and other interpersonal skills. Moreover, PhD in India would prepare you to teach, research and become an expert in the field. But before all that, you need to understand your journey throughout the course. This would help you prepare for and ace the programme:
After successfully getting admission into a PhD programme, you need to attend the core courses and workshops. This would help lay a foundation for the advanced concepts in the field. The coursework may differ depending on the subject and institution. At this stage, you cover research methodology, core subjects, and interdisciplinary modules.
In the initial months of the second year, you finish the coursework and appear for the examination or assessment. Please note that not every doctoral candidate is required to give an examination; some institutions also assess your knowledge through evaluations. This stage shall determine your learning so far. After the completion of the comprehensive evaluation, you must rewrite your thesis proposal.
You are required to rewrite your research proposal after you finish the coursework and assessments. This determines whether you are able to apply the knowledge you learn through coursework. It is important to get approval for your research proposal. You need to present an outline for the research, which the department or research committee must approve. The proposal must include research objectives, a problem statement, and a methodology. Additionally, it would also include the expected outcome of the research and the preliminary review of the literature. Moreover, you also need approval from the ethics committee for your thesis proposal.
Once you have the official approval, you need to dive into your research tools and data collection. It can be one of the most extensive and overwhelming parts of your doctoral journey. During this phase, you must conduct experiments and surveys, collect data, and work on various case studies. Keep in mind that the research work must be original and should add to the field.
After collecting the necessary data and completing your fieldwork, you enter the analysis and writing phase. This is where you interpret your research findings, validate your data, and begin documenting your research in a structured format. You need to work on your dissertation or thesis chapters. It includes literature review, methodology, data analysis, interpretation of results, and conclusions. Regular interaction with your research guide becomes crucial during this year.
Once the writing is complete and your supervisor approves the final draft, you are ready for thesis submission. The university will conduct a plagiarism check, and you may be asked to revise certain sections. After approval, you must appear for the viva voce — an oral defence of your thesis before an expert panel. If the panel is satisfied with your work and responses, you are awarded the PhD degree, officially earning the title of ‘Doctor’.
Note: Every year, you must mandatorily resubmit your progress report for the two semesters on the thesis proposal to your supervisor.
After completing the research, you must complete the thesis. The thesis would contain your research findings, outcomes, surveys, case studies, and the final impact of the findings. Getting a final approval on your dissertation might take a long time. Once the writing part is done, you must defend your thesis in front of a panel through a viva voce. You need to present your findings, present your answers and conclusion.
After this long journey, you would finally be awarded your doctoral degree. This journey might extend, depending on your research and some other factors.
There is a reason why a doctoral degree requires time and considerable effort to complete. As a doctoral candidate, you are required to meet the requirements to receive your doctoral degree. The degree requirements might differ, but most of them include:
It is important to complete the advanced coursework to move on to the next stage.
Once you have completed the coursework, you must appear for the comprehensive exam or assessment. It would showcase your knowledge, understanding, and theories of the field.
To manage tuition fees and living expenses, many candidates take on TA/RA jobs. These job roles would sometimes add to your academic duties, making it difficult to manage. However, if you want to work as an assistant professor, you would need a good API score. You must have a minimum of 78 API scores to be eligible for these roles.
Before you start working on your final thesis, it is important to get your thesis approved. You need to present a proposal with a research objective, problem statement, methodology, and more.
Finally, present your original research that contributes to your field and shows in-depth research.
A PhD course in India takes three to five years to complete, which can be extended to seven years based on any unexpected delays. Moreover, some universities may offer a one-year deferment. The doctoral programme structure varies depending on your college/university. But here is a sample duration timeline of the course. This would help you get a rough picture and shall help you make an informed decision. Keep in mind that this is just a sample, and for the actual course structure, you must visit the college website.
Also read: From Doctorate to Dream Job: Navigating Exciting Career Opportunities with a PhD.
A PhD is the highest academic qualification, which requires hard work and effective time management. And, even after calculating everything, there could be factors that might extend your degree. Here are some of the factors:
Your Schedule: Sometimes, your work and personal responsibilities can come between your coursework and research. Life can be unpredictable, and in such cases, you must be a little flexible. This is why you must make a schedule and adhere to it.
Research Area: Some fields require intense research and experimentation. Research may require more time than other research areas.
Topic Complexity: Some topics might require more time to conduct and develop research work. If your research field involves interdisciplinary concepts or is technology-based, it will require more data points.
University Guidelines: Every institute offering a doctoral degree has its policies and guidelines. Sometimes, policies regarding evaluation, research proposals, and submissions can lead to an extension of the PhD time period.
Mentorship: Your mentor plays a key role throughout your doctoral journey. They guide and support you and review your work regularly. Their engagement or availability can impact the duration of your PhD course.
By now, you must have understood that getting a PhD degree is no piece of cake. The doctoral journey includes in-depth research, learning, and more. However, the benefits can be huge after the completion of your doctoral studies. From diverse career opportunities to recognition in your field, a PhD course is about gaining experience.
If you wonder PhD course is of how many years then it is three to six years long. In this blog, we provide a comprehensive year-by-year overview of the journey. Additionally, we discuss the meaning, timelines, requirements, and more. Completing a PhD course is one of the biggest achievements in the academic field. A title that is the reflection of your dedication, knowledge, and hard work.
In India, it takes three to six years to complete the doctoral journey and ultimately receive the PhD degree. The duration might vary depending on the field you are specialising in.
Your doctoral journey begins with mandatory coursework, which is then followed by a comprehensive examination. Once you are done with the evaluation, you need to work on your research proposal, and upon its approval, you get to further research in the field. Your research findings would then be written down in the dissertation. Finally, you must defend your research findings in front of a panel during the viva voce.
Let’s take a look at the average timeline for a PhD:
No, 30 is not too late to finish a PhD. You can pursue your doctoral at any stage of your life whenever you feel you are ready.
No, in fact, 25 could be the right age to pursue a PhD. You are young and can easily multitask. Moreover, you might not have many responsibilities which can be a plus point, because your doctoral journey can be time-consuming. And by the time you turn 28–29, you would have your PhD.
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