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The Most Difficult PhD, Ranked

Voting rules: Choose the PhD you think is the most difficult!

What Is the Most Difficult PhD?

Mathematics

• Abstract Thinking Required: Very High
• Problem-Solving Difficulty: High
• Position 2 in the ranking of the most difficult bachelor's degree
• Position 1 in the ranking of the most difficult academic subject
• Position 3 in the ranking of the most popular STEM degrees
• Position 4 in the ranking of the most beautiful subject
• Position 3 in the ranking of the most difficult Master's degree
• Position 6 in the ranking of the most difficult science to learn
• Position 1 in the ranking of the most beloved subject
• Position 1 in the ranking of the most comfortable subject on Brainly
• Position 2 in the ranking of the most difficult degree to obtain at university

• Complexity: High
• Research Intensity: Very High
• Position 1 in the ranking of the most difficult bachelor's degree
• Position 6 in the ranking of the most popular STEM degrees
• Position 8 in the ranking of the most beautiful subject
• Position 5 in the ranking of the most difficult major in Education
• Position 3 in the ranking of the most difficult pre-med course
• Position 7 in the ranking of the most popular A-level in the UK
• Position 5 in the ranking of the most comfortable subject on Brainly
• Position 10 in the ranking of the most difficult degree to obtain at university

Neuroscience

• Interdisciplinary Knowledge: High
• Research Depth: Very High
• Position 1 in the ranking of the most difficult Master's degree
• Position 7 in the ranking of the most difficult class in school
• Position 5 in the ranking of the most difficult thing to learn
• Position 8 in the ranking of the most difficult science to learn
• Position 1 in the ranking of the most difficult field of science
• Position 7 in the ranking of the most difficult academic subject
• Position 1 in the ranking of the most advanced science

• Laboratory Skill Requirement: High
• Detail Orientation: Very High
• Position 4 in the ranking of the most popular A-level in the UK
• Position 3 in the ranking of the most comfortable subject on Brainly
• Position 5 in the ranking of the most difficult degree to obtain at university

• Analytical Skill Requirement: Very High
• Data Complexity: High
• Position 9 in the ranking of the most difficult academic subject
• Position 3 in the ranking of the most difficult business major
• Position 10 in the ranking of the most beloved subject
• Position 7 in the ranking of the most popular major at UC Davis
• Position 7 in the ranking of the most difficult degree to obtain at university

Electrical Engineering

• Technical Complexity: Very High
• Innovation Requirement: High
• Position 4 in the ranking of the most difficult Master's degree
• Position 3 in the ranking of the most difficult bachelor's degree
• Position 5 in the ranking of the most difficult curriculum in the world
• Position 9 in the ranking of the most difficult major in Education
• Position 4 in the ranking of the most popular STEM degrees

Computer Science

• Algorithmic Complexity: High
• Innovation in Technology: Very High
• Position 10 in the ranking of the most difficult bachelor's degree
• Position 2 in the ranking of the most difficult academic subject
• Position 6 in the ranking of the most difficult course in Nigeria
• Position 9 in the ranking of the most beloved subject
• Position 8 in the ranking of the most difficult major in Education
• Position 2 in the ranking of the most difficult Master's degree
• Position 1 in the ranking of the most popular STEM degrees
• Position 4 in the ranking of the most popular major at UC Davis
• Position 7 in the ranking of the most comfortable subject on Brainly
• Position 3 in the ranking of the most difficult degree to obtain at university

Mechanical Engineering

• Design Complexity: High
• Technical Skill Requirement: Very High
• Position 2 in the ranking of the most difficult major in Education
• Position 2 in the ranking of the most popular STEM degrees
• Position 6 in the ranking of the most popular major at UC Davis
• Position 4 in the ranking of the most difficult bachelor's degree

Molecular Biology

• Biological Complexity: Very High
• Experimental Precision: High
• Position 9 in the ranking of the most difficult thing to learn
• Position 8 in the ranking of the most difficult class in school

• Critical Thinking Requirement: Very High
• Originality Requirement: High
• Position 3 in the ranking of the most difficult academic subject
• Position 7 in the ranking of the most beautiful subject
• Position 10 in the ranking of the most difficult subject in the arts
• Position 9 in the ranking of the most difficult curriculum in the world
• Position 1 in the ranking of the most difficult thing to learn
• Position 4 in the ranking of the most overrated degree

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About this ranking.

This is a community-based ranking of the most difficult PhD. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or PhD is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!

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Highest Paying Doctorate Degrees [2024 Guide]

We’ve identified the 25 highest paying doctorate degrees. Compare salaries and job prospects.

Completing a PhD may open up doors in terms of career advancement. Plus, it may not take as long as you think to complete if you enroll in the shortest doctoral programs .

Editorial Listing ShortCode:

The following list contains the highest paying doctorate degrees along with career outlook and job growth statistics.

25 Highest Paying Doctorate Degrees

All career statistics and salary data are provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics .

Click on the area of study you’re interested in to jump to that section.

Aerospace Engineering

Chemical engineering, pharmacology, business administration, cybersecurity, electrical engineering, data science, biochemistry, information security assurance, biomedical engineering, information technology and computer science, occupational therapy, criminal justice, engineering, organic chemistry.

While all of these industries are growing, some provide better job prospects than others.

• Annual Median Salary (Bureau of Labor Statistics): $208,000
• Job Growth: 4%

One of the more specialized high paying doctorate programs is in immunology. Immunology is the study of disease prevention and immunity. Due to the specialized nature of the study here, jobs are typically well paid and much more specific.

A person who has studied immunology may be expected to work in research or academia but is also likely to land high-paying roles within the medical industry and at hospitals. The demand for this area of expertise is also rising faster than the average job growth, meaning there should be plenty of opportunities for graduates.

A PhD in immunology is a lot of hard work and is, therefore, suited to someone who already has considerable experience working in the medical industry. Those with an academic background in medicine should consider applying for an immunology program.

• Annual Median Salary (Bureau of Labor Statistics): $129,850
• Job Growth: 7%

Of the three main sciences, physics can be the one that is the most fruitful for taking a doctorate. People who take a PhD in physics are likely to land themselves a position as either a researcher or a professor.

There are also several other high paying positions that are possible for someone who takes this career path, including more specialized roles or becoming lead physicists and consultants.

Physics is also one of the job markets that is predicted to see a considerable amount of growth for the next 10 years. Pursuing a physics doctorate can be perfect for someone who already has experience in physics or someone who already has either a bachelor’s or master’s degree in the subject combined with some practical experience.

• Annual Median Salary (Bureau of Labor Statistics): $118,610
• Job Growth: 3%

Aerospace engineering is a field that would likely attract those who already have a background in either science or engineering. It is one of the fastest growing industries in the world, and demand for jobs is expected to increase as the years roll by. So the length it takes to get a PhD should be taken into consideration so you can quickly enter this field during its booming growth.

The doctorate focuses on the engineering of various different types of spacecraft and can be incredibly demanding. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the salary potential for this field is as high as $171,220.

• Annual Median Salary (Bureau of Labor Statistics): $110,860

Math may not be the glamorous subject to study at doctorate level, but it can open up a wide range of potentially lucrative career options.

Math can allow students to work in various sectors of the economy and business, and they may also work in research or as a math lecturer or professor at a top university.

• Annual Median Salary (Bureau of Labor Statistics): $109,760
• Job Growth: 5%

Taking a doctorate in management can be a logical step in the career of someone who has a history of working in business, project management, or the economy as well as several other sectors.

Earning this doctorate can open up chief executive roles within companies and roles like chief operations officer and supply chain management. It may also lead to regional and national management roles.

• Annual Median Salary (Bureau of Labor Statistics): $108,540

Another engineering-based field that presents doctorate students with some big money career options is chemical engineering. The field combines a number of different disciplines, including all of the sciences, math, and statistics, as well as engineering.

It is a complex doctorate to take, but the rewards may be worth the effort, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics showing salaries up to $168,960 available in this field.

• Annual Median Salary (Bureau of Labor Statistics): $108,350
• Job Growth: 14%

One of the most popular PhDs to take is in economics. Economics is a social science that studies and theories about the production and consumption of goods and the effect that this has on society and the economy.

Taking a PhD in economics may open up a lot of doors. Working in the financial sector is usually lucrative, and a doctorate in economics can help give you an edge over competitors in what is a notoriously feisty industry. Top earners can make around $198,230 per year.

Economics analysis is a skill that is highly sought after, especially in the medical, legal, and education sectors.

While on the face of it, some people may believe that studying economics leaves you consigned to an office for the majority of your working life, the reality is that it can open up a lot of doors in a lot of different sectors. It may also provide you with a lot of travel opportunities and chances to meet new people.

A doctorate in economics may be perfect for someone who already has some experience in the field or for someone who has studied economics, math, finance, or business to a higher level and wants to take the next step in their academic and professional career.

• Annual Median Salary (Bureau of Labor Statistics): $107,270
• Job Growth: 6%

Pharmacology is big business these days, and taking a doctorate in the subject may lead to some lucrative opportunities. It is expected that someone who wants to study pharmacology will have a background in the subject with a master’s degree being heavily preferred.

There are a lot of pre-requisites for getting onto a pharmacology doctorate program, but the Bureau of Labor Statistics is showing salaries going as high as $164,980.

• Annual Median Salary (Bureau of Labor Statistics): $103,650

Getting a doctorate in business administration can open up a lot of doors. Students who end up taking their doctorate in business administration often end up working as leading and chief executives as well as entrepreneurs and financial advisors.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, salaries for someone with a doctorate in this field can be as high as $208,000. It can be ideal for someone who has a background in business or economics who wants to take the next step in their career.

• Annual Median Salary (Bureau of Labor Statistics): $103,590
• Job Growth: 31%

As the world of IT continues to grow, so does the demand for more and more cybersecurity. The field is one of the fastest-growing in the world, and getting a doctorate in the subject may land you a range of different high paying jobs.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, roles like IT managers can offer doctorates a salary of up to $208,000. This sector is also constantly growing, and as such, the demand and the salaries should continue to grow as time passes.

• Annual Median Salary (Bureau of Labor Statistics): $100,830

When it comes to job demand, electrical engineering is one of the safest career paths to go down. Electrical engineering has a huge impact on our day-to-day lives.

Most of our day-to-day electrical appliances exist as a result of electrical engineering, and taking a doctorate in the field may open the door to some pretty lucrative research and project management positions. It is advised that someone who takes a PhD in electrical engineering already have practical experience in the field.

• Annual Median Salary (Bureau of Labor Statistics): $98,490

A doctorate in education can open up a lot of different career options in that sector. A lot of doctors of education end up working in either research or in top positions at schools as principals and superintendents.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary for someone working in education administration with a doctorate is around the $199,400 mark. A number of doctor of education programs do not require a dissertation .

• Annual Median Salary (Bureau of Labor Statistics): $98,230

Data is quickly becoming the most valuable commodity on the planet, and as such, the demand for data specialists and researchers is growing at an impressive rate.

Data science doctorates offer a gateway into these positions, and they usually come with some pretty high salaries. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, salary for a data scientist can go as high as $165,230, and with this field ever-expanding, the demand for these positions should continue to increase.

• Annual Median Salary (Bureau of Labor Statistics): $94,270

Biochemists study the chemical and physical makeup of living organisms. Due to the specialized nature of the subject, research positions in this sector typically pay incredibly well.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, biochemist doctorates can start out at around $67,710 but can increase up to $169,860 or more. This doctorate may suit someone with a background in chemistry or some other science discipline.

• Annual Median Salary (Bureau of Labor Statistics): $92,870

Information assurance is a new discipline that has been created as a result of the times we live in. Information assurance is effectively another type of cybersecurity that is designed to protect people’s data from third parties and other potentially dangerous sources.

A background in any sort of computer or data-related field can be ideal for getting onto an information assurance course. Due to the increasing demand for data protection, jobs in this sector can be particularly lucrative, and the demand for these jobs is expected to increase as time rolls on.

The demand for experts in this industry is very high and is only predicted to grow over the next decade.

• Annual Median Salary (Bureau of Labor Statistics): $92,620

Biomedical engineering is becoming an incredibly popular field of research. It is an ever-growing and developing industry, and as such, the demand for expertise in the area is on the rise.

Getting a PhD in biomedical engineering is likely to secure you a lucrative research job for a university or a job in a hospital or the medical industry. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, an average salary in this field for a senior position ranges from $127,980 to $169,860.

• Annual Median Salary (Bureau of Labor Statistics): $92,270
• Job Growth: 35%

Statistics is one of the most versatile doctorates available today. Statistics are used in a wide range of different sectors, including finance, research, business, health care, government, and many others.

A doctorate in statistics can be ideal for someone who has a background in math or business. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the top salary for someone working in statistics can be as high as $150,840.

• Annual Median Salary (Bureau of Labor Statistics): $91,250
• Job Growth: 11%

The world of IT is constantly growing, and as it does, the demand for experts grows with it. Getting a doctorate in information technology and computer science can be an incredibly lucrative career move, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics showing top earners taking home as high as $208,00.

The jobs that can be accessed, such as chief technology officers or research roles within the industry, tend to be incredibly well-paid. This doctorate attracts people who have backgrounds in IT-related fields, such as computer science or computer programming.

• Annual Median Salary (Bureau of Labor Statistics): $86,280
• Job Growth: 16%

For someone who already has experience working in occupational therapy, earning a doctorate in the field can be a huge benefit. Not only can it open the door for them to move up in the industry, but it can also expand their knowledge of the subject area.

It can provide them with theory-based research while also working on their leadership and management skills. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, occupational therapists holding a doctorate degree may reach a salary as high as $122,670.

The job growth for this doctorate is also incredibly high, which means it may be an excellent career path to enter in terms of job security.

• Annual Median Salary (Bureau of Labor Statistics): $86,110

The number of career options that are available to someone who has a doctorate in criminal justice is typically vast. Working as a criminologist, a criminal justice researcher, or a federal law agency admin can earn graduates a lot of money.

This course of study is best suited for someone who already has real-world experience working in the criminal justice or law sector.

• Annual Median Salary (Bureau of Labor Statistics): $83,160

Engineering jobs are almost always in demand, and while there are a lot of high paying jobs available for those who have an undergraduate or master’s degree, taking a doctorate in the field can really help you advance your career.

An engineering degree is already one of the highest paying associate degrees , highest paying bachelor degrees , as well as one of the highest paying masters degrees , but the doctorate can be perfect for someone who already has experience working in engineering and wants to take that next step in their career.

A director of engineering job title and other project management positions may offer some very high salaries, about $208,000 or more, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

• Annual Median Salary (Bureau of Labor Statistics): $82,180

With the stigma around mental health finally disappearing, the demand for jobs in psychology is on the rise. While a normal degree or masters in psychology may allow you to get jobs as a psychiatrist or a psychologist, higher-paying positions can become available following a doctorate.

It may also open up roles in research and as a university lecturer in the subject. The doctorate is suited to someone who already has their masters in psychology or who has a significant amount of experience working in the field.

• Annual Median Salary (Bureau of Labor Statistics): $80,790
• Job Growth: 9%

Getting a degree in philosophy can potentially lead to a surprisingly lucrative career in research or working as a lecturer. The doctorate is suited for someone who wants to work in research and who has a background in philosophy or religious studies.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, salaries in this field are around $80,790 per year working in a research role, and up to $180,360 for college professors.

• Annual Median Salary (Bureau of Labor Statistics): $79,300

Organic chemistry, perhaps more than any of the other sciences, can open up a lot of different career options for doctorates. As well as research and academic positions, someone who studies organic chemistry may be able to land a job in a number of different areas, including geology, the pharmaceutical industry, and engineering.

Organic chemistry is a notoriously difficult subject to study, though, so it is vital that you have a solid background in chemistry and some work experience before attempting to join the program. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, salaries can go as high as $139,650 in this field.

• Annual Median Salary (Bureau of Labor Statistics): $69,000
• Job Growth: 2%

A doctorate in English can open a range of different academic doors for potential students. A PhD in English may be perfect for someone who already has an academic background in the subject and can also be perfect for qualified teachers and writers looking to take the next step in their career.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a doctorate in English may qualify you for a potential career in a lecturing position with salaries as high as $180,360, as well as positions within the publishing industry.

What Are the Different Types of Doctorate Degrees?

There are six common types of terminal degrees.

• Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) – Traditionally reserved for those who want to remain in the world of academia, Ph.D. degrees focus on maximizing your ability to impart this advanced knowledge to incoming students. Outside of teaching, Ph.D. candidates also focus on pushing the limits of research and theoretical study within their chosen fields.
• Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) – The DBA experience is all about turning your terminal research in the areas of finance, marketing, accounting, and other related fields into applicable real-world skills. DBA graduates traditionally work in the corporate sector as executive officers and other ranking members of various managerial teams.
• Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) – PsyD students aim to provide clinical services within a wide range of settings, including group, familial, medical, scholastic, and even corporate environments. Earning this degree can give you the power to serve as a practicing clinician or specialized counselor.
• Doctor of Education (EdD) – Capturing an EdD degree is the first step toward a leadership role within the corporate and administrative side of the education field. Working as a principal, district supervisor, or even regional superintendent all fit into the professional path of this degree.
• Doctor of Social Work (DSW) – If you’re interested in educating others on the best practices and leading theories of modern social work and community interaction, then a DSW program could be your option. Holders of this degree research and educate others in the social work field via hands-on training in the classroom and the office, as well as provide answers and guidance in unique or exceptional social issue cases.
• Doctor of Public Health (DPH) – Like most of the other degrees in this review, earning a DPH is all about the desire to lead others in a chosen workplace environment. In this case, that means maintaining residency as an administrator or public health coordinator at a hospital or a similar clinical setting.

The type of doctorate degree you will want to earn depends on your career goals and primarily whether you want to teach the subject or continue working in your field.

Campus or Online: Which One Is Right for You?

It’s no big secret that whichever doctorate route you choose, you will most likely be rewarded for your hard work and research via ample compensation. However, you can make this process a little easier on yourself by focusing on a path – either online or on-campus – that suits your unique needs and daily requirements.

While the appeal of the traditional college experience is the major selling point for the on-campus approach, working on your degree from home is a flexible alternative that can shape and mold itself to your current personal and professional schedule by allowing you to work on your research and coursework at your own pace.

Adding in that these doctorate programs often waive Graduate Record Examination (GRE) minimum scores based on your GPA, as well as reduce or completely remove residency requirements, is further proof that this approach is at least worth your consideration as you plan out your academic future.

Questions Related to Earning a Doctorate

Here are our answers to a few more questions you might have.

How Much Do PhD Graduates Earn?

PhD Graduates make on average close to $100,000, with some job positions paying nearer the $70,000 mark and others going well about $208,000 (Bureau of Labor Statistics).

There may be some who question whether it is worth taking the time to invest in a PhD. Doctorate programs require a lot of time and effort, but studies suggest that PhD students typically earn more and find it easier to attract higher-paying jobs than those with just an undergraduate or a master’s degree.

What Are the Highest Paying Degrees?

A lot of degrees can lead to well-paying jobs. The more specialized a degree is in a certain field, the higher the chances are that it will be well paying. These degrees currently tend to be those in the engineering sector, as these are the ones that offer the most in-demand jobs.

What Is the Highest Paying PhD Degrees?

Once again, this one will depend on how specialized your PhD is and how in-demand that expertise is at a given time. Engineering PhDs tend to be evergreen, while there is an increasing demand for those with PhDs and knowledge in computer science and other IT related subjects.

PhDs usually provide those who have them with a lot of the highest paying jobs opportunities.

Are There Any Degrees Higher than a PhD?

No, there are no higher degrees than a PhD.

A PhD, also regularly referred to as just a doctorate, is as high as you can go academically. It is a specialized research doctorate that demonstrates a high level of expertise in a field. Most people who obtain their PhD tend to stay on at universities as either a member of a research team or as a lecturer.

Do you need a masters to get a PhD ? While many PhD programs require you to earn a masters first, it is possible to earn your PhD without having earned a masters. These are the direct entry bachelor’s to PhD programs offered by some universities.

Getting Your Doctorate Degree

It is important that you take the time to do your research into what doctorate will help your career the most. Once you have done this, you can begin to find the right university and program for you and begin the next step in your academic and professional career.

Now that you understand your career prospects and doctorate opportunities, it’s time to lay out the blueprint for a successful future.

Outside of conducting research on each of the areas that interest you, feel free to use the search tool below to find accredited universities that offer online doctoral programs in your chosen field.

When paired up with the rest of what you’ve learned here, there’s nothing that can stop you from finding the right school – and program of study – to fit your personal and professional goals moving forward.

• Majors & Careers
• Online Grad School
• Preparing For Grad School
• Student Life

The Top 10 Easiest PhDs: Tuition, Duration, and Financial Aid

If you’re wondering what the easiest doctorate degree is, this really depends on your definition of easy.

You may find a lengthy research dissertation challenging, or you may love writing and struggle with mathematical or analytical assignments. Equally, depending on your lifestyle, a flexible program that allows you to study online at your own pace could be much more manageable. Or it may be better to go all-in on an accelerated program that you can finish in a short space of time.

With all these factors and more in mind, you can learn about the easiest PhDs available today across various fields.

Table of Contents

The Easiest PhD Majors

Everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses, and we all excel in different areas. Having said that, a significant proportion of people find math and science challenging, so many people will find the following majors the easiest PhDs to get:

• Religion/Theology

However, the easiest PhD for you could be quite different. If you have a head for numbers but don’t do so well with languages, you mind find a PhD in mathematics or engineering much easier.

Your interests also come into play: it’s always easier to apply yourself to a topic that you’re passionate about.

The Easiest PhD Programs

We’ve ranked the following programs based on various criteria to find the easiest doctoral degrees across a range of disciplines while mostly staying away from courses heavy in maths and science, as areas that people typically find challenging.

We looked for programs that offer a high level of flexibility, making it easy to fit your studies around other parts of your life. We also prioritized shorter programs that allow you to earn your doctorate in record time and progress with your career and avoided those with lengthy dissertation requirements.

Walden University, The Richard W. Riley College of Education and Human Sciences

PhD in Education – Higher Education Leadership and Policy (Self-Designed)

Walden University was named first in the USA  for PhD Education graduates. This is one of the easiest PhD programs to get into, as the University has an acceptance rate of 100%. It is also one of the shortest PhD programs in the field, offering a fast-track option that allows you to transfer up to 50% of your total credits and finish the program sooner.

• Courses include: Leading the future of education, education law, policy & governance, and higher education in the 21st century.
• Credits: 86 quarter credits
• Duration: 3-8 years
• Delivery: Online
• Tuition : $692 per quarter hour
• Financial aid: Grants, scholarships, and loans
• Acceptance rate: 100%
• Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota

Capella University

PhD in Psychology – General Psychology

Capella University offers a wide range of online programs for students looking for ongoing education with a high degree of flexibility, including being able to study at their own pace. This PhD in Psychology is also one of the easiest online PhD programs, as it gives you the option to complete the doctorate in as little as five quarters.

• Courses include: Ethics & multicultural issues in psychology, advanced inferential statistics, and quantitative research methods in psychology.
• Credits: 87
• Duration: 5-9 quarters
• Tuition : $545
• Financial aid: Scholarships, employer discounts, and military benefits

The University of Florida, Department of Classics

PhD in Classical Studies

The US News & World Report named the University of Florida one of the top 5 public research universities  in the USA for 2023. With a focus on the humanities, many people will find this PhD program relatively easy, focusing on subjects like languages, culture, and history.

• Courses include: Greek prose composition, the roman tradition, and Latin prose composition.
• Credits: 60
• Duration: 3 years
• Delivery: On-campus
• Tuition : $12,744
• Financial aid: Fellowships, scholarships, and teaching assistantships
• Acceptance rate: 31%
• Location: Gainesville, Florida

Faulkner University

Doctor of Philosophy in Humanities

Faulkner University was founded on Christian principles and offers many flexible programs designed to help students balance their education with their other commitments. This is one of the easiest PhD programs because you can complete it in just 48 credit hours while gaining a global intellectual and spiritual perspective through courses covering thought, ideas, and literature in the Western tradition.

• Courses include: Scholarly inquiry & writing in the humanities, historical investigations, and literary analysis.
• Credits: 48
• Duration: 3 years+
• Tuition : $650 per semester hour
• Financial aid: Scholarships, grants, federal work-study, and loans
• Acceptance rate: 76%
• Location: Montgomery, Alabama

Regent University

PhD in Renewal Theology

Regent University is a popular private institution that offers programs in over 150 areas of study, including some easy PhD programs that can be completed with very flexible study arrangements. This theology doctorate program aims to create future church leaders with a global outlook based on a Renewal approach to history and contemporary issues.

• Courses include: Advanced hermeneutics, renewal theology, and advanced cosmogony & anthropology.
• Duration: 4 years+
• Delivery: Online (with 2-week on-campus residency each fall)
• Tuition : $670 per credit
• Financial aid: Scholarships, grants, and loans
• Acceptance rate: 50%
• Location: Virginia Beach, Virginia

Boston University, College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences: Sargent College

Online Post-Professional Doctor of Occupational Therapy (PP-OTD)

Boston University is a private institution ranked #1  in occupational therapy by the US News & World Report. This PP-OTD is one of the easiest doctorate degrees in physical therapy because you can complete it in just 18 months. It aims to equip practicing therapists for higher leadership roles capable of innovatively addressing the field’s key challenges.

• Courses include: Social policy & disability, health promotion & wellness, and evaluating clinical theory & research.
• Credits: 33-37
• Duration: 18 months
• Tuition: Varies
• Financial aid: Scholarships, employer reimbursement, and federal loans
• Acceptance rate: 20%
• Location: Boston, Massachusetts

The University of Tennessee Knoxville, College of Social Work

Doctor of Social Work (DSW) in Clinical Practice & Leadership

The College of Social Work is a higher education institution that strives to provide exemplary education in social work. It’s also heavily involved in international projects, which allows students to develop a global perspective on the sector. You could consider this DSW to be an easy doctorate degree, as an accelerated program designed to train existing clinical social workers in advanced clinical practice and leadership.

• Courses include: Neuroscience for clinical practice, psychopathology & psychopharmacology, and cognitive behavioral therapy.
• Financial aid: Scholarships, grants, federal work-study, graduate assistantships, veteran services, and loans.
• Acceptance rate: 78%
• Location: Knoxville, Tennessee

New York University, School of Law

Juris Doctor (JD)

New York University is one of the largest private universities in the country, with campuses and academic centers across the globe. In this JD program, students enjoy a strong blend of theory of law and practice through the school’s more than forty legal clinics.

• Courses include: Constitutional law, survey of criminal procedure, and international law.
• Credits: 83
• Duration: 5 years
• Tuition : $73,216
• Financial aid: Scholarships, fellowships, veteran benefits, and loans.
• Acceptance rate: 21%
• Location: New York City, New York

North Carolina State University, College of Design

Doctor of Design (DDes)

NC State University is among the top 1% of universities worldwide, according to the Center for World University Rankings. This program encourages practicing professionals to develop innovative concepts and promote them more generally in the design community and society. It is an easy doctorate degree in design in that you can complete it in three years or even less.

• Courses include: Research methods in design, case study analysis in design, and design for health & wellbeing.
• Credits: 57
• Delivery: Online (with one week of on-campus study every semester)
• Tuition : $505.28
• Financial aid: Scholarships, grants, student employment, and loans.
• Acceptance rate: 46%
• Location: Raleigh, North Carolina

Frontier Nursing University

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Frontier Nursing University is a not-for-profit institution with several accolades for nursing education, ranking third  for online master’s family nurse practitioner programs. The program is designed for working professionals and emphasizes evidence-based practice, with a quality improvement project in collaboration with your chosen clinical site. With this easy doctorate program, you can earn the highest nursing qualification in mere 15-18 months.

• Courses include: Epidemiology & biostatistics, ethics & health policy, and leadership & organizational dynamics.
• Credits: 30
• Duration: 15-18 months
• Delivery: Online (with 3-day on-campus orientation)
• Tuition: $19,380
• Financial aid: Scholarships, grants, employer benefits, veteran benefits, and loans
• Acceptance rate: 66%
• Location: Versailles, Kentucky

What’s the Difference Between a Professional Degree and a Doctorate?

A PhD program largely focuses on theoretical learning and the analytical aspects of the discipline you’re studying. It typically involves extensive research presented in a lengthy thesis or dissertation, often proposing a new theory or innovative findings.

On the other hand, a professional doctorate or master’s degree emphasizes gaining knowledge for practical applications and does not typically involve a dissertation. While a PhD can make you an erudite scholar well-equipped to work in research or academia, a professional degree typically leads to a career path as a professional in the industry, government, or nonprofit sector.

FAQs about the Easiest PhDs

Which phd is the easiest to get.

The PhD you’ll find easiest will depend on your own strengths and weaknesses and your passions. Generally, most people will find doctorates in the arts and humanities the easiest. Flexible programs that can be completed online and accelerated ones with a shorter overall time commitment are the easiest to complete in terms of meeting other life commitments.

Which Subject Is Easy for a PhD?

Subjects like the humanities, education, theology, and psychology are generally considered the easiest, mostly because they involve less quantitative research and rely on qualitative study methods.

Final Thoughts

The easiest PhD for you will depend on your own talents, weaknesses, and which practical aspects of the program will make it easiest for you to earn your doctorate. Many people find the arts and humanities easier than science and math, though your passion for any subject can make studying it relatively easy. Having the flexibility to study online , at your own pace, or alternatively, in a shorter, more intensive period like a 1-year PhD program  can also make it easier to finish your PhD.

Although easiness is one factor to consider when choosing the right PhD for you, it certainly isn’t everything. Most importantly, you should opt for the program that matches your interests and is most likely to help you achieve your career and life goals.

Want to explore more options? Check out our list of the highest paying PhDs  to learn about the programs that will give you the best return on your investment.

Lisa Marlin

Lisa is a full-time writer specializing in career advice, further education, and personal development. She works from all over the world, and when not writing you'll find her hiking, practicing yoga, or enjoying a glass of Malbec.

• Lisa Marlin https://blog.thegradcafe.com/author/lisa-marlin/ 30+ Best Dorm Room Essentials for Guys in 2024
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• Lisa Marlin https://blog.thegradcafe.com/author/lisa-marlin/ BA vs BS: What You Need to Know [2024 Guide]

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Your roadmap to PhD success: freshman year advice for aspiring researchers

By JOHN CINTRON | August 19, 2024

COURTESY OF JOHN CINTRON

Cintron sitting at his workspace on the 9th floor lab, part of the Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research at the Broad Institute.

First off, welcome to the Nest! As a freshman, you’re probably not even sure what you want to pursue yet or you might simply be feeling overwhelmed by all the possibilities you can take with your life and career path. As someone who’s tried it all — Pre-Med, Economics, Consulting, Marketing, Filmmaking, Engineering and much more — I can safely say that acquiring a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) is the end goal that I intend to achieve.

To apply for a doctorate program, you need to maintain excellent grades and demonstrate your ability to manage a rigorous course load with other extracurricular and leadership activities. However, joining a lab (wet: manipulating liquids, biological matter and chemicals or dry: computational, physics and engineering) and beginning to work on actual research at university is arguably the most important thing you can do as a pre-PhD, pre-MD-PhD or even pre-med freshman. This will not be your average Chemistry lab experience as it will allow you opportunities to partake in independent research.

Independent research has been my greatest academic passion for as long as I can remember, from winning high school science fairs to participating in various forms of undergraduate research. As an undergraduate, I am motivated to pursue independent research in order to gain as much exposure and training as possible before beginning a Ph.D. program. I am interested in working in a research lab at Hopkins, not only because of how renowned the institution is for research, but also to make the most of my college education. 

Here’s what you need to do to get into a research lab as a freshman. Be ready to scour the internet; look around at all of the research labs Hopkins offers. Find what you think suits your current interests. Look into ForagerOne , an online platform designed specifically to connect undergraduate students with Faculty conducting research. You can look into department websites as well for faculty research profiles.You already made it here, which was the hardest part! Hopkins, being the nation’s oldest and best-funded research university, allows you access to labs that conduct cutting-edge research in their respective fields, so there is no shortage of opportunities.

​​Once you find a lab that resonates with you, reach out to the principal investigator (PI) of that lab by using your Hopkins email. Cold emails truly work best, as long as you keep it concise and make it known that you’re willing to commit to the research. You’ll end up meeting the PI or a post-doctoral researcher in the lab, which is where you can each lay out your expectations to one another (in terms of research, time commitment, recommendations, etc.) and see if the lab is a good fit for you. You’re going to want to start this process sooner rather than later!

Even if you end up realizing you don’t have a passion for or enjoy the lab you’re in as a freshman, that’s perfectly normal; you simply need experience. Many students switch labs for sophomore year and beyond!

Additionally, a research experience at Hopkins can be helpful to secure your dream summer research experience. My research experiences at Hopkins allowed me to realize my passion for working in the lab, even in the midst of my busy class schedule. I realized being a part of a summer research experience would allow me to put a 100% focus on my research and cultivate my interests further. 

You will not only be able to gain practical skills from your lab, but you can also ask for a letter of recommendation from your supervisor. Most REU programs value your letter of recommendation the most, so you need to make good impressions as a student researcher in your lab as early as possible, since applications have due dates around January/February.

This past summer, I was given the amazing opportunity to conduct research in the field of Neuroimmunology at the Broad Institute of MIT & Harvard as a participant in the Broad Summer Research Program. I gained so many useful skills from this REU, including improving my scientific writing, quickly learning extensive information about my specific field of research, creating an engaging research poster and delivering effective scientific presentations. 

REUs allow you to use your summer to conduct meaningful research and expand your network. The wide array of skills I gained from participating in an REU will allow me to more thoroughly engage and contribute ideas in my research lab back at Hopkins!

Again, good luck as you begin your academic journey, and welcome to the Nest!

John Cintron is a sophomore from Fort Myers, Fla. majoring in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. He is a News Writer for The News-Letter.

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• What’s Actually Hard About a PhD

If you’ve been enquiring about doing a PhD you’ve probably heard time and again how hard it is, whether that’s from online articles or actual university staff and students. But what’s actually difficult about it?

I’m a History PhD student coming towards the end of my third year and I’m here to give it to you straight. No matter your department, students struggle with these things universally. That doesn’t mean these difficulties can’t be overcome, but it’s good to go in prepared. So let’s get started.

#1 Maintaining motivation

Every PhD student will agree that the hardest part of the degree is maintaining motivation. You start a PhD because you’re passionate about a subject. What could be better than spending all your time researching your favourite topic? But as soon as you make it your nine-to-five (and sometimes longer) for at least three years the passion eventually becomes shrouded by stress and deadlines.

I’m not saying you won’t have fun in your PhD, or that you’ll lose interest in your topic (although, truthfully, sometimes this does happen). I’m saying that three to four years is a long time to commit yourself to one thing. It takes dedication. Sometimes motivation will be hard to find but you’ll still need to write 80,000 words by the end of it.

#2 Writing (a lot)

Usually it’s during the writing-up period that people’s motivation starts to dwindle. That’s because writing isn’t easy, particularly academic writing. Turns out saying exactly what you mean isn’t all that simple!

Starting is always the worst. The cursor blinking on a blank page teases you but you can’t seem to find those first, punchy words. The best way is to push through. The first draft is for your eyes only so it can be as terrible as you’d like! Editing is inevitable anyway, and often easier than getting the initial words down. Then, once you’ve drafted one section, you get to write another, and then another, and another, oh and then another.

#3 Receiving criticism

One of the things that can make writing difficult is receiving criticism from your supervisor . This is a very necessary and useful part of the process. You will never improve without someone showing you your weaknesses and mistakes. You will also never write a perfect thesis first time. Always receive criticism with open ears.

But that doesn’t mean it won’t hurt sometimes. You might have spent months on a section of research, pouring your heart and soul into it. Hearing that it’s not good enough yet can be a knife to the heart of your motivation. That’s ok. It’s important to take time to process any emotions before going back to the feedback. Then you look at it from a more detached viewpoint, take the comments on board and continue to improve. Always remember, your supervisor is on your side.

#4 Isolation

A different aspect that makes the PhD difficult is the isolation it can bring. Unless all your friends and family are also academics, chances are people won’t really understand what you actually do. Some might not even understand why, and you may question this yourself sometimes. My parents are prime examples of this. Neither went to university and while they’re very supportive they don’t really know what a PhD is all about.

Get togethers might feel a little isolating when your friends and family talk about their normal office careers, something most people understand. But as soon as you get into the nuances of fish in seventeenth-century English thought, you tend to be met with blank faces. Of course you’ll be able to find lots of understanding people in your university department, but adjusting to this change isn’t always easy.

#5 Knowing what to do next

The last thing that truly makes a PhD hard is knowing what to do with it. Do you stay in academia or do you get a job in industry ?

Many prospective PhD students assume that you’ll go straight into a cushy academic job after graduation. This isn’t often true. In the UK, PhD graduates usually apply for postdoctoral or fellowship positions. Contracts tend to range from six months to five years. After a few years of additional experience then you might begin applying for permanent academic positions. Finding these roles without having to move can also be difficult.

Alternatively, industry jobs might seem more appealing. They’re more likely to offer job security and, at least initially, higher wages. But then you have to decide what you’re interested in. Many students feel that choosing this route means your PhD was a waste of time. Just because you’re not in academia does not mean your doctorate won’t be useful. The PhD teaches many important soft skills that can benefit a range of careers .

So, the options are endless! Does that make choosing what to do any easier?

The hardest thing about a PhD isn’t the research, it’s the lifestyle. But the lifestyle also comes with amazing benefits such as choosing your own working hours and indulging in your personal passions. There’s a lot of freedom involved which can be both a benefit and a drawback. Do you think you’re ready for the challenge?

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The Savvy Scientist

Experiences of a London PhD student and beyond

How Hard is a PhD?

Amongst the general population, having a PhD is often seen as the pinnacle of academic achievements but how hard is it to achieve?

Having passed my PhD viva yesterday I now feel I’m in a position to really judge how difficult a PhD is!

Congratulations to Jeff @savvy_scientist who passed his PhD viva today, remotely! Now we're having a celebration – remotely! #StayHome pic.twitter.com/4rI0ZiCF5z — ImperialBiomechanics (@ICBiomechanics) March 25, 2020

A dive into the unknown

Any time we don’t have experience in something, the element of the unknown can make it hard to evaluate how hard it is.

Coming from your previous qualifications you may extrapolate and think that since your undergraduate degree was a step up from high school in work and difficulty, a PhD must be another step change in difficulty.

With PhDs it’s not helped by the fact that a lot of the time only the most academically capable students are interested in them, which may make you think you have to be really clever to do one. Plus, as they’re not that common it’s not always easy to find people with experience to speak to.

Growing up I didn’t know anyone who had done a PhD degree, heck none of my immediate family had been to university, so I appreciate that gaining an insight about PhDs isn’t available to everyone.

So how hard is a PhD?

The reality is that a PhD can be difficult, but mostly it’s just different .

How hard you might find certain aspects of a PhD really depend on your own working style and to a lesser extent personality. Let’s discuss the factors one by one.

How hard is it to manage the PhD workload?

During a PhD there will be times you have to stay late, or work weekends (every so often) but it’s nothing like undergraduate degrees, with relentless deadlines and all-nighters being a regular occurrence for a lot of us.

Something that studying for a PhD does have in common with undergrad is that there is always more work that you can get on with, which can be disconcerting. Though unlike undergrad this feeling doesn’t stop after exams where you can enjoy a long study-free summer, because there are no term times for a PhD. I’ve previously shared how much holiday I’ve taken as a PhD student .

You need to find a way to switch off, otherwise your mental health will suffer.

Prior to starting my PhD I worked as a research assistant for three years and I found it helpful to view my PhD as a full time job. Even all the way through to submitting my thesis, working consistently 9-5ish every day was enough. I do hear of people working every hour of the week but these are the exception rather than the norm.

For a deeper insight into my typical working schedule check out the post below where I shared my calendar.

How Much Work is a PhD?

PhD depth and breadth of study

If you’ve been in higher education for a while, you’ll have probably got used to learning a wide amount of topics in a short time. Topics are covered at a fast pace, sometimes in not much detail, without much time to build your understanding.

I can’t have been the only person who during undergrad was effectively have to fight fires, not having much time to concentrate and fully understand each topic before having to move on to the next one.

PhDs provide a step-change, where you focus in on a single topic to a much greater depth.

For most PhDs there will be a certain amount of knowledge you’re expected to have picked up from your previous degree(s), but the pace of a PhD is undoubtedly much more slow. The reality is that the breadth of a PhD topic is really quite limited, though it can often span several disciplines. It’s common for your project to involve topics you’re not completely comfortable with.

You have a lot of time to focus on just one topic and you’re expected and required to know the topic inside out. The good news is that you’re given more than adequate time to learn the ropes.

As a PhD student there is nothing wrong with refreshing your knowledge of basic topics, especially if it’s something you haven’t studied in years. I still look things up on YouTube and Wikipedia and there is no shame in doing so: you’re in this position to learn and produce scientific outputs, so it’s much better that you’re comfortable with the topic.

I would suggest that for most people a PhD is generally more relaxed than an undergraduate degree. That’s not to say there isn’t work involved, but the pace gives you breathing room to understand the topic comprehensively.

If there’s one key message I’d like to get across, it’s please don’t ever be scared to ask your supervisor questions. You’re not on your own.

That’s assuming your supervisor is interested in supervising, which sadly isn’t always the case. Lack of supervisor support is one of the main difficulties I’ve seen students face (in other research groups I should add!). I wrote some tips here for choosing projects and supervisors .

How to Choose a PhD Project & Supervisor

Essentially as long as you are willing to learn, I wouldn’t worry too much about this aspect of a PhD.

Is a PhD intellectually difficult?

You’ve probably heard the metaphor about standing on the shoulders of giants, and it’s true that as a PhD student you’re building on previous work carried out in the field.

However there usually isn’t an expectation to make massive intellectual strides forwards. In reality you’ll probably be giving a small nudge forwards to a small area of the field. For some people this can be a relief and make the idea of doing original research much more obtainable, whereas for others it may belittle the entire idea of doing research!

The reality of the situation is that PhD students may be seen as a cost effective source of labour to advance science. Although we’re often working on projects with complicated lofty descriptions such as “ nanoparticles impregnated with silver ions for cancer treatment ” or “ biphasic lubrication mechanics of soft engineering materials ” in reality the practical side of them does not require genius level intellect.

Oftentimes you’ll be doing pretty menial things behind these grand topic titles. These tasks require you to know what you’re doing, but rarely will you have devised the whole thing yourself.

Fun fact: at my first job after undergrad, working at one of the most prestigious universities in the world, my boss would sometimes bring in her gardener to pick up any slack, doing the same work as me and some of the post-docs.

A full house for @trayanovalab at the @ImperialBioeng annual lecture. Amazing work & images! #ComputationalCardiology pic.twitter.com/R2dxE7csbg — Jeff Clark (@savvy_scientist) June 18, 2018

Of course you need to be able to understand the concepts behind what you’re doing, but I wouldn’t worry too much if you’re worried that you have to be a genius to complete a PhD.

So is a PhD easy?

In terms of workload and difficulty a PhD isn’t necessarily as difficult as you might think, so don’t be scared off. That’s not to say it’s not without challenges which we’ll now go on to discuss.

How a PhD can be hard

Of course there are differences between projects, supervisors and universities but I’d say generally the main things which can make a PhD hard are:

Self motivation

Looking after yourself, dealing with isolation.

• Your ability to problem solve
• Fear of public speaking

Prior to studying for a PhD, your studies will likely have been structured by a timetable of contact hours, coursework deadlines and exams. Working towards a PhD is the first time you’re likely to experience fully independent working for extended periods of time. It will also involve work where no one, not even your supervisors, know all the answers. This can be daunting and I think this is where difficulties may stem from for many students.

A PhD is a long-term commitment so you need dedication to reach the end of a PhD.

By the end of your PhD you’ll have to demonstrate that you’ve contributed to your field with a thesis and/or peer-reviewed publications. This can be a challenge and without the regular undergraduate format of deadlines and exams, you may quickly lose focus. Regaining that focus and dedication is key to seeing your PhD through.

If this is something you struggle with check out my post on maintaining motivation during your PhD .

At Imperial we have two progress points throughout the PhD: one at 9-12 months (Early Stage Assessment) and another at 18-24 months (Late Stage Review). These formal progression checkpoints help by giving deadlines and a structure to work towards.

Solution: I believe one of the best ways to keep up productivity, and ensure you’re on the right track, is to meet regularly with the supervisor. I suggest meeting at least a few times per month. I do know some people who meet much less regularly and this can work for some people. However, I personally find myself chatting with my supervisor about far more than the types of things I’d want to ask in an email and this is where the mentorship aspect of a PhD can be made or broken.

In summary, working closely with your supervisor can make your PhD a lot less difficult.

It’s very easy to develop bad habits during your PhD such as:

• Eating badly and drinking too much coffee
• Getting stressed and working long hours
• Not getting exercise and sleeping poorly

From not cycling at all I've now cycled 1k+ miles in London, mostly commuting to @imperialcollege . Great way to get around with so many benefits. Started because of a free course by @RBKC & @Bikeworksuk w/ a refurbished bike! Few words about my experience: https://t.co/rGwSqomikD pic.twitter.com/joyVftxuVn — Jeff Clark (@savvy_scientist) August 30, 2019

Solution: Remember that working longer hours won’t necessarily help your productivity. Instead take time out of your day for breaks and go for walks. Dedicate time to look after yourself. If you’re looking for ways to stay efficient, think of doing things like commuting by walking or cycling. I’d also highly recommend cooking your own meals to stay healthy (and save money ).

When I say isolation I really mean a few different things:

Owning your own project

Every PhD project is different, you may collaborate with friends or colleagues for bits of your work but you are the only person driving forwards your project.

This means that you may face problems other people in the research group or department haven’t encountered. Not only could this be isolating but it may also set your project back if you don’t mitigate the risks.

Solution: Firstly, don’t be afraid to ask people for help. Maybe someone from your group doesn’t have the answer to your problems but they may offer useful advice or know someone else in the department who may help. Coffee breaks offer an opportunity to informally chat with colleagues, which can both be fruitful for your work and your mental health: here is a nice Science article about the positives of coffee breaks.

Imposter Syndrome

As every project is unique it can be very difficult to tell how you measure up to other people. At times you may struggle to understand what other people in your group are working on, but this doesn’t mean you’re not cut out for it! Supervisors have a good idea of what’s required for a project when you’re applying: if you’re accepted you’ll more than likely be fine in this regard.

Solution: Don’t compare yourself to others. This is fruitless, especially when every project is different anyway. Make sure you understand your own project well and you’ll be fine. Having a chat with other students can be a good way to reassure you that everyone goes through difficult times.

Staying social

If I asked you to close your eyes and picture a PhD student, what would you see? Personally I used to conjure up an image of a fatigued student wearing goggles and trapped in a lab, rarely seeing daylight.

That’s not always a hundred miles away from the truth, but it doesn’t have to be the case. We’ve already covered how working such long hours can be counterproductive, but also putting yourself in a solitary position like this can be both demoralising and awful for your mental wellbeing. Please don’t!

Solution: Take frequent breaks, get involved with activities your lab-mates or department are organising: or organise something yourself. Find something you enjoy and can look forward to going along to, you can still join clubs and societies as a postgrad. Being isolated can make a PhD so much more mentally difficult: it doesn’t need to be!

Solving problems

You hear people saying that to be a good researcher you have to be inquisitive and questioning everything. These are certainly good traits to have which can make the work more meaningful, but at the level of a PhD student I believe it’s much more important to work smart.

To me this includes the ability to:

• Think on your feet
• Don’t be afraid to ask your supervisor questions
• Be forward thinking and catch problems early

Solution: Set up a framework to overcome problems and always think of ways to mitigate risks by having a Plan B. For example I work with people who’ve waited six months for consumables to arrive: if you don’t consider risks like this you immediately set yourself up for a less productive and more stressful experience. As before, I really do recommend meeting with your supervisor frequently.

Public speaking

I’m not sure whether presenting your work is a requirement for every PhD but it’s certainly an expectation for most. If nothing else you’ll likely have to present in your viva.

A fear of public speaking is very common and as such it’s a common PhD difficulty to tackle.

It’s completely natural to be nervous with the idea of presenting, however that’s not a reason to avoid public speaking completely. On the contrary you’ll only get comfortable with it by practicing. We’re fortunate as researchers to get regular opportunities to try public speaking.

I certainly still get nervous myself but would rather face the fear than shy away from it: plus you feel great afterwards.

Solution: Take opportunities to give presentations, whether it be at lab meetings, departmental events or conferences. The great thing with being a PhD student is that you get to practice with no expectations that you’ll be perfect. It’s much better to face it now than push the problem back later in to your career. I’ve written some tips for how to keep your presentation interesting.

Presentation Skills for Students: How to Stay On Topic and Keep Audience Attention

Some example issues you might have to overcome as a PhD student

Common phd challenges.

Now that we’ve covered the categories of common PhD difficulties here are some common day to day challenges:

• You need to use a technique or piece of old lab equipment and there’s no one to teach you how to use it
• You’re scared to ask for help because you think you should already know the answer
• You’re not getting the results from an experiment you’re expecting to see
• You need to write a code to do something and have never coded before
• You’re struggling to understand a concept
• You’re bored of reading or are losing interest in the topic
• You feel lonely
• You’re stuck waiting for something to arrive
• You need to create nice looking diagrams
• You need to build a rig or piece of equipment from scratch
• You’re worried about giving a presentation
• Your supervisor isn’t providing support
• You’ve no idea what statistical analysis to use
• You’re facing funding limitations, meaning you can’t do all the experiments you ideally would
• You’re struggling to motivate yourself to write a 100+ page thesis!

I’ve written a separate post covering a range of challenges I faced during my own PhD and you can find that post here: Overcoming Academic Challenges and Failure During a PhD .

Overcoming PhD challenges

It’s normal to face problems during a PhD. It’s how you tackle these problems that will be the defining factor in how difficult you find the PhD.

Part of the joy in completing a PhD is knowing that you’ve managed to overcome these difficulties.

In all these scenarios having a chat with other people will help. Even if other students or staff can’t directly provide assistance, most people are very friendly and supportive which will boost your morale.

I can’t overstate how useful scheduling regular meetings with your supervisor is. It’s so much better to face problems early rather than awkwardly have to deal with it six months later. I meet with my primary supervisor every week and we work together to set short-term deadlines for my work which tie in with the larger targets.

For problems outside of your supervisor’s remit lots of universities provide additional support. For example the graduate school at Imperial lays on courses for PhD students covering how to code, using reference managers, statistics etc.

Plus there are usually facilities for dealing with things such as stress and anxiety via counselling, student support and chaplaincies. Don’t make the PhD more difficult than it needs to be, these facilities are put in place to help you.

Has my PhD been hard?

I’ve been surprised by how manageable the PhD has been. I wouldn’t say that any of the research work was particularly difficult, it has simply required dedication.

Good time management and taking my mental health seriously have helped a lot, as has considering it a full time job. Slow and steady wins the race. Simple steps like always having a backup plan to mitigate the chance of getting stuck if things go wrong has served me well.

I’ve never been a fan of presenting but have learned to expose myself to it in an effort for self improvement. Of the five conference presentations I gave during my PhD, I won prizes for two.

Remember that you may lack self confidence but how you come across to other people may not be how you perceive yourself: this can be very uplifting. If I can do it so can you!

Thesis-writing

I’m currently in the process of writing up a separate post dedicated to my experience of writing a thesis. In summary, for me personally, it wasn’t anything like as stressful as I was thinking it would be.

I gave myself approximately six weeks to write most of it. Mine was 190 pages in total which may sound daunting but I actually only had about 120 pages of proper content and it’s all with 1.5 line spacing. Each chapter was only about 20 pages which sounds much more manageable and really isn’t much for 3 years work!

Things which helped me included:

• Having already written up some results.
• Using figures I’d made for presentations.
• Not expecting it to be perfect.
• Setting myself tight deadlines. I gave myself two weeks to write the introduction, literature review and discussion chapters.

Some of us PhD students make things more difficult than they need to be, trying to make everything perfect. I’ve heard some staff say “good enough is good enough” which I’ve found a useful mantra.

I recommend not spending too long on the thesis because:

• Papers are what count, put your energy into them instead.
• There is no point trying to second-guess what your examiners may want to see, you could spend months deliberating and they’ll still potentially have corrections to suggest.

I was a bit nervous before my viva, which is normal. I was confident in the work I had done for the PhD, but was actually more concerned about being asked any theoretical or technical questions you’d be more likely to encounter in an undergraduate course.

Although it lasted more than five hours, mine was a supportive environment, mostly a discussion to give feedback to improve the thesis and publications. Remember to be honest and be reassured that you know your work better than anyone else.

In summary, how hard is a PhD?

• Most PhDs are not intellectually difficult but they do present other challenges
• How hard you may find a PhD depends on your ability to self motivate, look after yourself, deal with isolation, problem solve and master public speaking
• Everyone experiences challenges during their PhD but it’s how you confront those challenges that matters
• Make the most of your supervisor for support and guidance

If you’d like personalised help with your PhD application I am now starting to offer a small number of one-to-one sessions. Please contact me to find out more or click here to book a call.

If you’re interested in doing a PhD but are scared of the difficulty, please don’t be put off.

As long as you’re willing to learn and are dedicated I am sure you can succeed.

Finally, remember to enjoy the experience!

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10 Comments on “How Hard is a PhD?”

I have really been struggling on whether to apply for a PhD. This post has given me the realistic picture I needed. Thank you

Yay, I’m so pleased you found it useful, Ankita! If you can think of any other questions you’d like answered be sure to let me know. Best wishes

Thanks for sharing your experiences and insights, Jeff 🙂 I find this post really helpful in terms of being aware of what’s to come as I start my PhD journey – and more importantly, what I can do to overcome these potential obstacles!

Hey Julie, I’m pleased you’ve found it useful. Best of luck with your PhD!

Jeff, Thank you very much for putting this together. Im a second year PhD student who regularly finds themselves in crisis of confidence. This article really helps to give me a little perspective, empowering me to plough on regardless of nagging doubts!

Thanks very much for your comment, Callum. I’m really glad the article has helped. Best of luck with the rest of your project: you’ve got this!!

I am currently a full time MBA student who will graduate in December. My professor in Leadership actually approached me about whether I would consider becoming a higher ed professor and researcher. She noticed qualities in my writing and research that she said the job would suit me perfectly. I have been back and forth on the idea and your site has truly been a great boost for me in getting the confidence I need to apply for my PhD, so thank you :)!

Hey Sarah. Yay! I’m so glad the website has been useful for you, thanks so much for your comment. Do let me know if you have any other questions or suggestions for other content which would help. Best of luck with the end of your MBA and future PhD application! Best wishes, Jeff.

Jeff, Thank you for taking the time to put this together. I am entering my final term of my MS in Cybersecurity and graduate in May 21 and I was curious on the level of effort for a PhD. When my wife saw me looking at PhD programs however she lovingly made me close the browser so it may not be in the cards right now. Granted I do have 2 young children under 5, a full time job and am an Army Reservist so she isn’t wrong 🙂 However, I do really appreciate you putting this together to help other students interested in PhD programs. This has given me great insight into what to expect and what it will take. Thanks again! George

Hi George, Thanks so much for your kind comment, I’m glad it has been useful for you. In terms of how much effort a PhD is: anecdotally I did mine keeping pretty strictly to normal office hours of roughly 9-5 Monday-Friday and had the official letter confirming my PhD within 3.5 years of the day I started. Admittedly this is in the UK, I expect in the US it would take a little longer overall but the weekly workload doesn’t need to be overwhelming. I think my peers on average worked similar hours. The nice thing about research is that, assuming you have a reasonable supervisor, you are typically much more in control of your hours than in a traditional job. As long as you get the work done a good PhD supervisor doesn’t tend to care how you schedule your time so could fit quite nicely around other commitments such as childcare. Sometimes people think the flexible hours can only go badly for them: being expected to work longer hours than normal, but I don’t think this needs to be the case. Of course chucking endless hours at a task isn’t always useful, better to work smart! Sure some projects may involve intense sets of experiments but these are either usually few and far between or limited to fields like biology with cell experiments. In my experience anything based on a computer tends to be more flexible so you’re good. Basically the level of effort doesn’t need to be any more intense than a normal job. I hope this helps. Let me know if you have any other questions or I’d be happy to jump on a quick call if that’d help. Best of luck! Jeff.

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How difficult is it to get a PhD? The real doctorate struggles.

There is no doubt that getting a PhD is no small feat. It requires dedication, hard work, and plenty of motivation to stay on track.

Getting a PhD can be a very challenging process that requires several years of intensive research, coursework, and writing. However, the difficulty of obtaining a PhD can vary depending on factors such as the specific program and field of study.

Also, I have witnessed that the individual student’s background and preparation, and the level of commitment and effort they are willing to invest also highly influence how hard a PhD is for an individual candidate.

In order to complete in a timely fashion PhD candidates must also be prepared to invest a significant amount of time into their studies in order to complete the necessary coursework (US-based PhDs) and research.

The process can be especially difficult if the student is attempting to balance work or family life while completing their studies.

Quite often younger PhD students find it easier than mature age students due to the fact that they have fewer adult commitments and responsibilities in their private life – but this isn’t always the case.

However, with proper planning and perseverance, it is certainly possible for anyone to reach this educational achievement.

It was something I was very proud to have completed and it certainly opened doors to other opportunities.

Why is a PhD so difficult?

A PhD is an advanced academic degree that requires a huge amount of dedication and hard work.

Ask any PhD graduate and they are likely to say that it is one of the most challenging parts of their life in academia.

That is because it is a lengthy process that involves several years of research, writing, and, at the end, defending a dissertation in front of other experts in the field in order to be awarded the degree.

Typically, a PhD student will:

• have completed a Masters degree to a high standard for acceptance into the PhD program
• conduct a literature review of a field to find research gaps
• generate a research question and hypothesis
• work over multiple years to explore their research question and answer it fully
• fail multiple times and have their work critiqued continuously by experts in their field and that PhD supervisor.
• Write up their work in peer-reviewed journals and their thesis
• defend their peer-reviewed papers and their thesis
• continually stay up-to-date with the literature throughout their entire course
• some students may also have teaching and other administrative requirements at the University in which they are studying.

The entire process can be quite challenging and overwhelming, as students must stay up-to-date with new developments in their area of study while also meeting stringent academic standards.

They must also be able to effectively communicate complex concepts to their peers in things like peer-reviewed papers as well as at conferences and symposia.

All these factors make obtaining a PhD an incredibly difficult task but one that is ultimately rewarding for those who are successful.

It can be confronting when you look at a PhD in one whole chunk. However, by splitting down the tasks involved in a PhD it can become much more manageable and less detrimental on your mental health.

If you want to know more about how doing a PhD part-time you can check out my other articles:

• How long does it take to get a PhD part time? Complete a PhD on your own time.
• Is a PhD worth it now in 2023? [the data]  

What is the hardest part of getting a PhD?

One of the most challenging aspects of obtaining a PhD is that it takes a great deal of time and dedication.

You shouldn’t underestimate how easily your brain plays tricks on you over a multi-year project. Staying on course and ignoring your internal monologue is one of the most challenging parts again a PhD.

It can take anywhere from five to seven years of rigorous study and research to complete all the requirements for a PhD.

During this time, students must master complex topics in their field, conduct independent research projects, write lengthy dissertation papers, and navigate any number of other challenges along the way.

Working with your supervisor

Working with your PhD supervisor can, for some, be one of the most difficult aspects of doing a PhD.

Your PhD supervisor will dictate the outcome of your PhD and therefore it is worth spending a lot of time making sure you select the right PhD supervisor for you.

Some supervisors want to completely micromanage whilst others are happy to allow their students to explore freely.

Taking the time to make sure you can fully nurture this relationship will also ensure a less stressful PhD.

If you want to know more about great ways to build a relationship with your supervisor check out my YouTube video:

I also have a lot of content on my YouTube channel on choosing and working with academic supervisors.

Is it worth getting a PhD?

Whether or not it is worth getting a PhD depends on a few different factors.

For some people, having a PhD is important for career advancement and provides an opportunity to pursue higher-level positions in their field.

It may also be beneficial for those that wish to teach at the university level or conduct research in their field of interest.

On the other hand, pursuing a PhD can be time consuming and expensive, and the long years of study may not ultimately result in any tangible rewards.

I also have a YouTube video where I talk about whether getting a PhD is worth the effort:

There are a load of juicy secrets in this one.

Whether or not it is worth getting a PhD will depend on the individual’s goals and objectives. If they are looking for career advancement opportunities or want to pursue teaching or research opportunities, then getting a PhD may be worth the cost and effort involved.

How hard is it to manage the PhD workload?

You may have heard that a PhD is a massive task because of the workload.

If you are doing your PhD in the United States of America you may find that there are three years of coursework to complete before you start the research component of the degree. This workload can be huge.

No matter where you do your PhD the amount of work and effort it takes to complete a PhD is much greater than what was required for an undergraduate degree.

No longer do you have set deadlines and a structured course – you will need to figure out the pathway through your PhD on your own.

Furthermore, given that most U.S.-based PhD programs are structured like traditional college courses, it can be difficult to stay on top of all the readings and material without falling behind.

If you decide to pursue a doctoral degree you must make sure you are prepared for the increased workload and dedication required in order to be successful.

Speak to your support networks and your family to ensure that they will be able to support you when things get tough.

Is a PhD intellectually difficult?

You may be surprised to hear that PhD isn’t necessarily intellectually difficult. But it does require dedication and effort to work through some challenging intellectual problems.

I often say that a PhD is 80% dedication, 10% smarts and 10% luck.

A PhD can be an extremely intellectually challenging experience for any student because it requires a great deal of dedication and hard work to complete, and it is regarded as the highest level of education available.

The expectations of a PhD student are far greater than those of an undergraduate, and the research process can take years to complete.

Nonetheless, it is your ability to persevere through problems and stick to your research plan by improving on your research little by little day after day that will really dictate how successful your PhD is.

I have seen incredibly smart people fail a PhD whilst others, who have not done so well in undergraduate, have flourished in the research environment.

How long are PhD programs?

Research shows that the average amount of time to complete a PhD across disciplines is 4.4 years. Depending on the country, a PhD will take anywhere between two and seven years to complete depending on whether there is a coursework component (US universities).

The majority of students taking anywhere from five to seven years to complete their degree.

This is due to the nature of PhD programs, which require significant research and fieldwork experience in addition to coursework.

Depending on a student’s chosen field of study, some PhD programs may last longer than others.

Here is data from a study that looks at Australian university PhD completion  published in 1994 .

Some PhD programs may have requirements that must be met before graduation, such as publishing research or completing an internship. It is important for prospective students to understand what is expected of them in order to ensure they will be able to complete their program within the allotted timeframe.

If you want to know more about how long a PhD takes check out my other article:

• How long does it take to get a PhD? Complete a PhD quickly
• How long is a PhD dissertation? [Data by field]

How many hours do PhD students work?

Although PhD students often have to put in long hours of work to complete their degree is not necessary that a student puts in an insane number of hours as long as they were continuously and diligently towards the end goal of getting a PhD.

The amount of hours that a PhD student work will depend on the culture of the labs that they are currently researching in.

Some supervisors require students to be in the lab for many hours every day whilst others are happy from a 9-to-5 “work schedule”.

On average, PhD students work around 40-50 hours per week.

This includes time spent in:

• independent study
• researching
• and much more

Researching and writing a dissertation can require even more hours of work.

In addition to this, many PhD students also teach classes or take on other roles within the university that add to their workload.

All of this means that PhD students can often find themselves putting in long hours and having little free time outside of the academic demands of their program.

Wrapping up

This article has been through all of the difficult components that people may face if they decide to get a PhD.

I was able to complete my PhD in three years and I somewhat enjoyed the process. Of course it had its challenges but overall it was a worthwhile and rewarding experience for me.

However, some people’s experiences are also very different due to different pressures outside of academia and the culture in the research group in which they are working.

The ultimate difficulty depends very much on the individual circumstances and dedication of the PhD student but always involves dedicating yourself to the pursuit of knowledge over many years. This, in itself, can be a very challenging aspect to overcome.

Dr Andrew Stapleton has a Masters and PhD in Chemistry from the UK and Australia. He has many years of research experience and has worked as a Postdoctoral Fellow and Associate at a number of Universities. Although having secured funding for his own research, he left academia to help others with his YouTube channel all about the inner workings of academia and how to make it work for you.

Thank you for visiting Academia Insider.

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What Are the Easiest Ph.D. Degrees to Get?

Explore and compare a list of accredited schools to enroll in your next program.

A doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.) is the highest academic degree awarded in most fields of study. U.S. colleges and universities award more than 50,000 doctorates each year. Many people who pursue a Ph.D. have a passion for research, aspire to teach at the postsecondary level, or want to hold leadership roles in their field.

Earning any doctorate is a challenging journey that usually requires 3-6 years of study and includes a significant research component. However, some doctorates may be easier to obtain than others. The easiest Ph.D. depends on your strengths and interests. What feels formidable to some learners may come quickly to you.

Use the guide below to learn more about the easiest Ph.D. to get based on your background and expertise.

Popular Online Programs

Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.

Easiest Ph.D.s Based on Educational Background

STEM is an acronym that stands for science, technology, engineering, and math. While many students might consider these subjects academically demanding, having finely honed skills in your field and an appropriate master’s degree can set you up for success. Thousands of people earn doctorates in these areas each year.

Easiest Ph.D.s for Students With a STEM Background

• STEM Education: A Ph.D. in STEM education focuses on teaching strategies and learning assessments for math and science educators. Your curriculum may focus on a practice like problem-based learning or a specific STEM subject.
• Public Health: A multidisciplinary field, public health is concerned with promoting wellness in communities. Areas of focus may include epidemiology, biostatistics, or health management.

2. Humanities and Arts

In academia, the term “humanities” covers fields of study related to the human experience, including subjects like history, literature, and religion. The arts are fields related to creation and expression and can include music, writing, studio art, and dance. People who love to create, analyze, or research can thrive as doctoral students in these areas.

Easiest Ph.D.s for Students With a Humanities and Arts Background

• History: A Ph.D. in history provides an opportunity for you to investigate the past while sharpening your research, writing, and analytical skills. Common specializations include U.S. history, world history, and public history.
• English Literature: In these 3- to 5-year programs, you can research and analyze the words, narratives, and written pieces that help shape the way society works.

3. Business and Economics

Business focuses on maximizing profit, while economics is a social science concerned with the distribution of resources. If you have experience or education in business, you may find it easy to complete Ph.D. programs in these fields.

Easiest Ph.D.s for Students With a Business and Economics Background

• Business Administration: A Ph.D. in business administration emphasizes research in business management, systems thinking, and management theory. This degree can provide a pathway for seasoned business professionals to move into higher education.
• Public Administration: Unlike political science, which focuses on theories and systems of government, public administration emphasizes the practice of government. Programs in this field usually require skills in budgeting, finance, and analysis.
• Economics: Students with a background in microeconomics, macroeconomics, statistics, and mathematics can flourish in an economics Ph.D. program. A background in data science or programming languages can also prove useful.

4. Social Sciences

Social sciences are the academic disciplines concerned with human behavior, problems, systems, and institutions. They include sociology, anthropology, psychology, and political science. Most advanced social science degrees require strong research and analytical skills. You may find these disciplines easy if you understand how to use data to solve problems.

Easiest Ph.D.s for Students With a Social Sciences Background

• Social Work: A Ph.D. in social work usually requires a master’s in social work, a social worker’s license, and experience as a clinical social worker. With the appropriate background, you can complete this degree in 3-4 years.
• Psychology: A Ph.D. in psychology can emphasize clinical practice or pure research. A Ph.D. in clinical psychology may demand more time because of the clinical hours required to complete the degree.
• Public Policy: Public policy degrees focus on how governments respond to issues. A Ph.D. in public policy usually includes coursework in leadership, policy analysis, and public management.

5. Health Sciences

Health sciences are concerned with a scientific focus on human well-being. Unlike a doctor of medicine program, which emphasizes wellness through medicine, health sciences Ph.D. programs explore public health, education, and administration. Depending on your academic and professional background, you can pursue a clinical or nonclinical health sciences doctorate.

Easiest Ph.D.s for Students With a Health Sciences Background

• Nursing: A Ph.D. in nursing prepares nurse-scholars to conduct scientific research relevant to the field of nursing. Research topics may include nursing theory, aging research, or social determinants of health.
• Health Administration: Healthcare administration deals with the business of managing a hospital or other healthcare institution. Ph.D. students may focus on how developments in healthcare affect economics, policies, or institutions.

6. Education and Teaching

As an academic discipline, education is concerned with how people teach and learn. The field draws from theories in sociology, psychology, history, and philosophy. A master’s degree in education coupled with at least three years of teaching experience can prepare you well for the challenges of a Ph.D. in this field.

Easiest Ph.D.s for Students With an Education and Teaching Background

• Curriculum and Instruction: Focused on enhancing the learning experience, a Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction explores effective strategies for teaching and learning in formal settings. You can complete this program in 3-4 years after earning a master’s degree.
• Educational Leadership: A Ph.D. in educational leadership typically emphasizes either K-12 school leadership or higher education administration. This degree often requires experience and a master’s degree for admission.

7. Environmental Studies

Environmental studies experts use social and natural science tools to understand how natural ecosystems function and how they shape — and are shaped by — humans. Subfields include hydrology, ecology, and environmental engineering. A blend of the natural and social sciences can provide a strong background for a Ph.D. in environmental studies.

Easiest Ph.D.s for Students With an Environmental Studies Background

• Agriculture and Environmental Studies: Building on a master’s degree in agriculture, food science, or biology, a Ph.D. in agriculture and environmental studies focuses on meeting the challenges facing the global food system.
• Sustainability: Sustainability refers to the practices and tools needed to meet current standards of living with minimal compromise of future resources. A sustainability Ph.D. may include research in industrial ecology or sustainability science.
• Conservation Biology: Conservation biologists work to maintain global biodiversity. Students in this field can research specific species and habitats or study practices like fishing, hunting, and logging.

8. Communications and Media

A broadly interdisciplinary field, communications and media includes an array of disciplines concerned with how people communicate one-on-one, in groups, between institutions, and through the media.

Easiest Ph.D.s for Students With a Communications and Media Background

• Media Studies: A Ph.D. in media studies includes coursework and research in areas such as digital media, global media, identity, and criticism. Generally, students should already hold a master’s degree in the discipline.
• Journalism: Many Ph.D. programs in journalism explore the effects of journalism on society, including politics, healthcare, and economics. The field’s diversity can make this degree more accessible to people with a broad array of backgrounds.

What Makes a Ph.D. Easy?

No doctorate is easy to earn, but the Ph.D. programs outlined above may be easier to obtain because many of them are more open to students with diverse backgrounds and experience. They also tend to focus on solving large-scale problems in broad fields such as education or communications.

Most reputable Ph.D.s will require 3-6 years of study, an original research project called a dissertation, and 60-90 credits beyond the bachelor’s degree. Online doctorates and hybrid programs that combine in-person and distance learning can help you create a flexible schedule, but the work will still be rigorous and demanding.

Did You Know…

Why Accreditation Matters for All Ph.D. Programs

In the U.S., only degrees from accredited schools hold value in the marketplace. Accreditation demonstrates that your program has quality and credibility. Though unaccredited schools may offer low-cost degrees, they may also be running a scam. Check your school’s accreditation status by looking for information about accreditation on their website or by checking databases from the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education .

College accreditation is voluntary and can be institutional or industry-specific. Institutional accreditors such as the Higher Learning Commission and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges approve an entire college or university. Industry-specific bodies like ABET or AACSB International accredit individual programs or departments.

FAQ About Easy Ph.D. Programs

What is the difference between a ph.d and a professional doctorate.

A Ph.D. and a professional doctorate are both terminal degrees, but key differences separate the two. A Ph.D. features substantial research requirements, whereas a professional doctorate incorporates advanced practical training.

When it comes to easy doctoral degrees, Ph.D. programs typically run longer and require more intensive study than professional programs. The theoretical focus of a Ph.D. may also prove more challenging than a practical doctorate.

​​Can you get a Ph.D. without a dissertation?

Yes. While no-dissertation doctorates are more common for professional programs, some research-based Ph.D.s may also offer degrees that don’t require a dissertation. Some of these programs have a practical project, while others have a research component that doesn’t have the depth of a dissertation.

Are there any 1-year Ph.D. programs?

No. Though some professional doctorates may take 1-2 years, you generally cannot complete a Ph.D. program in that time. Many Ph.D.s take 3-6 years to complete.

What are the best Ph.D. programs for working professionals?

An asynchronous online program may be the easiest Ph.D. to get for working professionals. This delivery method allows you to complete your studies during the hours that suit you best. An asynchronous schedule can also accommodate nontraditional work schedules because of their added flexibility.

What is the most difficult Ph.D. program?

The most difficult Ph.D. program depends on how you learn best, but certain disciplines tend to be more difficult. Highly technical programs, such as mathematics and science disciplines, challenge many students. Very involved and intensive programs like engineering may also prove difficult.

Note: The insights on this page — excluding school descriptions — were reviewed by an independent third party compensated for their time by Accredited Schools Online. Page last reviewed June 14, 2024.

Financial Aid for Online Colleges

Online Colleges That Accept FAFSA In 2019, the amount of students taking online classes reached over seven million, a number that keeps growing. But can you use financial aid for online colleges? What about using financial aid for online certificate programs? Fortunately, distance learners often qualify for the same types of financial aid as on-campus …

Online Graduate School Guidebook

Funding Your Education

Shape your future with an online degree.

Connect with a community of peers, and find a program that will allow you to continue your education in a fast and flexible way.

Top 21+ Hardest & Easiest PhDs to Get (High PhDs, FAQs)

• by Paschal Uchechukwu
• January 23, 2022

The hardest and easiest PhDs to get are the PhD programs that allow you to expand your knowledge and skillset in your chosen sector. It can also assist you in qualifying for a promotion due to the process.

A part-time PhD mixed with full-time work is not impossible with some time management and organization.

Thus, one helpful advice is to do some research towards the end of your workday in the workplace, rather than after you get home when you are exhausted.

Table of Contents

Is a PhD Worth it?

When you start a PhD program, you’ll delve into your chosen field more deeply than ever.

This advanced degree is wonderful since it opens up new waters for exploration. The point is to learn something new, draw some interesting conclusions, and, ideally, add to the body of knowledge in your subject.

However, if money is an issue, look into graduate assistant employment that covers some school costs.

In exchange for service in the classroom or laboratory, several programs provide financial aid for higher education.

Suppose you are currently employed full-time and are anticipating that earning a PhD will help you grow in your profession. In that case, you may want to think about continuing your current employment while also completing your doctorate on a part-time basis.

NB: The job market may not look bright even after you’ve been in the workforce for a while and earned your bachelor’s degree.

There’s no promise that things will improve after a delay, but a graduate assistantship can provide financial stability as you earn your PhD and build your career credentials.

Are there hard PhD degrees?

A PhD work develops due to your prior studies, preferences and dislikes, abilities and desires, and other factors.

Doing this task in the appropriate setting and with the proper counsel will push you to the limits of your ability, far beyond what you imagined was possible.

It should be difficult, but only as difficult as you are capable of enduring while at the same time being something you thoroughly like. Your efforts will be rewarded by your accomplishments as well as the approval of your peers.

A PhD project is not the same as an ultramarathon, where the difficulty is measured in kilometres, but rather in hours. There is no such thing as the most difficult PhD program.

The following list of difficult majors suggests that continuing the study will be difficult and demanding for the student involved.

10+ Hardest PhDs (Doctorate Degrees) to get

1. phd in chemical engineering.

A PhD in engineering designates a subject matter expert in engineering. International students pursuing a doctorate in engineering are expected to conduct great and innovative research while introducing new concepts or challenges to the engineering community.

As one of the Hardest PhDs to get, a PhD in engineering typically takes five to seven years of graduate school, and those with this highly regarded degree have numerous job prospects.

A PhD in chemical engineering is a fantastic choice for people who want to work in the academic side of chemical engineering, or in particularly high-level or complex fields of chemical engineering, and is assured to provide a strong career path for years to come.

2. Juris Doctorate

Law schools in the United States award the Juris Doctor degree (abbreviated J.D.) to graduates who have completed their undergraduate studies.

Similar to how an MD is a Doctor of Medicine and a PhD is a Doctor of Philosophy, a Juris Doctor is a Doctor of Jurisprudence in the legal profession.

A Juris Doctor degree can be obtained from a non-accredited law school in most states if the applicant has graduated from an approved law school.

As one of the Hardest PhDs to get, a PhD is normally completed in five or six years, with the second half of the time spent conducting original research. Compared to a JD, a PhD is a lengthy and difficult undertaking.

When you graduate with a Juris Doctor degree, you’ll be prepared to enter various legal fields, including corporate law, real estate law, human rights law, and legal counseling.

The Juris Doctor, on the other hand, is a good postgraduate degree for those looking to advance their careers.

3. PhD in Information Assurance System

The vast volume of data and information kept in computing devices and networks has recently made information assurance systems prominent.

As one of the Hardest PhDs to get, many corporations and government agencies have been unable to keep up with cybersecurity needs as the internet, and linked gadgets have grown in popularity.

The PhD in Information Systems degree is designed to give students a comprehensive understanding of all key topics of information systems.

The PhD in information systems can be completed part-time or full-time, depending on the demands of the students.

4. Doctor of Pharmacy:

The North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX) requires a Doctor of Pharmacy degree (commonly abbreviated as Pharm.D. or PharmD).

The NAPLEX is one of the steps in the process of becoming a licensed pharmacist. A Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) is analogous to a Doctor of Medicine (MD) or a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS).

As a doctorate, it reflects pharmacists’ growing role in healthcare systems and Americans’ high regard for pharmacists.

College of Pharmacy graduates can practice pharmacy anywhere in the country after completing a Doctor of Pharmacy degree and passing licensure exams.

As one of the Hardest PhDs to get, Pharm-D is a five-year program that includes 110 credit hours of coursework.

It is challenging, but it will be quite simple if you are eager to study life sciences, chemistry, and other topics.

5. Boarded Medical Doctor:

Board certification signifies that you have attained the highest level of accreditation in your chosen field. Each medical board will have its own set of requirements that you must complete to be eligible for certification.

Following medical school, the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) requires physicians to complete 3 to 7 years of certified residency or fellowship training.

Following that, you must pass a series of difficult exams to earn an ABMS Board Certification. Becoming a doctor takes a lot of dedication, hard work, and years of study and training.

As one of the Hardest PhDs to get, you must first graduate from a recognized medical school and then complete a residency program requiring you to work for an extra year.

6. Doctor of Philosophy in Philosophy:

It is difficult to obtain a doctorate in philosophy, but with dedication and hard work, you can meet the prerequisites and obtain your PhD.

Obtaining a doctorate in philosophy can be a rewarding and realistic step in your career—if you are willing to work hard.

As one of the Hardest PhDs to get, whether you want to influence academia or become a scholar at a think tank, obtaining a doctorate in philosophy can be a rewarding and realistic step in your career—if you are willing to work hard.

Read more: Cryptozoologist Degree (Meaning, How-to, Duties, Benefits)

7. Doctor of Optometry:

Doctors of optometry (O.D.s/optometrists) are the major eye and vision care providers globally. Doctors of optometry are important healthcare practitioners who are recognized by Medicare as physicians.

As one of the Hardest PhDs to get, optometry school is a reduced version of medical school and residency (7+ years) that removes much of the non-vision content. It is less difficult because you can become a medical specialist in practically half the time.

8. PhD in Math

In the industry, a PhD in mathematics has some importance. However, you’d have to decide whether the opportunity cost is too large.

A PhD in mathematics would allow you to work in any field that requires analytical thinking. Furthermore, your capacity to do well is dependent on your mathematical abilities.

A math PhD is impossible if this is low. If it is high, it is not difficult; all that is required is a strong work ethic and the ability to devote 5–7 years to graduate school.

As one of the Hardest PhDs to get, no step in your schooling is more difficult than this one.

9. Boarded Doctor of Osteopathy:

It’s not easy to get into an osteopathic school. You must excel in medical school prerequisites and the MCAT and participate in relevant extracurricular activities. And there’s a lot of rivalry for entry.

Although board certification is not necessary to practice medicine, it is useful for identifying a physician’s knowledge and experience in a specific specialty.

Board certification is another step a physician can take to reassure patients that they have received the necessary specialist training.

10. Doctor of Philosophy in Religion:

It requires dedication and determination to obtain a Doctor of Philosophy in Religion.

The procedure for earning a Doctor of Philosophy in Religion differs by university and program. Almost all degrees, however, will necessitate coursework, extensive research, and a dissertation.

As one of the hardest PhDs to get, many religion Ph. D. programs are lengthy, ranging from 5 to 10 years with a dissertation.

11. Doctor of Veterinary Medicine:

The Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) is a four-year professional program that starts with three to four years of pre-professional study.

It’s a challenging degree with a rigorous schedule and plenty of job experience to cram into your ‘holidays,’ so you know what you’re getting into after five years.

As one of the hardest PhDs to get, the most difficult aspect of veterinary care is knowing you can help the animal in front of you but being told you can’t.

The most common reason people refuse to proceed is cost; however, people may also have moral or religious objections to diagnostics or treatments.

12. Doctor of Podiatric Medicine:

A doctor of podiatric medicine is to the foot what a dentist or an ophthalmologist is to the mouth or the eye. This specialist has completed extensive training to become qualified to treat a specific portion of the body.

Basic science classes are identical to those offered in medical school. Each lesson is not difficult in and of itself, but there are so many at once, with no “easy” classes to give you a break.

As one of the hardest PhDs to get, for two years, there are chemistry classes for seven hours a day, five days a week. Then half days of lessons for the next two years, with the other half spent visiting patients at the clinic.

Then there are three or more years of residence, during which you will work approximately 60 hours per week under challenging conditions.

• Is it possible to do a PhD in one year?

No, you will not be able to complete a PhD in one year. To obtain a PhD degree, the average student will need between four and eight years.

However, this will rely on a number of things, including the type of doctorate you pick, the design of the program, and the location where you complete your PhD.

With the exception of the United States, most countries consider three to four years to be typical.

Read more: Acupuncture Degree (Meaning, Duration, Pros, Cost, Requirements)

Top 10+ Easiest PhDs to get

1. doctor of recreation:.

A Doctor of Recreation degree can lead to jobs as a corporate trainer, recreational director, sports manager, or health club manager, to name a few.

Additionally, you have the option of pursuing a managerial position in parks and recreation, hospitality and tourism, or RV park management.

As one of the Easiest PhD to get, the PhD program in Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management is designed for students who want to work in a park, recreation, or tourism organization, either as a researcher or as an administrator.

2. Doctor of Public Administration:

Although working in public administration may be your long-term aim, your doctorate degree can help you choose any career path.

Your curriculum will teach you a variety of research methods as well as data analysis abilities, all of which may be applied to any career.

As one of the easiest PhDs to get, Doctoral programs in public administration typically demand 50 to 54 courses and take two to three years to finish.

3. Doctor of Sociology:

The doctor of sociology (PhD, D.Sc) studies human social organizations and connections.

In addition, the curriculum will assist students in building fundamental strategic skills in areas such as social stratification, family structures, sociological research methodologies, social organization and structure, dynamics of social change, and social deviance and control.

The Sociology program is designed to help experienced sociology graduates and professionals advance their careers by expanding their knowledge and abilities in research and process sociology.

It is one of the easiest PhDs to get.

4. Doctor of Ministry:

The Doctor of Ministry (abbreviated DMin or D. Min.) is a professional doctorate that can be acquired by a minister of religion while still in ministry.

It’s an advanced program for ministerial leadership. A Doctor of Ministry degree will set graduates apart as ministers, missionaries, or theology teachers.

As one of the easiest PhDs to get, a D. Min degree will expand your education, network, and leadership skills as a pastor.

5. Doctor of Physical Education:

The Doctor of Physical Education (D.Sc) program aims to help students better understand the discipline’s knowledge base through education and training, resulting in highly competent graduates who will contribute significantly to advancing empirically-based knowledge in Physical Education.

Although the conventional DPT program lasts three years, certain programs compress academic requirements into a shorter time frame, which may help you control the total cost of your education and get into the field sooner.

As one of the Easiest PhDs to get, an EdD, or Doctor of Education, is a professional doctorate that is best suited for experienced educators and mid-to senior-level working professionals who wish to manage and implement change within their organization.

6. Doctor of Social Work:

The Doctor of Social Work (DSW) is a professional doctorate in social work that often provides additional study in a professional area of practice, such as nonprofit organization, leadership development, and social justice, among others.

Typically, the DSW concentrates on clinical practice or nonprofit management. The majority of DSW programs last two to five years.

Typically, the DSW concentrates on clinical practice or nonprofit management. Rated as one of the easiest PhDs to get, the formal title of ‘doctor’ refers to a bearer of a DSW, as it is with other doctorates.

7. Doctor of Public Policy:

A Doctor of Public Policy is aimed at people who want to improve their policymaking and policy implementation skills at all levels of government.

Students who complete this degree will be prepared to perform policy analysis, advocate for public policies and community-based solutions, and serve in decision-making roles.

Your PhD in Public Policy and Administration will equip you with a working knowledge of public policy theory, research, and practice, preparing you for a career as a researcher, college-level educator, or administrative leader in a variety of settings, including the government, private sector, or nonprofit sector.

A Doctor of Public Policy is rated as one of the easiest PhDs to get.

8. Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP):

A Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) is a nursing degree.

The DNP program builds on existing master’s programs by giving education in evidence-based practice, quality improvement, and systems leadership. It is often more clinically focused than the PhD or DNS programs.

However, depending on your specialty and years of experience, a nurse with an advanced degree can earn six figures per year.

As one of the easiest PhDs to get, one of the main reasons a DNP is worthwhile is that it provides substantial financial benefits. A DNP earns an average of $104,353 per year or 52.63 per hour.

9. Doctor of Counseling:

A doctorate in counseling is the greatest level of education available in the counseling area, meaning it is the highest level of education general.

Counselors who have advanced degrees have more job options available to them.

A doctoral degree may be required to obtain high-level employment in a university, hospital, school system, or community center if your career aim is more than just having a private practice.

Read more: Is a Communications degree worth it? (Quick answer)

10. Doctor of Management:

The Doctor of Management (D.M.) is commonly regarded as an applied research degree in management.

The emphasis is on applying management theories and learning to conduct practical research to identify and solve industry issues.

As one of the easiest PhDs to get, the fundamental goal of the Doctor of Management degree is to learn and comprehend managerial issues and how to design and implement changes and improvements in organizations as a leader, practitioner, and scholar in the relevant business environment.

A PhD in management typically takes 4–5 years to complete. A typical program consists of two years of intensive education (core courses and seminars) followed by a comprehensive test.

The dissertation process usually lasts two to three years.

11. Doctor of Psychology:

The Doctor of Psychology (Psy. D.) is a professional doctoral degree that prepares graduates for jobs involving scientific understanding of psychology to provide empirically-based service to individuals, groups, and organizations.

Like a PhD in Psychology, the Doctor of Psychology degree (PsyD) equips students to practice psychology in various therapeutic settings. A PsyD, on the other hand, focuses on therapeutic practice rather than research.

Highest Paying PhDs in the World

1. computer science:.

A PhD in this field can prepare you for roles in cutting-edge technology research or executive positions in tech companies.

You could develop new software, improve cybersecurity, or work on artificial intelligence. These roles often come with six-figure salaries.

2. Engineering:

Whether civil, electrical, or aerospace engineering, a PhD can make you a specialist in your field.

You might end up working on important infrastructure projects or developing new technologies, which are highly valued roles.

3. Pharmaceutical Sciences:

This field involves advanced research into new medications and treatments.

You could be working for major pharmaceutical companies, and these roles often command high salaries due to their complexity and the specialized knowledge required.

4. Economics:

With a PhD in economics, you could work in academia, high-level government roles, or financial institutions. These positions often involve shaping economic policy or conducting impactful research.

5. Business and Management:

A PhD can prepare you for leadership roles in large corporations or academic positions where you might conduct influential business research. Business consultants with PhDs also earn high salaries.

While a law degree is not a PhD, further specialization in corporate law, intellectual property, or international law can lead to very lucrative careers.

7. Healthcare:

Specialized healthcare roles, like neurosurgeons or psychiatrists, often require advanced studies beyond medical school. These are some of the highest-paying roles in the healthcare industry.

8. Physics and Mathematics:

With a PhD in one of these fields, you could be in academia, government, or private industry research roles. Sometimes, this research directly applies to profitable industries like technology or aerospace.

9. Data Science:

As companies and institutions gather more data, experts who can analyze this information are in high demand.

A PhD in data science can prepare you for high-paying roles in various industries, from tech to healthcare.

How long does it take to get a PhD in Mathematics?

Getting a PhD in Mathematics usually takes about 5 to 7 years. This can vary depending on the country, the university, and how quickly you complete your research.

The process typically involves two parts: coursework and research. The first 2 to 3 years are often spent taking advanced math classes.

After that, you focus on your own research, which could take another 3 to 4 years.

This research ends with a dissertation, a long paper you must defend in front of experts. Once that’s done, you get your PhD.

Frequently Asked Questions on Hardest & Easiest PhDs to Get:

• Boarded Medical Doctor

Since a PhD is a type of doctorate, neither is better.

A PhD is less expensive than a master’s degree in engineering, architecture, or education. However, it is only worth it in medicine, other scientific disciplines, and business and financial studies. There is a 3% premium for a PhD over a master’s degree across all fields of study

Professionals already working have a lot of interest in returning to school. In India, there are a lot of institutions that make it easy for working professionals to get their PhD. 

Conclusion:

Making a PhD thesis involves generating new information, discovering novel concepts, and learning new skills.

Although academia is considered the most obvious job route for any PhD holder, the degree can also be used to pursue a position in an industry focused on research and development.

Awesome one; I hope this article answers your question.

Share this Information.

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• Boarded Doctor of Osteopathy
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• Doctor of Philosophy in Philosophy
• Doctor of Philosophy in Religion
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• Doctor of Public Administration
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• Doctor of Recreation:
• Doctor of Social Work
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• Easiest PhDs to get in 2023
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Paschal Uchechukwu

Paschal Uchechukwu Christain is a professional and passionate SEO writer on Education, including homeschool, college tips, high school, and travel tips. He has been writing articles for over 5 years. He is the Chief Content Officer at School & Travel. Paschal Uchechukwu Christain holds a degree in Computer Science from a reputable institution. Also, he is passionate about helping people get access to online money-making opportunities.

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• 13 August 2024

A hike of postdoc salary alone will not retain the best researchers in low- or middle-income countries

• Jagadeesh Bayry   ORCID: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0498-9808 0

Indian Institute of Technology Palakkad, Palakkad, India.

You can also search for this author in PubMed   Google Scholar

The article by Kaitlin Kharas ( Nature 631 , 256; 2024 ) encourages other countries to follow Canada’s path and increase PhD and postdoc salaries to attract and retain top research talent. This approach might work in countries that are leaders in scientific research. But it won’t in low- or middle-income countries, such as India, where a different strategy is needed.

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doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-024-02617-w

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Rempe working hard to 'earn' spot on Rangers roster this season 

6-foot-7 forward intent on matching buzz with production

© Len Redkoles/NHLI

• Link copied

STAMFORD, Conn. -- Matt Rempe had a line of fans waiting for him, cheering when he arrived at the Shoulder Check Showcase charity event last month, sharpies ready for autographs, phones out for pictures.

It was yet another display of how much life has changed for the 6-foot-7 New York Rangers forward.

A year ago, Rempe was easy to spot because of his size but hard to recognize because he was a sixth-round pick (No. 165) in the 2020 NHL Draft playing for Hartford in the American Hockey League.

Today, not only does Rempe still stand out in a crowd because of his size, he has a following among Rangers fans that at least rivals stars like Chris Kreider and Jonathan Quick , who were at the same event July 25 but did not create the same buzz upon their arrival.

He might even be more popular than them and others at this point.

"I try to take it in, but it's pretty special," Rempe said.

Rempe's popularity, though, is as much a blessing as it is his burden, one he carries into every offseason training workout, every summer skate.

The notoriety he has among the "Original Six" fan base is fitting for a young, burgeoning, high-scoring, elite forward.

But that's not Rempe.

He is 22 years old. He has played 28 NHL games (17 in the regular season, 11 in the Stanley Cup Playoffs). He has skated exactly 162 minutes and 58 seconds. He's scored two goals, three fewer than his total number of fights. He has 81 penalty minutes to his credit.

He's not even a lock to make the NHL roster out of training camp. And he knows it.

"I'm getting all this attention and I feel like I have to earn it," Rempe said. "I've gotten on the scene, I've done well, but there's so much room for growth. I don't want to let anyone down. I'm terrified of that. That pushes me every single day to try to do the max that I can and ask how much better did I get today?"

The earn-it attitude is why Rempe is so respected by his teammates and coaches.

"His evaluation is probably honest and fair that he's got to continue to work at all aspects of his game, as a lot of young players do," Rangers coach Peter Laviolette said. "He was a guy that came up and he made so much noise. You say, what is it that he has to do [to make the opening night roster]? Well, there's a lot of things."

Rempe is working on all of them, taking the advice he got from the coaching staff in his exit meeting after the season and incorporating it all into his offseason training.

He started by spending five weeks at home in Calgary, during which he took a trip to Edmonton with friend and Winnipeg Jets defenseman prospect Tyrel Bauer to work with retired NHL forward Georges Laraque , who taught them fighting techniques.

WSH@NYR R1, Gm1: Rempe buries opening goal in the 2nd period

"In three days, we learned a lot of stuff and it was awesome," Rempe said. "It was an honor to work with a guy like that. The guy is probably one of the toughest guys there ever was and he really helped me, just showed me a lot of great stuff. It was sweet."

Rempe returned to the New York area in late July and moved in with Quick and his family in Connecticut, where he began training and skating with Kreider.

"He told me he's looking to earn it," Quick said. "Every conversation we've had about next season he's saying very similar things. He's looking forward to the rest of the summer, what he can do to improve his game and continue to get better."

Rempe said in Calgary he worked on his skating, particularly his balance to be more stable on his skates so he doesn't get knocked off pucks. He is working on his skills with Kreider, such as handling the puck and protecting it in tight situations.

He said he needs to be better in those areas to prove he can be an effective all-around NHL player, not just a big guy who plays five minutes, forechecks and fights.

"Incredibly driven, incredibly focused and wants to get better every single day," is how Kreider described Rempe. "He's super disciplined and has incredible willpower, and he's a sponge. He's just going to keep on getting better, which is scary for every other team." 

Rempe said Kreider and Jets captain Adam Lowry are examples of the type of player he wants to become.

"I'm just trying to get better," Rempe said. "I feel like I can be a very effective bottom-six player who is fast, mean, physical, skates well, protects pucks, goes to the net, is good around the net, can play center or wing. I want to be a good penalty killer. I feel like I can be a guy one day on a shutdown line that can be very hard to play against and also create some offense around the net, bring pucks to the net. I've got a long way to go but that's all I'm working toward."

In the meantime, his popularity will not wane.

Rempe will be at Fanatics Fest NYC at the Jacob Javits Center in Manhattan on Sunday participating in a Rangers-based panel discussion with legends Henrik Lundqvist and Mike Richter and defenseman K'Andre Miller .

Lundqvist is a Hockey Hall of Famer. Richter is a Stanley Cup champion. Miller is an established top-four NHL defenseman. Rempe is a player trying to make the roster, but Rangers fans in attendance Sunday won't have to Google his name to find out who he is.

"All the people are so good to me, they're all cheering, so it'll be cool to meet some more fans," Rempe said. "I've got to earn it. I've got to earn everything."

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College Reality Check

Are PhDs Worth It Anymore? Should You Do It?

A bachelor’s degree can make you earn more money than someone whose highest educational attainment is a high school diploma or an associate degree.

On the other hand, a master’s degree can make you make even more. And if that’s not enough, you can consider getting a PhD, although it’s something that you will have to work hard for.

PhDs are worth it for individuals willing to devote resources to the attainment of the degree that can make them experts in specific fields and open doors to more career opportunities and higher salary potential. This is especially true for those who want to pursue a career in academia or research.

Continue reading if you are thinking about enrolling in a Ph.D. program.

Below, I will try to answer as many pressing questions as you probably have in your mind about getting a PhD, thus allowing you to determine whether you should give it a go or go get employed instead.

Why Should You Do a PhD?

Getting a PhD allows one to enjoy broader career opportunities where having the highest academic degree is an advantage. Naturally, a PhD paves the way to greater earning potential. Typically, individuals who do a PhD wish to reach their full capabilities, become experts in their chosen fields and make a difference.

Let’s get one thing clear: a PhD is an academic degree that takes a lot of time and money to get.

Individuals who are PhD holders, because of this, are quite rare . As a matter of fact, in the US, only around 1.2% of the entire population has a PhD — and this is why they are considered valuable.

While it’s true that completing a PhD program requires a lot of money and hard work as well as can cause stress, anxiety and many sleepless nights, it’s not uncommon for some students to still dedicate much of their resources to earning a PhD. It’s because the returns in terms of career opportunities, earnings and prestige are all worth the commitment.

What are Reasons Not to Do a PhD?

Expensive, time-consuming, requires lots of work, can cause psychological distress — these are some of the disadvantages of getting a PhD. Individuals who are not financially stable, don’t like working for several hours a week and are not fully invested in a discipline should think twice before working on a PhD.

Although there are lots of reasons for you to get your hands on a PhD, there are also some that may keep you from considering applying to a PhD program.

Leading the list is the exorbitant cost — in a few, I will talk about just how expensive a PhD is, so don’t stop reading now. And then there’s also the fact that it can take twice as long to earn a PhD than a bachelor’s degree. Typically, a PhD program can take anywhere from 4 to 5 years to complete. But for many, it can take up to 8 long years!

How long it will take for you to earn a PhD all depends on the program’s curriculum rigor and requirements.

When deciding whether or not you should push through with your plan on getting a PhD, carefully weigh the pros and cons. Dropping out somewhere in the middle of your studies can result in the wastage of both time and money.

How Many Hours Do PhD Students Study?

The vast majority of Ph.D. students spend anywhere from 35 to 40 hours per week studying and completing coursework tasks. In many instances, around 20 hours per week go to lab time or assistantship. As a result of this, enrolling in a Ph.D. program is said to be similar to having a full-time 9-to-5 job.

Undergraduate students are typically encouraged to devote 15 to 20 hours of their time per week studying in order to get good grades — for a final exam, 20 to 30 hours per week is recommended.

Since a PhD is harder, students should study twice as long (or longer) as when they were undergraduates.

During some of the busiest periods in a PhD program, such as when one is writing a dissertation, working substantially longer hours may be warranted. While a timely completion of the coursework and other tasks is obligated, however, students are free to manage their time in a way that goes with their preferences and lifestyles.

Part-time PhD students, by the way, usually work around 17.5 hours per week.

Can Students Work While Earning Their PhDs?

Although challenging, it’s possible for students to work while enrolled in a PhD program. Many working PhD students teach undergraduates at their respective universities. Some are full-time PhD students with part-time work, while others are part-time PhD students with full-time work.

First things first: earning a PhD can be hard and working on a PhD while employed can be harder. But it’s completely doable, particularly with excellent planning and time management.

As mentioned, teaching at a university is one of the most common jobs among working PhD students. But there are many other jobs available for them on and outside of the campus. Some of them are part-time jobs, while others are full-time jobs. Some have contractual work, while others take on more permanent workforce roles.

You can be a full-time employee and a part-time PhD student for better juggling of roles. But just make sure that you will be able to complete your studies within a certain period if such is a requirement at your university.

Do PhD Students Have a Social Life?

PhD students, despite all the rigorous academic and research activities they do, can have a social life. They can socialize with the members of their research group and meet new people during departmental parties and public engagement events. PhD students also have the freedom to manage their own schedule.

Everyone knows that a PhD is the highest level of degree that students can obtain. And it’s also no secret that earning a PhD is associated with a lot of time, stress and anxiety.

It’s a good thing that it’s still very much possible for you to have a social life while working on a PhD.

One of the reasons for such is that PhD students are usually allowed to follow their own schedule for as long as they get the work done. Paired with great time-management skills, you can have room to go out with friends and make new ones. Besides, there are plenty of activities PhD students attend where they can mingle with others.

However, there’s no denying that enjoying a social life can be challenging for PhD students who have to work, too. And, in some instances, one of the two tasks may fail to get ample focus and attention.

Do I Need a Bachelor’s and a Master’s to Get a PhD?

Many PhD programs require a master’s degree. However, there are some where a previously earned master’s degree is not a prerequisite. So, in other words, one may apply straight from a bachelor’s program. In some cases, however, completing a master’s program even if not a requirement can come with benefits.

Saving both time and money — arguably, this is the biggest benefit to have for completing a PhD without a master’s. And then there’s also the fact that you can flex your degree and earn money ASAP.

While there are perks that come with earning a PhD without a master’s, there are some downsides, too.

In some industries, for instance, candidates with both a master’s and a PhD may enjoy an advantage in both employability and salary potential, too. In addition, a prior master’s degree can help you decide much better on the path of your PhD studies and research for a more satisfying and fulfilling outcome.

But keep in mind that while a university may admit applicants to a PhD program without a master’s degree, it may require top-notch and impressive performance in an undergraduate program in exchange for an acceptance letter.

What are Integrated PhDs?

An integrated PhD is a combination of the taught study of a master’s program and the research element of a PhD program. It can take anywhere from 4 to 5 years to complete, depending on the program. At some universities, an integrated PhD degree is commonly referred to as an integrated master’s degree.

Earlier, we talked about the fact that you can work on a PhD without a prior master’s degree.

If the PhD requires a master’s degree or you want to earn one before applying to a PhD program, you may consider what’s referred to as an integrated PhD. As the name suggests, it’s a PhD with a master’s degree integrated into it.

Typically, a traditional PhD takes anywhere from 4 to 6 years to complete. On the other hand, an integrated PhD can take 4 to 5 years to complete — the first 1 to 2 years are for studying the master’s course and the remaining ones are for the completion of the PhD course.

But since an integrated PhD is relatively new, not too many universities offer it.

What are the Easiest PhDs to Get?

Although all PhDs require a lot of time and hard work, some are easier to obtain than the rest because of either lighter coursework and other program requirements or a shorter completion time or both. Many of the easiest PhDs to earn are available online, but only for students with the appropriate learning style.

Naturally, some of the easiest PhDs are those without dissertations, which can take 1 to 2 years to write, not to mention that most PhD students spend a couple of years conducting research and reviewing literature.

The following are some examples of Ph.D. programs minus any dissertation:

• Adult and career education
• Business administration
• Criminal justice
• Educational administration
• Grief counseling
• Human resources
• Information technology
• Nursing practice
• Public administration
• Social work

But keep in mind that different universities may have different PhD completion requirements.

Of all the easiest PhD programs, the general consensus is that most can be found online. But if you are like some students who find online learning more difficult than traditional learning, earning one can still be hard.

What are the Hardest PhDs to Get?

Some PhD programs are longer to complete and involve a lot of complex coursework and other completion requirements, thus making them some of the hardest to earn. Just like among various bachelor’s degrees, some of the most challenging PhDs to earn include those in the STEM- and healthcare-related fields.

In most instances and for most students, a PhD is harder to earn than a master’s degree. And, needless to say, it’s so much harder to obtain than a bachelor’s degree.

But some PhDs are simply more challenging to get than other PhDs.

Just like what’s mentioned earlier, STEM PhD programs are some of the hardest. Many agree that the likes of pure mathematics, theoretical physics, aerospace engineering, chemical engineering and computer science can prove to be so taxing. The same is true for healthcare PhD programs such as pharmacy, nursing and optometry.

Are PhDs Expensive?

The cost of enrolling in a PhD program amounts to $28,000 to $40,000 per year. So, in other words, a full PhD can cost anywhere from $112,000 to $200,000 or up to $320,000 (8 years). Tuition and living expenses are the primary costs of a PhD. There are ways PhD students can get funding for their studies.

Other than time, a PhD can also take up lots of money. Certain factors can impact just how much you will have to spend to get your hands on a PhD, and some of them include the university, program and length of completion.

But did you know that many PhD students don’t have to pay full price?

Because of the steep cost, it’s not uncommon for those who are enrolled in PhD programs to fund their studies through things such as studentships, research council grants, postgraduate loans and employer funding. As a matter of fact, some of them do not pay for their PhD programs — they are, instead, paid to take them.

And just like what we talked about earlier, it’s very much possible for you to be a PhD student and an employee, whether part-time or full-time, at the same time in order to earn money and fund your postgraduate studies.

Is a PhD Worth It Financially?

Without careful planning, completing a PhD program can hurt one’s finances. And if the return on investment (ROI) isn’t that substantial, it can be a waste of resources, too. For many, however, earning a PhD to secure their dream jobs or follow their true callings makes all the financial and time investments worth it.

After discussing just how much a PhD costs, it’s time to talk about if investing in it financially is a good idea.

It’s no secret that, generally speaking, the higher the educational attainment, the higher the earnings. True enough, the median weekly earning of a PhD holder is $1,909.

Doing the math, that’s equivalent to about $99,268 per year. On the other hand, the median weekly earning of a master’s degree holder is $1,574 or $81,848 per year — that’s a difference of $17,420 per year. Please keep in mind that it’s not uncommon for some master’s degree holders to make more than PhD holders.

The difference, however, becomes substantial when the average salary of bachelor’s degree holders is taken into account: $1,334 per week or $69,368 per year, which is $29,882 lower than the annual salary of those with PhDs.

Let’s take a look at the estimated annual median earnings of some PhD holders in some disciplines:

• Engineering: $107,000
• Mathematics: $104,000
• Healthcare: $98,000
• Business: $94,000
• Social science: $90,000
• Physical science: $89,000
• Public policy: $84,000
• Agriculture: $83,000
• Social work: $78,000
• Architecture: $73,000
• Communications: $72,000

Are PhDs in Demand?

PhDs are especially in demand in areas where highly specialized and very high-level research skills are important. Some of the most sought-after PhDs are those in STEM- and healthcare-related fields such as information systems, environmental engineering, chemistry, nursing and physical therapy.

As a general rule of thumb, some of the hardest PhDs to earn tend to be the most in-demand, too.

Simply put, PhDs in disciplines required for a better understanding of currently existing knowledge and challenges, development of modern-day technologies and discovery of new life-changing stuff are highly employable.

And this is why industries such as scientific research and development, manufacturing, health and social work are on the lookout all the time for promising PhD holders. Areas where PhDs are also commonly required include the education sector as well as various segments of the business industry.

Numerous transferable skills learned and developed by students, many of which are appreciated by employers across various industries, also help those with PhDs have increased job market value.

Just Before You Get a PhD

Does getting a PhD still sound great after everything you have read above? Then the smartest step for you to take next is to find the right PhD program for you and apply to it.

But keep in mind that while there are many perks that come with being a PhD holder, there are some sacrifices you will have to make before you get your hands on the prestigious academic degree. But by working hard and staying committed, it won’t take long before you are one of the country’s highest-paid and most satisfied professionals!

I graduated with BA in Nursing and $36,000 in student loan debt from the UCF. After a decade in the workforce, I went back to school to obtain my MBA from UMGC.

Similar Posts

What is a Doctorate Degree?

How did Raygun qualify for the Olympics? Is she really the best Australia has to offer?

By Mawunyo Gbogbo

ABC Entertainment

Topic: Olympic Games

Rachael "Raygun" Gunn did not score a single point at the Paris Olympics. ( Getty Images: Elsa )

Since Australian breaker Rachael "Raygun" Gunn failed to score a single point in any of her Olympic bouts, many have asked how she qualified for the Games.

Fellow breaker and anthropologist Lucas Marie says she won her qualification "fair and square" last year, but African American man Malik Dixon has criticised the Olympic body for letting her in.

What's next?

Breaking will not be an event at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games — a decision made before Raygun's performance.

The 2024 Paris Olympics marked breaking's debut as a sport at the global event, with 36-year-old lecturer and breaker Rachael "Raygun" Gunn representing Australia for the first time.

Having failed to win a single point in any of her Olympic bouts, Raygun quickly became a viral sensation.

The question on many people's minds now is: How did she even qualify?

Lucas Marie is a breaker who has competed, performed, taught and judged breaking competitions over the past 25 years. He's also an anthropologist who recently co-authored an article with Gunn.

He says the answer to that question is simple.

Lucas Marie recently co-authored an article with Raygun. ( Supplied )

"There was an Oceania qualifier in which any B-boy or B-girl from Australia [or] New Zealand could enter, and that was in Sydney in October 2023," he told ABC News.

"And leading up to that, there were a lot of other events in which breakers were competing.

"She won those battles fair and square and won the qualification in Sydney.

"And it wasn't really a surprise to anyone. 

"She's been fairly consistent, winning or coming second or third at a lot of breaking events in Australia for the last five to 10 years."

Marie said there was nothing out of the ordinary about Raygun's performance.

"It's not like gymnastics where there's this kind of agreed-upon standard," he said.

"It's always had a rawness to it. It's always had an improvisational kind of quality. And I think looking different and trying different stuff has always been celebrated.

"And I think Raygun, in a way, was just expressing a core kind of hip hop trait in a way a lot of breakers do."

He described her efforts as bold.

"I thought — and this is how I judge a lot of breaking events — I thought, 'Oh, she's making some really interesting choices to mimic Australian animals.' And you can kind of see the choices that she's making in the moment."

Is she the best Australia has to offer?

Team Australia chef de mission Anna Meares insisted after Raygun's performance that she was the best breaker the country had to offer. But is this true?

Lucas Marie has competed, performed, taught and judged breaking competitions for more than 25 years. ( Supplied: momentsby.naz )

"It's sometimes just who's performing better on the day," Marie said.

"And at the qualification event in which she won, and other events in which she's won, she performed better on that day and won the ticket.

"That doesn't mean she's the best. It doesn't really work like that.

"I think she's a great breaker. She won the qualification. She's won other events in the past, and she was a good representative for Australia at that competition."

Asked whether there were B-girls in Perth, regional Victoria or rural Brisbane who might have qualified but could not afford to travel to Sydney for the tryouts, Marie agreed this was possible.

"Of course, there's breakers all over the country that maybe should have been in that event, but they weren't."

Breaking will not carry over to the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, a decision made before Raygun's battle.

Marie described this as sad.

"Maybe, based on the ratings, they'll reassess that and maybe allocate some medals to breaking," he said.

"I really hope that's the case, and I hope that for other breakers who want to compete in it as a dance sport."

Marie said that at the end of the day people should remember they were dealing with a human.

"As a friend of Rachael's, there's a human being who's getting a lot of negative attention," he said.

"I think people kind of miss that sometimes and forget the human aspect of all this."

'Toying with the culture'

Malik Dixon is an African American who has been living in Australia for more than a decade and is a Sydney University graduate.

He said Raygun made a total "mockery" out of breaking at the Olympics.

Malik Dixon says too many people feel entitled to African American culture. ( Supplied )

"She was dressed like a member of the cricket team or an Australian PE teacher, and from that point it just seemed like satire," Mr Dixon told ABC News.

"It just looked like somebody who was toying with the culture and didn't know how culturally significant it was being the first time in the Olympics and just how important it was to people who really cherish hip hop and one of the elements of hip hop, which is breakdancing.

"It made me think, was Borat her breakdancing coach?"

Mr Dixon said too many people felt entitled to African American culture.

"The African American space has been one where we've shared our community so much and without any restraints, any barriers, roadblocks, obstacles, any gatekeepers, that essentially what should have been African American cultural capital is just shared, which is cool," he said. 

"We like to share, right? 

"We shared 400 years of free labour.

"To see Rachael in her attempt to be a part of the culture just be grossly underwhelming made it seem like she didn't take it seriously."

Olympics body criticised for Raygun qualification

Mr Dixon criticised the body that qualified Raygun, saying she devalued breaking with her performance.

"Whatever governing body nominated her as Australia's entrant into the Olympics either did not understand the assignment or didn't really believe in the integrity or significance of breakdancing, because if they did they would just say, rather than disrespect the culture, we're just not ready to send an applicant this year."

He said Raygun was extremely audacious and not self-aware.

"You've got to know your role, know your position, know your limitation," he said. 

"And I think that part of privilege is saying that there are no limits to what I can do. 

"Part of privilege is having the authority to say that there are no limits and there are no requirements, there are no prerequisites to what I can do."

Raygun's degrees do not hold much water with Mr Dixon.

"Due to consumerism, this Foundational Black American product, which is hip hop, is global," he said.

"And even people who have no connection to any African Americans or any local or regional things that come out in these songs, they have become a part of the whole experience now.

"If I came in and said that I was an authority on Greek music and I was going against the grain of what the mainstream Greek musicians thought, or the school of thought, and I've said that I was the authority, people would check me on that.

"If I had a PhD in sprinting, does that qualify me to go against Noah Lyles? No, it doesn't."

He also doubts Raygun was the best breaker Australia had to offer.

"[There's] got to be somebody out here that's better than that! The kangaroo! The sprinkler! She did the sprinkler out there, man!" he said.

Should everybody just lighten up?

Should we lighten up? Mr Dixon does not believe so.

"Larrikinism is used as a get-out-of-jail-free card and to escape responsibility of how words or actions impact a hurt person," he said.

"But when the majority culture is offended, there's no playing around.

"This is a part of my culture, and I don't think Australians are in a place to tell me how I should feel about breakdancing being mocked on an international stage.

"People who don't have any or limited access to black people or hip hop culture now may see Rachael and her buffoonery as a representation of hip hop and black culture.

"People who were already side-eyeing breakdancing as an Olympic sport, Rachael Gunn has put the nail in that coffin.

"This might be the most viral clip of the whole Olympics. From a comedy standpoint, she's got it, but from an Olympics perspective, its regressive."

What to do if you are denied a HELOC or home equity loan

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Congratulations if you are among the millions of U.S. homeowners with a share of the record-breaking $11.5 trillion in tappable home equity these days! To unlock that wealth, which nine out of every 10 mortgage holders hold to some degree, you might well be tempted to take out a home equity loan or home equity line of credit (HELOC). A way to borrow against your equity stake, these tools can provide funds to eliminate high-interest debts, pay for home renovations, or tackle other significant expenses.

Before you start counting the coins in your housing piggy bank, though, a reality check: Getting approved for a HELOC or home equity loan isn’t easy. Roughly half of the applications get rejected — far more than the rate of primary mortgage denials.

If you are denied, here are six things you can do about it — along with ways to boost your chances of getting approved.

Source: Home Mortgage Disclosure Act

Understand why you were denied

First things first: Find out why your application was denied.

“Lenders will share the reason very specifically, but you may have to ask,” says Tom Hutchens, executive vice president at Angel Oak Mortgage Solutions, a non-qualified mortgage lender based in Atlanta, GA. “Find out the reason and if it seems like there’s a way to get over that hurdle, then continue on.”

Frequently, it is tougher to get a second mortgage than a primary mortgage. While HELOC rejection rates are the lowest in four years, about half of applications are still denied, for example. Successful applicants tend to have high credit scores and low levels of debt, including relatively small outstanding mortgage balances (less than half their home’s value).

Why is it so hard to borrow against your home’s equity? Lenders are more stringent for good reasons. In the first place, they can’t sell home equity loans on the secondary market as readily as they can purchase (primary) mortgages: They have to keep them on their books. Then, in the event of a borrower default, the lender is second in line to recover their funds, behind the primary mortgage lender. So they’re taking on more risk by giving you money.

What do lenders consider when evaluating HELOC and HELoan applications? Typically, they look for a strong credit score and solid financials like low debt levels, especially if you already have a mortgage. Here are some of the typical minimum requirements:

What to do if you’re denied a HELOC or home equity loan

Now that you know what lenders are looking for, let’s get your financial house in order.

Increase your home equity stake

Lenders calculate how much to let you borrow by calculating your combined loan-to-value ratio (CLTV). This ratio compares the total amount of loans secured by your property to its appraised value, and it includes both your mortgage amount and the amount of the loan or credit line you’re requesting. Generally, lenders prefer a CLTV of no more than 80 percent to minimize their risk. In other words, they’ll only lend you up to 80 percent of your home’s worth.

If you’re already carrying a sizable mortgage, this could be a problem. “Once an appraisal [in the home] is done, they might find that there’s not enough equity left to get a HELOC while keeping the CLTV at 80 percent,” Hutchens explains. He notes that some homeowners might face challenges if they made a small down payment, have not paid off much of their mortgage, or if their property hasn’t appreciated much.

“If there is not enough equity in the home, that would be a hard one to fix,” Hutchens allows. If the appraisal is the problem, you can request a second one from another appraiser, or a re-do by the first. For the latter, you’ll need to pinpoint some actual errors in the report, though — like a miscalculation of the home’s square footage or facilities, or inappropriate comps (comparable homes that have recently sold).

Otherwise, if your ownership stake is falling short, you should hit pause on your plans and work on building your equity. You can do this by paying down your mortgage faster with extra payments or making home improvements to boost your home’s value (assuming you can afford to).

Adjust your ask

If your equity stake is insufficient for the amount of funds you want, attack the problem from the opposite angle: Adjust the size of your loan request. Consider asking for a smaller loan or credit line — one that’ll fit the CLTV limits the lender sets. You could also accept a higher annual percentage rate (APR). By being flexible with these terms, you may reduce the perceived risk for the lender, potentially making it easier for them to approve your application.

Source: ATTOM

Boost your credit score

If your credit score is 700 or above, you’re in a good position to get approved for a HELOC or HELoan. In fact, the average score for people who got HELOCs in the first quarter of 2024 was 770, according to Home Mortgage Disclosure Act data.

“Surprisingly, many folks are not as aware of their credit score as they probably should be,” says Ralph Herrera, Realtor and senior real estate advisor at Engel & Völkers Atlanta, a real estate service provider based in Georgia. “Folks don’t pay attention to that until maybe it’s too late. A little bit of planning in advance is helpful to prepare.”

If your credit score was the reason for denial, start by reviewing your credit report for any errors that could be affecting your score. Dispute any inaccuracies with the credit bureaus. Additionally, enhance your chances of approval by paying down your debt, making payments on time, and steering clear of opening new credit accounts.

Reduce your debt-to-income ratio

When applying for a home equity loan, lenders check your debt-to-income ratio (DTI) to ensure you can comfortably handle the extra obligation. DTI is the percentage of your monthly income that goes toward paying your regular, monthly debts.

A high DTI can be a significant obstacle in getting approved for a HELOC and a HELoan. Most home equity lenders look for a DTI ratio no greater than 43 percent, and the median DTI of a HELOC borrower was 41 percent in Q1 2024 according to HMDA data. “With property values being high, if someone bought a house within the last couple of years and their interest rate is higher than those prior to that, then borrowers are running into some DTI challenges,” says Hutchens. (Indeed, the median HELOC borrower’s DTI was only 32 percent in Q1 2021.)

To improve your chances of approval, work on reducing your existing debt by paying off high-interest loans and credit cards. Increasing your income through extra work or negotiating raises are other ways to lower your DTI.

Reapply with a different lender

If one lender turns you down for a HELOC or HELoan, don’t worry. Try applying with a different lender , as each has its own criteria and risk tolerance. You could always seek out a lender who allows a bigger CLTV (say, 85 or 90 percent).

“There are lots of different loan programs and lots of different HELOCs out there,” says Hutchens. “Actually, they’re very highly sought after right now. There’s liquidity in the market, meaning lots of investors are interested in owning HELOCs.”

If you are considering reapplying with the same lender, remember to wait a while before submitting a new request. The wait period varies by lender, but you’ll want it to be at least a month and maybe up to six months, depending on the reasons for the denial. The longer the better — if you’ve used the time to improve your financial profile, credit score or employment history.

Consider alternative financing options

Improving your finances takes time. If you’re in a hurry, it might be better to consider alternatives to home equity products. Common ones include:

• Personal loans are unsecured, meaning you don’t have to use your home as collateral. They often have higher interest rates and shorter repayment terms, but they can be quicker and easier to obtain than home equity options.
• Credit cards can be another option for minor expenses. However, the high interest rates make them less suitable for large sums unless you can pay off the balance quickly.
• A shared equity agreement , which is more of an investment than a loan. You receive a lump sum of cash immediately and agree to share a portion of your home’s sale profits or its appreciated value later.
• Loans from friends or family can often be more flexible and cost-effective. However, make sure you set clear repayment terms from the beginning to prevent misunderstandings and potential strains on your relationships.

Bottom line on home equity loan denials

If you’ve been turned down for a home equity loan, don’t worry: It’s not the end of the road. Start by closely examining your application to figure out why it was denied. Once you know the reasons, you can improve those areas and reapply.

Also, consider other options that don’t involve putting your home at risk. Personal loans or credit cards might be viable alternatives. Each has its own pros and cons, so take your time to weigh them and find out what works for you.

Article sources

We use primary sources to support our work. Bankrate’s authors, reporters and editors are subject-matter experts who thoroughly fact-check editorial content to ensure the information you’re reading is accurate, timely and relevant.

“ August 2024 Mortgage Monitor .” ICE Mortgage Technology. Accessed on Aug. 12, 2024.

“ Homeowner Equity Turns Back Upward Across U.S. in Second Quarter of 2024 as Home Values Surge .” ATTOM. Accessed on Aug. 12, 2024.

“ HMDA Quarterly Graphs .” Home Mortgage Disclosure Act. Accessed on Aug. 12, 2024.

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In NJ, tiny farms 'gaming the system' can earn big tax breaks for wealthy estates

A six-decade-old tax break intended to help struggling farmers in the Garden State has long been a target of critics who say it's been co-opted by wealthy suburban landowners. Now, there's a push to tighten its loopholes.

New Jersey lawmakers approved the Farmland Assessment Act of 1964 to help farms that were being squeezed out of business as demand for suburban housing drove up land values — and the taxes that went with them.

Today, about 35,000 landowners enroll some part of their properties in the program, which can discount a real estate tax bill by up to 98%.

Complaints about alleged abuses have been around almost as long as the program itself. In her 1993 race for governor, Christie Whitman faced criticism for farm assessments on two family properties in Central Jersey, though she won the election anyway. More recently, NJ Transit CEO Kevin Corbett took flak in 2019 for claiming a tax break based on a flock of sheep kept at his Mendham Township home.

The state revised the law in 2013 , requiring more farming revenue to qualify and more training for local tax assessors.

But critics say the changes haven't gone nearly far enough, and a review this summer by The Record and Northersey.com of just who receives farmland assessments reveals that the breaks are still used by many wealthy landowners living on luxury suburban estates that seem to have little to do with commercial agriculture.

"The size of that program is a red flag," said state Sen. Joe Pennacchio, a Morris County Republican who is pushing for a commission to reevaluate the program.

"I'm not against it," he said. "But what I don't want is people gaming the system, forcing other people to pay more tax, which is what is driving people out of this state."

Getting a farmland tax assessment in NJ is easy

Obtaining a farmland assessment is simple in New Jersey — if you own enough land. Property owners must fill out an annual form attesting they have set aside 5 acres or more for agricultural purposes and that they expect to make at least $1,000 from that activity. (Taxes are reduced only on the agricultural portion of a parcel; homes and other non-farming uses are taxed at the normal rate in town.)

Agricultural activity can range from growing crops to raising chickens, sheep or goats, as well as horse farming and beekeeping. With New Jersey seeking to preserve open space, the program is also open to acres that qualify as pasture, wetlands or woodlands.

When the act passed in 1964, the state required that farmers produce at least $500 a year in revenue to qualify, whether through sales of produce, firewood or other products or the value of livestock kept on site. That minimum would equate to about $5,000 in today's dollars, but when legislators raised the threshold in 2013, it was only increased to $1,000.

The revisions also allowed owners to claim the break for new kinds of farms: biomass, solar or wind energy generation now qualify.

The yearly applications are processed by municipal tax assessors who may or may not seek supporting documentation. In interviews, some assessors said receipts are rarely required. In most cases, the applicant merely attests to the anticipated income.

Pennacchio proposed his commission after meeting with Mendham Township resident Jack Curtis, who has spent years compiling data on farmland assessments awarded in and around his Morris County town, where the median home value in 2022 was $1.05 million , according to the U.S. Census.

In Mendham Township 'this law has morphed into a scam'

Curtis, a former high school principal in Roxbury, seethes over the imbalances in town. While he pays more than $9,600 in annual property taxes on the undeveloped portion of his 2½-acre lot, some of his neighbors pay only a few hundred dollars on significant portions of their multi-acre estates thanks to farm assessments.

"This law has morphed into a scam that wealthy people, with large tracts of land, have adopted as their own personal tax-reduction scheme," Curtis said.

Through Open Public Records Act requests, Curtis confirmed 155 farmland-assessed properties in 2024 for Mendham Township, which has a population of 6,000. Combined, those properties included 1,600 qualified acres, on which owners paid $11,000 in property tax. Curtis estimates they would have owed an additional $1.1 million if not for the farmland designations.

"No one is doing me a favor while I pay $4,683.32 per acre in tax, while these 155 entitled folks are paying $6.88 per acre," he said.

"What they are actually doing is transferring their tax bill to the 2,126 non-assessed property owners in town," Curtis added, citing data from 2021. "It has to be understood: This is a tax transfer, not a tax break."

Morris County is a Ground Zero for what Curtis sees as abuse of the farmland assessment privilege. The county currently has about about 1,500 qualified properties that claim to be farming in 28 of its 39 towns.

Mayor defends the farmland assessment program

Mendham Township Mayor Sarah Neibart defended the residents receiving those tax breaks. Farming has been a major activity in the township since its settlement in the early 18th century, she said. 

"Mendham Township is a residential community with a traditional character based upon its rural and historic past and high-quality natural resources, especially our extensive woodlands and pristine streams," Neibart said.

That history includes 20 agricultural parcels identified in Mendham Township in 1964 when the farmland assessment law was passed. Sixty years later, the 155 designated properties in town represent a 775% increase.

The mayor is also a beneficiary of the program. She lives on a 65-acre estate complex owned by a limited liability company affiliated with her father-in-law, Sol Barer , the former CEO and current board chairman of the pharmaceutical company Celgene Corp. The land is enrolled in the farmland program.

Mendham Township residents are hardly alone in the practice. Other towns in and around the affluent Somerset Hills region have even more farm-assessed parcels, including Harding, with 177 qualified properties; Chester Township, with 166; and Washington Township, with 304.

Trump National Golf Club houses goats, saves an estimated $257K in taxes

Crossing south into Somerset and County, properties that have benefited from farm assessment include tracts owned by Whitman, the former governor; Johnson & Johnson heir and New York Jets owner Woody Johnson; and family members of the Forbes publishing empire.

In Bedminster, former President Donald Trump enjoys a farm tax break for a portion of his Trump National Golf Club.

Trump National's 2024 FA-1 farm assessment application, obtained from the Bedminster tax assessor , lists 320 acres taxed as standard commercial property, including its golf courses. It also includes 183 acres that are treated as farmland: 113 acres on which the club says it grows hay and another 70 counted as protected woodlands or wetlands, according to the form.

Trump National — referred to on the application as the Lamington Farm Club LLC — also claims a herd of 12 goats as part of its agricultural operations.

The club's 2024 property tax bill comes to $450,000 for its 320 conventionally taxed acres — a rate of $1,406 per acre — and $1,168 for its farmland, or just $6.38 an acre.

That's a saving of almost $257,000, Curtis calculates. "Donald Trump charges a $350,000 membership fee to anyone who wants to join his club," he said. "I hardly believe that Mr. Trump needs a 98% tax reduction when one new membership would more than pay for the taxes he is avoiding."

The club didn't return messages seeking comment.

Staffing reduces compliance to an honor system

The state allows for civil penalties of up to $5,000 for "gross, intentional misrepresentation" on applications. But oversight can be minimal, and periodic inspections required by statute are not always done.

Mendham Township Tax Assessor Scott Holzhauer agreed more reviews are needed to weed out what he acknowledges can be "boutique" and "hobby" farms.

Holzhauer handles assessor duties in eight municipalities, which include 420 farm-assessed properties. He said the original 1964 threshold of $500 per farm would translate to $5,067 in today's dollars. He's still wondering why the Legislature raised it to only $1,000 when it made changes a decade ago.

"If you're a farm and you're struggling to make that $5,000, I got news for you: you're not a farm," he said. "$1,000 is a joke."

Site inspections should be done regularly, he said, but time and staff restraints generally limit him to visiting only new applicants and those who request building permits on designated farmland.

Curtis pointed to another case, a 20-acre estate in neighboring Bernardsville that includes a historic mansion on 2 of the acres. On a portion of the remaining 18 acres sit two beehives he said are maintained by an outside beekeeper.

The harvested honey is sold at tables that sit alone outside the estate, with a jar for honor-system payments. "All they have to do is attest they sold $1,000 worth of honey" a year, Curtis said. "It's ridiculous."

A farmer-mayor in Harding pushes back

Supporters of the farmland program say it's not that simple. Some property owners may not be farmers, but they qualify by renting or leasing some of their land to legitimate operations that use their properties.

Harding Mayor Timothy Jones, for example, leases land from several neighbors to operate his family's equestrian farm. The arrangement isn't predicated on scoring those other owners a tax break, he said, but on giving his business a fighting chance.

With property values high in the area, many New Jersey farmers usually can't afford to own the acreage needed to turn a profit, Jones said. Instead, he rents additional pasture from neighbors to run, breed and train his animals. He also hosts a summer riding camp for children.

With a population of about 3,900 and a median household income of $150,000 in the latest U.S. census, Harding is largely known to outsiders as a wealthy bedroom community with fancy homes on large lots. Some 170 properties also enjoy the farmland assessment break, state figures show.

"We have a long history in Harding of preserving open space not only for conservation and recreation but also for farming," Jones said. "My wife and I, along with her sister and family, own and operate a horse farm here. Four of the five members of the Township Committee own farmland in Harding and elsewhere in New Jersey."

'It's hard enough to farm in New Jersey'

That sort of land-leasing is not unusual in the region, even in some of the high-ticket communities in southern Morris County, Jones said.

Some people may be taking advantage of the farmland assessment program, the mayor acknowledged: "There's no doubt whenever the government has a program, there's going to be some amount of abuse."

But, he added, "It's hard enough to farm in New Jersey. The bureaucrats don't make it easy. So the notion that we're going to add another layer of regulation is a headache for someone like me."

Frank Pinto, a former Morris County planner, works as a consultant to property owners and farmers looking to structure land-use arrangements to benefit both sides.

"I'm not saying [the program] is not without its challenges, but there needs to be a basic understanding of agricultural and farming practices in a suburban-urban state like New Jersey," said Pinto, who operates NJlandowner.com .

"For my clients, I tell them if they have a farm of marginal size or income level that they should be very well prepared to prove they are producing ag products," he said. "I coach them on that to make sure they are not getting away with something they should not be getting away with."

How to fix the system

Current standards offer effective firewalls to discourage offenders, Pinto argued. The state in recent years has stepped up oversight of municipal tax assessors who process farmland assessments, he said, including a requirement for more training of local officials.

Jones said his own tax assessor in Harding Township has been vigilant and once denied him an annual permit until he corrected his financial reporting procedures.

"That year, he failed 42 applicants," Jones recalled. "I redid my books and we worked it out."

The revisions passed by the state a decade ago, including doubling the revenue threshold, led many owners to exit the farmland assessment program, Pinto said. Applicants claiming their land as pasture for a horse owned for personal use, for example, could no longer qualify because the formula required by the state made it hard to reach the $1,000 benchmark.

Some think the limit should be even higher.

A $5,000 threshold "would pick off a lot of the smaller farms" that really are not farms, said Holzhauer, the Mendham Township assessor."When you look at a house on 10 acres, the principal use is the house," he said. "Anything else, quite frankly, is a hobby. I'm a mountain biker, but I don't get a tax break for that. Why should others get a tax break for their hobby when I don't get one for mine?"

Pinto also suggests lengthening the "rollback" tax imposed on owners who can't produce enough agricultural revenue. The penalty is currently imposed on the last three tax years; extending that to 10 would be even more of a deterrent, he said.

Is reform on the way?

Last spring, Curtis took his crusade to the airwaves, reaching Gov. Phil Murphy on a radio call-in show and earning an invitation to the Statehouse. Armed with reams of research, he traveled to Trenton in April for a private meeting with Murphy.

"He listened and was very receptive," Curtis said. "Could not have been nicer."

There's been no follow-up from Murphy's administration since, Curtis said. The governor's office did not respond to messages from NorthJersey.com seeking comment.

Confronted with the same data, Pennacchio introduced a bill in the Senate in June that would establish a Farmland Assessment Review Commission. It would annually evaluate and recommend changes to the farmland program "to ensure fair and equitable allocation of benefits."

“Although I support the mission of this program, there are currently more than 35,000 farmland-assessed properties in New Jersey, and there is no explanation for why the number is that high," Pennacchio said. "By creating this review commission, we can increase transparency for taxpayers and make sure that the rules and regulations of the program are enforced properly."

The bill has picked up one co-sponsor: state Sen. Anthony Bucco, who represents much of Morris County and also leads the Republican minority in the state Senate. He cautioned that there may not be a quick fix to the issue.

The tax break "definitely needs to be looked at," Bucco said. "But this is just a first step. It's very difficult to determine who is and who isn't actually farming."

Crucially, the legislation, S3446, has yet to pick up any co-sponsors among Democrats, who control both houses of the Legislature and the governor's office. State Senate President Nicholas Scutari and Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin, the Democratic leaders in their respective chambers, were asked by The Record and NorthJersey.com for a comment. Scutari did not respond. Coughlin declined to comment through a spokesperson.

Holzhauer said reform could make his life a little easier.

"For assessors in towns with farm properties, farmland assessments are the single worst aspect of our job," he said. "Worse than tax appeals [or] anything, in that so much effort has to go into it for so little return for the township."

To qualify for a farmland assessment:

• A property owner must own at least 5 contiguous acres devoted to agricultural/horticultural use.
• The land must be devoted to agricultural/horticultural uses for at least two consecutive years before the tax year.
• The land must continue in agricultural/horticultural use to the end of the tax year for which the application is made.
• Gross sales of crops or livestock must total at least $1,000 per year for the first 5 acres, plus $5 per acre for each additional acre.
• Gross sales of woodland/wetland under a Woodland Management Plan must total at least $500 per year for the first 5 acres, plus 50 cents per acre for any additional acres.
• For farm management units less than 7 acres, a descriptive narrative of agricultural/horticultural uses, a sketch of their location and the number of acres actively devoted is required.

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How Long Does It Take to Get a Ph.D. Degree?

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Earning a Ph.D. from a U.S. grad school typically requires nearly six years, federal statistics show.

(CAIAIMAGE/TOM MERTON/GETTY IMAGES)

A Ph.D. is most appropriate for someone who is a “lifelong learner.” 

Students who have excelled within a specific academic discipline and who have a strong interest in that field may choose to pursue a Ph.D. degree. However, Ph.D. degree-holders urge prospective students to think carefully about whether they truly want or need a doctoral degree, since Ph.D. programs last for multiple years.

According to the Survey of Earned Doctorates, a census of recent research doctorate recipients who earned their degree from U.S. institutions, the median amount of time it took individuals who received their doctorates in 2017 to complete their program was 5.8 years. However, there are many types of programs that typically take longer than six years to complete, such as humanities and arts doctorates, where the median time for individuals to earn their degree was 7.1 years, according to the survey.

Some Ph.D. candidates begin doctoral programs after they have already obtained master’s degrees, which means the time spent in grad school is a combination of the time spent pursuing a master’s and the years invested in a doctorate. In order to receive a Ph.D. degree, a student must produce and successfully defend an original academic dissertation, which must be approved by a dissertation committtee. Writing and defending a dissertation is so difficult that many Ph.D. students drop out of their Ph.D. programs having done most of the work necessary for degree without completing the dissertation component. These Ph.D. program dropouts often use the phrase “ all but dissertation ” or the abbreviation “ABD” on their resumes.

According to a comprehensive study of  Ph.D. completion rates  published by The Council of Graduate Schools in 2008, only 56.6% of people who begin Ph.D. programs earn Ph.D. degrees.

Ian Curtis, a founding partner with H&C Education, an educational and admissions consulting firm, who is pursuing a Ph.D. degree in French at Yale University , says there are several steps involved in the process of obtaining a Ph.D. Students typically need to fulfill course requirements and pass comprehensive exams, Curtis warns. “Once these obligations have been completed, how long it takes you to write your dissertation depends on who you are, how you work, what field you’re in and what other responsibilities you have in life,” he wrote in an email. Though some Ph.D. students can write a dissertation in a single year, that is rare, and the dissertation writing process may last for several years, Curtis says.

[ READ: What Is a Doctorate or a Doctoral Degree?  ]

Curtis adds that the level of support a Ph.D. student receives from an academic advisor or faculty mentor can be a key factor in determining the length of time it takes to complete a Ph.D. program. “Before you decide to enroll at a specific program, you’ll want to meet your future advisor,” Curtis advises. “Also, reach out to his or her current and former students to get a sense of what he or she is like to work with.”

Curtis also notes that if there is a gap between the amount of time it takes to complete a Ph.D. and the amount of time a student’s funding lasts, this can slow down the Ph.D. completion process. “Keep in mind that if you run out of funding at some point during your doctorate, you will need to find paid work, and this will leave you even less time to focus on writing your dissertation,” he says. “If one of the programs you’re looking at has a record of significantly longer – or shorter – times to competition, this is good information to take into consideration.”

Pierre Huguet, the CEO and co-founder of H&C Education, says prospective Ph.D. students should be aware that a Ph.D. is designed to prepare a person for a career as a scholar. “Most of the jobs available to Ph.D. students upon graduation are academic in nature and directly related to their fields of study: professor, researcher, etc.,” Huguet wrote in an email. “The truth is that more specialization can mean fewer job opportunities. Before starting a Ph.D., students should be sure that they want to pursue a career in academia, or in research. If not, they should make time during the Ph.D. to show recruiters that they’ve traveled beyond their labs and libraries to gain some professional hands-on experience.”

Jack Appleman, a business writing instructor, published author and Ph.D. candidate focusing on organizational communication with the  University at Albany—SUNY , says Ph.D. programs require a level of commitment and focus that goes beyond what is necessary for a typical corporate job. A program with flexible course requirements that allow a student to customize his or her curriculum based on academic interests and personal obligations is ideal, he says.

[ READ: Ph.D. Programs Get a Lot More Practical.  ]

Joan Kee, a professor at the University of Michigan  with the university’s history of art department, says that the length of time required for a Ph.D. varies widely depending on what subject the Ph.D. focuses on. “Ph.D. program length is very discipline and even field-specific; for example, you can and are expected to finish a Ph.D, in economics in under five years, but that would be impossible in art history (or most of the humanities),” she wrote in an email.

Jean Marie Carey, who earned her Ph.D. degree in art history and German from the  University of Otago  in New Zealand, encourages prospective Ph.D. students to check whether their potential Ph.D. program has published a timeline of how long it takes a Ph.D. student to complete their program. She says it is also prudent to speak with Ph.D. graduates of the school and ask about their experience.

Bennett urges prospective Ph.D. students to visit the campuses of their target graduate programs since a Ph.D. program takes so much time that it is important to find a school that feels comfortable. She adds that aspiring Ph.D. students who prefer a collaborative learning environment should be wary of graduate programs that have a cut-throat and competitive atmosphere, since such students may not thrive in that type of setting.

[ READ: 4 Fields Where Doctorates Lead to Jobs.  ]

Alumni of Ph.D. programs note that the process of obtaining a Ph.D. is arduous, regardless of the type of Ph.D. program. “A Ph.D. is a long commitment of your time, energy and financial resources, so it’ll be easier on you if you are passionate about research,” says Grace Lee, who has a Ph.D. in neuroscience and is the founder and CEO of Mastery Insights, an education and career coaching company, and the host of the Career Revisionist podcast.

“A Ph.D. isn’t about rehashing years of knowledge that is already out there, but rather it is about your ability to generate new knowledge. Your intellectual masterpiece (which is your dissertation) takes a lot of time, intellectual creativity and innovation to put together, so you have to be truly passionate about that,” Lee says.

Erin Skelly, a graduate admissions counselor at the IvyWise admissions consulting firm, says when a Ph.D. students struggles to complete his or her Ph.D. degree, it may have more to do with the student’s academic interests or personal circumstances than his or her program.

“The time to complete a Ph.D. can depend on a number of variables, but the specific discipline or school would only account for a year or two’s difference,” she wrote in an email. “When a student takes significantly longer to complete a Ph.D. (degree), it’s usually related to the student’s coursework and research – they need to take additional coursework to complete their comprehensive exams; they change the focus of their program or dissertation, requiring extra coursework or research; or their research doesn’t yield the results they hoped for, and they need to generate a new theory and conduct more research.”

Skelly warns that the average completion time of a Ph.D. program may be misleading in some cases, if the average is skewed based on one or two outliers. She suggests that instead of focusing on the duration of a particular Ph.D. program, prospective students should investigate the program’s attritition and graduation rates.

“It is worthwhile to look at the program requirements and the school’s proposed timeline for completion, and meet current students to get their input on how realistic these expectations for completion are,” Skelly says. “That can give you an honest idea of how long it will really take to complete the program.”

Searching for a grad school? Access our  complete rankings  of Best Graduate Schools.

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W.H.O. Declares Global Emergency Over New Mpox Outbreak

The epidemic is concentrated in the Democratic Republic of Congo, but the virus has now appeared in a dozen other African countries.

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By Apoorva Mandavilli

The rapid spread of mpox, formerly called monkeypox, in African countries constitutes a global health emergency, the World Health Organization declared on Wednesday.

This is the second time in three years that the W.H.O. has designated an mpox epidemic as a global emergency. It previously did so in July 2022. That outbreak went on to affect nearly 100,000 people , primarily gay and bisexual men, in 116 countries, and killed about 200 people.

The threat this time is deadlier. Since the beginning of this year, the Democratic Republic of Congo alone has reported 15,600 mpox cases and 537 deaths. Those most at risk include women and children under 15.

“The detection and rapid spread of a new clade of mpox in eastern D.R.C., its detection in neighboring countries that had not previously reported mpox, and the potential for further spread within Africa and beyond is very worrying,” said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the W.H.O.’s director general.

The outbreak has spread through 13 countries in Africa, including a few that had never reported mpox cases before. On Tuesday, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention declared a “public health emergency of continental security,” the first time the organization has taken that step since the African Union granted it the power to do so last year.

“It’s in the interests of the countries, of the continent and of the world to get our arms around this and stop transmission as soon as we can,” said Dr. Nicole Lurie, the executive director for preparedness and response at the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, a nonprofit that finances vaccine development.

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Top 10 Hardest PhD Degrees to Earn

Emmanuel Onalo

March 24, 2023

Gaining any category of degree is never an easy milestone to achieve without dedication. It might seem easy from the outset, but as you progress, you realize that there is no shortcut to any worthwhile endeavor.

All the same, when it comes to the easiest and hardest PhD degrees, there are some courses that do not cost an arm and you do not need to sweat it out for long to get your certificate. However, there are some that require both. In terms of cost and rigorous process, they are king. But then, when you acquire them, you earn yourself a respectable position in society and these PhD degrees are high paying .

Get Up to $100,000 Student Loan for Your Master in US or Canada - See if you are eligible

In this post, I’ll share some of the hardest PhD degrees to earn.

What’s the Most Difficult Part About Earning a Doctorate?

Earning a PhD or a professional doctorate requires you to overcome a number of challenges. Only 2% of adults in the U.S. hold a PhD or professional doctorate. Joining this exclusive club can put you in a position to become a leader in your field, and achieve a personal goal few others attain. However, you must first have to get through a doctoral program. And that’s not always easy.

Among those who start a doctoral program, who are the best and brightest that higher education has to offer, nearly 57% earn their PhD or professional doctorate within 10 years.† If you don’t want to face similar struggles, you need to understand the challenges ahead—and have a plan for overcoming them.

The Biggest Challenges

Once the coursework for a doctoral degree is complete, the dissertation or doctoral study becomes the primary focus. Prior to beginning, it can be helpful to know some of the challenges faced by others. Here are a few:

• Getting Started Takes Time

After you have settled on a topic, the first step in the dissertation or doctoral study process is to produce a proposal. Your proposal summarizes the plan you’ll use to conduct your project. And not just any topic will do. Your goal is to explore an aspect of your field that no one else has explored in-depth, or no one has explored with the method(s) you wish to use. Plus, your proposal must be presented to a committee, which will either allow you to proceed or require you to make changes. For those who are eager to actually start writing their dissertation or doctoral study, keep in mind that the process of creating a proposal and winning approval takes time and requires a steady focus.

• There’s A Lot of Back-and-Forth

In most bachelor’s programs, when you write a major paper, you don’t receive any feedback until the professor gives you a grade, and often you may have been frustrated because you did not get a chance to correct it! That’s not the case when writing a dissertation or doctoral study. Instead, your faculty advisor will provide regular feedback, which may take some time but it will certainly strengthen your work. To keep moving forward, manage your time to account for this editorial process.

• You Have to Manage Your Own Time

Most students are used to attending classes at set times and turning in assignments on set days. But once you enter the dissertation or doctoral study phase of your doctoral program, you’ll be expected to set your own deadlines and manage your own time. While this structure is meant to provide flexibility, some find it difficult to work without a set schedule. Develop strategies to be independent and stay motivated! It’s also important to let your friends and family know about your educational plans so that they understand that any shift in your social or family schedule is for a good cause. Be sure to set an expectation with them in terms of your time and availability.

How to Overcome the Challenges

Two critical components of a strong PhD degree or professional doctoral program include working with a strong faculty and strong resources. But what if you don’t live near such a university? Or what if you have a full-time job that limits your ability to get to class on time? In these cases, online education can be a great solution.

No matter where you live or what your daily responsibilities entail, an online university can make it possible for you to complete a PhD program or professional doctoral program. That’s because online PhD programs and professional doctoral programs allow you to handle most of your degree from home and on a flexible schedule designed specifically for you—the working professional.

But convenience and flexibility are hardly the only advantages of online learning. When you enroll in a top online university, you’ll have access to high-quality resources that are available 24/7. Plus, you’ll have direct contact with a faculty advisor who understands the challenges you face and who can provide the guidance you need. Some top online universities even offer all-but-dissertation programs for those who’ve completed all the doctoral program requirements except for the dissertation or doctoral study.

If you’re enrolled in an all-but-dissertation program, you already know that staying motivated is key. If you’re new to earning a doctorate, then you’ll appreciate how studying from home during the coursework phase of your online PhD or online professional doctorate can help you learn how to manage your time, which will be an invaluable skill once you enter the dissertation or doctoral study phase.

Earning a PhD degree or doctoral degree can be difficult. But the right online university can make it very possible.

Top 10 hardest PhD Degrees to Earn

These degrees are arranged in no particular order.

1. Boarded Medical Doctor: After spending about eight years to earn your first degree, you are faced with between three and six years of residency. This is the most competitive field in education which means you must have passed through a very rigorous process to earn this certificate.

2. PhD in Mathematics: You can’t imagine the equations that were solved to gain a higher education degree in mathematics, not to talk of a PhD. Solving equations and finding the missing x and y is not what everyone is proud to do. Mathematicians deserve the greatest respect.

3. Doctor of Optometry: If you ever studied physics, you will understand how difficult it is to master light, lenses, rays, and others. But optometrists did more than just that! They are an incredible set. Optometry is not just to look at someone’s eyes and discover the kind of glasses fit for them. You’ve got to be an optometrist to feel what they feel.

4. Doctor of Pharmacy: These guys are not some guys you see behind the counter counting drugs for sale. You find them in the hospitals; they are legit medical practitioners who can prescribe the right drugs for you by merely looking at your medical history.

5. Doctor of Veterinary Medicine: Someone once said, “Is it not to treat animals!” No, it isn’t. Whatever it takes to treat various animals that are not going to tell you what their problem is has got some magic in it.

6. PhD in Sociology: It might sound so easy to obtain a PhD in Sociology, but wait until you gain admission to study the course. You will have to deal with elusive subjectivity, difficult phenomena, abductive reasoning, and so many of them.

7. PhD in Theoretical Physics: For you to emerge a doctor of Theoretical Physics, you must have background knowledge of Mathematics and Physics. A qualitative amount of focus is also required of you so as to be able to imagine the warping of gravitational waves and space-time due to the gravitational field.

8. PhD in Foreign Languages: It takes a lot to become a master in a foreign language, especially if you were not bred and brought up in that country. But foreign language professors do just that. Some of them have up to five different foreign languages they have mastered. I would not even try an undergraduate degree in a foreign language, not to talk of an advanced degree.

9. PhD in Computer Science: Here comes another course that could be seen as a branch of Mathematics. It still baffles me as to how an individual could find his way through the operating system, programming language, databases, and software engineering. The person must be a genius.

10. Doctor of Education: Some people think it is very easy to study education, probably based on the fact that the employability rates of educational doctoral students are high. However, what they did not know is that it could also take up to ten years for one to become a Doctor of Education.

Also read Top 10 Easiest PhD Degrees to Earn

Struggles of a PhD student

• Funding issues

Most PhD students rely on external funding to support themselves while studying. Unfortunately, this too can be a source of concern. Funding can, at times, be insecure. It has been known, for example, for funding to be reduced while still in the middle of the PhD. This is a precarious position to be left in and it can be extremely stressful to secure new funding. Ideally, supervisors should be on hand to help with this. One should never think twice about approaching them for advice, it’s what they are there for. Still, it’s also recommended that students ensure that they are financially secure themselves, or at least have some money tied over in case of emergency.

• Time management

So much to do, so little time to do it! This is probably the mantra of our age… Learning when to jump at new opportunities and when to say no to extra tasks is a skill that every academic should develop if they are to avoid going mad. This can be honed by knowing how to prioritize. What is absolutely essential that I finish today? What, at a push, could I postpone till tomorrow?  Setting out enough time in your day to fulfill these tasks will help this process and enable you to, when necessary, say ‘nope, I literally do not have the time for that. Rather obviously, it helps to be organized and to calendar your appointments carefully. And remember, it is better to do a few things well, than a number of things badly.

The truth of the matter is that nothing worthwhile in life comes easy. It takes a high level of commitment and dedication on your part to achieve an enviable height. One of the main reasons why people find certain courses difficult is because they enroll in a course there are not passionate about. If you enroll for a course, you’re passionate about, you might not find it as difficult as others find it to be.  

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