What Is The Difference Between Full-Time And Part-Time PhD Programs?

Students usually get confused over whether they should go for the PhD program while pursuing the working professional life. To eliminate this confusion, universities decided to bring out the option of full-time and part-time PhD programs, but now students are confused over which program mode is best and which one will be considered a valid program. Are you also one of those who stay confused over this topic all the time? 

Your confusion and doubts can come to an end now as part-time PhD programand the information is here to rescue. This program is similar to the full-time PhD program, the only difference is about the timings and schedule of the classes that are made available as per the working professionals’ schedule. Students who are working in a company or organization and match other eligibility points can enroll in the program. 

What are the other eligibility points? If we know everything about the part-time PhD program through the introduction part only, then what will the post tell about? So, let us move forward with reading the post and know about what the eligibility points are that are important to be eligible for the program and the difference between part-time and full-time PhD programs. 

What is A PhD Program? 

The terms like enhancing the skills, improving the ability of work, getting research skills, and opening doors to a wide range of career and job opportunities all come under a professional and a high-level program, PhD. This is a well-known and reputed program among the students who want to continue their career in studies, know about the market well through research, and want to open the doors to the best opportunities. 

Through PhD program, students can open a wide range of opportunities in life. With the help of this program, students can upgrade their skills from old knowledge to new ones that are used more in the market and working industry. Now, this can be related to marketing skills, finance management skills, strategy and business management skills, or any other. 

PhD program is a completely research-based program that uses thesis, project analysis, assignments, and product and service research skills and knowledge to enhance the level of skills and mode of work along with the understanding capacity about the market and trends. This program is now available for both categories of students, one with a working background and one with a non-working background. 

The difference between full-time and part-time PhD Programs

Time to solve the confusion and doubts regarding the part-time and full-time terms in phd program. These both the programs are same but carry a very small difference between the each other that puts students in confusion that which program they should go for and which one not. Knowing about both the terms in detail can be more beneficial than knowing about them with just one term. 

Time Slots and Management – in a full-time PhD program you need to give around 40 to 50 hours a week in a full-time mode that makes you to complete the work in around 4 to 5 years as you will ne committed to one thing, while in part-time PhD program you have to give around just 20 to 30 hours a week which means 2 to 3 hours a day and this will take around 6 to 8 years to complete the course as you will have to work on two things, working life and studies. 

Research Work and Skills – In a full-time phd program, you will be fully attentive during the program, and you will be able to do the deep and proper research work that helps you with knowing about a course correctly while in the part-time PhD program you will be able to the research work but not that deeply and properly as in the full-time program. Here, you can still make and get meaningful research results. 

The Duration of the program – as per the duration of the full-time phd program, when you have to give more than 40 hours a week, which means more than 5 hours a day, then surely the completion of the course will take less time, around 3 to 5 years to complete. While in a part-time PhD program, when you have to give 20 to 30 hours a week, around 3 hours a day, then it surely will take time around 6 to 8 years to complete. 

Division in focus – with a full-time phd program, you will be completely focused on the program, but in the part-time mode, you will not. During the part-time program, you will have to manage the tasks and work between working life and studies, and with this division in the focus, students are unable to put their complete focus on any of the tasks, and this affects the results later. 

Fee structure and support – in the full-time program, students are provided with financial support through scholarships, fellowships, tuition, and living expenses, and others while in the part-time PhD program it is less possible to have or get financial support as students are already managing the fee submission through the working life. 

Eligibility Criteria For PhD Program

Many students plan to enroll in the program and even find themselves eligible for the program, but they just forget to look at the updated eligibility criteria mentioned in the university page or course page, and this causes issues and errors during the admission time. Some eligibility points that need to be checked by the students before enrolling in the program are as follows – 

1. Degree level – Students who want to enroll in the phd for working professionals level program must have completed their graduation and master’s degree with an aggregate of 50% from a recognized university. 

1. Stream in Degree – students who want to pursue a phd in marketing must have completed their master’s in marketing so that they have efficient knowledge about the course and can make the research work effective. 

1. Annual Income of home – mentioning the annual income of them or house for the phd for working professionals, they can be provided with the option of EMI and loan for financial support. This can result in an easy fee submission method. 

1. NOC form Company – Students who want to enroll in the program and are working professionals must submit an NO OBJECTION CERTIFICATE so that it can be made sure that the company knows about their employee pursuing a phd for working professionals program and the university can make sure that students are already in a professional working environment and looking for the enhancement in skill and career. 

Conclusion

With a clear difference between the full-time and part-time PhD programs, you can be sure which program you must go for if you are already in a working professional life. Through this part-time PhD program, you manage your work and tasks between work and studies. Throwing away your doubt and confusion in the bin, now think of moving to the admission to the program and starting your career in a new field.