What is a PhD?

A PhD is a doctoral research degree and the highest level of academic qualification you can achieve. A PhD involves students taking on independent and significant research culminating in a publish-worthy thesis. The degree normally takes between three and four years of full-time work towards an original contribution to your subject.

A PhD. The final boss of education. We've all heard of them, but what actually are they? A PhD certainly isn't for everyone, but I doubt you'd be reading this if you weren't a little curious. Am I right? Pretty sure I am.

There's plenty of moving parts with a PhD, as you'd expect. There's also a lot of variation across projects, too. Here, I'll give you the basics. The meat and potatoes, if you will. And, I'll be doing that by explaining what a PhD is, what it involves and what you need to know if you’re considering applying for a PhD research project, or enrolling on a doctoral programme.

The PhD can take on something of a mythic status. Are they only for geniuses? Do you have to discover something incredible? Does the qualification make you an academic? And are higher research degrees just for people who want to be academics?

Even the full title, ‘Doctor of Philosophy’, has a somewhat mysterious ring to it. Do you become a doctor? Yes, but not that kind of doctor. Do you have to study Philosophy? No (not unless you want to).

So, before going any further, let's explain what the term 'PhD' actually means and what defines a doctorate.

What does PhD stand for?

PhD stands for Doctor of Philosophy. This is one of the highest level academic degrees that can be awarded. PhD is an abbreviation of the Latin term (Ph)ilosophiae (D)octor. Traditionally the term ‘philosophy’ does not refer to the subject but its original Greek meaning which roughly translates to ‘lover of wisdom’.

What is a doctorate?

A doctorate is any qualification that awards a doctoral degree. In order to qualify for one you need to produce advanced work that makes a significant new contribution to knowledge in your field. Doing so earns you the title 'Doctor' – hence the name.

So, is a PhD different to a doctorate? No. A PhD is a type of doctorate.

The PhD is the most common type of doctorate and is awarded in almost all subjects at universities around the world. Other doctorates tend to be more specialised or for more practical and professional projects.

Essentially, all PhDs are doctorates, but not all doctorates are PhDs.

Do you need a Masters to get a PhD?

Not necessarily. It's common for students in Arts and the Humanities to complete an MA (Master of Arts) before starting a PhD in order to acquire research experience and techniques. Students in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) don't always need an MS/MSc (Master of Science) to do a PhD as you'll gain training in lab techniques and other skills during your undergraduate degree.

Whether a Masters is a requirement for a PhD also varies by country. Australian PhDs may require a Masters as the equivalent of their own 'honours year' (where students work on research). US PhD programmes often include a Masters.

We have a whole guide dedicated to helping you decide whether a PhD without a Masters is the right route for you.

The typical length of a PhD is three to four years full-time, or five to six years part-time.

Unlike most Masters courses (or all undergraduate programmes), a PhD is a pure research degree. But that doesn’t mean you’ll just spend years locked away in a library or laboratory. In fact, the modern PhD is a diverse and varied qualification with many different components.

Whereas the second or third year of a taught degree look quite a lot like the first (with more modules and coursework at a higher level) a PhD moves through a series of stages.

A typical PhD normally involves:

• Carrying out a literature review (a survey of current scholarship in your field).
• Conducting original research and collecting your results.
• Producing a thesis that presents your conclusions.
• Writing up your thesis and submitting it as a dissertation.
• Defending your thesis in an oral viva voce exam.

These stages vary a little between subjects and universities, but they tend to fall into the same sequence over the three years of a typical full-time PhD.

The first year of a PhD

Year one is all about getting your bearings, meeting your supervisor, and diving into your literature review—also known as “reading everything that’s ever been written and realising your idea might already exist.”

With your supervisor's help, you’ll start mapping out your research. This could mean designing experiments, digging into archives, or decoding ancient manuscripts (depending on your field).

Towards the end of the year, you may face the MPhil upgrade: submit a chunk of your work and defend it in a mini viva to prove you're ready to level up. Think of it as a boss battle with less swordplay and more citations.

The second year of a PhD

This is the meat of your PhD sandwich—aka the year you actually do the research. Labs, archives, interviews, data—whatever it takes to gather the raw material for your future thesis.

You’ll still be meeting with your supervisor, but now they’re reading actual drafts instead of vague outlines. You might even start writing chapters (yes, real ones!).

You're also in prime position to branch out: present at conferences, start teaching, or flirt with the idea of publishing. It’s like academic networking, but with fewer free snacks.

The third year of a PhD

Welcome to the “writing up” year—though many students are still busy tweaking experiments, chasing down sources, or wondering if they can squeeze in just one more chapter.

Ideally, this is when everything comes together. You refine your thesis, polish your chapters, and start dreaming of life post-submission. Spoiler: it still involves emails.

Your supervisor will be closely involved, offering feedback on your final draft and letting you know when it’s ready to face the final boss: the viva voce, aka the oral exam. One internal and one external examiner grill you on your thesis, and if all goes well… congratulations, Doctor.

Think of the PhD stages as a roadmap—but the actual ‘journey’ is full of detours, discoveries, and a key travel companion: your supervisor.

Carrying out research

Most of your time will be spent on research, but that can mean more than just lab work or library reading. You might visit archives, collaborate with peers, or even work at research institutions beyond your university.

PhD research isn’t a solo venture. You’ll engage with your supervisor regularly and may collaborate with other students on joint projects, events, or workshops. Many departments also host internal seminars for sharing and refining work.

Working with your supervisor

Every PhD student is guided by at least one supervisor—an expert mentor rather than a teacher. While they won’t have studied your exact topic, they’ll help steer your research, offer feedback, and spot potential issues.

Supervision styles vary. In science, supervisors often lead larger lab groups. In arts and humanities, projects are usually more individual. Co-supervision is increasingly common, with one academic focused on research and another on admin and training.

Beyond the thesis

A PhD isn’t just about writing a dissertation—it’s also about building professional skills. You may:

• Teach: Lead seminars, assist in labs, and receive training for it.
• Present: Share your findings at conferences, gaining feedback and visibility.
• Publish: Submit work to journals or books, going through peer review.
• Engage the public: Take part in events that showcase your research beyond academia.

What is a PhD for – and who should study one?

You know what a PhD is, what it involves, and what you'll be doing (besides slowly forgetting what weekends feel like). But should you actually do one?

Well, we can’t answer that for you—though if we could, we’d probably be charging consultancy fees.

A PhD is tough. It's a multi-year slog through uncharted intellectual territory, usually after you've already climbed the undergrad and Masters hills. You’ll need motivation, grit, and a suspicious fondness for coffee.

Financially? Let’s just say you won't be buying a yacht. Career-wise, you’re gaining deep skills, but pressing pause on traditional progress. On the bright side, you’ll become an expert in something so niche that five people on Earth might truly appreciate your thesis—and one of them will be your supervisor.

But here’s the kicker: it’s worth it. You’ll make a real contribution to human knowledge, however obscure your field. (Someone has to be the world’s authority on 14th-century Welsh turnip farming, right?)

And yes, you'll earn the title “Doctor,” which never stops being satisfying—especially when booking flights.

More importantly, the skills, persistence, and problem-solving you develop are increasingly valued well beyond academia. Whether you stay in research or take your talents elsewhere, a PhD is one hell of a badge of honour.

Tips from the author

You’ve got the basics – now here’s a few final thoughts from me.

Ask your lecturers

Lecturers and tutors with PhDs are walking case studies. Pick their brains about what they loved, what they didn’t, and whether academia is all it’s cracked up to be.

Chat to current PhD students

Want the unfiltered version? Current PhD students know exactly what it's like. Most are happy to share – and if you don’t know any personally, hop over to the Postgraduate Forum.

Browse real projects

Sure, you’ll only do one PhD, but checking out a few gives you a sense of what’s out there. I'd start with our PhD listings – thousands of projects and programmes to explore.

Read more advice

We’ve covered why people do PhDs, the value of a doctorate, and what the PhD journey actually looks like. We’ve also got deep dives on working with a supervisor and writing your dissertation.

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