A PhD is a process, not a piece of paper. Every process has a start point and an endpoint. Going through that process is a journey.
Yes, to achieve a PhD, you will have to travel an academic journey. Like with every other journey, it is travelled in steps.
Many people destined for this journey will walk these 21 general steps:
1. Idea to get a PhD.
2. Visualise yourself graduating – at your destination, having achieved your goal with the title Dr. XXX (PhD)
3. Make the decision to start the PhD journey
4. Choose your topic and area of study
5. Search and enrol at the university of your choice
6. Attend classes if doing coursework
7. Sit coursework exams and pass (all)
8. Write a concept paper and present – it is just a proposal – your intent
9. Concept paper is accepted
10. You are allocated supervisors by the university – can you pick?
11. Write the PhD proposal – Topic, Chapters 1 to 3, appendices, references, etc.
12. Defend the proposal, pass and given go-ahead to continue
13. Prepare to conduct research
14. Do/conduct/undertake etc., research – gather all materials, analyse data, etc.
15. Write the thesis following the approved structure – change language tense, expand, etc., – Chapters 1 to 3, report analysis, findings, etc., in Chapter 4, in Chapter 5 – conclusions, recommendations for future research, references, etc.
16. Edit and make revisions to your thesis.
17. Write to the university – a letter of intention to submit
18. Get a day to defend- also referred to as viva voce
19. Results of Viva Voce:
a. Pass 100%,
b. Pass with minor collections
c. Pass with medium collections
d. Fail and resubmit thesis – cleared after 2 yrs
e. Fail 100%
20. Graduate – given powers to read, write and, etc.
21. You have reached your PhD destiny, and achieved your goal, remember step 2? Now what?
This is the journey many people will follow.
Those not taking course work may not go through steps 6 & 7.These are some of the major steps. There are many minor ones – remember to celebrate along the way.
Where are you on the journey?
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