What is PhD? How to Do a PhD Abroad?

A PhD Scholar, also sometimes referred to as a Doctoral Scholar, is someone who is enrolled in a Doctoral program, specifically working towards a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree. A PhD scholar is typically engaged in: 

• Conducting original research under the guidance of a supervisor or advisor.
• Taking advanced coursework related to their chosen field.
• Writing a dissertation, a lengthy document presenting their original research findings.
• Participating in conferences and workshops to present their research and network with other scholars.

Yes, the PhD degree allows a person to use “doctor” in their title. PhD is a terminal degree pursued by social and physical scientists in which they administer, conduct and evaluate published research (es). A PhD degree can be achieved after 5-7 years of continuous research and hard work of the scientists in their respective fields of work.

PhD coursework refers to the structured academic components that doctoral students typically complete during the initial phase of their PhD program. PhD coursework typically involves advanced classes and seminars in a student's field of study, taken during the initial years of a doctoral program. These courses aim to deepen knowledge, develop research skills, and prepare students for their dissertation work.

The completion of a PhD degree and its duration depend entirely upon the supervisor and the institution's PhD thesis committee members. However, one may expect to complete their PhD within 3-5 years abroad and within 5-8 years in India.

Yes, a PhD abroad comes with greater benefits and indeed a high income benefit. Having a PhD renders you to be a notable expert in a given field. This opens the doors to get employed with the biggest institutions and organisations in the world. A person can get n-number of PhD degree meaning that they can become experts in more than one field.

A Ph.D abroad allows you to share your ideas with other renowned scholars and may help you get a better direction for proceeding with your project. You also get to present your work at several different universities from over the world which helps you to build confidence in your work.   

The ideal number of years for a PhD are 3-5 years. While a 3-5 years of PhD prepares an individual to start their careers early, ahead of others. This time is also considered enough to conduct and conclude any experimental research for bringing out the desired PhD results for the presentation of thesis.

The best country for a PhD may be chosen on the basis of  subjects and the individual interests of the students. For this reason, the USA and Germany are considered one of the best countries to pursue a PhD.

Yes, one can be exempted from having a master's degree for getting admission to PhD abroad only in special cases. To be exempt from having a master's degree, one must have pursued a bachelor's degree of 4 years or more. However, this may vary according to the university you are applying to. So, it is advised to ask your university supervisors for confirmation.

A PhD synopsis is a brief document outlining a proposed doctoral research project. It typically includes the research question, objectives, methodology, and expected outcomes. The synopsis serves as a concise overview of the planned dissertation for review by academic committees.

A PhD thesis, also known as a doctoral dissertation, is a substantial and original piece of academic research conducted by a doctoral candidate as the culmination of their PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) program.

A PhD fellowship is a financial award given to doctoral students to support their research and studies. It typically covers tuition fees and provides a stipend for living expenses, allowing students to focus on their academic work without significant financial burden.

The work required in a PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) typically involves:

1. Conducting original research in a specific field
2. Writing and defending a dissertation
3. Taking advanced coursework
4. Developing expertise in research methods
5. Contributing new knowledge to the field/subject
6. Working closely with academic advisors
7. Potentially teaching or assisting with classes

The specifics in each case can vary by discipline and institution.

A PhD registration certificate is a document that certifies that a student is registered for a PhD programme at the mentioned university, college, industry, or research institution. Typically, the PhD registration certificate contains details of the student and the certificate-issuing body, such as the name of the certificate-issuing body and the student, registration number, registration date, name of the PhD supervisor, subject, etc.  

The eligibility criteria for a PhD abroad varies from institution to institution and the programme applied for. However, the basic criteria of eligibility to get a PhD abroad are:

• A master's degree in a relevant subject. 
• Students with an integrated UG-PG degree are also eligible to apply.
• In some cases, students in STEM programs with a 4-year UG degree are also eligible to apply; the same must be confirmed with the university counselor before applying. 
• Universities abroad provide state-of-the-art facilities for research and experiments and take the utmost pride in their PhD alumni for their meaningful contributions to the scientific world. For this reason, universities eye applicants with strong academic records, i.e. having good scores throughout their school and graduation years. 
• If the host university's medium of lecture delivery and communication is English or any other language and requires you to prove your fluency in the same then, you will have to take appropriate tests and provide your scores prior to getting admitted to the university.
• A strong SOP that describes your goals, methodology, and research interests. 
• 2-3 LORs from established referees that can vouch for your knowledge and experimental skills to the host university's supervisor.

The PhD salary in India, often called a "stipend", varies for a JRF and an SRF. A PhD scholar in India spends the first two years as a JRF and the remaining three years as an SRF; the monthly stipends for each position are INR 37,000 and INR 42,000, respectively.  

However, after completing a PhD, a PhD salary for the PhD scholar may range from INR 4 Lacs to 15 Lacs a year (average amount). 

There are four different levels of college degrees namely: the associate degree, bachelor's degree, master's degree and doctoral degree (PhD). Let us learn about each of these college degrees in brief below.

1. Associate Degree: An Associate Degree typically lasts from 1-2 years and focuses on skill-oriented learning, often leading to a bachelor's degree.
2. Bachelor's Degree: The bachelor's degree lasts from 3-4 years depending on the university and course you choose to study at. The degree is usually pursued from a college or university and lays the foundation for a comprehensive learning on the subject chosen by the student. 
3. Master's Degree: A master's degree is a graduate degree that usually lasts from 1-2 years, depending on the college and course you choose. 
4. Doctoral Degree: It is the highest level of academic education/degree that lasts from 6-7 years and requires comprehensive research work. The PhD degree concludes with a dissertation which is often analysed by a committee of members.