Question: How do you get a PhD?

Kate Kuyt answered on 12 Jun 2018:

Hi;

It varies a bit depending on which university and subject you are studying, but firstly you have to get your Bachelors Degree (This is the Bsc or BA that most you get doing a ‘normal’ degree at university). Some people will then choose to study a masters degree for one year as well but that isnt always needed.
You apply for a PhD – often a university will advertise a position for a particular area or piece of research they would like someone to do. Or if you have your own ideas you can apply with that idea.

If you get offered the place, you start at the university and normally have 3 years to do your research. You have to read about what other scientists have done and are doing now, and plan your experiments. Then you do your experiments, and do some maths and look at the results to try and see what they mean. You have essays to hand in along the way but the big one is at the end! After you have done your experiments you have to write them up into a really long report, longer than most books! This is read by some examiners and these people also ask you to attend a big meeting called a viva where you are asked all about your work. After this the examiners will decide if you have done enough work and written a good enough report to be ‘awarded’ the PhD!