how to get multiple phds

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Double doctorate: can you get multiple phds, published by steve tippins on may 12, 2020 may 12, 2020.

Last Updated on: 2nd February 2024, 02:48 am

A question I’ve gotten a few times: “Can I get a double PhD?” 

The answer is yes, you can under most circumstances. But why? 

While there are some exceptional cases, generally I’d discourage people from pursuing a second PhD. Here are some of the reasons why. After I cover those, I’ll talk about situations where it makes sense to get multiple PhDs.

Reasons Not to Get a Double PhD

For the most part, I can’t see a big reason for a second PhD unless there is a second academic track you want to go into. Here are some reasons why getting a double PhD won’t actually double your opportunities.

You Are Already Considered an Expert

Once you have a PhD , few people outside of academia will ask you what it’s in. Outside the academic world, multiple PhDs will rarely give you much extra credibility.

Becoming a Student Again Is Tough

Getting a PhD means you’re very subservient to professors and committee members. Once you’ve emerged from that already and have become an expert, it’s very difficult to get back into that mindset. Doing so requires a lot of self-discipline and humility–sometimes even when it’s unwarranted. While possible, I wouldn’t say it’s desirable.

You Can Do Interdisciplinary Research Already

You probably wouldn’t need a PhD in both Anthropology and Psychology or in both Sociology and Psychology. Those fields are closely related, so an anthropologist can offer valuable insights to the field of psychology, and vice versa. Just make sure to stay within the scope of your knowledge or collaborate with researchers in the other field you’re exploring.

Over 50% of doctoral candidates don’t finish their dissertations.

You Already Have Research Skills

A PhD gives you the research skills, and those can transfer to other areas. If you have all those skills, you can get a lot of the information on your own and become an expert in another field. You know how to research and dive in and find people who can help you find other information, so if you need to know about a subject, you have the resources to do it on your own. You already have research skills. Why pay to learn them again?

A note of caution here: people have been getting in trouble for using “PhD” after their name and commenting on things that they’re not experts on. For example, someone with a PhD in classical literature commenting on current societal issues or health issues and not disclosing that their PhD is in an unrelated field.

If you want to be seen as an expert in a field, you’ll need to have a PhD (or other degree or certification) in that field. 

Objectively speaking, the PhD research skills apply across the board. And it may be that through self-study or mentorship, you are an expert in a field unrelated to your degree. However, if you’re putting yourself out there as an expert in another field, you can still say you’re an expert, just don’t put “PhD” after your name (or be clear about what your PhD is in).

You May Be Seen as a “Permanent Student”

If you haven’t had much of a career after your first PhD, you may be seen as a permanent student. As David Clark pointed out on Stack Exchange , “Hovering around getting multiple PhDs would be akin to getting multiple bachelor degrees. People may see you as a permanent student, not someone growing into a mature researcher.”

While there are many advantages to being a permanent student–a life of learning and curiosity being one of them–some hiring managers may consider it a drawback, as they’re looking for someone invested in their career.

Reasons to Get a Double PhD

All that said, there are some situations where getting multiple PhDs may be the best choice. I’ve outlined some of these below.

Expertise in Hard Sciences

The most common instances of people having multiple PhDs are in the hard sciences. For example, medical students may also pursue a PhD in something like chemistry or physiology. 

I’ve seen MDs with PhDs and JDs with PhDs. This can come in handy for those more interested in research or administrative work–for example, an MD who pursues a PhD in order to become eligible for an administrative-level position or pursue research.

Shifting Expertise

If you’re a biologist and would like to become a counselor or a mathematician, you’ll need a new degree. However, a PhD may not always be the best choice. Counselors, for example, can be certified with a Master’s degree (more on that in the next section).

That said, if you’re committed to research or high-level management positions in an entirely new field, it may be that there’s nothing to do but buckle down and get your second PhD.

Certifications with Similar Requirements

If you’re looking to get a certification, and the requirements for that certification are almost as much work as getting a PhD, it usually makes sense to go ahead and get the PhD.

For example, if you are an LMFT and want to get an AAMFT-Approved Supervisor designation, it’s usually worth just going ahead and getting the PhD, since the requirements for both are similarly stringent. 

Another reason to go this route: you can get student loans to fund a PhD, but not to fund self-study.

How to Get a Double PhD

See if it’s necessary.

See if getting a Master’s or certification in that field will allow you to do what you want to do. For example, somebody who has a PhD in History who decides they want to be a financial planner. They could get a certified financial planner designation and then be fine. If they want to be a therapist, they just need a master’s degree in therapy. 

See if You Can Get Credit from your Previous Program’s Courses

If you’re going into another field where you want to do research, you may get credit for the research courses you took in your previous program. However, there is usually a 5-10 year limit on this.

Pursue Two PhDs Simultaneously

In some cases, it is possible to complete similar coursework for multiple PhDs at the same time.

Christopher Wells pursued two related PhDs simultaneously. He says, “I have a double major doctoral degree that can be seen as two PhDs individually, in inorganic and physical chemistry, and pursued both of the majors at the same time during my nine years at SUNY Albany, from 2002 to 2011. However, my diploma only shows ‘Chemistry’, so I usually tell people directly about the two majors.”

Double PhD Summary

While in most situations getting multiple PhDs is unnecessary, there are some cases where it makes sense. If you’re in one of those situations, look into whether you can get credit for work you’ve already done.

Steve Tippins

Steve Tippins, PhD, has thrived in academia for over thirty years. He continues to love teaching in addition to coaching recent PhD graduates as well as students writing their dissertations. Learn more about his dissertation coaching and career coaching services. Book a Free Consultation with Steve Tippins

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Will Having Multiple PhDs Make You Successful?

When I was younger, I sometimes thought whether you can you get multiple PhDs. For example, can a rocket scientist have a PhD in Chemistry and Math. Now, after being a Professor for a while, I do know it is possible.

Absolutely, people get multiple PhDs. Having multiple PhDs is uncommon, but people do to get multiple doctorates. I have run across people who have done it on occasion.

Please watch this video if you want to see me in person talk about people getting multiple PhDs. I provide a lot more background and personal notes than in this blog post. Can you get a PhD in your 30s? Read this post to learn more. Read this post if you want to learn about the day and the life of a PhD student (You will enjoy it).

https://youtu.be/YkRqUw15BHg Video can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: Is It Possible To Get Multiple PhDs? (Two PhDs At The Same Time Or In The Same Field) (https://youtu.be/YkRqUw15BHg)

Why Do People Get Multiple PhDs?

Generally, there are three reasons for the multiple PhDs:

• Upgrading a research skill-set is also common if someone is interested in a particular topic and they want to dig deeper into that topic. For example, let’s say that you are studying human behavior, but you realize that you need to understand set theory to better explain the human behavior in a more elegant fashion. Getting another PhD might be an excellent way to expedite your development of a research program in that area that combines set theory and human behavior.
• What is the average cost of a PhD program? You need to read this post to find out!
• People get an PhD if they are transferring to a new area of research. When they transfer to a new area of research, they need to get extra skills in the new area. For example, say a person has a PhD in the Humanities, but they slowly realized that their research interests lie Mathematics. They will pursue the Mathematics PhD to get a better understanding of Mathematics, and so they can read and publish within Mathematics journals. In Business Administration, Law, Medicine, and another other professional program, many people transfer to these new areas from other tangential areas. For example, engineers or scientists sometimes move into business, and become Business School professors by getting a PhD in Business Administration or a similar degree (i.e., a PhD in Industrial Organization in Economics). 
• How are PhD students evaluated? Check out this blog post to find out!

Why Don’t More People Get Multiple PhDs?

Brutal honesty? Getting a PhD is generally a tough process. Sure, I have heard some people say that they had a lot of fun during a PhD, but I am going to call them out on that. If the PhD was easy, then more people would want to do one over again a second and third time. It is just extremely uncommon for find people with multiple PhDs because there are significant costs (both in time and finances) associated with pursuing the degree.

Should you get another PhD or get a job? Take this PhD or job quiz to see if you think you should!

The closest thing where people may repeat a PhD, and it is somewhat common, is a Post-Doctorate. A post-doctorate is a paid (or non-paid) position where you extend your research program. You might work on additional papers, or continue to make your current research better. Basically, you are just extending the time you have before you get a tenure-track university position.

Need help to become a better writer? Check out this post!

Does The First PhD Improve Your Chances Of Getting Into The Second PhD Program?

Personally, I think that getting into the second PhD program is a matter of framing your first PhD.  People read a lot into what you did or did not say. Anything that is unusual gets more scrutiny than the usual.

If you frame the first PhD as a loss, or as a complete waste of time, then I really don’t think you will have good chances of getting into the second PhD program. People are going to believe that you will be not satisfied with the second PhD either. You would be surprised, but some people (not many) do just collect degrees for the sake of collecting degrees. This happens a bit more with Masters degrees, though.

Do you need tips to apply to PhD Programs? You need to read this helpful post!

If you frame the first PhD as a matter of discovery, and that you found your passion in the topics covered in the 2nd PhD, you will have a considerable easier time convincing people about why you are going for another. Really, this is what your 2nd PhD should be in the first place. It should be about discovery and your passion for the new research area, and the 2nd PhD just accelerates this discovery process.

Do you want to learn the best software to get for PhDs and researchers? This is a crazy post with a lot of data on the best software that you should get, crowdsourced from 100s of PhDs.

If you are interested in doing a PhD in Business, you have to read the following resources that I created for you.

• This blog post is an i n-depth look into doing the GRE or the GMAT , and which one you should choose to do.
• This blog post is about tips for writing your statement of purpose . I really do think these tips work, and they are not what you see elsewhere.
• This blog post is about the advantages and disadvantages of getting a PhD (in Business, of course). You should read this post if you are on the fence about doing a PhD and need additional information.

Do You Need The Multiple Doctorate Degrees?

Before you pursue another doctorate, you should really think about whether you need the other doctorate. Some people just start doing research in the new area, and slowly gravitate to that new area. You would be surprised how much you can learn on your own. Melissa Schilling , for example, has done research in both the study of strategy and Alzheimer’s. You might save yourself a lot of hassle, just by picking up some journal articles and learning about the new area.

Are Multiple PhDs Recommended?

Doing multiple PhDs is really just a personal choice. You already know that the first PhD was rather challenging, so doing a second one might go quicker given that you have this information. Most often, I believe that people that stay within similar domains appear to do their 2nd PhD quicker than those that go to another domain. Of course, this is just a qualitative gut-feeling, but I suspect this is true. Eggers and Song’s paper  shows that this may be the case for entrepreneurs, so I suspect it is also true for 2nd time around PhD students.

However, in the end, all of these really just depends on your abilities to get the second PhD done. What predicts PhD success? I really, really think it has little to do with intelligence, privilege, or natural endowments.  Rather, it is all about your passion to get it done, and your passion to do work. If you love work, than the 2nd PhD makes sense. Some people just have grit to do the PhD, and those that want to do a doctorate for a 2nd time are just curious, and they see the value in education.

Want to know how to get a PhD in Strategy and Innovation? This post will greatly help you get into top ranked PhD programs.

An Aside About the R3ciprocity.com Project.

Before I go, I wanted to let you know that this is part of my r3ciprocity.com project. There were so many people that helped me out to get my PhD, and to allow me to become a professor, I wanted to create something that I could pay the favor forward. I am building a sharing economy proofreading website so you can get feedback on your work (it’s a work in progress, so please be OK with errors in this blog post. 🙂 ). I have also created a pretty extensive catalog of questions and stories on YouTube. You ought to check it out, so you can find out more about me as a person.

A Couple Of Bonus Videos.

I wanted to leave you with a few more videos that I think are worth watching. One is about whether doing a PhD is worth your time. I personally think it is, but I truly have to wrestle with this question. It was not clear to me, but I was in the ‘trenches’ and did not see the immediate value of my PhD. Now, a few years later, I really see the value in getting a PhD. However, the reason why is not what most people think. Personally, I think it is the knowledge you gain, and the opportunities you see when you have a PhD that is truly something you cannot get without it.

https://youtu.be/Aq2TE4WCWbE Video can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: Is A PhD Useless?: What Are Valuable Skills You Gain During A PhD? (https://youtu.be/Aq2TE4WCWbE)

My last video is about whether getting multiple Master’s Degrees is better than getting a PhD. It turns out that this is a rather common question because many scientists and engineers will get a Master’s Degree in their field and then decide to get either a PhD or an MBA. I kinda did both – I did my PhD in Business Administration. A PhD is a research degree, but I am able to combine my love for research and business. Anyway, you should watch this video if you want to learn about getting a PhD, or getting multiple Masters.

Did you benefit from this post? Do you know of anyone at all that could use feedback on their writing or editing of their documents? I would be so grateful if you read this post on how to get feedback on your writing using R3ciprocity.com or let others know about the R3ciprocity Project. THANK YOU in advance! You are the bees knees.

I also have a blog post that goes much more into detail about multiple Master’s , and I think will be quite helpful for you.

https://youtu.be/Pg7i7dxOgjc Video can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: Which Degree Lands You Your Dream Job Faster: Masters Or PhD? (https://youtu.be/Pg7i7dxOgjc)

David Maslach

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How to Get Multiple PhDs

How to Get a Second Bachelor's Degree

A PhD, or Doctor of Philosophy, is a professional academic degree. In America, it is recognized as the highest degree one can earn in a field of study. Earning just one PhD can take 10 years of college and field work. Earning more than one PhD will take even longer. However, it is not impossible to attain multiple PhDs. If this is something that interests you, consider your options and be prepared for several years of hard work.

Assess your academic resume. Before you start considering doctorate programs, get an idea of how much education you need to get accepted into a program. Most doctorate programs have entrance requirements you must meet before you are accepted into the program. At the very minimum, you need an undergraduate degree -- sometimes even a Master's Degree.

Contact the schools you are interested in attending. Ask to speak with someone from the admissions office. Inquire about the prerequisites for application, such as work experience, education experience, writing samples and test scores. Be sure to tell the admissions office about your goal to earn to multiple PhDs. Some PhD programs have different acceptance requirements. Know the prerequisites for both programs.

Contact an academic advisor at the schools you are interested in attending. Speak to an advisor from each of the departments you are interested in studying. Unless PhDs are offered from the same program, you will likely have to speak to more than just one advisor. When speaking to the academic advisor, get some in-depth information about the PhD program, such as concentrations of study, length of the program, class enrollment size, opportunities for field work and internships, retention rates and distance education opportunities.

Decide which PhD you want to earn first. Most accredited colleges will not allow you to enroll in two programs at the same time. Consider which program is best suited for your immediate needs and schedule. Apply for the PhD program you want to enroll in first.

Make a checklist of the required classes you must take to earn you degree. Plan a schedule for when you will take each class. Pay attention to classes only offered in the spring or fall semester. Also, ask your advisor about grade point average requirements. Some PhD programs require that you earn at least a B in your core curriculum classes and maintain a cumulative grade point average higher than a 3.0.

Complete the graduation requirements for your first PhD program. This usually includes completing your core curriculum and elective classes, performing a certain number of research hours and writing a final dissertation. You may have to publish your dissertation or present it to a doctorate committee.

Begin the application process for your second PhD program. Several years may have passed since you researched the admission requirements, so make sure you still meet the qualifications. Take any necessary standardized test and submit your admission application.

Complete the graduation requirements for your second PhD program. Again, this usually includes completing the degree coursework classes and performing research hours. You may also need to publish a second dissertation related to your new PhD.

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Baptist Johnson was first published in 2000 when a poem he wrote won first prize in a local writing contest. He also writes and edits for Etched Press Society, a micro-publishing company based in Wilmington, N.C. Johnson has a Bachelor of Science in business administration from East Carolina University.

• Second Master’s or PhD? – A Comparison
• Types of Doctorates

A second Master’s degree is best suited for those who want to work in industry, but first either want to acquire additional knowledge in their current field or move to a new one. A PhD is best suited to those who want to gain advanced research skills and expertise in their current field and pursue a career in research or academia.

Introduction

It’s common for Master’s students to be plagued by the thought of what they will do next as they near the end of their current degree. Whether it’s taking a gap year, starting their career or continuing education, one thing is clear: there are many possibilities.

If you decide to stay in education, you’ll likely at some point consider whether it’s better to do a second Master’s or a PhD. You’d be right to give this serious thought, as the two degrees have significant differences, from their costs and durations, to the career paths they offer.

This page explains the differences between a second Master’s and a PhD, the pros and cons of each, and will help you to decide which of the two degrees is best for you.

Second Master’s vs PhD

Level of specialisation, master’s.

A Master’s degree, regardless of whether it’s an MSc, MRes or MPhil, aims to provide you with targeted knowledge that builds on what you would have learnt from your undergraduate degree. Although each type of Master’s degree has its own focus, such as an MSc on practical knowledge and an MPhil on research skills, the specialisation they offer isn’t as in-depth as that offered by a PhD. This is because they have a wider curriculum and usually utilise several teaching methods, including lectures and tutorials, which provide a range of knowledge around several closely related subjects.

PhDs are the highest form of academic qualification you can obtain and offer more specialised knowledge than any Master’s degree. Unlike Master’s degrees, which are based on a mixture of teaching methods and curriculum, PhDs are purely research degrees and focus on a specific research question.

A second Master’s degree will provide you with specialist knowledge in various subjects in your field. A doctoral degree will provide you with research skills and expert knowledge in a single topic within your field.

Programme Duration

Most Master’s courses take one year to complete, with an MPhil two years. However, the exact duration will depend on your specific course, type of Master’s and university.

A PhD lasts on average three to four years , with part-time studies lasting up to eight years.

Since a doctorate lasts several times longer than a Master’s, it requires a much greater commitment.

Programme Cost

The cost of a second Master’s degree will vary depending on its type, subject and host universities. Based on an analysis by FindAMaster’s , which summarises tuition fees from the International and Postgraduate Fees Survey 2019 , the average academic tuition fee per year for a Master’s degree in the UK is:

The average tuition fee per year for a PhD in the UK is £4,407 for home/EU students and £19,600 for international students .

There are other fees associated with doctoral research projects that aren’t present with Master’s studies. These include bench fees, travel costs for collaborations and conferences, and potential writing up fees for late thesis submissions.

Annually, a second Master’s degree is twice as expensive than a PhD for home/EU students, and slightly cheaper for international students. However, considering the typical duration of these programmes, a PhD becomes significantly more expensive; twice as expensive for home/EU students and four times as expensive for international students:

Notes: (1) The tuition fee values for the second Master’s is based on the average fees for an MSc. (2) The above table assumes a second Master’s duration of 1 year and a PhD duration of 4 years. (3) The fees and durations are indicative – the exact values vary depending on the course and university.

It’s also important to bear in mind that many PhD programmes come with funding which covers the cost of their fees. Many funding packages also include a living allowance (known as a stipend) which is comparable to a low salary. It is usually much more difficult to secure non-repayable funding for a Master’s programme unless it’s integrated with a PhD programme.

Employability

The skills and knowledge gained through a Master’s degree are general enough to apply to other relevant disciplines. For example, a Master’s degree in statistics would enable you to work in finance, medical analysis, and specific engineering fields etc. Due to this, a second Master’s could help make you suitable for an even wider range of professional fields.

Because a PhD focuses on advanced research methods and a specific research question as opposed to the broad field, your career path is usually refined to the more advanced positions which require expert knowledge. This doesn’t mean that you cannot apply your skills elsewhere, but most PhD holders remain in their field after completing their studies.

It’s worth noting, however, that there is a growing trend for PhD holders to use the transferable skills they acquired during their degree to successfully reposition themselves in careers outside of academia. In fact, STEM PhD holders are particularly sought after in the financial sector because of their proven ability to perform complex tasks under strict deadlines.

Both a second Master’s and a PhD offer excellent employment opportunities. However, a second Master’s usually offers greater career flexibility across industries, especially at the beginning of a career. A doctorate opens up the more demanding positions within a field, but can sometimes make it more difficult to change industries.

Finding a PhD has never been this easy – search for a PhD by keyword, location or academic area of interest.

Advantages and Disadvantages of a Second Master’s

Improving skills:  A second Master’s can strengthen your skills within your current field. For example, suppose you have an MEng in Biomedical Engineering. Here, you know of the technical aspects and their application, but you do not necessarily know how to innovate and develop them further. You could fill this skills gap with an MRes or an MPhil that would provide you with complimentary research and investigatory skills. Improving your skills won’t only help you advance faster in your career faster but may also open up future roles that would not otherwise be available to you.

Career change:  After completing your first Master’s degree, you may decide that the field is no longer suitable for you. In these scenarios, a second Master’s degree can facilitate career changes. This will have obvious limitations, for example, you shouldn’t expect to be able to do a Master’s in Biomedical Engineering with a Master’s in Classical Literature, however, if you already have a Master’s in another type of engineering, this transition would be possible.

Bridge between different Industries: In STEM subjects, there is extensive interaction between different industries. Although this interaction has always existed, it has grown steadily as more industries try to innovate and tackle more ambitious projects. There’s an obvious need for multidisciplinary roles, and a second Master’s degree in a relevant subject can make you desirable for this reason.

Disadvantages

Perception: If you carry out a second Master’s in a field unrelated to your first, even if to facilitate a career change, it can lead to potential employers perceiving you as unfocused. Although this shouldn’t be the case for large multidisciplinary organisations, it may deter the more specialised companies.

Salary: While a second relevant Master’s in the same subject field may increase your earning potential, a second unrelated Master’s is unlikely to. Although an unrelated second Master’s isn’t a disadvantage if being used to facilitate a career change, it will probably be an unnecessary use of time and money if you intend to stay within your current career path.

Advantages and Disadvantages of a PhD

Establishing yourself as an Expert: Any individual who holds a doctorate is considered an expert in his or her field. Therefore, a PhD has not only a prestigious status but also opens up roles in advanced research and academia.

Commitment: A PhD shows your willingness, commitment and motivation to learn. This makes you highly desirable for employers, as a strong passion for continuous learning usually correlates with the potential to become industry leaders.

Less freedom:  Taking three to four years to complete, a PhD is a huge commitment. As a result, many feel pressured to stay in their field to ensure that their PhD was ‘worth’ it, even if they no longer feel that the field is the right one for them. Although it is still possible to change paths after your doctorate, and many do so successfully, many feel ‘locked’ into their path after they finish their studies.

Over-qualified: You may find it difficult to find a job outside of research or academia, as employers may consider you over-qualified and therefore believe that you will quickly leap from the role to a more challenging one. They may also believe you lack practical work experience compared to your counterpart, who has a Master’s degree and has been working in the industry whilst you were working on your academic studies.

Cost: While PhD programmes can come with funding that helps to finance tuition fees and living costs, the funding usually covers only the first 3.5 years of full-time programmes and the first seven years of part-time programmes. You may be determined to complete your doctorate within this timeframe, but it is not uncommon for students to experience setbacks in their research that take them beyond the period for which they’re funded for. This means they have to pay the rest of the fee themselves, which can be a significant burden for some, especially if they lack the savings to do so.

Deciding between a second Master’s and a PhD may seem like a tough decision, but ultimately it depends on what your career goals are. Therefore, the first thing to do is to ensure you’ve thought about your future and have a good idea of where you want to go after your education.

A second Master’s is best suited to those who want to either gain more specialised knowledge in their current industry or make a job change by transitioning into a new industry. A PhD is best suited for those who want to gain advanced research skills and knowledge in their field and pursue a career in research or academia.

Either way, both options offer great opportunities and will open new doors for you. Which of the two degrees is better for you depends on which door you would like to open.

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How to tackle the PhD dissertation

Finding time to write can be a challenge for graduate students who often juggle multiple roles and responsibilities. Mabel Ho provides some tips to make the process less daunting

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Writing helps you share your work with the wider community. Your scholarship is important and you are making a valuable contribution to the field. While it might be intimidating to face a blank screen, remember, your first draft is not your final draft! The difficult part is getting something on the page to begin with. 

As the adage goes, a good dissertation is a done dissertation, and the goal is for you to find balance in your writing and establish the steps you can take to make the process smoother. Here are some practical strategies for tackling the PhD dissertation.

Write daily

This is a time to have honest conversations with yourself about your writing and work habits. Do you tackle the most challenging work in the morning? Or do you usually start with emails? Knowing your work routine will help you set parameters for the writing process, which includes various elements, from brainstorming ideas to setting outlines and editing. Once you are aware of your energy and focus levels, you’ll be ready to dedicate those times to writing.

While it might be tempting to block a substantial chunk of time to write and assume anything shorter is not useful, that is not the case. Writing daily, whether it’s a paragraph or several pages, keeps you in conversation with your writing practice. If you schedule two hours to write, remember to take a break during that time and reset. You can try:

• The Pomodoro Technique: a time management technique that breaks down your work into intervals
• Taking breaks: go outside for a walk or have a snack so you can come back to your writing rejuvenated
• Focus apps: it is easy to get distracted by devices and lose direction. Here are some app suggestions: Focus Bear (no free version); Forest (free version available); Cold Turkey website blocker (free version available) and Serene (no free version). 

This is a valuable opportunity to hone your time management and task prioritisation skills. Find out what works for you and put systems in place to support your practice. 

• Resources on academic writing for higher education professionals
• Stretch your work further by ‘triple writing’
• What is your academic writing temperament?

Create a community

While writing can be an isolating endeavour, there are ways to start forming a community (in-person or virtual) to help you set goals and stay accountable. There might be someone in your cohort who is also at the writing stage with whom you can set up a weekly check-in. Alternatively, explore your university’s resources and centres because there may be units and departments on campus that offer helpful opportunities, such as a writing week or retreat. Taking advantage of these opportunities helps combat isolation, foster accountability and grow networks. They can even lead to collaborations further down the line.

• Check in with your advisers and mentors. Reach out to your networks to find out about other people’s writing processes and additional resources.
• Don’t be afraid to share your work. Writing requires constant revisions and edits and finding people who you trust with feedback will help you grow as a writer. Plus, you can also read their work and help them with their editing process.
• Your community does not have to be just about writing!  If you enjoy going on hikes or trying new coffee shops, make that part of your weekly habit.  Sharing your work in different environments will help clarify your thoughts and ideas.

Address the why

The PhD dissertation writing process is often lengthy and it is sometimes easy to forget why you started. In these moments, it can be helpful to think back to what got you excited about your research and scholarship in the first place. Remember it is not just the work but also the people who propelled you forward. One idea is to start writing your “acknowledgements” section. Here are questions to get you started:

• Do you want to dedicate your work to someone? 
• What ideas sparked your interest in this journey? 
• Who cheered you on? 

This practice can help build momentum, as well as serve as a good reminder to carve out time to spend with your community. 

You got this!

Writing is a process. Give yourself grace, as you might not feel motivated all the time. Be consistent in your approach and reward yourself along the way. There is no single strategy when it comes to writing or maintaining motivation, so experiment and find out what works for you. 

Suggested readings

• Thriving as a Graduate Writer by Rachel Cayley (2023)
• Destination Dissertation by Sonja K. Foss and William Waters (2015)
• The PhD Writing Handbook by Desmond Thomas (2016).

Mabel Ho is director of professional development and student engagement at Dalhousie University.

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How to use the PhD title and all the little doctorate “rules”

There are many conventions in the academic world that can make it difficult to navigate the PhD title. The PhD title is awarded to those who have completed a doctoral degree but, not many people know how to use it once they have it.

This article will go through everything you need to know about using the PhD title and when you can start using it.

The “rules” are relatively simple and can be broken as they are not officially set in stone – other than when you can officially call yourself a doctor.

There is no one correct answer but it may be misleading if you use the PhD title incorrectly. Here are the recommendations for effective communication.

It very much depends on the setting. Here are some examples of how I would use my PhD titles awarded to me after my PhD degree.

How do you Write PhD correctly after a name? Is it ph d or phd?

It can be confusing to know exactly how to write PhD after your name. Which bits are capitalised? Is there a ‘.’ In the middle?

When writing a name with a PhD after it, the correct way to do so is to use “PhD” or “Ph.D. or Ph.D”

Depending on the preference of the individual, either form can be used.

However, if the individual has a business card that states their degree in full, then the more formal “Doctor of Philosophy” should be used.

It is important to note that using “PhD” without any periods is incorrect; this abbreviation should only be used in informal contexts such as emails or text messages. I tend to use PhD in my YouTube videos and some people have pointed out that this is incorrect…

Following the individual’s preferred format will ensure that their name and credentials are properly represented.

Should you use Dr as well as PhD?

Some people like to use Dr and PhD in their official titles. There are a couple of important points that you need to know about markers and academic titles.

• A person can have more than one marker in their name. For example my full title is Dr Andrew Stapleton, PhD, MChem.
• The doctor title at the front can be used as a variant to the PhD at the end.

It can be a little bit ambiguous if I was to use Dr Andrew Stapleton, PhD as there are two markers. This could mean that I have two PhD’s, it could mean that I have a PhD and a medical doctorate, or it could just be that I want to use both the doctor and the PhD tags for the one degree.

However, in my experience, I still like to use the doctor title at the front and the PhD tag at the end of my name for official purposes.

Academics would rarely use the PhD suffix in everyday communication. They would much rather just use the doctor title.

What is the proper title for a PhD?

The proper title for a PhD is Doctor of Philosophy. However, some teachers and professors like to be referred to without their official title.

If you are not sure about how your professor, lecturer, or friend with a PhD wishes to be officially addressed you can ask them.

Most of the time, I like to refer to my colleagues with their doctor title for official purposes, but I do not include the PhD at the end of their name. That is much better suited to a business card.

Your lecture may wish to be referred to as:

• Dr [last name]
• Dr [first name]

Asking them in the early stages of your relationship is the best way to work out which one they prefer.

If in doubt, always go for the more formal name and nomenclature.

When can you start to use your PhD title after your doctorate?

When you have earned your PhD, you can start using your title immediately. Although, it can be a little bit confusing as to when you have actually passed your PhD. Is it when you have submitted your dissertation? Is it when you have received the comments back?

The University of Adelaide says that you can use it from your conferral date:

Students can be conferred on one of five dates during the year and for PhD students the conferral date will be the first available following the completion of all the academic requirements of your degree, including final thesis lodgement and the disbursement of any outstanding financial obligations to the University.

I started using my PhD title as soon as my confirmation letter arrived at my house. It was the first letter from the University that referred to me as Dr Stapleton. It was incredibly excited.

Generally, it is acceptable to use the title “Dr.” both professionally and socially but socially, people very rarely use it – at least in Australia. But you should never use it if you are a PhD student, PhD candidate or enrolled in a PhD program without a previous PhD qualification. 

I do use it in professional settings but it always makes me feel a little bit awkward.

However, there may be some restrictions for certain settings. For example, if have a research degree resulting in a doctor title and you are working in a medical setting – some institutions do not like you to use Dr as it can confuse patients into thinking that you have a medical degree. 

Instead, they ask that you use the PhD tag at the end of your name rather than the doctoral title for official and professional communications.

What is the correct way to write PhD?

When writing about someone’s PhD, the correct way is to write the term in full and capitalize each letter.

This should be done for all academic degrees, not just PhDs.

For example, it would be “Doctor of Philosophy” or “PhD” instead of “Ph.D.”, “Dr.”, or “DPhil”.

Additionally, it is common to mention the field of study in which the degree was earned if known, such as “Doctor of Philosophy in Mathematics”. It is also good practice to include the institution that granted the degree if it is a recognized one.

When writing about someone’s PhD, use proper capitalization and include relevant information like field of study and institution if known to ensure accuracy.

How do you put a PhD in a title?

Putting a PhD in a title is not as complicated as it may sound.

Generally speaking, the proper way to list a PhD in an academic or professional setting is by writing “Dr.” before the name, followed by the person’s full name and the appropriate abbreviations for their degree.

For example, if John Smith has earned a doctorate in psychology, his credentials would be listed as “Dr. John Smith, Ph.D.”

In some cases, such as when addressing someone formally in speech or on a business card, it may also be acceptable to list their credentials as “John Smith, Ph.D.”

Depending on context and personal preference, some people may also choose to list their higher degrees after their names by writing out the entire degree instead of just its abbreviation.

For example, John Smith could choose to write his full title as “John Smith, Doctor of Psychology”

However, I have not seen this in real academic life.

Should the font size of Ph.D. be the same as someone’s name?

The question of whether the font size of a Ph.D. should be the same as someone’s name is an interesting one.

On one hand, it could be argued that the Ph.D. deserves to be highlighted and therefore should be given a larger font size than someone’s name to denote its importance.

On the other, it could be argued that this would not be necessary or appropriate, and that treating everyone equally regardless of their title or degree is more important.

It depends on context and usage – if both names appear in the same document then they should likely have the same font size; however, if one appears in a formal setting such as a diploma or certificate, then it may make sense to give it a larger font size than someone’s name to emphasize its importance and significance.

Ph.Ds (or PhDs) are an important academic achievement and should be respected accordingly but without going overboard by giving them overly large fonts sizes which can take away from rather than add to their importance.

Wrapping up – doctoral title rules

this article has been over everything you need to know that using the PhD title properly and effectively.

The doctor title can be used in place of the PhD and for incredibly formal communications, such as a business email or card, you can use both.

However, sometimes using both can cause confusion as to whether or not there is a reason first using both the doctor and PhD tags. Nonetheless, many people still use both.

Dr Andrew Stapleton has a Masters and PhD in Chemistry from the UK and Australia. He has many years of research experience and has worked as a Postdoctoral Fellow and Associate at a number of Universities. Although having secured funding for his own research, he left academia to help others with his YouTube channel all about the inner workings of academia and how to make it work for you.

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College of Nursing

Easing the pressure: supporting icu nurse decision making through digital innovation.

College of Nursing Assistant Professor Anna Krupp , PhD, MSHP, RN and Associate Professor Karen Dunn Lopez , PhD, MPH, RN, FAAN understand that intensive care unit (ICU) patients have a greater chance of developing functional decline, which may include new limitations in walking or a decreased ability to manage basic physical needs after hospital discharge. One common contributing factor for this is long periods of immobility, or remaining in bed, during ICU hospitalization.

With funding from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality , Krupp and Dunn Lopez are proposing to develop a decision support tool in the electronic health record. The goal is to make complex decisions about when it is safe to assist ICU patients out of bed more efficient for nurses. Currently, nurses look in multiple locations in the EHR for this information. The tool will summarize key patient information on one screen.

“ICU nurses make hundreds of decisions during a shift and the decision to assist a patient to sit on the edge of the bed or walk in the room requires that nurses know a lot about the patient and their stability over the previous shift,” said Clinical Assistant Professor and Co-Investigator Heather Dunn , PhD, ACNP-BC, ARNP. “Enhancing mobility in the ICU is crucial for positive patient outcomes. However, assessing readiness for activities like walking is challenging when data needs to be gathered from multiple sections of the medical record.”

The project will be conducted in two phases. First, they’ll develop the decision support tool with input from practicing ICU nurses. Next, the tool will be studied in two environments—a simulated EHR with nurses from across the nation and a real-world trial in the ICU.

Both Krupp and Dunn Lopez bring differing expertise. Dunn Lopez will use her knowledge with usability science and focus her time in a simulated setting identifying the ease, use, and effectiveness of the tool.

“One thing we know is that if something is not easy to use, it isn’t going to get used. But there are methods that can make sure that what you are developing is useful to the people who use it,” Dunn Lopez said.

Krupp will apply her ICU-based clinical expertise with her implementation science training to plan and study how decision support is used in everyday clinical practice.

“The best-designed tool does not guarantee routine use in complex healthcare settings. Implementation science identifies and addresses contextual factors to help promote its use,” said Krupp.

Krupp and Dunn Lopez suspect the results of the study will influence a “pragmatic way of accelerating the use of patient data with guideline recommendations at the point of care to support ICU clinicians in delivering evidence-based care, decreasing the duration of bed rest, and reducing hospital-acquired functional decline.”

Read more from our spring 2024 alumni newsletter .