Does anyone know anything about doing a PhD?

[zebedeethezebra]

Please talk to me. I'm wondering whether or not it is possible, in particular on a part time basis.

How do you go about starting one or applying??

What is your subject area? That makes a lot of difference.

In theory, yes, it is possible to do one part-time. In practice, because of the all consuming nature of a PhD, you may find that even if you are registered part-time, you are actually putting in many, many more hours than that.

Law

Doing a part time PhD is really hard because you have to keep momentum going. Most part timers I have come across tended to just drift on for years without ever really finishing. Not all cases obviously but a PhD is not something you can really just pick up and put down.

That said, I do know a high powered lawyer who did a part time PhD. He dicated the chapters to his secretary and she wrote them up for him.

Obvioulsy he was already an absolute expert in the area he was doing his PhD in anyway so it was something of a formailty he did to confirm his professional expertise.

From my own experience I recommend you get a copy of How to get a PhD (and i don't get royalties, despite having recommended it before). You can also have a look at the forum on www.findaphd.com/ and the thesiswhisperer.com/ is great too.

To answer your main question: part-time PhDs are permitted, but it's much harder to get funding and as said above, it's harder to keep the momentum going.

I am just about to start my part-time PHD after agonising for the last year about everything! I know nothing about Law PHDs but I'm doing mine in Migration and International Development through the OU. I have the added complication of being in Belgium which is why I've ended up registering part-time. My original plan was to do it full-time but that proved impossible being overseas. Funding IS possible with part-time PHDs but every uni / dept is different. I can't get funding at the OU being part-time but could have at other places. It depends what works with your schedule. Some places demand weekly attendance, others don't.
Where are you looking at studying?

I did my PhD part-time within the 6 year time frame. It was a science based PhD related to my full-time work. I decided upon the subject area and submitted it to the university of my choice. I was self-funded aswell having saved up the fees from working full-time the previous years. The uni came back to approve my idea and allocated me my uni supervisor, I already had a work-based supervisor lined up. So that was the start of my PhD! I have to say that things do change over the 6 years and a level of commitment is required. During my PhD I had a relationship breakdown (including buying the resultant home from him!), met my husband, got married, had three babies (multiples) and moved house three times and resigned from my job to look after the three babies! Despite many other peoples opinions that I wouldn't complete, I successfully defended my thesis and passed with minor corrections. My advice would be to accept that your level of commitment will change depending on your life challenges but as long as you keep progressing you will submit. It is a lengthy commitment but worth the accomplishment in the end. Organisation is key! Good luck