The Journey to a Ph.D.

If the number of hopefuls applying for the IIT BHU Ph.D. admission was a clue, we would say that completing a PhD has been gaining quite some popularity. Every Ph.D. experience is unique and depends on its own core findings to make for an original contribution to the field. But whether you are hankering for an IIT BHU Ph.D. admission or for some other college, there are some stages of a Ph.D. programme that are common to all. The exact journey and how you deal with it may of course vary, but here are the most common stages of doing a Ph.D.:

The research proposal isn’t so much a part of the Ph.D. programme as it is of the application process. This proposal is where you set out the objectives and the aim of the Ph.D. – an original topic that you plan to study.

The research proposal should also outline why exactly this research is important, why it is worthwhile, and how does it fit with the objectives of your university. You will also need to explain your strategy in going about this, and the methods you plan to use. The research proposal might not be a part of the Ph.D. programme, but will help shape up your project. A research proposal is an important part of your IIT BHU Ph.D. admission application.

After your IIT BHU Ph.D. admission, and after your initial supervisor meeting, you will need to conduct a literature review. This includes a thorough survey of the work that has been done in your chosen field and topic. Whereas a Ph.D. is mainly about original research, this review is done to evaluate your skills in scholarship and to see that you can comprehend the current state in your field. This is where you will be able to show that you can offer new contributions. This literature can also play a role in your dissertation, to help you set a context of your own research.

The next part is about beginning your research. You will of course have to stay up to date with the current news and happenings in your field; but from now on, your main aim will be investigating your own project.

People use thesis and dissertation interchangeably. But, a thesis is the argument that you are putting forth. This is your conclusion based on your research and your literature review; while a dissertation is you laying out your findings in a systematic format, to show how you reached your conclusion. Once you feel you have sufficient results, you start writing up your dissertation and finalizing your thesis.

The writing up period comes after you have decided on your thesis. This is the part where you simply get all your research and your conclusions on paper, ready for submission.

 

The Ph.D. is not just normally checked and marked as a written assignment. Instead, it is submitted for an oral exam, which is also called a viva voce. This is a rather formal procedure in which you are called upon to come up and defend your thesis and your findings, in front of a panel of examiners, who would have gone through your dissertation in advance.

A Ph.D. is not the easiest programme to complete. Even more importantly, the IIT BHU Ph.D. admission process is not a walk in the park. But if you have the right ideas and the right frame of mind, you too can complete your Doctorate journey.