How is a British PhD different from a PhD in other countries?
In many countries, a PhD programme combines a structured programme of teaching alongside an independent study (usually a piece of empirical research). These programmes usually take 4 or more years to complete. In the U.K. by contrast, this is not always the case. PhDs in the UK are often 3 year programmes and focus primarily upon your own independently conducted study. Some research training is given, but this is not the major part of the programme. Hence, if you are aiming to complete your PhD within 3 years, you should already have considerable research skills and be prepared to work independently with little formal teaching in-put.
