How long does it usually take to complete a PhD dissertation?
The time it takes to complete the dissertation varies greatly among students. Some have done it in as little as eighteen months, others have struggled against the deadline of eight years for completing all of their PhD work. It depends very much on how quickly you come up with a workable topic and how well you focus your time and energy in this kind of independent work. Dissertations that require extensive fieldwork often take longer than those that are primarily library based. But, if your fieldwork requires an extended stay in southern Italy, there are other compensations. Please also see the dissertation guidelines.
