how long is a phd thesis

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More information on what counts towards the word length is available here.

For this thesis, I had to read three very long novels that I hadn’t ever got round to before and two poetry collections (other texts that it dealt with were very familiar with me and directly in line with my precise expertise, hence the selection as an examiner). I then had to read the thesis itself. I then had to write up my comments in the independent report on this (4,200 words). I then travelled across the country, conducted the viva, wrote the co-report with the internal, stayed overnight in a hotel, and travelled back the next day.
I examined a Ph.D. thesis this week. I usually do about two or three of these a year. I was curious to work out how long it takes to undertake this task, so in my slightly obsessive fashion, I got cracking on the time tracking.

Research theses have a word limit that you must comply with.
When you submit, you will be asked to certify that your thesis falls within the relevant word limit.

Following the return of examiners’ reports, a Sub-Committee will make a recommendation to the full Research Training Sub-Committee (RTSC). Following the RTSC determination, candidates will be advised of the Committee’s decision and copies of the examiners’ reports will be provided at that point. The outcome letter and examiners’ reports will be sent to the candidate’s NUmail account and a hard copy of the documents will be posted to the candidate’s mailing address.
Outcomes cannot be determined until all examiners reports have been received.

You should aim to write a thesis of 80,000 words. The word limit is exclusive of words in tables, maps, bibliographies and appendices. Footnotes are included as part of the word limit.
If you need to exceed 100,000 words, you must submit a request to the Chair of the Higher Degrees Research Comittee via the Graduate Research Examinations Office before you submit your thesis. This must include:

References:

http://eve.gd/2019/04/18/how-long-does-it-take-to-examine-a-phd-thesis/
http://www.wgtn.ac.nz/fgr/current-phd/thesis-guidelines/thesis-length
http://askuon.newcastle.edu.au/app/answers/detail/a_id/1270/~/how-long-does-the-thesis-examination-process-take%3F
http://ask.unimelb.edu.au/app/answers/detail/a_id/3267/related/1
http://www.wikihow.com/Write-a-Dissertation