Is it possible to work full time and complete a doctorate?

Although the answer to this question is quite personal because it depends on the desires, level of commitment, and time dedicated to said studies; we want to provide a broad vision of what it could mean to carry the 2 activities in parallel.

It is a reality that most applicants to pursue a doctorate have a life, and in many cases families, to assist financially.

After listening carefully to the testimonies of several doctoral students or graduates, it can be said that yes, it is totally possible to reconcile an 8-hour job with doctoral studies. And even some testimonials explain why.

Doctorates are designed for people with already previous professional experience. In fact, many of the doctoral programs are adapting to teaching blended classes or even completely online to allow students to find a balance between an active professional life and their education.

Of course, a doctoral candidate must assume that this will be a very enriching experience, but also demanding and challenging. Obtaining a doctorate diploma can be a process of about 5 years, during which the student must face important studies, research modules, internships, courses, among other activities.

The key to the success of this process lies in organization and time management. One of the main skills to develop during the research process.

The final decision will always be the student's, who, among other things, must assess the study options that are presented, and which ones are best suited to their life goals, using their profile of critical and analytical thinking.

And what skills are needed to obtain a Ph.D.?
In addition to time, holding a Ph.D. requires a great deal of dedication to the goal. Because beyond the curricular profile, which requires the highest academic degree that a professional can acquire, the persistence, effort, and tenacity of the student is the basis of achievement.

A doctorate's main objective is to teach how to develop original research works, which become contributions to specific areas. Therefore, if we had to choose 5 characteristics of a doctoral student, they would be:

● Research (of course!)
● Time/project management
● Critical thinking
● Written / verbal communication skills
● Leadership

If you’re considering taking this important decision about obtaining a doctorate, keeping your job full-time, you should keep in mind in your decision-making matrix the option of doing an online doctorate, which allows you to study at your own pace without sacrificing the quality of the syllabus program.