Previous studies by various groups have found that time-to-completion rates for humanities fields lag those for others, and the Council of Graduate Schools effort provided more confirmation. In the physical and biological science and technology fields, more than half of those in entering cohorts are earning a doctorate between year six and seven of a program. In the social sciences, year seven sees only a completion rate of just over 40 percent; in the humanities the figure is 29 percent.
From this Inside HigherEd story that has a link to a recent report -- with data -- on PhD completion rates. The question of 'why it takes so long' is still unanswered.
Sometime ago, Sunil Laxman pondered this question. At that time, he asked me for my comment, but I have to confess that I really have no special insights to offer.
2 Comments:
Many students dont want to graduate unless they have a job in hand. In some of the fields, esp if the PhD work is on a slightly sensitive / rarefied area, getting a job or post-doc position may not be such an easy process.
I guess this would explain delays of the order of 8-10 months at least, if not an year
There are lot of factors to it.It depends on the student,their chosen work,their supervisor,funds etc.Time to get a good job /positions in science is even greater that time-to completion rates.
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