I don't know if this is an urban myth or not. I did hear that 7 is the maximum number of years by which you must complete a part time PhD. Is there any truth in this?

Angelette

In my uni it's six years; after that you have to apply for an extension!

The maximum time is 7 years at my uni :-)

PT maximum time duration is 6 years at my uni and then you can apply to extend for usually not more than 12 months. I would add though, if you have particular mitigating circumstances along the way, ie I had 3 babies, you can apply for an intermission period. Intermission means that you have 'temporarily suspended' your studies for a specified duration ie 6 months, so you have no support at uni from sups or facilities for that 6 months. The intermitting period will therefore extend your overall time duration to completion ie Feb 2005 start equals Feb 2011 submission but with 6 months intermission the final submission would be Aug 2011. Add an extesion on top could take it to Aug 2012. These are ways to extend the 6 years if you need to, but most PT'ers would want to be done with it by the end of 6 years ;-)

At my uni it's 6 years, then a possible 1-year extension.

AHRC will allow part-timers to take 7 years before they penalise departments.

Thanks for this Folks.

It makes things a bit clearer.

Angelette

Six at mine too unless you've got real reasons like an illness or baby.