The proven method for successful graduation with a doctorate involves two additional steps than you might imagine. I have found there to be four total steps and share them with you here, quite simply. I daresay I would know as I did complete my Ph.D. successfully a little over two years ago.

The four steps for successful graduation with a doctorate degree are:

1. Finish your projects
2. Finish writing your thesis
3. Find and train your replacement graduate students(s)
4. Find a job – this can be a postdoc or industry role, just needs to be pretty convincing that you NEED TO LEAVE

If you don’t have the above steps covered, you might still be able to graduate, however, it gives your advisor “reasons” to not graduate you. This is why I find it best to recommend covering your bases in the above manner.

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Not to beat a dead horse, but these steps really have been shown to work, confirmed by people like professors and other fellow PhDs. Here is the YouTube video stating these magical steps for successful graduation with a doctorate in a bit more detail.

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Lastly, please do share with another student as that would go a really long way to help me spread information like this to more students. I really can’t do it all on my own.

More detailed blog post on this topic:

How to actually finish your PhD in a timely manner

How to PhD is for all students

Lastly, although this website says “How to PhD” it is really for any and all students. My book covering these topics has been found to be useful by people who are not pursuing PhDs.

Review of my book

“It’s not just a good narrative story either – I found good portions of ‘How to PhD’ relevant to all graduate experiences, particularly the perceptive understanding of relationships between faculty or advisors and their students. I enjoyed how the author speaks directly to the reader and kept her advice frank and genuine as you will find in her list of red flags or her advice on who is really on your side, who is not, why, and what you can do about it. This book is spot-on about choosing a school based on the support level you find for both your desired concentration and yourself in general.”