Graduating around the globe
MIGUEL NUSSBAUM & VALERIA HERSKOVIC
Chile
A PhD in Chile typically lasts four years (eight semesters), with a minimum time of 2-3 years and a maximum time of 5-6 years. In 2012, the actual average time to graduate across doctoral programs was a bit over 6 years (SIES2014), but this figure has probably decreased in recent years as programs have taken measures to help students graduate within the expected time. Students are usually funded through governmental scholarships that cover four years of the PhD program (plus a possible six-month extension to write the thesis document) as well as a stipend. These scholarships
are only available to students from accredited programs. Other possibilities for students to fund their research include university scholarships, or research projects. There are also students who self-fund their studies, which (probably) lengthens their stay in the program. The rules for the PhD programs vary for different institutions and can also vary slightly between programs. The two top research universities in Chile are Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (UC) and Universidad de Chile (UCh).
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