The Essence of a PhD Thesis: Can it Really be Written in a Few Pages?

The completion of a PhD thesis is often seen as a monumental task, typically spanning hundreds of pages detailing years of research, experiments, and analysis. But what if a thesis could be summarized into a very concise document? Could a PhD thesis realistically be written in a few or so pages?

Real-Life Examples of Short PhD Theses

Recent experiences with a friend of a friend and a more direct friend's PhD theses provide compelling insights into the feasibility of concise PhD theses. A colleague's Mathematics Ph. D. thesis, for example, was initially just 6 pages of pure math. His advisor remarked, "Less bullshit, more math," upon reviewing the draft. Upon revision, the thesis was reduced to 8 pages, only to be expanded to a final 10 pages after realizing that the findings had more depth to explore.

Constraints and Conditions for a Short PhD Thesis

While the prospect of a short PhD thesis might sound appealing, it is crucial to consider the constraints and conditions necessary for this feat:

Font Size: Use 1pt font size.

Line Format: Single-space the lines to save on page count.

Content: Exclude graphics, tables, footnotes, and page numbers to avoid taking up too much space.

Formatting: Maintain 0.25-inch margins.

Breathing Room: You have all the time in the world to format the thesis.

Committee Approval: Your advisor and the university must approve the conditions outlined above.

Point 7 is a key component that is ultimately within the control of your advisor and committee. They must accept the proposed conditions in order for a concise PhD thesis to be a realistic possibility.

Theoretical and Practical Contributions

Dissertations are supposed to represent significant contributions to the knowledge base. However, not all dissertations meet this standard. For a dissertation to be deemed meaningful, it must withstand the scrutiny of a committee of peers, who must be competent to evaluate its validity and importance. Only when both the committee's competency and the thesis itself meet this standard can a short thesis be truly effective.

Consider the story of an American colleague who pursued his PhD at Oxford. After completing his degree, he inquired about the official acknowledgment of his accomplishment. The registrar at Oxford told him, 'If you have gotten your PhD from Oxford, everyone knows; you don't need a formal notice.' This anecdote underscores the idea that if a dissertation is of sufficient worth, it can be succinctly summarized without diminishing its value.

Conclusion

The possibility of a short PhD thesis depends on the nature of the research, the competency of the evaluators, and the acceptance of certain formatting and content constraints. While it may be challenging, the potential for a concise yet impactful PhD thesis exists, provided it meets the necessary standards and is embraced by the academic community.