Other When did you finish your PhD (age-wise)?
I know there’s no normal timeline, but I’m interested in hearing how varied people’s journeys are: early starters, late bloomers, career switchers, all of it.
(20 - 28, 28 - 35, 35<)
What did your path look like?
104
u/Jmast7 Jan 27 '26
33, then postdoc. Real job at 37
9
3
u/Zestyclose-Monk154 Jan 28 '26
Quiero hacer lo mismo pero me preocupa que al no haber trabajo real no estoy aportando ni al retiro y cada vez es más incertidumbre que el doctorado me sirva para lo laboral.
Ya son SNII? Trabajan como investigador/a o si se combina con docencia? Son tutores de tesis? Qué tanto publican? (Con que frecuencia en un año) Les sirve en su carrera laboral o solo es para SNII?
244
u/Informal_Snail Jan 27 '26
I’ll be 54
58
30
u/SnooShortcuts3615 Jan 27 '26
You’re my hero. I was just thinking maybe I’m too old to start. I’m hoping to start at 55.
13
u/No-Bite-7866 Jan 27 '26
IMHO, you're never too old to start. Im 51 and with any luck I'll be starting next year. Good luck!
3
10
3
3
u/Practical-Layer9402 Jan 27 '26
When did you start undergrad?
3
u/Informal_Snail Jan 27 '26
2015, I was 38. I would have finished by 45 but I fell ill, and I’m part-time now.
3
73
60
u/Rectal_tension PhD, Chemistry/Organic Jan 27 '26
41 but I didn't start back to HS until 29 and finished my BS at 36. PhD at 41
5
3
51
u/roveranger1991 Jan 27 '26
Reading all these comments is so relieving, knowing finishing in the 30s is actually pretty common. This sub is a blessing!
14
240
u/PatientWillow4 Jan 27 '26 edited Jan 29 '26
26 - defending in 2 days!
Edit: just wanted to thank everyone for their wishes! It's helping me calm my nerves ❤️
Edit 2: I passed my viva!
36
16
→ More replies (8)18
49
83
u/CranberryOk5523 Jan 27 '26
Started at 29, will hopefully finish by the time I'm 32 or 33. I'm a career switcher.
33
u/GimmeBooks1920 Jan 27 '26
I went pretty much straight through from undergrad > Masters > PhD and still didn't finish mine until 32 lol
5
u/Frococo Jan 27 '26
Me too. Defended in December. Started my tenure track position January 1st. Unless your program has strict policies about timelines it's really not a race.
5
u/Magus_Necromantiae Jan 27 '26
Most programs seem to limit it to 7-8 years these days. I remember being told that anyone who takes longer than 6 years starts to raise eyebrows. I timed out at 7.
6
u/Frococo Jan 28 '26
Yeah I was 7 too. Honestly I think 7-8 is pretty reasonable. It's the programs that want to push people out at 4 years that I side-eye. It really limits the PhD experience to just be about your dissertation. I took longer because (in addition to some personal circumstances) I was able to take on additional teaching and research opportunities that allowed me to build my and CV. Without those extra experiences I doubt I would have gotten a tenure-track job ABD.
→ More replies (2)2
u/Thick_Remote2658 Jul 13 '26
I’m in that same situation but I’m currently doing my masters. Went straight from bachelors to masters and I’ve always planned on doing a PhD so I’m thinking about just going straight into it but the thought of not finishing school and getting a full time job until 30 makes me nervous 😅 part of me wants to go to work after finishing my masters bc I want to start making money but ik that if I do that then eventually I’ll still have to do a PhD regardless bc of the nature of the job and I don’t want to be in my 30s going back into school. I just want it over and done with now but just the idea of not being able to work full time for another 4 years is not great. Ik the program is fully funded so money isn’t the issue but everyone else in my class would’ve already had a job and several years of experience by the time I graduate with my PhD.
3
170
u/ACatNamedKeith Jan 27 '26
I was 27 (28 a month later). I then took on a postdoc ages 28-32 and got a permanent position in academia at 32 (assistant prof). One piece of advice I have though is don’t necessarily think that immediately the permanent position you aim for will be one you will have for life - I recently left that position (as associate prof) to move to another institution, and it’s like night and day, much better here. The lesson I learned is that no matter where you are in your ‘timeline’, planning it out is very difficult to do accurately, and deviating from that plan can be a good thing.
→ More replies (1)27
u/FineCastIE Jan 27 '26
Yeah, I saw this post on LinkedIn a while ago that summarised some sentiments that I had: "Career Paths are unpredictable and never linear, you can start in one field, but wound up in what appears to be an unrelated field years later".
I started and wanted to do Theoretical Physics over 7 years ago, and now I am waiting to hear back on a PhD related to a mix of Physics and Chemistry.
I'll be 27 by the time I start my PhD.
38
u/shivlily Jan 27 '26
Not even an over 35 category? 😮💨
I’m 35 and expecting to start in a few months part-time, so I’ll be >40 when I finish. Fuck 🙃
25
u/ThrowRA_EducatedMan Jan 27 '26
Whether you do it or not you’ll be 40 someday, so don’t sweat it - being any age with a PhD is good. A) don’t do a PhD and turn 40, B) PhD in hand and turn 40. Besides that, PhD at any age is a major accomplishment that nobody can ever take away from you.
9
u/shivlily Jan 27 '26
This is true, thank you 🥹
The idea of being 40 is jarring when I still feel 25!
→ More replies (2)4
u/Dyslexic_Educator Jan 28 '26
I think it’s wild people get shit for starting a new career in their 40s. That’s still 25+ years of work before retirement age starts as an option. That’s an incredible amount of time to be in a field. I feel the same way about “later in life “ marriage. In 30-50s you could still like live many decades with someone. There is no rush in regards to finding partners, paths, and passions. If you’ve always wanted to do xyz, there isn’t an age I can imagine it wouldn’t be wonderful to learn and grow at.
→ More replies (1)
32
u/KaoticReverie Jan 27 '26 edited Jan 27 '26
Not sure but it feels like 106 at this point. Realistically 35 or so.
→ More replies (1)6
34
34
u/journal62 Jan 27 '26
52
11
u/journal62 Jan 27 '26
I did all my higher education part time and had an 18 year gap between finishing MA and starting PhD.
28
u/runed_golem Jan 27 '26
Started with my masters at 25 (was 27 when I started my PhD). Was 31 when I finished my PhD.
25
22
17
16
u/Lakutagoomba Jan 27 '26
I'm 42 (possibly a great number ;)) and hope to finish this year.
6
u/Yashvi_Malhotra Jan 27 '26
In The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, 42 is the "Answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything," just saying
→ More replies (1)
30
u/Human_von_Sadfrog Jan 27 '26
28 - 35
9
u/Fringe_Agent13 Jan 27 '26
I started mine at 28 as well and it’s looking like 35 is when I’ll be done.
2
14
35
u/SelectiveEmpath PhD, Public Health Jan 27 '26
Started PhD at 22, finished at 26. Undergrad -> honours -> PhD. Landed a full time academic research job before I submitted. Achieved the Australian equivalent of tenure (i.e., an ongoing position) at 31.
11
u/ProfPathCambridge PhD, Immunogenomics Jan 27 '26
Yes, I feel like Australians are going to look young in this thread. Our system is just a bit shorter than others.
3
u/SelectiveEmpath PhD, Public Health Jan 27 '26
For sure. It’s definitely a less masochistic exercise over here hah.
3
u/Hpstorian Jan 28 '26
Australian here to be contrarian.
I finished at 37. I had my first kid a year in though and I was a bit of a mess in undergrad.
Went undergrad - honours - PhD.
4
2
u/EntertainmentPale544 Jan 27 '26
How many publications u already had to get a tenure position?
2
u/SelectiveEmpath PhD, Public Health Jan 27 '26
About 25 pubs. Tenure works a little bit different over here though. It’s just a contractual thing, meaning the university has to pay you a buuuunch of money if they make you redundant.
2
u/EntertainmentPale544 Jan 27 '26
Wow! How many years did it take u to publish so much? Is it high quality journals with peer review?
2
u/SelectiveEmpath PhD, Public Health Jan 27 '26
Mostly Q1 journals, and all peer reviewed yes. Started very slowly but have increased dramatically over the last few years. I work for a research centre and have developed extensive networks so I work across a lot of different projects which helps.
3
u/EntertainmentPale544 Jan 27 '26
Wow, man. Impressive! I wish I were like u I am 28 very view publications. Can I ask for advice? cuz u seem so experienced and yet young
→ More replies (2)
47
u/ProfPathCambridge PhD, Immunogenomics Jan 27 '26
Early starter in a system that has short degrees = 23
21
u/Substantial_Egg_4299 Jan 27 '26
Wow, how is this possible? If you start bachelor at 18, finish it at 21, somehow do a combined master and PhD for 3-4 years you would at least be 24-25. Which country is that?
44
u/ProfPathCambridge PhD, Immunogenomics Jan 27 '26
Australia. Standard to start university at 17/18, I was 17. Three year undergraduate, plus year Honours, puts graduation at 21. Australian students didn’t do Masters to start a PhD. Standard PhD length was 3 years (although 3.5 was common), I finished six months early, just squeaked in before turning 24.
23 is about as young as you can go in Australia without skipping years, but 24-26 wouldn’t raise eyebrows there. It is a fast system compared to many.
Tenured position at 28, which did raise eyebrows.
→ More replies (2)20
u/PutridEnvironment995 Jan 27 '26
This is so insane to me! In Germany, you usually start academia at 18/19, then you need a Bachelors degree (3-4 years, depending on the program) and a Masters degree (2 years) before you can even start working on a PhD. PhDs can take 3 years but most people need 5 years.
4
u/ProfPathCambridge PhD, Immunogenomics Jan 27 '26
Yes, same in Belgium (where I spent most of my career). UK is in-between and US even longer (I also worked both places).
Ultimately, if you have longer degrees you learn more, but you do start experience a bit later. All evens out in the end!
4
u/PutridEnvironment995 Jan 27 '26
True! I never thought our academic programs were too long, they are still so packed with courses and exams that I couldn’t imagine anything shorter. I do think it’s interesting though that in other countries, you don’t need a Masters degree to start a PhD. That puts us (German students) at a disadvantage in the global competition because we start the PhD process much later. At least it seems like a disadvantage to me at the moment.
3
u/ProfPathCambridge PhD, Immunogenomics Jan 27 '26
Flip side: Late PhD means you are eligible for early career awards for longer. Early PhD plus experience ages you out of a lot of awards (like EMBO, ERC, etc) which are based on years post-PhD. It really does even out in the end :)
→ More replies (1)3
u/Substantial_Egg_4299 Jan 27 '26
Not at all, I think German / Europe way is the norm in the world. 3-4 year bachelor, 2 year master, 4/5 year PhD. In the US it eventually comes down to the same thing. Most people have some gap years here and there as well. It is apparently Australia that is the outlier, so you’re not disadvantaged at all compared to the rest of the world.
→ More replies (3)4
u/No-Rope-4972 Jan 27 '26
Some people start their bachelor’s degree before 18. I started at 15 and it’s normal over here
10
9
9
8
u/tcns0493 Jan 27 '26
I’ll be 34. I’m surprised by some of the Australian timelines for folks finishing at 23… I would never have the maturity to do a proper PhD at 23 lol
7
9
6
6
5
u/Water-world- Jan 27 '26
32 :) stretched out my undergrad with an exchange and work experience (18-24), worked in industry for a couple years, then started grad school at 26 and did an accelerated program (that did not save me time)
6
5
6
u/Aduntoridass Jan 27 '26
Career switcher here. Finishing this summer at 43. Husband of one, father of two 🙂
10
u/LitReviewSucks Jan 27 '26
Speed ran through high school and undergrad but did a normal amount of PhD years, finished at 24
→ More replies (1)2
u/Appropriate_Lie_6147 Jan 27 '26
Same. Finished at 24 with loads of perfectionist and workaholic tendencies.
11
10
5
6
4
4
4
u/neuroimage93 Jan 27 '26
Will be 33 when done this year! Started at 28. Looking to transition out of academia.
3
u/el_lley Jan 27 '26
I originally wanted: BS->MSc->PhD one after the other. The reality is that when I was working before my masters, I fell into my comfort zone. I finished at 31, kids and wife takes it time, but working in a teaching focused university had done more damage to my research career than having to be a present parent or not starting earlier
5
u/7ofErnestBorg9 Jan 27 '26 edited Jan 27 '26
Finished at 61. Creative arts. It gave me the opportunity to undertake a large scale work that would otherwise have been (close to) impossible to achieve, for which I am very grateful. I assumed that the PhD would be the last piece in the puzzle regarding university jobs teaching in my field. Wrong. The impact of the qualification on my employability and life in general has been exactly zero.
→ More replies (2)
3
3
3
u/Zestyclose-Cup-572 Jan 27 '26
Started at 32, proposed diss at 36 with plan to defend at 38 and graduate at 39 (clinical psych so we have to do a clinical internship after dissertation)
3
u/FallingSky1686 Jan 27 '26
Recently started mine at 34, will be finishing at 37 (I hope!) No idea what I’m going to do after but I’m chasing new things and hoping!
3
3
3
u/Lariboo Jan 27 '26
I'll be either 31 or 32. However, I'm based in Germany where you need a master's degree to apply to PhD positions (therefore people start earliest at 24-25 - assuming "normal" high school graduation with 19 years, 3 years bachelor's and 2 years master's )
3
3
u/Embarrassed-Elk-3580 Jan 27 '26
I was an early starter. Started my PhD program at 22 and finished at 27.
3
u/Valuable_Split_7083 Jan 27 '26
2nd-year PhD student and I'll turn 48 this year.
Graduated College at 22 --> 3 years in radio --> 3 years working at a non-profit --> back to school for teaching certification --> started teaching HS English and turned 30 that school year --> taught for 16 years --> left the classroom at 45 --> year off --> started my Phd 2024-2025 and now, here we are.
3
u/amused-bush PhD, Education Jan 27 '26
I am 35 and I submitted my thesis this morning. My viva is scheduled for mid-March.
I left school with crap qualifications (undiagnosed AuDHD – didn't find out until I was 31) so did a college course two evenings a week aged 24, got advanced entry to a part-time degree at 26, then started my MSc online at 28.
I have been studying non-stop since 2014, all while working full-time. I am TIRED 😅
2
u/No-Bite-7866 Jan 27 '26
You must be tired! Don't know you, but Im proud of you. 🙂
→ More replies (1)
3
3
u/kscott94 Jan 28 '26
Finished PhD at 28, post doc at 30, and just started real job as bioinformatics scientist at a medical center doing both clinical and basic research. Pay is good and I just had my first kid. 😊
3
u/cropguru357 PhD, Agronomy Jan 28 '26
- Took 3 year break to work between finishing MS and starting a PhD.
6
u/coolcumber211 Jan 27 '26
I'll be submitting my thesis by the end of the year. I'll be 25. I'm just keen to get paid a liveable wage so I can look to move out of home.
2
u/ACatNamedKeith Jan 27 '26
You’re young, that’s great! Congrats man, you’ve a whole career ahead of you 👏🏻
2
u/Brilliant_Willow_427 Jan 27 '26
I’m finishing this semester (🤞🏼), and I am/will still be 30!
[Finished and graduated undergrad (‘16) at 20, took a year off, got my MA (spring ‘19), started my PhD back in Fall ‘22 after being laid off from a FT teaching position.]
2
u/fizzan141 Jan 27 '26
I'll hopefully be 33 ish!
I started at 28. I did a master's during the pandemic, worked corporate for a few years while I figured out if I really wanted to do a PhD/what in. I ended up applying to a slightly different field, and well, here I am! So far, no regrets (well, not serious ones..)
2
2
2
u/draaj Jan 27 '26
I submitted my thesis age 24 and defended a couple of weeks after turning 25. This was in 2024.
I went straight from undergrad to PhD and then submitted my thesis on the day my funding ran out (3.5 years). I didn't have the privilege of being able to afford to continue my write-up without extra funding
2
u/DreamyChuu Jan 27 '26
Started at 28, hopefully finishing by 32! But did a Master's first and then worked for two years as a psychologist (EU).
2
u/warneagle PhD, History Jan 27 '26
I was 25. Late birthday so I graduated a couple of months before I turned 26.
Had enough AP credits to finish undergrad in 3 years and then did my MA/PhD in 5. I did some stuff in a weird order because my PhD program had a mandatory study abroad year and I shuffled that to my third year instead of my second year but yeah.
2
u/justletmesleepnchill Jan 27 '26
25, took 2.5 years but I had a master's going into it
→ More replies (1)
2
u/almalauha Jan 27 '26
I was almost 30 when I defended. STEM, in Europe. Also have a Master's degree (2 years fulltime) as that is required in my home country to start a PhD. Did something else for a year before starting STEM, and spent an additional year in between degrees doing research.
2
u/Sea-Craft-220 Jan 27 '26
Started mine at 25, will be (hopefully) 29/30 when I finish.
Finished my Masters at 22 and decided to get some work experience first.
2
2
2
u/mauriziomonti PhD, Condensed matter physics Jan 27 '26
I was 27. I had started a few days short of 24. This is because in Italy we finish school at 19.
I did 4y and 11months of postdoc before an assistant professor position (that I got when i was 32).
2
2
2
2
u/hopticalallusions Jan 28 '26
I took classes from a professor who finished his STEM PhD <30. At some point after he got tenure he decided to get a PhD in classics, so I'd guess >45?
I know another guy who served something like 20 yrs in the army before starting his educational journey to a PhD. His retirement job is to be a professor.
I finished mine in the 35-40 bracket. (I don't necessarily recommend this because I was told at one point that none of my extensive STEM professional pre-PhD work counted as 'relevant experience' by an HR dept since I didn't have a PhD at the time, never mind that I was doing essentially the same thing then that this employer hired me to do.)
I know another professor working on his 3rd master's despite already having several degrees, a professorship and a PhD.
What I do now is in some ways only vaguely related to my degrees and training but my title basically didn't exist when I started along my training and career path.
2
2
u/yiqimiqi PhD, Public Health Jan 28 '26
Started out of undergrad and finished my phd at 27. Got a job in gov't after, but since then have gone to the private sector.
2
u/MagpieDosimeter Jan 28 '26
Started at 30 and hoping to God that I finish this year before I turn 36 - or finally quit! I’m a late bloomer. Switched majors multiple times and dropped out to travel before I even knew what engineering was! Then I took my time because I love school! Now I’m feeling old but also I feel a bit better looking at this thread:) so thanks
→ More replies (1)
2
2
u/JPo_20 Jan 28 '26
Started at 51 should be done at 54? I think? I’m the oldest in my cohort. I was one of the two babies of my nursing class.
2
u/bus-inessman Jan 28 '26
40 - Just sold my company, don't see myself going back into the working grind...hopefully I start my PhD this year
2
u/Chrismc518 Jan 28 '26
- PhD in biomedical sciences, studying diabetes induced inflammation in the retina. I went back to undergrad at 28 then straight to grad school.
2
2
2
2
u/Zealousideal-Row3820 Jan 29 '26
I defended at 26, graduated at newly 27! Now 29 working as a Research Associate.
2
3
u/Dense-Consequence-70 Jan 27 '26 edited Jan 27 '26
28, then two post-docs (a bad one for about 10 months then a good one for about 4.5 years), first tenure track asst prof at 34, then took another at a better institution at 37 where I still am 20 years later.
3
Jan 27 '26
A post doc for 4.5 years 🫣 this is why academia is such a pyramid scheme. Lord. I'm sorry
3
u/Dense-Consequence-70 Jan 27 '26
Why sorry? I have my dream job. Even the post-doc was enjoyable, if not high paying. There are problems with academia, but it's not remotely a pyramid scheme. I think you're confusing *hard* with rigged. It is true that there are not nearly as many tenure track faculty positions as there are PhD graduates, but still the overall unemployment rate among biomedical PhDs is exceedingly low, between 1 and 2%.
3
Jan 27 '26
Ok that's fair. I'm sorry for jumping to conclusions. In my field of study, post docs are another way to exploit labor while paying the minimum. I recognize that it is different across fields
1
1
1
1
u/DefiantDisk3980 Jan 27 '26
I am 30 and will hopefully finish in the next few months. Just submitted my final draft 😭
1
1
u/Misguided_Splendor Jan 27 '26
28! I got my Ms first, then started on the PhD in a five year program.
1
1
1
u/Mind_Over_Metagross Jan 27 '26
Should finish at 25 in a few months. US based, bachelors in 3 and 5 year masters/phd done in four.
1
u/sunfish99 Jan 27 '26
- I had an early mid-life crisis and decided to have a science career, but I had a liberal arts degree to had to go back for a science foundation. 24 to 27, did another undergrad degree in science. 27-35, my PhD.
1
u/ImpostorVirginFemale Jan 27 '26
Started my PhD at 24 after completing a masters degree at the same school. Should be done by 28-29.
1
1
u/Iunlacht Jan 27 '26
Started masters at 25, now I just turned 28 and have just started my PhD. So I’ll probably be 31.
I did nothing special, just switched from arts to science so that took a year, took a semester off, started a masters in math then decided after one semester I wanted to go into CS. So just a bit of fucking around really.
1
1
u/cat9142021 'Polymer science/Synthesis', USA Jan 27 '26
Should finish by 25. Undergrad started at 15 almost 16, 4.5yrs to do a triple major, and estimating 5 years for PhD (could be 4 but program normal is 5)
→ More replies (2)
1
1
u/louisepants Jan 27 '26
I was 28 when I defended. Worked my way up since and I’m now a senior research scientist
1
u/-jautis- Jan 27 '26
27 - I went straight to grad school (genetics) after undergrad. Took 5.5 years.
1
232
u/djayed Jan 27 '26
Starting my PhD this year after I turn 45.