average length of phd thesis

I was on the long end of the statistics distribution, around 180 pages. Probably because I had a lot of pictures.

I’ve selected the top fifty majors with the highest number of dissertations and created boxplots to show relative distributions. Not many differences are observed among the majors, although some exceptions are apparent. Economics, mathematics, and biostatistics had the lowest median page lengths, whereas anthropology, history, and political science had the highest median page lengths. This distinction makes sense given the nature of the disciplines.

The formal requirements for having your degree awarded are outlined in the Higher Degree by Research Examination Policy and Procedures.

• produce original findings
• sustain a coherent and cogent argument
• communicate the significant aspects of your research
• relate the research topic to the broader framework of knowledge in your discipline
• write clearly, accurately and cogently
• reference and document appropriately and accurately
• make clear which work has been completed by you and which work was completed by another person (if relevant).

References:

http://my.uq.edu.au/information-and-services/higher-degree-research/my-thesis/1-thesis-preparation
http://www.wgtn.ac.nz/fgr/current-phd/thesis-guidelines/thesis-length