Some countries have age barrier to get scholarship for conducting PhD. For example, in Germany 35 years, Australia 40 years. But so far I know there is no research that revealed younger people perform better in doing PhD and vice versa.
Interesting topic, and in the Norwegian context that I work in, this is not really a prominent topic at all. There are at least two aspects to your question. One is the academic competency/quality, which clearly is not limited by age. The other is to do with the socio-economic investment in educating doctoral students. In Norway there are no official age limits, even for full salary PhD-fellowships. From the perspective of the institution and from a societal perspective, I think it makes sense to consider the age-factor, because full PhD-fellowships represent a considerable economic and human capital investment in developing a person's academic competency. The crux of it has to do with how long it takes to develop a PhD-graduate into a full professor, so that the "system" can reap the rewards of this expertise. If you are e.g. 60 when you graduate and retirement age is 67, you may never get there, or you are ready to retire once you get you professorate. So although I feel that anyone should be entitled to do a PhD whatever their age, I do think there is an issue with benefit to society/the institution, especially with the state-financed scholarships we have in Norway that represent an investment for society corresponding to the need to develop academic competency in a sustainable system for the benefit of future students.
Death is the age limit of earning a doctorate of PhD. One of my friends is in her 80's and she just earned hers. Stop putting a age limit on people who are trying to make a positive contribution to society. It is not always about you or making money.
Hello G.M. Monirul Alam Age can be a problem in some systems. In Germany to get a permanent academic job, you must reach a certain rank by a certain age. That essentially means that you cannot delay your Ph.D. Of course, there is no age limit for learning!
It should be based on mental capability which varies person to person and not considering the issue of age i guess.
Is there a formal age limit for starting a Phd in France or Germany?
I do face this barrier myself. I'm 42 years old and very interested to do my PhD but never get any scholarship. I could not find any scholarships that consider students above 40 years. Any recommendation?
There is no age limit for doing PhD if you are interested and potential enough then you are not suppressed to do the PhD
Jorge Garcia-Marquez
Yes, you are right. There is no age limit for doing PhD but for getting scholarship there is age limit.
Many thanks.
Monirul
As @ Jorge Garcia_Marquez said, there is no age limit. This my opinion.
I was thinking to put this questions on this forum where anyone can find anwers of their questions from those who are much experienced researchers. I am from Sindh province of Pakistan and completed my schooling from a school which had infrastructural problems and other problems. . We the children of poor backgrounds reach to earn these prestigious degrees in later age. I am enrolled in M,phil since 2016 and yet thesis will be submitted to the concerned department. There must not be age limit to earn PhD. Dual education system is major problem in Pakistan where afluent communities can get proper education while rest of the huge population is left at the mercy of old-fashioned schooling etc. In such socieities children grooom either slow or leave in half way. Few come forward after long sleepless nights and untiring efforts to eanr scholarly degrees but many public universities are hard for people like us.@ Laverne A. Davis G.M. Monirul Alam
I was looking intensively for a scholarship to start my PhD but it seems that all the international scholarships they put restriction regarding the age. If you have some do not ask for such requirements please feel free to contact me.
there is NO age for pursuing PhD but if you cross 40, its very difficult to get pdf fellowships, funding etc. even if you are active and have very strong contributions in your field. Somehow people always have this illogical age factor in mind.
My opinion is that there should be no age limit to pursue PhD. Its one wish to study further and therefore should be supported.
As long as the person is of sound mind, good health with the academic qualifications needed to start a PhD, age is not a factor. Actually, older students likely bring better time management skills with deeper questions to research.
Last year, at 63, I began my online journey for a PhD focused on systemative theology. I'm retired. I have a masters plus a doctor of ministry degree for which I wrote a dissertation. I wrote a book based on that dissertation as well. So, I'm accustomed to the world of academics and enjoy Christian higher education. Sorry, but I feel like I endured public education and college to get to my seminary education and beyond.
What is going to carry me through these 5-6 years will be my motivation and determination to reach this goal.
My dad and grandmother lived well into their 90s. So, I feel like I have at least 30 years left. I'm retired with enough money, but I am happy that PhD work through an accredited online school like South African Theological Seminary does not cost what a PhD in America costs. Maybe American Universities would lower the cost for seniors who are going for a PhD? Frankly, my education is only costing me my annual required disbursement from an inherited IRA to pay for tuition plus other investment money to pay for buying books through Amazon and through Logos 9 which is awesome.
So, if you are qualified academically, in good overall health and have a question to research that you are passionate about, then go for a PhD and if you lack a Masters, then get that first and then your PhD.
I have no ideas what doors this degree may open for me other than writing another book, but God will provide that answer when the time comes!
In my opinion, a guy should shall start his PhD study in the late 30's after gaining pragmatic experience in his field of specialization; I do not recommend to attend at age before 35 years because he would be simply a theorician; there should not be a limit to resume PhD.
Gaining a PhD should not have age limit. However, some countries put age limit on it. The idea can be that PhD requires long years of hard work, motivation which may be difficult in old age.
I do not think there is age limit for any academic degree, PhD inclusive
Having rich experiences of matured age people should have chance to get scholarships opportunities. It's sad to haven't seen any such opportunities for these people like me.
I am 36 and I have just been awarded a PhD scholarship , I firmly believe there shouldn't be an age limit for doing a PhD , in fact why age limit for anything ? let people live their life and fulfil their dreams/wishes.
Just as there should be no discrimination based on factors such as sex, gender, race, age, disability or wealth for that matter, I think age discrimination is wrong.
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