* Prior education: Students with a strong background in business may be able to complete the program faster.
* Full-time vs. part-time study: Full-time students generally finish sooner than part-time students.
* Research progress: The time it takes to conduct and write a dissertation significantly impacts the overall timeline.
* Program requirements: Different universities have different requirements and curriculum structures.
While 4 years is possible for highly motivated, well-prepared, full-time students, 5-7 years is a more common and realistic timeframe.