Most applicants to distance-learning Ph.D. programs in English are expected to have a Mater's level degree in English. In some cases, students with only a Bachelor's degree may be admitted upon the condition that they fulfill certain content requirements before delving deeper into their doctoral work. Applicants should also have taken the GRE within the past five years, and some English Ph.D. programs require the GRE subject test in English.
Several B.A. and M.A. programs in English are offered entirely online or through distance learning. Yet, as of 2010, no Ph.D. programs in this field are offered from U.S. universities that can be completed entirely from the student's home. Colleges and universities with distance learning programs general require part-time residency that can be completed during summer sessions, intensive on-site sessions or during a certain number of semesters. Delivery varies by university. One example of a Ph.D. in English that is offered through distance learning is the program at Old Dominion University (ODU). ODU's program requires students to be present during summer sessions, and the remainder of the degree requirements is fulfilled through hybrid on-line and in-person classes.
The duration of a distance learning Ph.D. in English will vary by country, program and whether students choose to study full or part-time. In the U.K., Ph.D. programs tend to take three years of full-time study or six years of part-time study. In the U.S., students can double those numbers. Program duration varies considerably by school and the number of credits required for the degree. Some Ph.D. candidates may incorporate learning a foreign language or travel into their research phase, so how long a student takes to research and write for their dissertation will largely be up to them.
Again, this can vary wildly by program, but students can expect to pay more for a distance learning Ph.D. from a United States college than from an in-person doctoral degree at a state college or university. It may seem like it should be less expensive to do distance learning, but students will still be paying for the credits and the professor's time and expertise. Although students will not be showing up in person on a campus, students should not look to distance learning primarily as a way to save on tuition costs. Little funding is available for distance-learning students. While on-campus students may get grant aid and assistantships, distance-learning students will not be eligible for most financial aid opportunities other than loans.
Many diploma mills and scams are advertised on the Internet. Students should take the time to research the institution that grants the degree. Sometimes colleges that advertise degrees are not the degree-granting body. Students should look for a program that's affordable and has professors whose research interests match theirs. If students are unsure what distance-learning program to pick, they can visit the campus and talk to the faculty and administration in person, or read reviews from program graduates.