For decades, pursuing a PhD has meant making a long-term commitment: three to five years of intensive research, constant supervision, and institutional deadlines. But what if we told you that the actual amount of work required to earn a PhD is far less than the traditional timeline suggests?
Let’s break the myth.
The truth is, most of the delay in a conventional doctoral journey has little to do with the research itself—and everything to do with institutional inefficiencies, academic calendars, and long grading timelines. With online universities now offering streamlined, professionally structured, and academically rigorous doctoral programmes, it’s finally possible to earn a fully accredited PhD in one year—without cutting corners.
The Traditional PhD: A Timeline of Inactivity
At a traditional brick-and-mortar university, PhD students typically follow an academic calendar packed with downtime. Consider this:
- Weekends per year: 104 days
- Public holidays and university closures: ~15 days
- Extended term breaks (winter, spring, and summer): ~62 days
- Grading delays per submission: Often 3–6 weeks, adding ~70 days annually of just waiting
That’s over 250 days per year where no academic progress is being made—due either to institutional closures or supervisors simply being too busy to return feedback quickly.
With just 114 actual working days per year, the reality is that a typical three-year PhD only delivers about 342 days of meaningful work. That’s less than one year of full-time academic effort spread thinly across 36 months.
Enter Online Education: Efficiency Meets Excellence
Now imagine an educational model that removes those bottlenecks.
At the Swiss School of Business Research (SSBR), our flagship PhD by Portfolio programme is designed for high-achieving professionals who are ready to turn their existing research and real-world experience into doctoral recognition—without unnecessary delay.
Here’s how we do it differently:
- No holiday closures: Students work year-round on their own schedule.
- Fast grading turnaround: On average, students receive feedback within 1.3 days, not 3–5 weeks.
- Rolling admissions: No need to wait for a new semester—start anytime.
- Credit for prior work: Published research, executive leadership, and practical projects are assessed toward your degree.
- Fully online format: No geographic limitations, no commuting, and no outdated bureaucracy.
With this structure, the same 342 days of academic work that a traditional PhD spreads over three years can be condensed into one efficient, focused year—without sacrificing depth or quality.
But Is It Rigorous?
Absolutely.
SSBR’s PhD by Portfolio is a doctoral-level qualification aligned with the European Higher Education Area (EHEA). Students produce advanced-level research, contribute new knowledge or frameworks to their field, and demonstrate mastery through a capstone dissertation and Viva Voce defence. The only thing we’ve removed is the wasted time.
Our graduates complete a recognised PhD that is:
Reviewed by doctoral-level faculty and external examiners
Evaluated for originality, critical analysis, and academic contribution
Delivered through a structured, ethical, and well-supported framework
In other words: the same mountain, a smarter climb.
A New Era for Doctoral Education
The world has changed. CEOs lead global teams from smartphones. Executives manage billion-dollar operations across time zones. Entrepreneurs bring new products to market in months, not years.
Why should education remain stuck in the 20th century?
At SSBR, we believe education should adapt to your life—not the other way around. The PhD by Portfolio is built for ambitious professionals who want to transform their existing knowledge into academic achievement and advance their careers without pausing them.
It’s time to rethink the PhD.
Ready to Take the Leap?
If you have:
- Published work
- Significant professional or academic contributions
- Research expertise ready to be formalised
…then the PhD by Portfolio might be your perfect next step.
Visit https://www.ssbr-edu.ch/phd-by-portfolio/ to learn more, or contact our admissions team to explore how you can achieve a world-class PhD in just one year.
