The Epilogue

That’s the time after your viva, after corrections, after your final thesis submission but before you actually graduate with your PhD.

Are you a Doctor at that point? Technically no, but you might not let that stop you from changing your bank cards.

Is there a special interim status? No, but you will probably feel good knowing that graduation is coming.

Can there be a long wait? There can, depending on where you are in the academic year. My viva was in June, I had finished corrections in July and submitted my final thesis in August: it was December before I was a PhD.

Is any of this bad? No, not really. If there’s anything to remember or anticipate about this first period of life after the PhD it’s that things take time. You’re done but not finished. You’ve a little further to go before the epilogue of your PhD journey concludes.