" All but dissertation " (ABD) is a term identifying a stage in the process of obtaining a research doctorate, most commonly used in the United States. What Is All But Dissertation (ABD) Status? All but dissertation status is an informal academic designation for a doctoral candidate who has finished all the requirements for a doctoral degree except the dissertation.

Understanding the Context

Learn about what all but dissertation (ABD) is, how to avoid it, and how to break through it if you're currently stuck in ABD purgatory. The good news is that there are options to help you complete your dissertation and earn your degree—including enrollment in an “all but dissertation” (ABD) completion program. If you have everything done but your dissertation, you have what’s known as “ABD” or “all but dissertation.” Without question, being ABD is as close to earning a doctorate as you can get. What Does ABD Mean?

Key Insights

All but dissertation (ABD) means that a student has completed every step in their doctoral degree program except the final dissertation. Typically, earning a doctoral degree includes 2 to 3 years of classwork followed by exams. What does ABD Mean? The term “ABD” stands for All But Dissertation. This means that you have finished everything in a PhD program except for the dissertation.

Final Thoughts

Someone who is ABD has successfully completed all of the required classwork and any required comprehensive exams. Stuck in "all but dissertation" status? In this episode of the Grad Coach podcast, Derek and Dr Ethar dive into the challenges of ABD (All But Dissertation) status and how to navigate it...