This is a personal thing, but I think the real-world approach helps RGS fellows finish sooner. National Research Council data show that for the average social sciences doctorate, registered time to completion is roughly eight years. At RGS, it's about four. Whether in designing an independent study or finding project work, they make their own way through the program. It is probably more difficult, but there are few limits to what the student can achieve.
Tuition is payable in three installments, one at the beginning of each academic quarter.
Students may choose to have their tuition payments deducted from fellowship checks. Students whose tuition payments are not current are not eligible to register for courses in the subsequent quarter. Students will have their tuition reduced once they reach dissertation status. After four years, they must again pay the full tuition amount. The stipend amount for each fellowship is established by the dean of the RGS and depends on academic and research experience and performance.