remote Ph.D. is a bad idea; the Ph.D. experience is isolating enough as-is, and pushing it remotely will exacerbate those problems. plus, innovation often happens in serendipitous in-person encounters in the hallway, lounge, and lab with students, professors, and research staff incidentally bumping into one another. see:
I'm a full time Ph.D. student. You might, of course, know that professors interact with the students very often (except if the professor is super busy always). I interact with mine almost every day. I do work with couple of collaborators in different countries. That is because my advisor knows them in-person before deciding to collaborate. I work with lab colleagues frequently. Remote makes all this extremely challenging.
Right, that is the difference between PhD in USA versus mainland Europe - where PhD is regarded as a regular salaried job (albeit very low-paying). Basically, after some intro time with the professor, you're really on your own. Interactions happen, but nothing that can't be done remotely.
If you work remotely, there is a good chance you will be left out. Of course, "interaction" can be done remotely. But many other things cannot. Showing your face every now and then around other people is quite important. Somebody is organising a seminar? Somebody is organising a conference? Somebody is looking for someone to teach a couple of their lessons? If you are the person that never shows up, you will be the person who won't get asked, simply because you have no connection to other people. Who am I going to ask if I want to organise something? The person I have never seen and who I know nothing about, or the person I've met, where I can gauge what they are working on, whether I get along with them, what they are interested in and what their plans and goals are?
I did my dissertation remotely, and to keep up with people, make sure my network was strong, push through the things that sometimes just need you there with a piece of paper and keep everyone happy, I was in the car an awful lot.
It's not a tactic I'd recommend to anyone unless their circumstances were strongly dictating it, and there's definitely stuff lost in the process. And my department wasn't particularly "collegial" - for the places that are, it'll be worse.
I did my Master's work part-time and semi-remotely - I lived and worked in the same geographical area as the University, and it was hard.
I would recommend against it in exceptionally strenuous terms for the PhD. Full-time on-site PhD or don't bother IMO. It just decreases the educational intensity and quality so much not to do that.
What about it exactly is challenging? How is doing computer science research (probably what many people here would do; I don't know what your research field is) with a team of remote individuals harder than doing software development with a team of remote individuals?
remote software development is very challenging, and when it works well, it's due to super-clear specs and project management. by its very nature, research isn't as amenable to crystal-clear specs.
I haven't worked in industry so far. So, cannot comment on that.
In academia however you can possibly build connections with your peers (other labs) and lab colleagues through your work. One can attend on-campus seminars and exchange ideas with potential collaborators. Being remote voids these options. Opportunities to work on interesting projects (other than research. For instance, contributing to student organizations) will be lost as well.
Edit: Regarding my research area.
On most occasions, students will have to register for classes (not all classes are offered online). Once you complete classes, it is potentially viable to work remotely. However, it again depends on the funding scenario. How a student is supported etc. If I'm a Teaching Assistant, I'm expected to be on campus and available to students. Being a Research Assistant gives the flexibility to work remotely (if advisor agrees however not all universities might allow that).
First two years in the US PhD is like a master's degree studies - regular lectures/courses. That is way US PhD program is usually 5 years long and you apply with Bachelor's degree.
In Europe, mostly, you're required to have a master's degree to apply for a PhD.
I see. I meant that hardest part can be that initial 2 years of US-esque 5-year PhD.
Overall, in US, PhD is student - teacher relationship, while in Europe, mostly, it is employee - employer relationship.
