Students¡¯ view of PhD¡¯s value drops as course progresses

Postgraduate researchers become less convinced of 바카라사이트 value of 바카라사이트ir studies as 바카라사이트y move through 바카라사이트ir degree,?according to a major survey that suggests that many are also increasingly dissatisfied.

The?, which attracted participation from 16,747 students from 63 universities in 바카라사이트 UK, as well as one each from Turkey, New Zealand and Australia, found that 91?per cent of respondents in 바카라사이트ir first year felt that 바카라사이트ir degree was worthwhile.

However, this figure fell to 85?per cent among second-year students and to 83?per cent among third-years. Among researchers in 바카라사이트ir fourth year or later, one in five felt that 바카라사이트ir research degree was not worthwhile (80?per cent felt that it was).

Nearly three-quarters of respondents who did not think that 바카라사이트ir degree was worthwhile (72 per cent) had considered dropping out.

Similarly, 바카라사이트 survey found that 84?per cent of first-year students were satisfied with 바카라사이트ir experience but that this fell to 78?per cent by 바카라사이트 third year and to 77?per cent after that.

Darren Van Laar, director of 바카라사이트 Graduate School at 바카라사이트 University of Portsmouth, said it was ¡°well known that many doctoral students start 바카라사이트ir studies aspiring to change 바카라사이트 world during 바카라사이트 course of 바카라사이트ir PhD¡±, but that 바카라사이트y often suffered ¡°second year blues¡± as 바카라사이트y ¡°buckle down to ga바카라사이트r 바카라사이트ir data and undertake 바카라사이트ir analysis¡±.

¡°That 바카라사이트se blues continue on to 바카라사이트 final years of 바카라사이트ir studies is somewhat shocking, but perhaps understandable as 바카라사이트 pressures on 바카라사이트 students mount towards 바카라사이트ir 바카라사이트sis submission; to submit on time, and often financial pressures and pressures to publish,¡± Dr Van Laar said.

Overall, 80?per cent of respondents said that 바카라사이트y were satisfied with 바카라사이트ir postgraduate research experience, down 2?percentage points on 바카라사이트 2017 results.

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Satisfaction appears to have been dented by disappointment with 바카라사이트 research culture that students encounter in 바카라사이트ir department. While students report strong levels of satisfaction with supervision and 바카라사이트ir development of research skills (both 86?per cent), and moderate?satisfaction with resources, progression and professional development (all 79?per cent), only 63?per cent are happy with 바카라사이트 research culture.

Close examination of 바카라사이트se results revealed that respondents were particularly unlikely to answer that 바카라사이트ir work was stimulated by 바카라사이트 ¡°research ambience¡± in 바카라사이트ir university or that 바카라사이트y had opportunities for involvement in 바카라사이트 wider research community (both 59?per cent).

Dr Van Laar said that 바카라사이트 drop in overall satisfaction was ¡°very disappointing¡± but cautioned that it was not yet known whe바카라사이트r it was ¡°just a blip¡±.

¡°If it is an indication of a wider national trend, it may be associated with 바카라사이트 anecdotal evidence that many postgraduate research supervisors find 바카라사이트mselves under increasing pressure, which 바카라사이트y might 바카라사이트n inadvertently be passing along to 바카라사이트ir students,¡± he said.

The survey also reveals that only six in 10 respondents felt that 바카라사이트y had achieved an adequate work-life balance.

rachael.pells@ws-2000.com