Being a PhD student - SDU 2016

Being a PhD student Satisfation, Integration and Working Conditions among PhD students 2016

Content Introduction………………………………………………………………… 3 Overall Satisfaction……………………………………………………….. 6 Stress……………………………………………….................................. 10 Gender Differences………………………………………………………. 12 PhD Courses……………………………………………………………….. 16 2

Introduction IN order to assure that the IN this year’s survey the PhD quality of the PhD programs School wanted to focus on Main Findings is high and is managed effec- three particular areas: as-  Most students are satisfied tively the PhD School under sessment of the supervision, the Faculty of Business and PhD courses, and the work- with their PhD programme Social Sciences at the Uni- ing environment. These and and the supervision received versity of Southern Denmark other questions concerning  40% report that they lack rele- (SDU) continuously evalu- the general satisfaction with vant PhD courses ates its PhD programmes. the PhD programme are ad- dressed in the report.  75% of the PhD stuents report CONSEQUENTLY an elec- feeling stressed tronic survey was sent out to ”Most PhDs are  32% state that the work on the all active PhD students at the satisfied with their thesis is progressing with a faculty in March, 2016. 60 range of problems PhD students had answered PhD programme” the questionnaire by April  24% are not satisfied with the leading to a response rate of study and working environ- 66 percent. THIS booklet presents the ment at the departments most important points and  Female PhD students are THE survey is a follow-up to conclusions from the report. relatively less satisfied with a similar survey conducted in their supervisors 2012. Throughout this book- COHERE Analysis let and in the underlying  PhD students with children report noteworthy differences Department of Business and Economics are less satisfied with their since the 2012 report are University of Southern Denmark, SDU department and the relation- highlighted. ship to other PhD students Campusvej 55, 5230 Odense M 3 3

The Survey 4

Focus areas: Follow-up on similar Conducted in March Supervision, survey from 2012 2016 PhD courses, work environment. 60 respondents 84% of the students 75 % feel stressed are either satisfied or frequently or now and Response rate: 66% very satisfied with their then PhD studies 5 5

Overall Satisfaction THE figure to the right shows frequencies of ON the following pages two noteworthy find- students who are, respectively, highly satis- ings are presented. First, it turns out that fied, satisfied, less satisfied and dissatisfied every forth PhD student are not satisfied with with their PhD studies. the study and working environment at the MOST students are either satisfied or highly department, and secondly, a sizable minority satisfied, while no students are dissatisfied. indicate that the work on the thesis is pro- There are no significant differences across gressing with a range of problems. gender or provider status. However, the overall satisfaction is slightly worse than in 2012, although this is not statistically signifi- cant. 6

“In general, how do you consider your PhD Study?” 70% ”The vast majority 60 65 are either satisfied or highly satisfied” 50 40 30 20 19 17 ”No one is 10 0 unsatisfied” 0 All Highly satisfactory Satisfactory Less satisfactory Unsatisfactory 7

“How satisfied with the study and work environment ?” ”24% are not satisfied with the study and working environment at the department” 45% 40 41 35 30 35 25 20 15 20 10 5 4 0 All Very satisfied Satisfied Not very satisfied Dissatisfied 8 8

“How satisfied with the study and work environment ?” “How do you feel the work on your thesis is progressing ?” ”32% state that the work on the thesis is progressing with a range of problems” 60% 50 57 40 30 32 20 10 11 0 0 All No problems No major problems A range of problems A lot of problems 9

Focus Area Stress ONE of the focus areas in the 2016 report is THOSE who feel stressed also tend to work the working environment. PhD students more hours and feel less satisfied overall. were asked whether on a daily basis they feel stressed as PhD students. UNFORTUNATELY, the vast majority of PhD students feel stressed at least now and ”75% of the PhD stuents then. Also, few PhD students hardly ever report feeling stressed. feel stressed. PhD students who frequently feel stressed are widely distributed among In 2012 this was 66%” all departments. 10

“On a daily basis as a PhD student, do you feel stressed?” ”PhDs feeling stressed also work more hours and feel less satisfied with their PhD studies in general” 60% 50 52 40 30 20 23 19 10 6 0 All Yes, frequently Yes, now and then No, rarely No, hardly ever 11 11

Focus Area Gender Differences ANTOHER focus area is gender ”Female PhD students differences. Although male and female are significantly less PhD students do not differ on overall satisfied with their satisfaction, differences exist in certain areas. supervisors’ academic competences” WOMEN are less satisfied with the supervisors’ academic competences and the commitment of their supervisors to their thesis. 12

“In your opinion, are your supervisors academically competent to advise you and your project?” 80% 70 74 60 50 48 40 30 37 20 22 10 15 4 0 0 0 Females Males Yes, definitely Yes, in most cases In some cases, not all No 13 13

“How will you characterize the supervisor’s commitment to the work on the PhD thesis?” ”Overall the PhD 70% students find their 60 65 supervisors’ commit- 50 ment to the thesis satisfactory” 40 30 20 19 17 10 0 0 All Highly satisfactory Satisfactory Less satisfactory Unsatisfactory 14 14

But.. ”Female PhD students are significantly less satisfied ” 70% 60 64 50 40 46 38 30 28 20 10 15 0 8 0 0 Females Males Highly satisfactory Satisfactory Less satisfactory Unsatisfactory 15

Focus Area PhD Courses A third focus area in the 2016 report was STILL, 40% feel that they do not always PhD courses. Specifically, PhD students have enough courses to choose from. were asked whether they have had NO significant differences were found enough relevant courses to choose from. across gender and provider status. 58% feel they have had enough PhD ”58% state they have courses to choose from at least most of the time. This is a large improvement since had enough PhD cour- 2012 where 37% felt the same. ses to choose from” 16

“Did you have enough relevant courses to choose from?” 45% 40 44 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 14 5 2 0 All Yes, always Yes, most of the time No,not always No, never 17 17

Read the report! Read the report for further details:  More comparisons with the 2012 survey  Further details at the deparmental level  Answers to open-ended questions  The importance of type of employment COHERE Analysis