A large majority of doctoral students at the University of Iceland are rather or very content with their studies, or 74% of them. This is established in a new survey that the Social Science Research Institute put to 648 doctoral students this summer. The response percentage was close to 65%. Such surveys have been performed biannually since 2011.
The survey shows that almost 90% of the doctoral students consider their studies academically stimulating and that their skills in using appropriate research methods and technology have improved. A similar number of doctoral students find that their abilities in applying critical analysis and interpreting results have been enhanced. Doctoral students also find that their confidence has been boosted and that the doctoral studies have improved their abilities in tackling new challenges.
The students’ responses show that those doctoral students have not been able to sufficiently fund their studies are the least content. When funding is reviewed it is revealed that under 50% of the participants have found it easy to finance their studies. A similar percentage finances their studies through work outside the university. Only 36% of the participants estimate that they will complete their degree on time.
The University’s strategy is to strengthen doctoral studies and to increase support for supervisors and students. The aim of this survey is to measure how well this strategy has succeeded.
“The conclusions are interesting and show both our strengths and weaknesses in the estimation of doctoral students. The students that participated are generally happy with their studies and find that their personal ability to face various aspects of research have improved, and that their professional networks have widened; these are positive conclusions. On the other hand, we see that we have to focus more on certain quality issues such as strengthening research cooperation within schools, courses on offer and of course funding,” says Guðbjörg Linda Rafnsdóttir, pro-rector of science at the University of Iceland and chairman of the board of the University of Iceland Graduate School.
Students very content with their supervisors
The survey also shows that students are generally very happy with their supervisors, seeing how close to 90% of the participants find that their supervisors have the skills and professional knowledge to support the doctoral research. Almost 70% of the participants find that their project management skills have improved during their studies. Over 70% of the respondents say they are more qualified for a professional career because of their studies.
The University aims to provide all doctoral students with facilities for their studies and just under 70% of the participants said that they had facilities at the University of Iceland. Over 70% said that these facilities were sufficient.
“Doctoral studies at the University of Iceland have grown and improved in the last few years, and the number of students has increased. This has created interesting challenges that we will continue to tackle in coming years,” Guðbjörg Linda concludes and encourages schools and faculties to take a good look at the results of the survey.