Perspectives on the challenges to timely progress and completion of study programmes among doctoral students

Abstract

This chapter presents perceptions of students and staff on factors underpinning timely progress and completion of doctoral studies. Overall, doctoral students perceived that supportive activities such as conferences, publications in university outlets, timely feedback, and frequent interaction with supervisors/managers help them progress. Staff, however, perceived that late or non-payment of supervisors and examiners, poor quality students, and burdensome workload are problems that impede the timely completion of doctoral studies. Together, doctoral students and staff perceived that unharmonized timetabling and teaching in graduate and undergraduate programmes, insufficient supervisor–supervisee interactions, and limited ICT application in pedagogy lead to delayed progress and completion. While an in-depth investigation is still needed, these perspectives provide useful pointers to strategies that may be needed to improve progress and completion rates of doctoral candidates.