October 2007/28 (web only)
Issues paper

This report is for information only

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PhD research degrees: update
Entry and completion

This report extends the findings of the 2005 report 'PhD research degrees: Entry and completion' (HEFCE 2005/02) to include data from 2003-04, 2004-05 and 2005-06. This report also provides analysis of equal opportunities data not previously examined.

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To:	Heads of publicly-funded higher education institutions in the United Kingdom
Of interest to those responsible for:	Student data, Research, Planning
Reference:	2007/28
Publication date:	October 2007
Enquiries to:	Mark Gittoes Tel 0117 931 7052 e-mail m.gittoes@hefce.ac.uk

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Contents and executive summary (read online)

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Contents

• Executive summary
• Introduction
• Structure of this update
• Data source and definition of the cohort
• Terminology and reporting procedures
• Extension to 10-year analysis
  • Starting cohort
  • Time taken to complete PhD
  • How students progress through PhD programmes
  • PhD completion rates by programme and student attributes
• Comparison of the seven-year analyses of the 1996-97 and 1999-2000 cohorts
  • Learning attributes
  • Student attributes
  • Course attributes

Annexes (See separate downloads)

• Annex A PhD completion rates by ethnicity and disability status
• Annex B Comparison of 1996-97 and 1999-2000 cohorts
• Annex C PhD entry and completion: 1999-2000 cohort
• Annex D HESA student record data definitions
• Annex E PhD completion propensity models

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Executive summary

Purpose

1.   This report extends the findings of the 2005 report 'PhD research degrees: Entry and completion' (HEFCE 2005/02) to include data from 2003-04, 2004-05 and 2005-06. We examined rates of completion for the cohort of students that began on a doctorate degree mainly by research in UK higher education institutions in academic year 1996-97 over 10 academic years; from their start in 1996-97 through to 2005-06.

2.   This report also provides information on ethnicity and disability which was not analysed in the 2005 report, while analysis of a second cohort of PhD¹ students provides further evidence of the trends we have identified in PhD study. It is intended to inform discussion about the quality of supervision of postgraduate research in general, and the time and rate of PhD completion in particular.

Key points

Examining the 1996-97 cohort 10 years on

3.   By considering a further three academic years, this report shows that of the students who started a full-time PhD programme in 1996-97, 76 per cent completed their PhD within 10 years. This is a rise of four percentage points compared to the 72 per cent of the same cohort who completed within seven years.

4.   For those starting a part-time PhD programme in 1996-97, 48 per cent completed their PhD within 10 years. This is a rise of 13 percentage points compared to the rate of completion after seven years.

Ethnicity and disability

5.   For those students who started a full-time PhD programme in 1996-97, the report shows that 67 per cent of those of Black/Black British ethnicity completed their PhD within 10 years. The corresponding figure for White students was 76 per cent. The difference is partly but not entirely explained by other factors discussed in this report.

6.   For those students starting a part-time PhD programme in 1996-97, the report shows that those of Asian/Asian British or Black/ Black British ethnicity have lower rates of PhD completion (42 and 31 per cent respectively) compared to White students (45 per cent). These differences are partially explained by the other factors examined (such as age of student, subject or institution of study) and the small numbers involved in some ethnic groups².

7.   In terms of disability, for those students starting a full-time PhD programme in 1996-97, 72 per cent of students with an unregistered disability³ completed their PhDs within 10 years, compared to 77 per cent for those students whose disability status was returned as 'none'. This difference can be explained through other factors examined in the report.

8.   Of those students starting a part-time PhD programme in 1996-97, 42 per cent of those with an unregistered disability completed their PhD within 10 years compared to 48 per cent of the students with no disabilities. This difference can be explained through other factors examined and the small number of part-time students returned with unregistered disabilities⁴.

Comparison of the seven-year analyses of the 1996-97 and 1999-2000 cohorts

9.   The PhD completion rates after seven years for those students on full-time PhD programmes has increased. Seventy-two per cent of the cohort that began studying in 1996-97 completed them within seven years, rising to 75 per cent for the cohort which began studying in 1999-2000.

10.   For part-time students, PhD completion rates after seven years have been relatively stable at around 35 per cent for both cohorts.

Action required

11.   No action is required in response to this document.

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Notes

1.   In this document the term 'PhD' is used to refer to all 'doctorate degrees mainly by research', including small numbers of specialist doctoral degrees such as Doctor of Education (EdD) and Doctor of Engineering (EngD).

2.   See paragraphs 93 to 100 for further details.

3.   As collected through the Higher Education Statistics Agency's individualised student record in 1996-97. See Annex D for further detail.

4.   See paragraphs 81 to 86 for further details.