Here you will find the percentage responses to questions grouped according to different engagement aspects of the postgraduate research student experience. Results are presented for all respondents nationally.

There are supplementary tables in Appendix 1 that also provide a breakdown of responses by research degree programme and PGR cohort size.

Download summary of results HERE

77.4% ‘mostly’/ ‘definitely’ agreed that they have a suitable working space

70.4% ‘mostly’/ ‘definitely’ agreed that there is adequate provision of computing resources/ facilities

82.6% ‘mostly’/ ‘definitely’ agreed that there is adequate provision of library facilities (including physical/ online resources)

72.6% ‘mostly’/ ‘definitely’ agreed that they have access to the specialist resources and facilities necessary for their research

61.8% are funded by a scholarship

5.6% are funded by a scholarship (fees only)

16.8% are self-funded

19.3% are funded by a grant

8.0% are employer-funded

94.1% have funding that covers fees

79.5% have funding that covers a stipend

56.6% have funding that covers research materials

58.0% have funding that covers travel to conferences

30.3% have funding that covers other travel (labs / other institutions)

27.2% have funding that covers specialist training

39.7% are being supervised by one supervisor

45.3% are being supervised by two supervisors

15.0% are being supervised by three supervisors or more

85.0% ‘mostly’/ ‘definitely’ agreed that their supervisor(s) provides the appropriate level of support for their research

87.5% ‘mostly’/ ‘definitely’ agreed that they have regular contact with their supervisor(s), appropriate for their needs

86.3% ‘mostly’/ ‘definitely’ agreed that their supervisor(s) provides feedback that helps them to direct their research activities

75.9% ‘mostly’/ ‘definitely’ agreed that their supervisor(s) help them to identify their training and development needs as a researcher

68.8% ‘mostly’/ ‘definitely’ agreed that their department provides access to a relevant seminar programme

61.8% ‘mostly’/ ‘definitely’ agreed that the research ambience in their department stimulates their work

62.4% ‘mostly’/ ‘definitely’ agreed that they have frequent opportunities to discuss their research with other research students

52.7% ‘mostly’/ ‘definitely’ agreed that they have opportunities to become involved in the wider research community, beyond their department

62.4% ‘mostly’/ ‘definitely’ agreed that they received an appropriate induction/ orientation to their research degree programme

79.9% ‘mostly’/ ‘definitely’ agreed that they understand the requirements and deadlines for formal monitoring of their progress

73.2% ‘mostly’/ ‘definitely’ agreed that they understand the required standard for their thesis

67.9% ‘mostly’/ ‘definitely’ agreed that the final assessment procedures for their research degree are clear to them

48.3% had agreed a personal training or development plan

77.4% had received training to develop their research skills

61.3% had received training to develop their other transferable skills

37.9% had received advice on career options

19.3% had taken part in a placement or internship

76.6% had attended an academic research conference

68.2% had presented a paper or poster at an academic research conference

52.0% had submitted a paper for publication in an academic journal or book

47.3% had communicated their research to a non-academic audience

18.1% had received training in entrepreneurship and innovation

9.2% had put training in entrepreneurship and innovation into practice e.g. submitting an invention disclosure or filing a patent application

65.6% had worked as part of a team

24.8% had worked collaboratively with industry

23.2% had worked collaboratively with a civil society organisation or public organisation

25.0% had spent time abroad as part of their research degree

66.4% had taught (or demonstrated) at their institution during their research degree programme

67.0% ‘mostly’/ ‘definitely’ agreed that the teaching/ demonstration they delivered enhanced their overall research experience

55.5% ‘mostly’/ ‘definitely’ agreed that they have been given appropriate support and guidance for their teaching/ demonstration

86.0% ‘mostly’/ ‘definitely’ agreed that their skills in applying appropriate research methodologies, tools and techniques have developed during their programme

85.3% ‘mostly’/ ‘definitely’ agreed that their skills in critically analysing and evaluating findings and results have developed during their programme

71.9% ‘mostly’/ ‘definitely’ agreed that their confidence to be creative or innovative has developed during their programme

86.6% ‘mostly’/ ‘definitely’ agreed that their understanding of 'research integrity' (e.g. rigour, ethics, transparency, attributing the contribution of others) has developed during their programme

77.7% ‘mostly’/ ‘definitely’ agreed that their ability to manage projects has developed during their programme

76.1% ‘mostly’/ ‘definitely’ agreed that their ability to communicate information effectively to diverse audiences has developed during their programme

69.8% ‘mostly’/ ‘definitely’ agreed that they have developed contacts or professional networks during their programme

79.6% ‘mostly’/ ‘definitely’ agreed that they have increasingly managed their own professional development during their programme

89.0% ‘mostly’/ ‘definitely’ agreed that they understand their responsibilities as a research degree student

83.6% ‘mostly’/ ‘definitely’ agreed that they are aware of their supervisor(s)’ responsibilities towards them as a research degree student

66.0% ‘mostly’/ ‘definitely’ agreed that, other than their supervisor(s), they know who to approach if they are concerned about any academic aspect of their research degree programme

32.3% are ‘quite a bit’/ ‘very much’ aware of the various student supports available (Recreation, healthcare, counselling, etc)

44.6% ‘mostly’/ ‘definitely’ agreed that their institution values and responds to feedback from research degree students

64.8% ‘mostly’/ ‘definitely’ agreed that they are satisfied with their life nowadays

62.0% ‘mostly’/ ‘definitely’ agreed that they are satisfied with their life within their institution nowadays

53.2% ‘mostly’/ ‘definitely’ agreed that they are satisfied with their work-life balance

53.5% ‘mostly’/ ‘definitely’ agreed that there is someone in their institution they can talk to about their day-to-day problems

79.4% ‘mostly’/ ‘definitely’ agreed that they feel that their research degree programme is worthwhile

As their first, second or third priority motivation for pursuing a research degree:

77.7% chose their interest in their subject

58.1% chose improving their career prospects for an academic/ research career

36.1% chose improving their career prospects outside of an academic/ research career

18.2% chose encouragement from a former academic tutor/ supervisor

30.0% chose that the funding was available

35.7% chose that it felt like a natural step for them

11.6% chose that they felt inspired to work with a particular academic

26.0% chose professional development or training

4.9% chose another motivation

As their first, second or third priority career for when they finish their research degree:

66.8% chose academic career in higher education (either research and teaching, or teaching only)

53.4% chose research career in higher education

13.8% chose other career in higher education

58.1% chose research career outside higher education (e.g. in a private research organisation, a charity or in an industrial environment)

10.1% chose teaching (at a level below higher education)

10.0% chose returning to, or remaining with, employer who is sponsoring their degree

7.0% chose returning to, or remaining with, employer who is not sponsoring their degree  

17.5% chose self-employment (including setting up their own business)

26.7% chose any other professional career

20.3% chose not sure or not decided yet

5.0% chose another career aspiration

72.9% evaluated as ‘good’/ ‘excellent’ their entire research experience at this institution

74.5% are confident that they will complete their research degree programme within their institution's expected timescale

57.9% have not seriously considered withdrawing

23.7% have seriously considered withdrawing for financial reasons

16.5% have seriously considered withdrawing for personal or family reasons

9.9% have seriously considered withdrawing for health reasons

6.6% have seriously considered withdrawing for employment reasons

3.8% have seriously considered withdrawing to transfer to another institution

6.8% have seriously considered withdrawing for another reason