Survey on doctoral studies: Doctoral researchers call for more career-oriented and field-specific studies
Background
As part of its continuous quality enhancement efforts, UniOGS regularly collects feedback from doctoral researchers. Following the launch of a feedback development project in 2025, feedback collection and evaluation are being carried out more systematically and comprehensively across different areas of doctoral education than before. The aim is to better understand doctoral researchers’ experiences and identify areas for improvement that will help doctoral education respond to evolving needs.
In March 2026, UniOGS conducted a survey to assess doctoral researchers’ satisfaction with the current course offering and to identify development needs so that the offering would respond as well as possible to doctoral researchers’ needs and support their different career paths.
A total of 180 doctoral researchers responded to the survey, representing approximately 9% of the University's more than 1900 doctoral researchers. Responses were received from all faculties. Proportionally, the highest response rate came from the Faculty of Science (17%), while the Faculty of Medicine had the lowest response rate (6%). Although the number of respondents remained low, the results provide valuable insights for future development work.
You can view the material presented at the open event held on 26 May 2026 on the main survey findings and the planned follow-up actions: Doctoral study survey results 2026.pdf
Working life skills and field-specific studies are in high demand
Respondents were moderately satisfied with the current course offering. General and transferable skills studies received an average score of 6.2 (on a scale of 1–10), while field-specific studies received a slightly lower average rating of 5.4.
Nearly half of the respondents (46%) expressed a need for more general and transferable skills studies. The most requested topics included career planning, research methods, communication, and presentation skills. The importance of working-life skills was strongly highlighted in the responses: 82% of respondents wished to see either general or discipline-specific studies related to career planning and professional skills.
Field-specific studies also emerged particularly prominently in the survey finding, with two-thirds of respondents (67%) expressing a desire for more courses within their own field of research.
Finnish language studies and accessibility
The survey also examined needs related to Finnish language studies. About one-third of respondents indicated an interest in studying Finnish either immediately or possibly later during their studies. The most commonly reported barriers were lack of time, heavy workloads, and course schedules that were difficult to combine with research work.
More broadly, accessibility emerged as an important theme throughout the feedback. Doctoral researchers wished for more flexible modes of delivery, better opportunities for remote participation, and solutions to challenges related to travel between campuses.
Strong demand for networking opportunities and improved communication
Networking emerged in the survey as one of the key development priorities. The majority of respondents (71%) wished for more opportunities to meet doctoral researchers both within and outside their own disciplines.
Based on the results, different inter-university networks and collaborative study arrangements form an important and widely used route for completing doctoral studies. At the same time, about one-third of respondents (31%) were unaware of the opportunities to complete studies through other universities or networks.
Open-ended responses further highlighted challenges related to communication and guidance. Many respondents felt that courses were difficult to find and that information about study opportunities was fragmented. Clearer practices for supervision and communication were requested.
Using the results to develop doctoral education
The survey findings suggest that improving doctoral education is not only about increasing the number of courses offered, but also to improve content, modes of delivery, and accessibility so that they better support both research work and future career development.
The survey results are being used to guide the planning and development of doctoral education. The findings were discussed in all doctoral education committees in April 2026, and each doctoral programmes have prepared its own responses and action plans.
Many programmes identified strengthening working-life skills, increasing field-specific course offerings, and supporting career planning as key development priorities. At the same time, several programmes noted the low response rate and emphasized that the findings should be interpreted as indicative.
Based on the survey, UniOGS will review the development of general and transferable skills studies and explore ways to increase the availability of field-specific courses. In addition, the aim is to strengthen networking opportunities for doctoral researchers and improve communication about study opportunities offered through other universities and networks.