Fewer than 40% of Ph.D. students are very satisfied with their program

The latest Nature survey of more than 6,300 Ph.D. students in various scientific fields finds that fewer than 40% of respondents are “very satisfied” with their experience in their program. Here’s what else you need to know: 

• Satisfaction: 38% of respondents report being “very satisfied” with their experience, with nearly half saying their experience has worsened over the course of the program. About 40% say they find the intellectual challenge of a Ph.D. program to be what they enjoy most. 
• Time management: Three-quarters of respondents report working more than 41 hours per week. About half think their university's culture calls for working long hours and late nights. 
• Harassment: About 1 in 5 report experiencing some kind of discrimination or harassment. Of these respondents, 39% — mostly women — report gender discrimination.