The PhD experience at the Australian National University

Abstract

This paper presents an impression of the PhD-student experience at the Australian National University gained during my term as Dean of the Graduate School from 1990 to 1998. It is based mainly on comments made by individual students in 150 confidential "exit interviews" conducted from 1994 to 1998 inclusive, and, to a lesser extent, on matters raised in approximately 100 meetings requested by students throughout my term. Other activities arising from the role of Dean have also helped to mould my views,including, for example, 8 years as Chair of the University's Graduate Degrees Committee. The picture which emerges is strongly positive. It is clear that for most students the PhD experience at the ANU has been satisfying, productive, stimulating and enjoyable. Supervision is by far the matter of greatest concern to students. It appears that the overall quality of supervision provided for PhD students at the ANU is good, but there is variability, and 'horror stories'are sometimes heard. Student concerns include slow or superficial reading of written material by supervisors, lack of regular contact with supervisors, lack of supervisory expertise in the thesis topic, problems arising from the limitation of scholarship duration to three and a half years, gender-related matters, and plagiarism. Show more