PhD student survey: Overall satisfaction high but well-being remains a concern

Workload, supervision, well-being and motivation. These are just some of the topics PhD students were asked to evaluate in a survey designed to measure the quality of PhD programmes at AU. The survey was conducted in autumn this year and the results have recently been published.

60 per cent of PhD students took the survey, which overall reveals a high level of satisfaction with PhD programmes. For example, 95 per cent of the PhD students who responded are satisfied with their supervisors, and 89 per cent are satisfied with the academic outcomes of their programme. This is a slight increase on the previous survey in 2021.

Yet the survey also identifies some challenges – particularly with regard to PhD students’ well-being and workload. 37 per cent report that their work interferes with their personal lives, and 25 per cent experience symptoms of stress.  This needs to be addressed, says Helene Nørrelund, head of the graduate school at Health and chair of the graduate school leadership group at Aarhus University:

“The vast majority of PhD students are very satisfied with their PhD programme, but others report that they always or often experience symptoms of stress. This is unacceptable, and it’s important we learn more about this so that we can help these students. Some students also report that their teaching load is a burden – and this is also something we need to work on,” she says.

According to Helene Nørrelund, another area to focus on is helping students navigate the change in research environment when they conduct research stays at other research institutions. The survey shows that 40 per cent of PhD students find it challenging to integrate into the research community in their host institution.

“For many students, this change of research environment is both academically rewarding and well worth the effort, but others find it difficult to integrate into the new research setting. There can be many reasons for this, but we need to focus on further improving how these stays are organised for the benefit of our students,” says Helene Nørrelund.

What happens next?

Between now and April 2026, the results of this year’s PhD student survey will be discussed by the graduate schools and the graduate school leadership group, with the involvement of the Aarhus University PhD Association (AUPA) and AU Career. The graduate school leadership group will then follow up on the results, and the AU Research Committee will review the results in May 2026.

The results will also form part of the international evaluation of graduate schools, which will take place in 2026, and which aims to maintain the high quality of AU’s PhD programmes as well as further improve and develop the university’s graduate schools. The international evaluation consists of a self-assessment report and a visit from an international panel in autumn 2026, and it culminates in specific action plans drawn up by the individual graduate schools.

Selected key findings from this year’s survey

Supervision, research environment and academic content

• 95% of the PhD students who responded are very satisfied with their supervisors. There is mutual respect, and their supervisors are accessible and offer excellent academic guidance. 83% would highly recommend their supervisor.
• 89% are satisfied with what they have learned during their PhD programme, compared with 86% in 2021.
• 78% feel part of the research community.
• 86% feel respected as a co-researcher, and 77% feel that colleagues are interested in their project.

Change of research environment

• 40% have experienced challenges integrating into a new research environment.
• 73% report that the change in research environment has been positive – a slight decrease from 77% in 2021.

Workload

• 84% report that the 840 hours of departmental work stipulated in their contract are valuable for their research, but 53% report that this work interferes with their PhD programme (up from 49% in 2021).
• 55% of PhD students are required to work the full 840 hours (up from 45% in 2021).

Well-being

• 37% report that their workload interferes with their personal lives, and approximately 25% experience symptoms of stress.
• 16% report feeling lonely – down from 23% in 2021.

Read the survey in full