Postgraduate and early career

Former first lady was awarded doctorate from University of Zimbabwe two months after enrolling

Latest Hesa data show that share of students with top degree has risen significantly since 2012-13

There are numerous survival guides for doctoral students, but much less advice on how to supervise PhD candidates. Robert MacIntosh offers some tips on becoming an effective supervisor

American Historical Association emphasises transferable skills and collaborative research

Rogier Creemers advises early career academics to be ruthless and put themselves first to move up the ladder

Got some last minute scholarly Christmas shopping to do? Glen Wright has got your back

There are many hidden costs associated with PhD study, writes Alfredo Cumerma, particularly if you want to land that dream job on graduation

Prize money of €100,000 (£88,000) handed out on basis of scholars’ three-minute spiels

It may be the only bit of your thesis that most people will read, but do not waste your best title on your PhD, says Zachary Foster

UKCGE head warns of potential consequences for research students from sector shake-up

PhD failure can have disastrous consequences for overseas students bonded to their funders, says Andrew George

Ex-Edinburgh chemist highlights emotional cost of doctoral study, but work is not a ‘revenge book’

Identifying intellectual junctions, intersections and sites for negotiation can give your academic rite of passage the right of way, says Zachary Foster    

Professor allegedly demanded ‘superhuman commitment’ from doctoral students, allowing them barely any holiday and setting meetings that ran past midnight

Josiah Marineau on the importance of giving a purpose to students’ passion

Early career researchers are the ‘working class of higher education’, writes Elisabeth Julie Vargo  

Pragya Agarwal considers what aspiring doctoral students can do to make their application stand out from the rest

For National Postdoc Appreciation Week, we take a look through our archive of advice and information for early career researchers 

Leru says that commission’s focus should be on improving scholars’ employment prospects

Universities’ shabby treatment of casual academics flies in the face of their professed commitment to education and dignity, says Jedidiah Evans

A national postgraduate admissions system would allow universities to improve planning, enhance student satisfaction and widen participation, says Michelle Morgan

Mike Smith reveals six of the most useful pieces of advice he has been able to give his PhD students over the years

Researchers reveal huge differences in charges levied by Russell Group universities 

Variations in the Russell Group demonstrate a mixed national picture, write Joshua Stubbs and Paul Wakeling

Staff covering for academics on leave are often given no time to conduct research themselves

Many UK doctoral students view professional development as a ‘distraction’ or a ‘waste of time’, says study

More than half of doctoral candidates surveyed at one university reported “abnormal” levels of stress and depression

Nazima Kadir’s social circle reveals a range of alternative careers for would-be scholars, and often with better rewards than academia

Monash-Warwick Alliance graduate researched chemistry PhD in England and Australia

Early career academics can be left to sink or swim when navigating the choppy waters of learning scholarly writing. Helen Sword says a more formal, communal approach can help everyone, especially women

University cites Brexit as factor causing financial uncertainty – but also as recruitment ‘opportunity’

Twenty-one countries attend annual meeting to showcase progress of multimillion-pound Deltas initiative

Higher education regulator's new rules aim to drive up standards within sector

UK universities’ complacency in the good times has left them ill-equipped to respond to falling postgraduate master’s enrolment, says Michelle Morgan

The sweatshop conditions in which sessional academics work in Australia mirror the treatment of schoolteachers in Victorian times, say Hannah Forsyth and Jedidiah Evans 

Overseas students in UK are more likely to recommend studying in the country than those in other nations

Steven Franklin lays bare the questions and doubts that go through his mind as he sits down to work on his thesis

Despite all that’s been done to improve doctoral study, horror stories keep coming. Here three students relate PhD nightmares while two academics advise on how to ensure a successful supervision

The need to accommodate foreign students undermines domestic practices, says Lincoln Allison, spying parallels between UK universities and global sports bodies such as Fifa

Objections to co-authorship with juniors display a misguided sense of ethics, say Mark Hayter and Roger Watson

Universities around the world looking closely at employment rights and research engagement of doctoral candidates

Giving employee rights to doctoral candidates seen as key step to make life in academia more attractive, Holly Else writes

Students are being hoodwinked into enrolling on ‘trendy’ new degree programmes that are, according to one concerned academic, little more than a marketing exercise

Covering interview travel expenses creates financial hardships for early career academics, says Rachel Yoho

Supervisors should be trained to spot the first sign of a problem, says Chris Havergal

Institutions told they have a ‘culture of excluding postgraduates’ in wake of damning study

Conference hears how University of Adelaide uses metrics to improve performance

More money and competition for tenure has helped country’s young researchers progress

Government analysis finds most academics think postgraduate research standards have held steady or improved

Fiona Dobbie is loving life as a PhD student, and hopes any midlife crisis it represents will end on graduation day

Cramming study into the shortest possible time will impoverish the student experience and drive an even greater wedge between research-enabled permanent staff and the growing underclass of flexible teaching staff, says Tom Cutterham

More UK and EU students begin master’s programmes, but Indian and Nigerian enrolments fall

Duke University’s Valerie Ashby says institutions must be more ‘intentional’ about finding ethnic minority PhD candidates

On University Mental Health Day, Geoffrey Cantor calls on institutions to significantly expand their mental health provision

Structured writing groups could have a transformative effect on the morale and productivity of early career scholars, says Alice Kelly

Scholars report higher levels of depressive symptoms and social withdrawal

But professor says Trump presidency might now provide ‘incentive’ for junior scholars to ask ‘important questions’

Ministry hopes to increase quality of doctorates

Research grant available but institution job 'normally' required before applying

Lecturer Rachel Moss on the casualties of a demanding academic culture