Three challenges to Russian system of doctoral education: Why only one out of ten doctoral students defends thesis?

Abstract

This paper is aimed at providing evidence on the experience of doctoral students at Russian universities in the era of significant institutional changes related to the shift from the “master-apprentice” model of doctoral education to the model of structured doctoral programs. Based on the results of a cross-institutional online-survey of doctoral students (N\u2009=\u20092,034) conducted in 16 leading Russian universities, three main barriers to the completion of doctoral programs were distinguished: (1) poor supervision, (2) lack of financing and forced need to have a paid job, (3) tough requirements and a lack of competences to fulfill them. We argue that the institutional transformations, which were implemented in the last seven years, did not solve these problems, and more efforts should be done to enhance the development of doctoral programs in Russian universities in order to overcome the modern crisis of doctorate in Russia.