Why did I become a doctoral student? A study of motives of doctoral students

Abstract

A group of ten doctoral graduates were interviewed to gather information on motives that embarked them to doctoral programme and intentions to stay in academic environment on completion of the programme. At the time of the interview, all the study participants were university instructors. In-depth interview revealed that for most of the participants the doctoral programme was a means to obtain funds for living and job after graduation from the programme. Stimuli to start the programme came also from the university - they recruited students with excellent reputation in master's degree programme. Student's family was described as an important motivation factor offering role models of academics and researchers and providing resourses and emotional support. Other important motives were student's desire for learning and for becoming a member of scientific community.