Navigating Through Postgraduate Research: Experiences of Doctoral Studies Students in Kenyan Universities

Abstract

Doctoral degree is perceived as the pinnacle of educational achievement. More so, doctoral degree is a central pillar in establishing the human capital needed for sustainable social, economic and political development globally. In addition, many Universities across the globe have developed stringent measures to market and attract students especially at the PhD level given the grey profile of established academia in their institutions of higher education. Despite the rising number of students registering for PhD programmes; research has shown there is concern about high level of non-completion, low completion rates and long tedious time for completion in many institutions globally and in Africa Kenya included. The expansion of higher education institutions depends on their level of throughput in form of PhD graduates to revamp their human capital base. However, high attrition rates and consequent mental distress PhD studies causes to students raises the need to interrogate their experiences focusing on factors determining completion rates. Specifically, the paper will focus on institutional factors including policies, supervision and facilities. Student personal factors will include; demographic variables, self-motivation, work-study conflicts and finance. The paper is based on review of literature and lived experiences of the authors as once PhD students and later graduating as faculty and supervisors. The paper will contribute to limited existing facts in field of doctoral studies and spotlight factors shaping the landscape of doctoral.