DOCTORAL DISTRESS: WHAT'S BROKEN IN INDIA’S PHD SYSTEM AND HOW TO FIX IT

PhD programs in India face challenges with high drop-out rates, mental health issues, and lack of career guidance\.

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According to the All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) 2021-22 report, more than 42,000 students registered for PhD programs in the sciences. Some 7,200 got their PhD degrees.

The PhD is often the lifetime work of a researcher. Many drop out -- some estimates put drop-out figures at as high as 40%. And some hang on even if they lost interest mid-course purely for the sake of getting the degree.

With the unfamiliarity of the PhD coursework and rigorous review meetings, the PhD program remains an ordeal for many. It is common for students to become disinterested and leave the program midway or change their supervisor. All of this takes mental health for a toss, and students lose valuable years of their lives.

Many students experience delays in getting their fellowships for months on end. Hence, it is not surprising that they lose interest, as most of them are in the age group of 25-30 and may have family responsibilities. However, this is just one of the many problems that create hardships for PhD students.

Selection and coursework

While different institutes have different selection processes, most conduct an entrance exam or select students for a PhD in the sciences based on a GATE score, then conduct interviews, after which a specific number of students are offered PhD positions within the institute. A new PhD student is typically required to complete coursework at the beginning of a program, the duration of which varies among different institutes but usually ranges from one to two years.

Some institutes also administer a comprehensive exam at the end of the coursework to assess students’ subject knowledge and research capability. Students commence their PhD work only after completing the necessary assessments.