Postgraduate and early career

University leaders claim shift could water down standards, but applied sciences institutes think they are simply defending historic privileges

Debate sparked by criticism of growth of PhDs by publication, and allegations that corruption and nepotism are undermining the reliability of the academic doctorate

Queen guitarist Brian May completed his PhD after enjoying rock stardom. Jack Grove looks at how doctoral dropouts can land second chances – and supervisors can help

‘Anything goes’ approach does not serve doctoral candidates, universities or funders, say researchers

Academics say ‘personal assistant’ position highlights precarity faced by early career scholars

Life as an early career researcher is hard, but when you add being working class into the mix, the obstacles are almost insurmountable, writes an anonymous academic facing the death of her university career

Marketisation, precarity and global competition have combined to create a vast market for academic ghostwriting, says an anonymous scholar

Australian universities yet to sign up to guidelines, representative body says

Efforts to improve work-life balance must address the significant amounts of time that many scholars spend travelling, says Rachel Moss

Sir Fraser Stoddart says the most rewarding element of his work has been supervising research students, who supported him personally after his wife’s death

One thousand PhD places to be created over next five years

Turning to dance may help scientists communicate their findings to those who distrust experts, claims competition winner

Data from the UK, US and Australia suggest science doctorates continue to dominate expansion, but why?

Researchers who trace links between academic supervisors and students claim that it can help to shed light on the nature of mentoring

Seemingly owned by an Oxbridge Essays shareholder, company offers up to 100,000 words of ‘model writing assistance’

Failure to recruit local PhDs will erode Australia’s skill base, report warns

Supervision highlighted as a ‘big challenge’ in wake of study on doctoral education 

With many doctoral candidates unhappy and reporting mental health problems, Emma Pierson suggests ways supervisors could reduce pressures

Data for age profile of academic workforces across the continent show wide variation between countries

Leading figures in UK higher education warn sector will ‘take decades to recover’ from no-deal Brexit

Why other academic disciplines have not also introduced such markets is a ‘very good question’, organisers say

As a new report reveals dissatisfaction with mentorship for female researchers, Jack Grove asks where responsibility lies

Study based on fields of astronomy, ecology and robotics suggests huge drop in duration of scholarly careers

Sector leaders fear consultation could be cover for cutbacks

What single change to university practice would have the most positive and far-reaching consequences? Eight academics and thinkers give us their views

PhDs are becoming more programmatic in many countries, but the German one-on-one model retains considerable influence, says Glen Jones

Analysis of impact of doctoral training centres funded by Economic and Social Research Council prompts further questions over approach to postgraduate learning

Several students at the University of Toronto have been ordered to repay money received during an award ceremony

Figures have ‘alarming’ implications for equality in US academia, says researcher who analysed professoriate’s background

Dutch figures show just how little time professors get for their own research. It may be easier to pursue your intellectual interests outside the university system, says THE reporter David Matthews

Early career academics on temporary contracts must put aside personal hopes of a better future and unite to improve their current lot, says Steven Parfitt

Conflict over proposals to grant say in running of university to all 4,000 postdocs, who conduct ‘bulk’ of research

Satisfaction with postgraduate research declines significantly over course of programme, survey reveals

Office for Students starts work on master’s version of National Student Survey

From the largest strike in the history of UK higher education, to the US ‘academic precariat’ looking to unionise to improve their conditions, Jack Grove assesses the changing influence of workers’ organisations

Law graduate urges research students to ‘take institutions to task’ on inadequate supervision

To spare doctoral candidates protracted and unproductive efforts, Tim Marler and Dean Young suggest a pragmatic route to successful completion, while, below, Julian Kirchherr advocates a quick-and-dirty path to a viable thesis

Review of UK guidelines says junior scholars should spend 20 per cent of time on their own projects and personal development

Completion rates improve as number of women in a programme increases, US study finds

Ahead of publication of revised concordat, Brunel leader calls for funding agencies to give document greater importance

Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell’s graduate scholarships will help students from under-represented groups

Union complains that early career academics have been told they must publish at least one 3* paper every 18 months ahead of 2021 assessment

Gavin Buckingham offers new lecturers tips on how to thrive in the pressurised first few months in the job

Junior scholars need all the experiences they can get, but their digital know-how can also boost the impact of academic events, says Alice Kelly

Life as a comedian at the Edinburgh Fringe has many parallels with the experiences of early career academics, explains Anna Ploszajski

Ad hoc approaches inadequate to deal with a widespread issue, campaigners say

Precarity is a significant feature of the academy worldwide, creating a feeling of ‘academic apartheid’ as it grows. Ellie Bothwell explores its impact

Martin Chalfie argues that young scientists who ‘play the game’ of publishing in selective journals are less likely to win permanent posts

Australian sector adopts ‘united viewpoint’ against unequal relationships

Leading a university seminar for the first time can be an intimidating prospect. Here, three PhD students offer some advice for those preparing for the new academic year

Early career social scientists should be entitled to extensive support from their university long after attaining their doctorate, study says

Australian group asks whether costs of ‘gold standard’ assessment are always warranted

THE's Asia-Pacific editor John Ross ponders the pluses of a slow-cooked doctorate

Extended PhDs would be money well spent in the quest for international competitiveness, says leading physicist

Peter Doherty warns scientists about being ‘used’ by journalists with a predetermined story to tell

Many students are struggling with stress-related health problems after switch to postgraduate programmes, research suggests

Nobel laureates call for early career researchers to be freed from ‘publish or perish’ mentality

At a gathering of young scientists and Nobel prizewinners, David Matthews detects a whiff of mutiny in the air stirred by the pressures of a modern research career

Report says early career academics should be given more opportunities to lead their own research teams to foster independence and improve job security

End stigma against students who don't want to pursue careers in academia, says report