ISSN: 2222-6990
Open access
Embarking on a postgraduate program, especially one that involves research, can be a solitary journey for many students, who must seek knowledge independently to conduct their research. Some students face greater challenges during their studies due to limited access to information that could have facilitated their journey. Due to these obstacles, many students found themselves having to extend their studies, and unfortunately, some were unable to complete their postgraduate programs. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the information that graduate students desire to acquire during the initial phase of their postgraduate journey, which has been under-researched in prior studies. Using a purposive sampling technique, face-to-face in-depth interviews were conducted with five Ph.D. graduates, with each interview session lasting approximately two hours. Interviews were conducted both in-person and through virtual platforms. The data were then analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings suggested that in the initial phase of their studies, graduate students primarily desire information related to thesis and study preparation, accessibility of information, as well as interpersonal and social readiness. By highlighting these findings, this research may assist institutions in offering valuable information to their postgraduate students and help future students understand the crucial information necessary for their success prior to enrolling in a postgraduate program. Future research may examine this study from the viewpoints of foreign graduate students, aiming to gain insights from their unique perspectives. Additionally, conducting quantitative studies would contribute to a holistic understanding of this issue. Therefore, improvements can be made to address future students' needs, who are these institutions' primary stakeholders.
Majid, A. F., Shukor, M. N. H., & Radzi, F. A. (2010). The learning strategies of successful research graduates: A survey on the Malaysian Ph.D. holders. Journal for the Enhancement of Learning and Teaching, 5(1), 9-27.
Abiddin, N. Z., & Ismail, A. (2011). Effective supervisory approach in enhancing postgraduate research studies. International Journal of Humanities and Social Science, 1(2), 206–217.
Abiddin, N. Z., & West, M. (2007). Responsibilities of Graduate Student: The Review of Research Student Policies. Journal of Social Sciences, 3(1), 7–17. https://doi.org/10.3844/jssp.2007.7.17
Adrian-Taylor, S. R., Noels, K. A., & Tischler, K. (2007). Conflict between international graduate students and faculty supervisors: Toward effective conflict prevention and management strategies. Journal of Studies in International Education, 11(1), 90–117. https://doi.org/10.1177/1028315306286313
Alam, F., Alam, Q., & Rasul, M. G. (2013). A pilot study on postgraduate supervision. Procedia Engineering, 56, 875–881. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proeng.2013.03.210
Aliff Abdul Majid, M., Othman, M., Mohamad, F. S., & Lim, A. H. S. (2018). Achieving Data saturatIon: Evidence from a qualitative study of job satisfaction. Social and Management Research, 15(2), 65–78.
Bakhou, B., & Bouhania, B. (2020). A qualitative inquiry into the difficulties experienced by Algerian EFL Master students in thesis writing: ‘Language is not the only problem.’ Arab World English Journal (AWEJ), 11(2), 243–257. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.24093/awej/vol11no2.17
Baydarova, I., Collins, H. E., & Saadi, I. A. (2021). Alignment of doctoral student and supervisor expectations in Malaysia. International Journal of Doctoral Studies, 16, 1–29. https://doi.org/10.28945/4682
Bekova, S. (2021). Does employment during doctoral training reduce the Ph.D. completion rate? Studies in Higher Education, 46(6), 1068–1080. https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2019.1672648
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77–101.
Bui, H. T. M. (2014). Student–supervisor expectations in the doctoral supervision process for Business and Management students. Business and Management Education in HE, 1(1), 12–27. https://doi.org/10.11120/bmhe.2014.00006
Clarke, V., & Braun, V. (2017). Thematic analysis. Journal of Positive Psychology, 12(3), 297–298. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2016.1262613
Cotterall, S. (2011). Doctoral pedagogy: What do international PhD students in Australia think about it. Pertanika Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, 19(2), 521-534.
Delgago, J. E., & Arellano, J. (2021). A phenomenological study of the lived experiences of graduate students adapting flexible learning modality due to COVID-19 Pandemic. Asian Journal of Education and Social Studies, 15(4), 7-16.
Ezebilo, E. E. (2012). Challenges in postgraduate studies: Assessments by doctoral Students in a Swedish University. Higher Education Studies, 2(4), 49–57. https://doi.org/10.5539/hes.v2n4p49
Friedrich-Nel, H., & MacKinnon, J. (2016). Mutual expectations in the postgraduate doctoral supervisory relationship. Postgraduate Supervision - Future Foci for the Knowledge Society, November 2016, 157–169. https://doi.org/10.18820/9781928357223/09
Guerin, C., Jayatilaka, A., & Ranasinghe, D. (2015). Why start a higher degree by research? An exploratory factor analysis of motivations to undertake doctoral studies. Higher Education Research & Development, 34(1), 89-104.
Haq, S. U., & Shahzad, K. (2021). Challenges faced by LIS postgraduate students in their dissertations writing. Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal), 1–13. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=10883&context=libphilprac
Ho, A., Kember, D., & Hong, C. (2012). What motivates an ever increasing number of students to enroll in part-time taught postgraduate awards? Studies in Continuing Education, 34(3), 319–338. https://doi.org/10.1080/0158037X.2011.646979
Huang, L. (2016). Personal financial planning for college graduates. Technology and Investment, 07(03), 123–134. https://doi.org/10.4236/ti.2016.73014
Idri, N. (2015, January16). Questioning academic writing performance among master students: English for academic purposes perspectives. Paper presented at The Cultures of EAP, University of Bejaia, Algeria.
Isa, P. M., & Ahmad, Y. (2018). Scrutinizing the issues and challenges faced by postgraduate students: An effort to design specific programs to inculcate research culture. Journal of Administrative Science, 15(1), 1–17.
Jenei, K., Cassidy-Matthews, C., Virk, P., Lulie, B., & Closson, K. (2020). Challenges and opportunities for graduate students in public health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Canadian Journal of Public Health, 111(3), 408–409. https://doi.org/10.17269/s41997-020-00349-8
Kementerian Pengajian Tinggi. (2019). Statistik Pendidikan Tinggi 2019. https://www.mohe.gov.my/muat-turun/statistik/stat-2019/235-statistik-pt-2019-04-bab-2-universiti awam/filehttp://www.children.gov.on.ca/htdocs/English/topics/earlychildhood/ speechlanguage/brochure_preschool.aspx
Komba, S. C. (2015). Challenges of writing theses and dissertations among postgraduate students in Tanzanian higher learning institutions. International Journal of Research Studies in Education, 5(3), 71–80. https://doi.org/10.5861/ijrse.2015.1280
Le, M., Pham, L., Kim, K., & Bui, N. (2021). The impacts of supervisor – Ph.D. student relationships on Ph.D. students’ satisfaction: A case study of vietnamese universities. Journal of University Teaching and Learning Practice, 18(4). https://doi.org/10.53761/1.18.4.18
Mapasela, M., & Wilkinson, A. (2010). The pains and gains of supervising postgraduate students from a distance: The case of six students from Lesotho. South African Journal of Higher Education, 19(7), 1238–1254. https://doi.org/10.4314/sajhe.v19i7.50227
Masek, A. (2017). Establishing supervisor-students’ relationships through mutual expectation: A study from supervisors’ point of view. IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering, 226(1). https://doi.org/10.1088/1757-899X/226/1/012200
McCormack*, C. (2005). Is non?completion a failure or a new beginning? Research non?completion from a student’s perspective. Higher Education Research & Development, 24(3), 233-247.
Morris, S. E. (2011). Doctoral students’ experiences of supervisory bullying. Pertanika Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, 19(2), 547-555.
Mutula, S. M. (2011). Challenges of postgraduate research: Case of developing countries. South African Journal of Libraries and Information Science, 77(2), 184–190. https://doi.org/10.7553/77-2-60
Olvido, M. M. J. (2021). Developing research culture: An outcomes perspective. Journal of Research Administration, 52(1), 15–37.
Onainor, E. R. (2019). A Qualitative Inquiry into the Difficulties Experienced by Algerian EFL Master Students in Thesis Writing: ‘Language is not the Only Problem.’ 1(2), 105–112.
Singh, M. K. M. (2015). International graduate students’ academic writing practices in malaysia: Challenges and solutions. Journal of International Students, 5(1), 12–22.
Smallwood, S. (2004). Doctor dropout: High attrition from Ph.D programs is sucking away time, talent and money and breaking some hearts too. The Chronicle of Higher Education, 50 (19), A 10.
Strauss, P. (2012). ‘The English is not the same’: Challenges in thesis writing for second language speakers of English. Teaching in Higher Education, 17(3), 283–293. https://doi.org/10.1080/13562517.2011.611871
Teowkul, K., Seributra, N. J., Sangkaworn, C., Jivasantikarn, C., Denvilai, S., & Mujtaba, B. G. (2009). Motivational factors of graduate Thai students pursuing master and doctoral degrees in business. RU International Journal, 3(1), 25–56.
The Global Demand for Graduate Management Education: Application Trends Survey 2021. (2021). Graduate Management Admission Council. https://www.gmac.com/market-intelligence-and-research/research-library/admissions-and-application-trends/2021-application-trends-survey-report
Wadesango, N., & Machingambi, S. (2011). Causes and structural effects of student absenteeism: A case study of three South African universities. Journal of Social Sciences, 26, 89–97.
Wei, H. C., & Chou, C. (2020). Online learning performance and satisfaction: Do perceptions and readiness matter? Distance Education, 41(1), 48–69.
https://doi.org/10.1080/01587919.2020.1724768
Wisker, G., & Robinson, G. (2016). Supervisor wellbeing and identity: Challenges and strategies. International Journal for Researcher Development, 7(2), 123–140. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijrd-03-2016-0006
In-Text Citation: (Thomas et al., 2023)
To Cite this Article: Thomas, B., Jalil, S. Z., Perman, A. A., Omar, N. H., & Jusoh, M. Z. (2023). Information I Wish I Had Known Early in My Postgraduate Journey: Exploring Insights from The Perspective of Former Graduate Students. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 13(7), 1485 – 1500.
Copyright: © 2023 The Author(s)
Published by Human Resource Management Academic Research Society (www.hrmars.com)
This article is published under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) license. Anyone may reproduce, distribute, translate and create derivative works of this article (for both commercial and non0-commercial purposes), subject to full attribution to the original publication and authors. The full terms of this license may be seen at: http://creativecommons.org/licences/by/4.0/legalcode