The financial and academic story: what the CGPSS tells us about the graduate student experience

Informing the Future of Higher Education

Hillary Arnold & Shuping LiuHigher Education Quality Council of Ontario

Canadian Association of Graduate StudiesNovember 4, 2013

The financial and academic story: what the CGPSS tells us about the graduate student experience

2 Informing the Future of Higher Education

2010 vs. 2013

2010 2013Master’s Doctoral Master’s Doctoral


2010 vs. 2013


No. of universities 38 48No. of respondents 24,806 13,812 33,300 18,382


2010 vs. 2013


No. of universities 38 48No. of respondents 24,806 13,812 33,300 18,382

Regional distribution (%)

ON 50% 49% 46% 45%PQ 26% 28% 26% 27%ROC 24% 23% 28% 28%

5

Reasonable representation of the 2010 population


Proportionally more

Female Students

International Students

Proportional

Registration Status

CIP field of study classification


Master’s students are least satisfied with student life

ONPQ

ROC

ONPQ

ROC

ONPQ

ROC

ONPQ

ROC

Acad

emic

Stud

ent l

ifePr

ogra

mO

vera

ll

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

ExcellentVery goodGood

Student’s Rate the Overall Quality of their experience


Doctoral results very similar to master’s

ONPQ

ROC

ONPQ

ROC

ONPQ

ROC

ONPQ

ROC

Stud

ent l

ifeO

vera

ll

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

ExcellentVery goodGood

Financial story


Money biggest obstacle to academic progressMaster’s students

ON

PQ

ROC

71%

72%

75%

Doctoral students

ON

PQ

ROC

73%

72%

69%


Master’s students use various supports

Universi

ty Bursa

ry

Scholar

ship, F

ellowsh

ipTA, R

A

Employment

Loan

s, Sav

ings, Fa

mily Assi

stance

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

ONPQROC


Most doctoral students have scholarships/ fellowships and TA/RAships

Universi

ty Bursa

ry

Scholar

ship, F

ellowsh

ipTA, R

A

Employment

Loan

s, Sav

ings, Fa

mily Assi

stance

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

ONPQROC


More Quebec students satisfied with advice on financial support

ON

PQ

ROC

62%

68%

60%

Master’s students

Doctoral students

ON

PQ

ROC

63%

70%

63%


Financial aid offices not used by as many students as expected

Master’s students

ON

PQ

ROC

50%

51%

38%

Doctoral students

ON

PQ

ROC

47%

53%

43%


Again, more Quebec students satisfied with financial aid office

ON PQ ROC0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

Master'sDoctoral


More master’s students have graduate debt

ON

PQ

ROC

57%

58%

50%

Master’s students

Doctoral students

ON

PQ

ROC

45%

50%

39%

16

Summary


Master’s students

Doctoral students

Financial Aid Office

Ontariostudents

Quebecstudents

Use various

financial resources

More than half report graduate

debt

Heavily use public financial supports

Less than half

report graduate

debt

Used by half

of graduate students

Use more

supports

Less employment

Use financial aid office

more

Are more

satisfied

Academic/Career story


Program structure or requirements an obstacle to academic progress

ON

PQ

ROC

ON

PQ

ROC

Mas

ter's

Doct

oral

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%

programfacultyschedule


Students satisfied with relationship of program to research/professional goals

ON

PQ

ROC

83%

83%

84%

Master’s students Doctoral students

ON

PQ

ROC

79%

79%

78%


Doctoral students least satisfied with advice on options outside academia

ON PQ ROC0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

courses, workshops on teachingadvice/workshops on career options within academiaadvice/workshops on career options outside academia


Students in professional programs generally satisfied with career advice

ON PQ ROC0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

advice/workshops on career optionsadvice/workshops on job preparation and professional practiceopportunities for internships, practicum, and experiential learning


Career services used by less than half of students

ON

PQ

ROC

45%

34%

39%

Master’s students Doctoral students

ON

PQ

ROC

38%

30%

37%


Master’s students more satisfied with career services

ON

PQ

ROC

65%

68%

68%

Master’s students

Doctoral students

ON

PQ

ROC

60%

66%

60%

24

Summary

Graduate Students- Satisfied with program

meeting their professional goals, BUT structure is an obstacle

Doctoral Students- Satisfied with Training

on Teaching- Not satisfied with

advice on career options outside academia

Students in Professional Programs

- Generally satisfied with career advice & WIL

opportunities


Less than half of students using career services

25

Does satisfaction measure quality?


The financial and academic story: what the CGPSS tells us about the graduate student experience

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