Money, politics and technology are redefining the PhD experience in 2025, albeit students worldwide are reporting higher levels of satisfaction with their doctoral studies than during the pandemic, according to Nature’s 2025 global PhD survey.

The survey, conducted in May and June among 3,785 PhD candidates across the globe, examined supervision practices, workplace cultures, and the impact of new technologies. It found that 75% of doctoral candidates feel satisfied with their studies, up from 62% in 2022, marking a return to pre-COVID levels.

“The numbers have gone up, because it reflects that we are in a more normal state where there is a collegial environment,” Nature quoted Pil Maria Saugmann, outgoing president of Eurodoc, who finished her PhD in theoretical physics at Stockholm University in 2022.

Doctoral students prize the independence of their research. “No other job has the independence, constant challenges, flexibility and stimulating environment that a PhD offers,” said Miguel González Martín, a mechanobiology candidate in Barcelona. Another student in Iran highlighted the balance between freedom and support: “My supervisor gives me the freedom to explore my research ideas while providing constructive feedback whenever I need it. This balance helps me grow as an independent researcher.”

Yet the positives are tempered by stark realities. Only 47% are satisfied with their compensation, and financial pressures remain the top concern. “I wish we got paid a living wage. It’s hard to focus on research when I’m worried about my next meal,” said a female second-year PhD candidate in the United States. Rising living costs worry 86% of respondents, and 55% agree that inflation could affect their decision to continue.

Discrimination and harassment also remain widespread. 43% reported experiencing such behaviours, with bullying and sexism most common. “If you ask whether there is a mental-health crisis in doctoral training, the answer is yes,” said Saugmann. Mohammed Shaaban, a recent PhD graduate from the Francis Crick Institute, added: “It’s deeply concerning that half of the international students experience discrimination.” He recalled facing bias in both the US and UK, saying: “It makes you feel unappreciated, like you don’t belong.”

Meanwhile, students are grappling with how to integrate AI into their work. 53% say they use AI weekly, and most believe it improves efficiency. Still, 81% “don’t fully trust” AI and 65% worry it weakens critical thinking. “You become too overly reliant on AI tools and it ends up affecting critical thinking and self-confidence,” wrote a male PhD student in India. Another student confessed ChatGPT had “spoiled the thinking power of my brain.”

Despite the challenges, academia remains the top career goal. As one student put it: “This is a revolution. We need to put a lot of effort into training people how to use [AI] responsibly, not just leave it up to trial and error.”

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