The University of Toronto (U of T) recently conducted a survey which found that PhD graduate students are more likely to be employed in a post-secondary institution than work in any other sectors.
The study successfully located 88 per cent of PhD students who graduated from the university between 2000 and 2015—a number which approximates to about 11,000 students.
It found that nearly 60 per cent of those graduates had jobs in a post-secondary institution, while the rest worked either in non-profit organizations or for private and public companies. Only four PhD graduates were unemployed.
The study was conducted by undergraduate researchers who obtained lists of PhD graduates from existing student registries provided by the School of Graduate Studies at the U of T.
Once the lists were verified and entered into the survey pool, student researchers began entering additional data into other sections, such as further education pursued, research activity and employment sector. In order to get this additional data, the researchers looked the PhD graduates up online.
However, the information was only used if it appeared in two or more reliable internet sources, according to the study.
Omar Samhan, a master’s student of applied science in electrical engineering at the U of T, said in an email that while he does not intend to continue in academia, he chose to enroll in his master’s program because he was “fascinated by how mathematics can solve complex and real-world problems in an elegant way.”
“Doing a PhD is a four-to-five-year commitment and is not worth it if you are not aspiring for an academic position,” Samhan said.
The study shows that the number of PhD graduates from the U of T has almost doubled between 2000 and 2015, from 494 to 901.
Also, the data shows that the amount of non-Canadian graduates has also doubled, while the ratio of male to female graduates remains fairly split.
According to the study, in 2005 the Government of Ontario’s Reaching Higher plan increased funding to universities in hopes of boosting graduate enrolment.
“This enrolment expansion accounts, in part, for the increase in PhD graduation rates some five to seven years later. Changing expectations in the labour market and an increased desire to pursue advanced studies may also be contributing factors,” the study reads.
Samhan said getting a full-time job after his graduation was not hard but he chose to pursue graduate studies because he wanted to “expand his thirst for knowledge.”
“Most of my friends and parents were against this decision, but I knew that if I hadn’t chosen to do my graduate studies at that time, I would probably never get another chance and would be tunnel-visioned in the corporate life,” Samhan said. “In the end, I would say that it was truly an impetuous act based on a gut feeling.”
However, Samhan pointed out that some people with graduate degrees will apply to jobs that require qualifications a bachelors degree can meet.
“In my opinion, as long as there is an abundance of applicants with graduate degrees, employers will, explicitly or implicitly, most likely hire a graduate student instead of an undergraduate,” he said.
More recently, the U of T has also attempted to attract international students to pursue PhD studies.
In their 2018-2019 budget, the university announced that international PhD students will be paying domestic student rates, starting in the fall.
“This is very positive news for the University,” said Joshua Barker, dean of the School of Graduate Studies and vice-provost of graduate research and education, in a press release. “We strive to remove any barriers, financial or otherwise, that graduate students might face as they look to attend our university.”
After finishing his master’s degree, Samhan said he wants to get a full-time job in an industry where the skills he has accumulated can be utilized. He said he is open to other opportunities, should they arise.
“Unlike undergraduate programs, graduate school should be driven by passion and sheer thirst for curiosity and knowledge.”
Photo by Aaron Hemens
