The experience of international nursing students studying for a PhD in the U.K: A qualitative study
2011

International Nursing Students' PhD Experiences in the UK

Sample size: 17 publication Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Catrin Evans, Keith Stevenson

Primary Institution: University of Nottingham

Hypothesis

What are the learning experiences of international doctoral nursing students in the UK?

Conclusion

Doctoral programmes need to better support international students and facilitate networking opportunities.

Supporting Evidence

  • Many students expected a more structured programme of study.
  • Good supervision relationships were seen as critical for support.
  • Students faced significant cultural and academic adjustments.

Takeaway

This study looked at how international nursing students feel while studying for their PhDs in the UK, finding that they face many challenges but also grow a lot during their time.

Methodology

Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with 17 international doctoral nursing students from 6 UK universities.

Limitations

The study's cross-sectional design limits understanding of the PhD experience over time.

Participant Demographics

Participants were from 9 different countries, mostly mid-career, with a majority planning to work in higher education.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1186/1472-6955-10-11

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