The sample
The PhD Career Survey takes a snapshot of the career path of the PhD holders. This implies that, at that time, there was information about the career progress of the participants. Based on the participants’ answers there were four major career paths to distinguish:
- The “Early switcher”: PhD holders with a current non-academic job title who have not had an academic post after completing their PhD (29%)
- The “Late switcher”: PhD holders with a current non-academic job title and who have had an academic post after completing their PhD (29%)
- “Postdoc”: PhD holders in a current postdoctoral position at a university (17%)
- “Professor” (Tenured Academic Personnel): PhD holders who currently hold a position as professor at a university (24%).
Social sciences includes psychology, economy, political & social sciences, and educational sciences.
Biomedical sciences includes biomedical science, veterinary medicine, pharmacy, medicine, social health science and physical education.
Science includes earth science, biology, computer science, physics, chemistry, and mathematics.
Applied sciences includes architecture, civil engineering, electronics, information technology, materials technology, technical chemistry, applied biological sciences, and mechanics.
Humanities includes historical science, literary studies, legal science, theology, and philosophy.