Experiences of Doctoral Students’ Vulnerability in South Africa

Abstract

Doctoral Studies is hard work in any country and in any field. This chapter lays bare some of the challenges faced by doctoral students. Wastage is a phenomenon revealed through low throughput rates and a loss of time and money invested. Student support is therefore essential. Based on a theory of vulnerability, student narratives of being at risk may be used to inform debates and policy on student support and retention in higher education institutions. Generally, vulnerability studies reason that students at risk are underperforming and not achieving academically. However, this chapter argues for a definition of at-risk to go beyond that of a student experiencing vulnerability that is linked only to academic or to non-academic factors. An analysis of narratives provides a summary of who is susceptible to risks and why, and the ways they coped/did not cope with their experience of vulnerability. The chapter profiles an interpretation of the results of the study in relation to the theoretical base adopted and reports on the implications for further research. Therefore, the chapter argues that the conceptualisation of being at risk is a multidimensional concept which is not adequately dealt with in higher education institutional ethics policy and practice.