Graduate Student Survey Results

What is the survey about?

The UCSC Graduate Student Survey has been conducted every other year since 2007. All currently-enrolled graduate students are invited to participate in this campus-wide effort.

Forty-nine percent of graduate students participated in 2019!  

This survey focuses on different aspects of graduate student experience including faculty teaching and mentoring, program requirements, research opportunities, professional development workshops, campus climate, and TA training.

The main purpose of this survey is to provide graduate students with a unique formal opportunity to share their experiences and suggestions with campus decision makers.

2019 Graduate Student Survey

Conducted in Spring/early Summer 2019. Respondents: 49% of graduate students (48% of Masters and 50% of PhD/DMA) enrolled in winter/spring 2019.

• Questionnaire
• Results
  • Completing Graduate Degrees on Time: Students Reported Reasons for Slowing Their Progress

2017 Graduate Student Survey

Conducted in Spring/early Summer 2017. Respondents: 59% of graduate students (53% of Masters and 60% of PhD/DMA) enrolled in winter/spring 2017.

• Questionnaire
• Results
  • PhD students' Challenges in Developing Writing Expertise (infographic)
  • Humanities PhD students' Challenges in Developing Writing Expertise (infographic)
  • Physical & Biological Sciences PhD students' Challenges in Developing Writing Expertise (infographic)
  • Social Sciences PhD students' Challenges in Developing Writing Expertise (infographic)
  • School of Engineering PhD students' Challenges in Developing Writing Expertise (infographic)

2015 Graduate Student Survey

Conducted in Spring/early Summer 2015. Respondents: 53% of graduate students (47% of Masters and 55% of PhD/DMA) enrolled in winter/spring 2015.  

• Questionnaire

2013 Graduate Student Survey

Conducted in Spring/early Summer 2013. Respondents: 54% of graduate students enrolled in winter/spring 2013. 

• Questionnaire
• Results  
  • PhD Student Professional Development: This report summarizes the key findings on students’ self-evaluation of their preparedness to carry out various professional tasks such as conducting independent research, preparing scholarly articles for publication, and making presentations.
  • Graduate Policy Journal (published by the University of CA Student Association): Includes UCSC results from the 2013 survey.

2011 Graduate Student Survey

Respondents: UCSC graduate students enrolled in winter and/or spring 2011 quarters.  The 2011 survey had an additional "common module on campus climate" and was part of the Diversity and Community Building Study.

• Questionnaire
• Results
  • Teaching Assistants’ Experiences and Training (July 2012)
  • Professional development opportunities and climate for diversity, equity and inclusion (July 2012)
  • Student Voice Practices and Departmental Climate (July 2012)

  • Recommendations for improving campus climate for graduate students Advisory Council on Campus Climate, Culture, and Inclusion (September 2012): Based on these results, the Advisory Council on Campus Climate, Culture, and Inclusion (ACCCCI) made recommendations for improving campus climate for graduate students. 

2007 Graduate Student Survey

Respondents:  UCSC graduate students enrolled in winter and/or spring 2007 quarters

• Overview of Results for Overall Graduate Student Population  -  Focus:  Provides summaries for the overall graduate student respondent population regarding survey response rates, respondent characteristics, decision to attend UCSC, financial aid, housing, campus social events, health insurance, graduate student services, and employment plans.       
• Email IRAPS with your request results by a specific department/program (with campus comparison) regarding evaluations of program/department, curriculum, resources, faculty, teaching and research experience, career preparation, funding, and overall satisfaction.