Graduate Student Survey Results

[Survey Portal | Frequently Asked Questions]

What is the survey about?

The Graduate Student Survey is a survey of graduate students (Masters and Doctoral) and is a campus-wide effort to evaluate and improve academic and social experiences of UC Santa Cruz students. Between 37% and 59% of graduate students have participated in the survey in the last ten years (2011-2021).

This survey focuses on many aspects of the graduate student experience -- including faculty teaching and mentoring, program requirements, research opportunities, teaching preparation, professional development, funding, basic needs, and the campus climate for diversity and inclusion.

The main purpose of this survey is to provide graduate students with a unique formal opportunity to provide campus decisionmakers with feedback about overall experiences as a graduate student and to provide suggestions to improve services for graduate students.

2021 Graduate Student Survey

Conducted from April 15 to July 1, 2021.  Respondents: 37% of graduate students (41% of PhD/DMA and 27% of Masters) enrolled in winter/spring 2021.  The 2021 survey was part of the University of California Graduate Student Experience Survey (UCGSES).

• Questionnaire, 2021 Graduate Student Survey
• Results:  Interactive Data Tables
  
  • COVID-19 and remote learning interactive data tables for UC Santa Cruz and comparisons with other UC campuses
  • Interactive data tables for UC Santa Cruz and other UC campuses, 2021 UCGSES

• Results:  Infographics (PDF format)

	Doctoral Student Academic Preparation from the 2021 Graduate Student Survey
	Doctoral Student Financial Situation from the 2021 Graduate Student Survey

• Results:  Standalone Reports (PDF format)
  • Doctoral Student Financial Situation and Support, 2021 Graduate Student Survey
  • Doctoral Student Feedback on Teaching Preparation, 2021 Graduate Student Survey
  • Doctoral Student Feedback on Campus Services, 2021 Graduate Student Survey

2021-22 Graduate Studies Planning Form 

A short survey to prepare for the 2021 Fall quarter, conducted from May 6 to May 23, 2021. Respondents: 42% of graduate students (47% of PhD/DMA and 24% of Masters) enrolled in spring 2021.

• Questionnaire, 2021-22 Graduate Studies Planning Form
• Results
  • Report on Graduate Studies Planning Form for 2021-22

2019 Graduate Student Survey 

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

• Questionnaire, 2019 Graduate Student Survey
• Results
  • Completing Graduate Degrees on Time: Students Reported Reasons for Slowing Their Progress, 2019 Graduate Student Survey
  • Doctoral Student Feedback on Programs Offered by the Center for Innovations in Teaching and Learning (CITL), 2019 Graduate Student Survey
  • Doctoral Student Feedback on Teaching Preparation, 2019 Graduate Student Survey

2017 Graduate Student Survey

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

• Questionnaire, 2017 Graduate Student Survey
• 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 (55% of PhD/DMA and 47% of Masters) enrolled in winter/spring 2015.  

• Questionnaire, 2015 Graduate Student Survey

2013 Graduate Student Survey

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

• Questionnaire, 2013 Graduate Student Survey
• 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 UC Santa Cruz results from the 2013 survey.

2011 Graduate Student Survey

Conducted in Spring/early Summer 2011. Respondents: 51% of graduate students enrolled in winter/spring 2011.  The 2011 survey had an additional "common module on campus climate" and was part of the Diversity and Community Building Study.

• Questionnaire, 2011 Graduate Student Survey
• 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:  UC Santa Cruz 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 UC Santa Cruz, financial aid, housing, campus social events, health insurance, graduate student services, and employment plans.       
• Email surveys@ucsc.edu with your request for results by a specific department/program (with campus comparisons), regarding evaluations of program/department, curriculum, resources, faculty, teaching and research experience, career preparation, funding, and overall satisfaction.