The nine-to-five PhD is an ever-elusive goal: many candidates aspire to it but few end up achieving such an impressive work–life balance. Nature’s 2025 global PhD survey found that 50% of respondents, who were self-selecting, identified a culture of long work hours at their university. This fuels dissatisfaction, and those who spent more than 60 hours a week on their PhDs were significantly more likely to report that they felt dissatisfied with their doctorates (21%) than were those who spent 30 hours or less (16%).
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doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-026-00509-9
Interviews have been edited for length and clarity.
References
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Glorieux, A., Spruyt, B., Minnen, J. & van Tienoven, T. P. Stud. Continuing Educ.47, 155–173 (2025).
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Read, H., Pugh, A., Riley, B. & Bramley, G. A Review of the Economic and Social Value Produced through Funding PhD Students (National Civic Impact Accelerator, 2024).
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