Staying the Course: Engagement, Burnout and Attrition in Australian Doctoral Education

Why do many PhD students quit before finishing, and what helps them stay? Surveys and interviews with Australian candidates found that students thrive when supportive supervisors, a welcoming research community and manageable workloads balance intense research demands. They burn out when pressures outweigh these supports. Motivation matters: curiosity-driven students cope better than those pushed mainly by guilt or obligation. The new Doctoral Demands-Resources model explains these patterns and points to practical fixes such as stronger mentoring, flexible milestones and stable funding - changes that can lift PhD completion rates and safeguard the wellbeing of Australia's next generation of researchers.