Supporting Data for "Motivations and Career Aspirations of Ph.D. Students in Non-research-intensive Chinese Universities" (PhD Thesis)

This dataset was created for a doctoral research project investigating the motivations, doctoral learning experiences, and career development of doctoral students in Chinese non-research-intensive (NRI) universities. The study explores why students choose to pursue doctoral education in these institutional contexts, how they experience doctoral training and research during their studies, and how they understand their career aspirations, opportunities, and constraints upon or after graduation.The dataset primarily comprises qualitative interview data, including interview transcripts and associated research materials collected and analyzed during data collection and analysis. The files document participants’ narratives on doctoral enrolment motivations, academic and research-related experiences, supervision and training processes, and career planning and employment expectations. Additional files may include coding frameworks, analytic notes, and other materials necessary for interpreting the interview data. The dataset has been curated for preservation and future reference, with appropriate anonymisation applied to protect confidentiality and to avoid disclosure of sensitive personal information.<br><br>