Student Factors as Correlate of Completion Time of Ph.D. Programmes in Public Universities in Southwestern Nigeria

Abstract

Completion of Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) programme within five years as stipulated by the National Universities Commission is the desire of students due to the associated minimal cost. However, many Ph.D. students, particularly in public universities in southwestern Nigeria do not complete their programmes in record time. This study, therefore, investigated student factors as predictors of completion time of Ph.D. programmes in public universities southwestern Nigeria. A sample of 146 respondents in the 2015–2016 cohort whose titles of theses were registered in less than five years were enumerated from University of Ibadan, University of Lagos, Olabisi Onabanjo University and Ekiti State University. A questionnaire titled “Completion Time of Doctoral Programme Questionnaire” (CTDPQ) was used to collect data. A null hypothesis was postulated, while a research question was raised and answered using descriptive and inferential statistical tools of frequency counts, percentage, Means and standard deviation and PPMC Analysis at 0.05 level of significance. The study revealed that there was a positive significance relationship among academic capability (r = 0.362, p < 0.05), student interest (r = 0.354, p< 0.05), funding status (r = 0.336, p < 0.05) and employment status (r = 0.354, p < 0.05) with completion time of Ph.D. programme in faculties of education in public universities in Southwestern Nigeria. Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended that students’ academic capability, interest, funding status and employment status should be prioritised to ensure completion time of Ph.D. in public universities.