Unmissable benefits
A qualitative study of the personal value of humanities doctoral education for graduates
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 21724944 |
|---|---|
| Authors | El Crabtree (0000-0002-6680-6280, Trinity College Dublin, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Publication date | 2026-06-22 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Arts and Humanities in Higher Education (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1474-0222 • E-ISSN: 1741-265X |
| Publisher | SAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US) |
| DOI | 10.1177/14740222261462144 |
| OpenAlex | W7165649940 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 45 |
The humanities PhD is undergoing extraordinary change. Against this backdrop, this article argues that humanities doctoral education should be structured, supported and evaluated in ways that recognise its differences from other fields. It shares the findings of a qualitative survey of 60 humanities graduates from British and Irish universities who reflected on the value of their doctorates to various areas of life since graduation. Employing reflexive thematic analysis, the article explores the intense ambivalence with which graduates perceive this value. While describing known financial and emotional costs, participants articulate unmissable benefits connected to the situated form of knowledge creation distinct to the humanities: meaningful relationships, self-fulfilment and an enhanced capacity to interpret the world. This addresses gaps in scholarship by indicating what is unique about humanities doctorates. Through drawing on the findings, the article recommends strategies for funders, institutions and researchers to promote humanities doctoral experiences of high personal value
Ambivalence · Irish · Qualitative research · Reflexivity · Scholarship · Situated · Artistic and Creative Research · Doctoral Education Challenges and Solutions · Health and Medical Research Impacts
Social networks, social capital, social support and academic success in higher education
PhD graduates pursuing careers beyond academia
Identity-Trajectories of Early Career Researchers
Reflecting on reflexive thematic analysis
What do PhD graduates in non-academic careers actually do
Articulating passion
In the name of employability
Hass PhD graduate careers and knowledge transfer
For what it’s worth
Cutting the STEM of future skills
Stories of moving on Hass PhD graduates’ motivations and career trajectories inside and beyond academia
Impact’, ‘value’ and ‘bad economics’
Becoming impactful
World humanities - Towards an ontology of policy
The online survey as a qualitative research tool
The trouble with doctoral aspiration now
Living a Feminist Life
A PhD in social sciences and humanities
New doctoral graduates in the knowledge economy
Beyond knowledge and skills
What is known about doctoral employment? Reflections from a UK study and directions for future research
PhD holders entering non-academic workplaces
Knowledge or science-based economy? The employment of UK PhD graduates in research roles beyond academia
| Highly cited | No |
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