Examining Post-Graduation Career Plans of International Doctoral Students in the United States

Abstract

Understanding the career trajectories of PhD recipients is an important topic of investigation, particularly for foreign students who may work in a different country from where their degree was obtained. In the United States, approximately 70% of PhD recipients enter employment in industry, government, or academia upon graduation, while nearly 30% seek further training through a postdoctoral appointment (NCSES, 2019). Over the last decade, post-doctoral appointments have become a more popular option for those who are seeking to transition into academia. The purpose of this research is to examine whether demographic variables and sources of financial support received during doctoral education influences the career decisions of international doctoral students in the United States. A multinomial logistic model and predicted probabilities were employed to examine relationships between primary sources of financial support and choices of faculty versus non-faculty positions – faculty, postdoctoral training, and other employment categories. The post-graduation location has the most significant and robust impact on career plans, with those who will remain in the United States being more likely to choose to work in academia. Plots of predicted probabilities show that research and teaching assistantships have greater influence on those from lower-income countries in choosing faculty positions.

Keywords: Doctoral students, international students, career plans

DOI: 10.7176/JEP/12-20-03

Publication date:July 31^st 2021