Insights into Challenges Facing Doctoral Students Case Study of EFL students at the Department of English Language and Literature at Biskra University

Abstract

Successful completion of doctoral studies is challenging in nature. Many doctoral students as a result extend years or quitting their journey. Therefore, this research aims to reveal the challenges that face doctoral students in completing their doctoral studies, EFL doctoral students at Mohamed Khider Biskra University, department of English, as a case study. The research is based on the question “what are the challenges that EFL doctoral students at Biskra University face”, and relates on the hypothesis that there may be academic, psychological, and socioeconomic challenges. The research methodology involves the use of the descriptive exploratory approach. In order to collect data from the participants’ perspective and experience, a questionnaire is distributed to EFL doctoral students, and an interview is conducted with their supervisors at Biskra University department of English. From a total of 27 students only 17 answered the questionnaire, and from a total of 7 supervisors only 4 were available to have an interview with. The results from the research have provided an insight into the challenges faced by EFL doctoral students. The most critical of these challenges are psychological, personal, and institution challenges, followed by financial and academic challenges. However, supervision related challenges do not pose crucial concern to the doctoral students. All of these challenges interplay a negative impactful in completing the doctoral journey successfully. Therefore, more researches are needed to overcome and solve these challenges.