Research Education

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Population and Education, Social Statistics
Lene Riberholdt
+45 23 60 62 18

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Research Education 2025

The aim of the statistics on PhD-students is to show the volume of PhD-education. Furthermore it gives information on the progress of the education and the subjects of the project. Data are comparable since mid-eighties which is as long the PhD education has existed in Denmark.

Statistical presentation

The statistics gives information on numbers of PhD-students and numbers of PhD-graduates at institutions approved to offer PhD-educations in Denmark. The statistics gives information on the progress of the education, under here schemes and special arrangements, periods of leave, and study periods spent abroad. The statistics also gives information on the subjects of the project and on sources of financing. The statistics also covers doctorate granted after §15,2, according to this paragraph a doctorate can be granted based exclusively on a positive evaluation of a thesis without participation in an education.

Statistical processing

The statistics is based on reports from all Danish institutions approved to offer PhD-educations. The data collection covers the total population. The reported data from each respondent is examined carefully. The examination is concentrated on missing data for each respondent. It is also checked if consistent information are reported for each student. Data reported from a university is furthermore compared to data for previous time periods.

In case of missing data or unexpected trends the respondent is contacted for verification of the reported data.

Relevance

These statistics are relevant for Ministries, Universities, Public service, Business organizations, Media and Researchers, for research and analyses. The statistical data are also used in other areas within Statistics Denmark as education statistics are relevant in many contexts.

Accuracy and reliability

The statistics are based on a complete enumeration in which all universities and other institutions authorised to offer PhD programmes report data. The statistics cover PhD students and awarded PhD degrees at Danish institutions but do not include doctoral degrees obtained abroad. The core information on the number of PhD students and the number of awarded PhD degrees is based on extensive error checking and there are no significant missing reports. Information on the main field of study is based on institutional affiliation and may in some cases be affected by organisational changes at the universities.

Timeliness and punctuality

The statistics are published approximately five months after the end of the reference period. In some cases, the release date may be adjusted if reports are received late or if additional data validation and processing are required. The statistics are thereafter published on time in accordance with the announced release date in the release calendar.

Comparability

The statistics are comparable over time for the core variables relating to PhD students and awarded PhD degrees, as the population and main definitions have been consistent since 1996. Information on main fields of study may in some years be affected by changes in the organisational structure of universities; such changes have been addressed through recoding to preserve the time series. The statistics are comparable with international statistics on PhD programmes but differ from statistics on the educational attainment of the population in countries where individuals with PhD degrees obtained abroad are included.

Accessibility and clarity

In the StatBank, these statistics can be found under the subject PhD programmes. For further information, go to the subject page. Tailor-made statistics is available via DST Consulting. Micro-data is accessible via Statistics Denmark's Research Services