Differences in achievement and learning experiences between doctoral and non-doctoral graduate students from a general and subject-specific perspective

After finishing graduate school, students in Germany have to decide whether to pursue a doctorate. In the literature several aspects are discussed which influence this decision. These factors include, among others, academic achievement, and science-based experiences. The present study investigates differences in these characteristics between doctoral and non-doctoral students. We compared graduates of both groups (N = 2214) in a large longitudinal study, taking a general perspective but also probing for domain-specific differences. The study points out that doctoral and non-doctoral students differed in particular by academic achievement, time invested in self-study, work experience as research assistants and scientific tutors as well as type of secondary school and tertiary institutions attended. In addition, despite some exceptions, the findings suggest rather consistent differences between doctoral and non-doctoral students, appearing largely generalizable across disciplines.