A survey published by UC Berkeley’s Student Experience in the Research University, or SERU, Consortium took a closer look at how the COVID-19 pandemic may hinder graduate and professional students from completing their degrees on time.
The study, conducted from May to July 2020, surveyed 15,346 graduate and professional students at 10 public universities, and it found that 24% expected the pandemic to delay their graduation. Some difficulties included limited access to research and labs, distractions at home and inability to attend professional conferences, according to Krista Soria, SERU assistant director of research.
“It is important to understand that there are disparities in students’ obstacles to degree completion so that institutional leaders, faculty, and staff can respond by providing targeted resources to students who need them the most,” Soria said in an email. “The time it takes graduate and professional students to complete their degrees is important given th