Leaving Ph.D.?

Text by Tijana Perovic

Editing by Olya Vvedenskaya and Julia Kolodiazhnaia

- What are the core challenges faced by Ph.D. students contemplating a change?

- How to evaluate your current situation and assess risks?

- What are useful reflective questions to clarify your goals and make decisions?

If you’ve clicked on this article, chances are it’s not the first time you’ve asked yourself the question, whether you should leave your Ph.D. It’s also quite probable that your Ph.D. journey isn’t going as smoothly as you had hoped. We want you to know you are not alone, and we are here to help you reflect on this tough decision. We would like to warn you that this text might be triggering.

Typically, scientific blogs discuss ways to survive and build resilience during a Ph.D., in order to obtain the degree. We can forget that, sometimes, the best possible solution is to leave the Ph.D. student position completely. This decision, in the vast majority of cases, is only possible for those whose financial survival and visa status do not depend on this Ph.D. position. For example, this is applicable to people coming from a position of privilege or having the opportunity to be financially supported by a spouse, a family, or the government. 

This article covers some aspects of the decision-making process when one is considering leaving the Ph.D. position without graduating. For example, one of the crucial things is to recognize whether you are experiencing burnout and if not dropping out, what else can be done to support your mental health. We also enlist power imbalance scenarios between you and your supervisor as a factor that could lead to a loss of trust and a decrease in your psychological safety. If still in doubt, or confusedly attached to your chosen path, you may check the list of reflective questions below that would hopefully shed light on your current situation and, ultimately, help you decide whether to leave your Ph.D. or not. Feel free to think about the answers by yourself or discuss the questions and answers with a trusted person.

0. Make sure that leaving your Ph.D. isn’t an impulsive decision. Take a moment to reflect — how many times have you asked yourself this exact question before? Is it a recurring thought, or is this the first time it’s crossed your mind?

1. Identify the exact problem(s) prompting you to consider leaving your Ph.D. What specific challenges are making you feel this way? Make a list of these problems, and consider what solutions you’ve already tried to address them.

2. Evaluate whether you are facing an immediately dangerous situation. Are you experiencing power abuse, harassment, or other harmful behavior from your supervisor or peers? Are you in severe emotional distress or a mental health crisis? If so, it’s crucial to remove yourself from the situation immediately — this might mean taking a vacation, sick leave, working from home or abroad — and reaching out for professional support immediately.

2a. If the situation is immediately dangerous, first, we want to express how deeply sorry we are that you’ve had to face such challenges. Once the immediate crisis has passed, consider the steps you’ll need to take to move forward. This might involve transitioning to a different supervisor or even leaving the Ph.D. program entirely. Identify the types of support you might require — financial, emotional, professional, health, or legal — and think about who might assist you, such as HR, the Grad School, Ph.D. representatives, an Ombudsperson, or a trusted former colleague or mentor.

2b. Even if the above-mentioned dangers do not apply to your situation, it does not mean that your concerns are not valid. Feeling frustrated, overwhelmed, or disillusioned with your Ph.D. is entirely valid, and these feelings deserve attention and reflection. Take the time to understand what is causing these emotions and consider what changes or support might help you move forward. The subsequent questions might be helpful with that. 

1. What are my core values that I won’t negotiate in a work environment, what are my deal-breakers? To what extent are these present or absent in my work environment or relationships with my PI and coworkers?

2. How do I connect to my intentions and aspirations now, and differentiate them from those I started with (n years ago)?

3. What were my reasons for starting a Ph.D. in the first place? Was obtaining a Ph.D. for me a tool to reach a bigger goal? Did this goal change, or did I become aware of other (more preferable methods) of achieving it?

4. Where do I see myself next year? Who am I with or without a Ph.D.?

5. Is there anyone in my near work environment that I feel safe sharing my struggles with, and who could advise me on how to overcome these challenges? Have they already advised me? Did it work? Can I rely on their support and understanding for the rest of my Ph.D.?

In many cases, supervisors, colleagues, or even friends may not realize the extent of your challenges unless you share them. If it feels safe to do so, consider whether opening up to someone — be it your supervisor, a trusted colleague, a mentor, or a friend — might help. However, this step isn’t suitable for all situations, especially if your concerns involve harmful or unsafe dynamics. Trust your judgment about whether sharing is appropriate for your circumstances.

6. Have I witnessed someone else in my work environment get emotionally manipulated, burnt out, or depressed? How did (or would) that make me feel? Thinking about this can help you gain perspective on whether your struggles are isolated or part of a larger systemic issue, and it may guide you in deciding your next steps.

7. Am I open to starting psychotherapy? If yes, why? If not, why? It is not uncommon for Ph.D. students, especially immigrants with insufficient knowledge of the local language, to feel financially unable to start psychotherapy, or unwilling to go through the tedious fight with the healthcare system or health insurance provider. However, many immigrant Ph.D. students open up to online psychotherapy with a therapist from their home country or an online, English-speaking psychotherapist.

8. In case psychotherapy is too unattainable for me, am I open to investing my free time into treating my mental and physical health better, to alleviate the effects of an unhealthy work dynamic? How will I do that (e.g. finding a community inside or outside of work, joining a peer-support group, introducing daily mindfulness exercises, personalized physical activity for my gentle state, etc)?

9. Do I believe that my supervisor or coworkers and I can work this out? Why or why not? If not, do I perceive a fundamental difference in our perspectives to be the cause, or an inability (of one or more sides) to navigate conflict?

10. Do I need support in leaving or staying in my Ph.D. position or changing groups or supervisors? Who can I ask to help me (e.g. HR, Grad School, PhD representatives, Ombudsperson, a former colleague or mentor)? Do I need financial, emotional, professional, health, or legal advice on my decision?

Sometimes, taking the time to consider your next steps can demystify the process and make it less stressful. Facing your fears—like imagining the worst-case scenario—can help you realize that even the most challenging outcomes are often manageable with the right support.

We hope that some of these questions can help guide Ph.D. students towards the right decision for themselves. Moreover, we hope to uplift and inspire current and future generations fighting to raise awareness of the importance of psychologically safe academic environments.

About Sci.STEPS

Sci.STEPS scientific mentoring program is designed to empower doctoral candidates in making informed decisions when it comes to selecting their next career step. Our program is tailored to provide guidance in such cases. Our experienced mentors will work closely with participants in a systematic long-term program or during short targeted consultations, helping them assess their options.