Global transformations and doctoral agency: Cross-national perspectives on the evolving doctoral experience

Doctoral education (DE) has increasingly expanded beyond its traditional academic focus, incorporating professional skills development and employability. This study explores how national and institutional contexts shape doctoral candidates’ agency in navigating global transformations in DE. A qualitative analysis of data from 42 candidates from Portugal, Germany, and Australia, revealed five key themes: Competency Development, Institutional Expectations, Precarity, Hope–Student-led Adaptation, and Value of the PhD. These themes illustrate how candidates navigate and respond to global shifts in DE, not only by adapting but also by actively influencing their doctoral experiences and career trajectories. The findings reveal that while structural transformations and national labour market conditions shape DE, doctoral candidates actively negotiate these constraints. The study underscores the need for further research, as well as policy and institutional interventions that support candidates’ agency and better align doctoral training with the evolving career paths they now pursue.