Outside academia, people aren’t well informed about PhD research – and that’s a problem

Around 1% of the global population has a PhD. It’s the highest academic qualification, the result of years spent on original research. But – and this is a question that many PhD students will have faced, at some time or another – what’s the point?

The number of PhDs being undertaken globally is rising. Around a fifth of all PhDs studied for by UK students are funded through UK Research and Innovation, a governmental public body that directs funding for research from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.

Given the ongoing cost of living crisis, alongside significant public investment in PhD programmes by UK research councils, it feels vital that the wider public is engaged in how public funds are used.

PhDs play a key role in furthering global research. Students undertake advanced research training as part of their doctorate, developing skills that can be used to support innovation and complex problem-solving across different countries, industries and sectors.

PhD graduates enjoy a greater earning potential than other graduates or non-graduates, providing a labour market advantage in a competitive global employment market. Those who teach in universities after their PhD educate undergraduates, equipping them with the knowledge and skills needed to make scientific, civic and cultural contributions to society.

These benefits are acknowledged in UK government policies, with evidence that PhDs make a significant contribution to the UK economy. But there is a clear gap between the broad economic and personal benefits of PhDs and how the wider public perceive them.

A 2025 report on public attitudes to science showed low public awareness of how research is funded. The wider research system and how PhDs fit within it are also not well understood.

In a new research report based on focus groups with Nottinghamshire residents, I explored people’s views on the purpose of PhDs and the extent to which they were seen as valuable.

The people I talked to were quick to recognise the potential benefits for those studying PhDs, such as the social status and career-related advantages. They found it harder to identify how PhD programmes could bring benefits for society more widely. Within my focus groups, there was little understanding that UK taxpayers had a role in funding PhDs.

PhDs v the ‘real world’

While the potential of PhD research to contribute to public good was acknowledged by some participants, particularly in relation to medical and pharmaceutical developments, my research identified limited public awareness of the outcomes of most PhDs. This was linked to concerns about how research findings are shared with those outside universities.

What stood out was the disconnect perceived between the “academic” and “real” world. Even people who had university degrees used phrases like “navel-gazing”, “ivory tower” or “academic waffle” within wider comments. This was linked to a perception that knowledge gained through PhDs was often not shared or made accessible to those beyond universities, and could be “left in a drawer”, “on a bookshelf” or “behind a paywall”.

Even where people had known individuals in their profession or extended social circles who had a PhD, they were often unable to describe what the research had found, or identify any outcomes. They saw this as problematic.

Despite some scepticism, residents were keen to understand more about PhD research being undertaken by researchers locally. They wanted to learn about projects that related to issues in their communities such as crime, pollution and housing. Yet they felt that they had few opportunities to learn about, or participate in, research happening in their local areas.

This reinforces findings from a recent report from the Campaign for Science and Engineering, a charity which advocates for research and development in the UK. This report highlights how many struggle to see any benefits of research in their daily lives – especially those from lower socioeconomic groups.

The future of the PhD – time for a reset?

My research highlights the distance that local people feel from the research being undertaken in their communities, and the lack of information for the public about PhDs.

I carry out work for the Collaboratory Research Hub. This is a programme involving 5 universities in the Midlands which support PhDs designed to address local challenges, co-created by academics and community partners. We actively involve the public in these projects. One example is Local Voices in Research, which gathers insights from local communities to inform research priorities. It also aims to recruit local people with professional, community-based experience, to do PhD projects.

We hope that this may shift PhDs towards a clearer focus on public good, a conversation which we hope to have on an international scale.

Of course, the creation of new knowledge that furthers human understanding through curiosity-driven, “blue-sky” research has implications for public good that are not always clear from the outset.

But my work highlights the need for universities, funders and researchers to work harder to demonstrate the value and relevance of their research to those beyond their immediate reach. This could include engaging with members of local communities and using public spaces to share findings, offering opportunities to contribute to research priorities, and involving people in research in meaningful ways.

Rachel Handforth receives funding from Society for Research in Higher Education. https://srhe.ac.uk/