ABSTRACT
This chapter considers how types and numbers of doctoral programmes have increased since inception of the original ‘apprentice–master’ model of obtaining a PhD. Some of the expansion has focused on professional interests of individuals, while others are more focused on research endeavours driven by government or societal aspirations. However, this expansion has also created serious questions over quality and sustainability. As the number of doctoral graduates grows ever bigger and many struggle to find the types of employment they’d hoped for, this is combined with more philosophical questions over the purpose of doctoral education and what its future should be.
