SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY
INSTITUTIONAL RESEARCH AND PLANNING
Graduate Student Exit Survey
Prepared by
Wayne Sun
July 2013
2013-07-10
Graduate Student Exit Survey: Summary of Results
Page 2
Summary of Results
Simon Fraser University’s Office of Graduate Studies conducted a survey to investigate
how alumni felt about their SFU graduate student experience. Participants were asked
about their satisfaction at SFU, their experiences, the value of their SFU degree, their
employment, and their involvement with SFU since graduating.
The survey was administered to all 763 SFU graduate student alumni whose convocation
was held in June 2012 and all 500 SFU graduate student alumni whose convocation was
held in October 2012. The survey was administered to each group six months after
graduation. In all, 460 students participated in the surveys, yielding an overall response
rate of 36.4%. Statistics provided below are estimates based on survey respondents,
assuming that the sample is representative proportions calculated on all respondents
are accurate within ±3.7%, 19 times out of 20.
Highlights
Overall Graduate Experience
•
•
•
•
91% of respondents are satisfied with the knowledge they acquired in their
graduate program.
88% of respondents are satisfied with the skills and abilities they acquired in
their program.
67% of respondents are satisfied with their graduate student life experience at
SFU.
85% of respondents are satisfied with their overall SFU graduate experience.
Satisfaction with Overall Graduate Experience at SFU
Percentage of Respondents
60%
49%
50%
40%
36%
30%
20%
11%
10%
3%
1%
0%
Very
Satisfied
Somewhat
Satisfied
Don't
Know/Undecided
Not Very
Satisfied
Not At
All Satisfied
Institutional Research and Planning, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC, Canada V5A 1S6
T 778.782.4661 | www.sfu.ca/irp
2013-07-10
•
Graduate Student Exit Survey: Summary of Results
Page 3
Over 70% of respondents would recommend SFU and/or their program.
% of Respondents Who Would Do The Following:
Select SFU if they were to start their graduate
career again
73%
Select the same academic unit/program if
they were to start their graduate career again
78%
Recommend SFU to someone considering
their program
80%
Recommend SFU to someone in another field
71%
0%
•
•
•
•
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
93% of respondents are satisfied that SFU faculty members are knowledgeable;
and 86% are satisfied with the quality of instruction they received.
82% of respondents are satisfied with their Faculty supervisor.
79% of respondents are satisfied with how relevant the content of their program
is to their professional goals; while 55% are satisfied with SFU support for
professional career development.
84-85% of respondents are satisfied with their academic experience and their
overall program.
Satisfaction with Professional Skills Development
•
60-68% of respondents are satisfied with various aspects of professional skills
development at SFU.
Institutional Research and Planning, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC, Canada V5A 1S6
T 778.782.4661 | www.sfu.ca/irp
2013-07-10
Graduate Student Exit Survey: Summary of Results
Page 4
Percent Satisfaction with Aspects of Professional Skills
Development
Internships,
practicums, or
experiential learning
34%
Training in
research methods
33%
29%
Opportunities for
interaction with
practicing
professionals
38%
24%
Preparation for
professional practice
37%
22%
0%
10%
37%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
Percentage of Respondents
Very Satisfied
Somewhat Satisfied
Familiarity with University Regulations and Expectations
•
76-84% of respondents knew and understood SFU’s graduate regulations relating
to their credential, and their department’s and supervisor’s expectations for
graduate students.
Institutional Research and Planning, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC, Canada V5A 1S6
T 778.782.4661 | www.sfu.ca/irp
80%
2013-07-10
Graduate Student Exit Survey: Summary of Results
Page 5
Familiarity with University Regulations and Expectations
The university's
graduate regulations
related to your credential
(e.g. max. degree
completion time)
35%
Your department's
expectations for
graduate students
40%
45%
Your supervisor's
expectations for
graduate students
8%
34%
62%
0%
20%
8%
22%
40%
16%
13%
5%
11%
60%
80%
Percentage of Respondents
Knew and discussed them with my supervisor
Knew/ Understood them but didn't discuss them with my supervisor
Heard of them but didn't understand them
Never heard/ didn't know about them
Value of SFU Graduate Experience
Participants were asked to rate (on a scale of 1 to 7, where 1 is “Not at All” and 7 is “To
a Great Extent”) the extent to which they valued various aspects of their SFU graduate
experience. The results are as follows:
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•
•
•
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71% of respondents felt their graduate experience was worth the financial
investment required (gave a score above the midpoint), while about 17% felt it
was not worth it (gave a score below the midpoint).
75% of respondents felt their graduate experience was worth the time they
invested, while 15% felt it was not worth it.
53% of respondents felt the training they received at SFU resulted in them
obtaining their current job, while 40% did not feel this way (27% felt that their
training did not at all result in them obtaining their current job).
65% of respondents felt an SFU graduate degree prepared them well for their
future career aspirations, while 22% did not feel this way.
About 52% of respondents felt they have developed a personal attachment to
SFU, while 33% felt they have not.
Institutional Research and Planning, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC, Canada V5A 1S6
T 778.782.4661 | www.sfu.ca/irp
100%
2013-07-10
Graduate Student Exit Survey: Summary of Results
Page 6
7–
To a
Great
Extent
6
5
4
3
2
1Not At
All
Was your graduate
experience
worth the financial
investment required?
29%
23%
19%
11%
9%
5%
4%
Was your graduate
experience
worth the time you
invested?
33%
24%
18%
10%
8%
4%
2%
Has the training you
received at SFU
resulted in you obtaining
your current job?
28%
15%
11%
7%
5%
7%
27%
Has an SFU graduate
degree prepared you
well for your future career
aspirations?
21%
27%
18%
13%
8%
6%
8%
To what extent have you
developed a personal
attachment to SFU?
19%
16%
17%
15%
9%
12%
12%
Aspect
•
•
•
•
31% of respondents felt that their SFU graduate experience increased their level
of engagement in civic events; 62% felt it had no effect on their level of
engagement.
36% of respondents felt their experience increased their level of engagement in
environmental sustainability.
48% of respondents felt it increased their level of engagement in social diversity
68% of respondents felt their SFU graduate experience increased their level of
engagement in lifelong learning (27% felt it increased it greatly and 41% felt it
increased it somewhat).
Institutional Research and Planning, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC, Canada V5A 1S6
T 778.782.4661 | www.sfu.ca/irp
2013-07-10
Graduate Student Exit Survey: Summary of Results
Page 7
Value of SFU Graduate Experiences in Preparing for Employment
Research with
a faculty member
37%
39%
Field research
34%
41%
Co-op, practicum,
or internship
33%
37%
Library
research skills
45%
24%
Service learning
(community service
as part of course)
or community
based research
34%
21%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Percentage of Respondents
Very Valuable
•
•
•
•
Somewhat Valuable
Over 70% of respondents felt that Co-op, practicum, or internships, field
research, and research with a faculty member were valuable in preparing them
for employment.
55% of respondents felt that service learning or community based research was
valuable in preparing them for employment.
Among respondents, 21-30% used career services (30%), the Teaching and
Learning Centre (21%), and the Dean of Graduate Studies Workshops (21%).
88% of respondents said they used library services. Of these respondents, 95%
said they were satisfied with the services.
Employment and Finances
•
•
More than twice as many respondents indicated that they worked off-campus
than on-campus.
41% of respondents were not regularly employed (at least 20 hours per week)
while they were doing their degree.
Institutional Research and Planning, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC, Canada V5A 1S6
T 778.782.4661 | www.sfu.ca/irp
2013-07-10
Graduate Student Exit Survey: Summary of Results
Page 8
Regular Employment During Completion of Degree
45%
41%
41%
Yes
(off-campus)
No
40%
35%
30%
25%
20%
19%
15%
10%
5%
0%
Yes
(on-campus)
Note: Regular employment means working at least 20 hours per week excluding teaching assistantships
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20% of respondents are currently pursuing a further academic degree or postdoctorate fellowship. Of these respondents:
o About 45% are pursuing a doctoral degree,
o 35% are doing post-doctorate research,
o 10% are pursuing a master’s degree,
o 5% are pursuing a professional degree, and
o 6% indicated “Other” including applying for PhD programs and looking for
post-doctorate work
Of the 80% of respondents who are not currently pursuing a further degree or
post-doctorate fellowship:
o 78% are not pursuing a designation, certificate, or qualification,
o 13% are pursuing a professional designation (e.g. CGA, CFA, P.Eng., etc.),
o 6% are pursuing a professional certification,
o 1% are currently pursuing a trades qualification, and
o 6% indicated “Other” including ESL certification, tutoring credential, and
considering or planning for further academic studies.
In addition:
o 74% of respondents indicated that they are currently employed full-time,
o 8% are currently employed part-time,
o 10% are currently unemployed and looking for work,
o 2% are unemployed and not looking for work, and
o 6% indicated their current employment status as “Other” including
contract work, volunteer work, and maternal leave.
Among respondents that are currently employed, 8% are self-employed.
Institutional Research and Planning, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC, Canada V5A 1S6
T 778.782.4661 | www.sfu.ca/irp
2013-07-10
Graduate Student Exit Survey: Summary of Results
Page 9
Annual Base Salary BEFORE Attending SFU
$0
14%
$1 - $25,000
9%
$25,001 - $50,000
36%
$50,001 - $75,000
30%
$75,001 - $100,000
10%
$100,001 and more
2%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
Percentage of Respondents
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•
•
54% of respondents indicated that they changed jobs since completing their SFU
graduate degree.
There is a definite shift in the percentage of respondents who earn more after
graduating from SFU; 42% of respondents earned over $50,000 before attending
SFU and 68% of respondents currently earn that much.
Similarly, the percentage of respondents earning over $75,000 per year almost
doubles from 12% to 22%.
Institutional Research and Planning, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC, Canada V5A 1S6
T 778.782.4661 | www.sfu.ca/irp
2013-07-10
Graduate Student Exit Survey: Summary of Results
Page 10
Current Annual Base Salary
$0
0%
$1 - $25,000
7%
$25,001 - $50,000
25%
$50,001 - $75,000
46%
$75,001 - $100,000
18%
$100,001 and more
4%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
45%
50%
Percentage of Respondents
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•
•
•
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Among those who are currently employed:
o 51% are in occupations in education, law and social, community and
government services
o 13% are in business, finance and administration occupations
o 12% are in natural and applied sciences and related occupations
o 9% are in health occupations
23% of employed respondents are currently in management roles.
17% are in academic positions, and of these, 46% have teaching appointments
and 20% are sessional instructors.
14% are in administrative positions (clerk, typist, etc.), executive positions, and
post-doctorate research positions.
The remaining 46% responded that they are in “Other” types of positions.
Among these respondents, of those who specified, 59% are in teaching positions.
•
81% of respondents indicated that their main job is related to their SFU graduate
program (43% indicating it is “Very Related”); while 19% felt it was not related.
•
82% of respondents indicated that their SFU graduate experience is useful in
their current work (40% indicating it is “Very Useful”); while 18% felt it was not
useful.
Institutional Research and Planning, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC, Canada V5A 1S6
T 778.782.4661 | www.sfu.ca/irp
2013-07-10
•
Graduate Student Exit Survey: Summary of Results
Participants were asked what their top three sources of financial support were
during their SFU graduate program. The results are as follows:
o Top source: 19% of respondents chose “Employment (other than
research assistant, teaching assistant, etc.)”, 15% chose “Personal
savings”, and 13% chose “Canadian research grant”.
o Second source: 18% of respondents chose “Personal savings”, 16% chose
“Teaching assistantship”, and 13% chose “Employment (other than
research assistant, teaching assistant, etc.)”.
o Third source: 17% of respondents chose “University funded award”, 14%
chose “Personal savings”, and 14% chose “Teaching assistantship”.
Alumni Engagement
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Page 11
90% of respondents have received SFU newsletters and other information (i.e.
SFU has their current contact information.)
21% of respondents have attended SFU events, such as SFU Open House or
Diwali.
18% of respondents indicated that they are a registered user of the online
Alumni Directory.
Institutional Research and Planning, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC, Canada V5A 1S6
T 778.782.4661 | www.sfu.ca/irp