UZH Doctoral Supervision Survey 2025 — open until 25 November 2025
Eligible doctoral candidates receive their survey link by e-mail (subject: “UZH Doctoral Supervision Survey 2025”). Participation is anonymous, and results are analysed only in aggregated form.
If you have not received the survey link (for example due to communication settings in your UZH account), please contact: contact@grc.uzh.ch

The pilot project for quality assurance of PhD supervision at the University of Zurich includes a regular online survey of doctoral candidates (UZH Doctoral Supervision Survey) and runs for five years. The first survey was conducted in fall 2024.

In fall 2025, the second survey of the pilot project will take place. The project aims to ensure and continuously develop the quality of PhD supervision in the long term by introducing a standardized feedback mechanism. Its goals are to reinforce positive aspects of supervision and to identify and address potential challenges.

The survey results serve as a basis for promoting dialogue about PhD supervision at various levels at UZH and among the stakeholders involved.

The data is collected throughout the project and evaluated as soon as a sufficient data basis is available (“regular dormant evaluation”, seedata protection). 

The online survey is aimed at doctoral candidates from all faculties at UZH and is conducted each year in the Fall Semester. Participating doctoral candidates provide feedback on their supervision, working and research environment, and social environment at UZH.

The first part of the survey collects person-related feedback, similar to the teaching evaluation, i.e., feedback relating to specific supervisors or superiors.
The second part of the survey collects general feedback on doctoral experiences at UZH (seesurvey).

• Doctoral candidates participate voluntarily and anonymously and provide feedback on their supervision experiences, research environment, and social environment at UZH.

• Supervisors do not receive any direct data from the survey.

• Aggregated results are provided exclusively to the deans and – where at least ten fully completed responses per supervisor are available – may be discussed in faculty-level management meetings.

• Deans receive aggregated and strategically relevant assessments and discuss the findings, among other topics, in management meetings with professors.

The pilot project was designed and developed by a working group under the leadership of the Office of the Vice President Research. In addition to the Office of the Vice President Research, the Vice Dean of Research and Academic Career Development and other faculty representatives as well as the Graduate Campus and the VAUZ were also involved.