There are fewer doctoral students in Moldova with every year passing. For example, last year their number dropped by about 100 to some 1,500 students, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.
Of the total number of doctoral students, 98% followed third-cycle programs as per the Bologna Process, and three-thirds of the total attended part-time programs. Nearly 56% are women.
Social and economic sciences accounted for half of the total doctoral students, with law being the most popular in this field (35%). The least popular studies are engineering and technology, and agricultural sciences.
Most doctoral students, some 62%, are 34 years old or younger.
In 2018, over 63% of the total doctoral students had their tuition covered by the state budget, as the number of contract-based students dropped by more than 15%.
317 graduates earned doctor’s degrees last year, compared to 410 graduates in 2017.
At the same time, 36 followed post-doctoral education, with 22 new students enrolled, and 11 graduates. Two thirds of post-doctoral students were women.
