This article investigates two aspects of the experience of communications
graduate students. It examines their relations with their departments and the
academic staff most close to their work (supervisors and mentors), and the
existence and impact of other factors, such as age and dependants, on the
duration of their studies. Despite the differences of the educational systems
and socio-economic factors between countries, the findings show that the
experience of the communications doctoral student is gender specific. To
that a number of factors may play an important role such as academic
environment and personal/private life commitments