Raising outcomes for racially minoritised women on doctoral degrees in England

Racially minoritised women remain significantly underrepresented and unevenly supported across doctoral education in England. Doctoral education plays a critical gatekeeping role in shaping the future workforce in academia and beyond. Strengthening doctoral pathways for racially minoritised women is central to research excellence, talent sustainability, institutional credibility and economic growth.

Evidence from Generation Delta highlights structural challenges: how opaque admissions processes, mystification of the doctoral journey, inconsistent supervisory practices, and limited culturally competent support cumulatively disadvantage racially minoritised women throughout doctoral study.

We identify five priority areas for action to address this challenge.