Factors Affecting the Completion of Studies Beyond the Timeframe of Doctoral Students in Performing Arts, Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts, Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University, Year 2025

Abstract

This study aimed to (1) investigate the problems and factors contributing to delayed graduation among students enrolled in the Doctor of Philosophy Program in Performing Arts, Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts, Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University, and (2) pro pose solutions to address the issue of graduation beyond the prescribed timeframe. A mixed -methods research design was employed, incorporating both quantitative and qualitative approaches. The sample consisted of doctoral students who had completed the required three-year study period but had not yet graduated. Quantitative data were collected from 35 international doctoral students from China through questionnaires, while qualitative data were obtained from unstructured interviews with six Thai doctoral students. The findings revealed that personal factors were the most influential contributors to delayed graduation, with an overall mean score of 3.08, indicating a moderate level of impact. Factors related to the curriculum and the students’ environment were found to have a lower level of impact, with mean scores of 2.19 and 2.31, respectively. Based on the findings, the primary solutions include revising the curriculum to adopt Plan 2.1 for students enrolled from the 2024 academic year onward, which integr ates coursework with thesis development, as well as organizing annual orientation programs to ensure that students clearly understand university regulations and graduation requirements.