Accra, Sept 15 (The African Portal) – A Ghanaian lecturer has said that having the right supervisor matters more than a university’s global ranking when pursuing a PhD.
Dr Noel Nutsugah of the University of Media, Arts and Communication (UniMac) argued on social media that supervisors play the most decisive role in shaping doctoral studies.
“From my experience, the single most important factor is the kind of supervisor you get,” he said. “Some of the best ideas I had for my PhD did not come from formal sessions or supervisory meetings. They came from informal conversations over lunch.”
He added that supportive supervisors “push you to excel while also ensuring you do not burn out,” while poor supervision could make “even the best university or the most generous scholarship package feel like a burden.”
Dr Nutsugah urged prospective candidates to pay closer attention to supervisors’ track records, research interests and willingness to mentor, saying “the quality of your supervisor will make or break your PhD experience.”