Indigenous higher degree by research students’ retention and completion: a scoping review

Indigenous higher degree by research (HDR) students encounter persistent barriers within academia that impede their completion rates. This scoping review identified 17 papers published between 2016 and 2022 that relate to retention or completion rates of Indigenous HDR. Papers identified are from Australia, United States, New Zealand and Canada, and most of them have at least one Indigenous author. Two research questions guided this process: (1) What are the enablers that facilitate continuation and completion of HDR programs by Indigenous people? And (2) What barriers affect entry into, and completion of, HDR programs by Indigenous people? The review indicates a pressing need for enhanced support aimed at bolstering completion rates among Indigenous research students. What is required is prioritising various forms of assistance, including the provision of culturally responsive supervision, dedicated Indigenous staffed spaces, and a culturally secure environment that recognises and embraces Indigenous knowledge and perspectives.