Demystifying postgraduate research delays: perceptions of graduate students in a selected public university

Postgraduate research delays continue to challenge higher education systems, particularly in developing countries such as Ghana. This study investigates postgraduate students’ perceptions of the factors contributing to these delays in a selected public university. Using a qualitative interpretivist approach, data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 25 participants, including delayed candidates, continuing students, and those who completed their programmes on time. The findings show that institutional inefficiencies, limited research support, and student-related constraints significantly contribute to delays. Bureaucratic bottlenecks, slow and inconsistent feedback from supervisors, and inadequate access to essential research resources emerged as dominant institutional issues. Supervisory challenges, such as high workload, weak mentorship, and irregular communication, were also identified as major barriers that hinder students’ progress. Some participants perceived gift-giving practices as potentially influencing supervisor responsiveness, though others attributed delays to broader systemic problems rather than personal incentives. Drawing on Institutional Theory and Social Exchange Theory, the study explains how structural constraints and interpersonal dynamics shape research timelines. The study recommends strengthened supervision policies, digital research monitoring systems, increased postgraduate funding, and improved research support structures. These interventions are vital for enhancing efficiency and promoting the timely completion of postgraduate research within Ghanaian universities.