Evaluating the effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on the academic life of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences of UNICAMP’s postgraduate students

Abstract

Introduction and Objective: Several determinants related to the COVID-19 pandemic, such as the closure of laboratories and the suspension of fieldwork, led to changes in schedules and research objectives, extending the academic careers of graduate students; therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the compliance with academic deadlines among graduate students at the Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas affected by the pandemic. Methodology: A database was developed with 191 academic records containing dates of enrollment, qualification exam approval, and defense, categorized into five cohorts (A to E) based on their enrollment period and the amount of additional time granted. Results: Students in the groups affected by the pandemic (B, C, and D) took ten to fifteen months longer to complete their qualification exams and defenses compared to the unaffected groups (A and E), though a comparison of PhD groups will only be feasible starting in 2026. Conclusion: The granting of additional time allowed most graduate students affected by the COVID-19 pandemic to successfully complete their programs.