Objective: The prolonged duration of graduate studies poses significant costs for both students and the educational system. This study aimed to evaluate the academic duration of master's degree students at the School of Health Management and Medical Informatics, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences.
Materials & Methods: This descriptive-analytical retrospective study included all master's degree students enrolled at the school between 2013 and 2020. A census sampling method was employed, with data collected through a comprehensive review of students' academic records and standardized checklists. Descriptive statistics, including mean and mode, were utilized for data analysis.
Results: Among the 148 students who defended their theses, the average academic duration until defense was 7.03 semesters (SD = 1.02), significantly exceeding the approved duration of 4 semesters. The mode of academic duration was also found to be 7 semesters, with all disciplines showing durations that surpassed the 4-semester benchmark.
Conclusion: Variability in academic duration across different disciplines, highlighting the need for a reevaluation of uniform policies that do not account for structural and individual differences among students.