The authors present a case study of the Lobachevsky State University of Nizhni Novgorod concerning the motivation and professional plans of postgraduate students, as well as the factors that influence their choice of an academic career. Peculiarities of professional interests of postgraduate students enrolled in natural sciences, social sciences and humanities programs are considered. Research method: a standardized on-line questionnaire survey of postgraduate students (N = 427). The sample adequately reflects the proportions of the university's doctoral school by subject, age and gender. It was established that the previous experience of studying at the same university, the reputation of a faculty or a specific doctoral program play the main role among the factors that determine the choice of the university when students enroll in the doctoral school. Over 80 % of postgraduate students did not consider other universities as a possible place of study. It was also found that the focus on professional activities in the field of science and higher education clearly expressed at the beginning of training can change in the course of studies. The proportion of postgraduate students who retain their steady focus on academic professions essentially depends on the area of studies and amounts to an average of about 55 %. Postgraduate students who study in social sciences and humanities often switch to a «non-academic» career path, since they are not ready for territorial mobility. The authors substantiate their conclusion that the low level of territorial mobility is one of the key factors that reduce the effectiveness of the institution of doctoral education in relation to the implementation of its main function of reproducing the human potential of science and higher education. Following the analysis of empirical data, possible measures aimed at increasing the effectiveness of doctoral programs are discussed: developing a system of grant support for dissertational research, enhancing the links between dis-sertational subjects and major research projects, diversification of doctoral programs, introducing professional degrees into the legal framework (for example, in such fields as public administration, management and business, jurisprudence, education). The results of this research may be of interest to academic and administrative personnel of higher educational institutions involved in doctoral education management.