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Previous research has underscored the importance of understanding the mechanisms that underpin the academic motivation of PhD students. This understanding is crucial for enhancing their educational experience and program completion rates. Based on self-determination theory, this person-centered study first investigated PhD students’ motivation profiles defined on their types of academic motivations. Second, we explored associations between these profiles and various predictors (need satisfaction and support) and educational outcomes (persistence, satisfaction, future intentions, and performance). Third, we systematically tested the similarity of these profiles and their associations with predictors and outcomes across subgroups of students based on sex, field of study, citizenship, and program progression. Using a sample of 1060 Canadian PhD students, four distinct profiles emerged from the latent profile …