“A small pawn in a big game”: an exploration of doctoral students’ experience of co-supervisory relationships

Co-supervision of doctoral theses is on the rise worldwide, but we know little relational dynamics co-supervisory team and student. These teams often must work together for several years, during which supervisors may come go. We interviewed 19 students about their experiences co-supervision found a complex climate characterised by prior relations, merit- network-gaining activities, ‘cushioning’ adopted to support student stressful periods. Doctoral viewed themselves as passive dependent – pawns in bigger game suggesting that might uphold traditionally strong hierarchical structure academia. therefore suggest all discuss roles supervision before commencing research project.