This article draws on a research project about the transition from PhD student to academic (British Academy-Leverhulme research grant, 2020-2022). Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 26 recent PhD graduates and six PhD supervisors. Transcripts were subjected to a thematic analysis. On a theoretical level, the article is informed by…

The concept of acknowledging students' interests -- both what they may be interested in and what is in their interest -- is gaining increasing purchase in the new competitive economy of higher education. In addition to the obvious benefits of boosting student success in higher education institutions (HEIs), there are well-established educational…

In recent decades the doctorate and its purposes have undergone fundamental change. The scholarly model has evolved from one of 'apprentice' to independent, supported learner and the doctoral training process has been revolutionised; many candidates now experience cohort-based, structured research. The UK's final PhD examination, however, has…

Increasing numbers of UK students now seek mental health support while at university. Clear evidence for the best configuration of student support services is lacking. Most service evaluations have focused on counselling -- with little evaluation of low-intensity support services such as non-clinical mental health and well-being teams or student…

The last two decades have seen increased attention given to the role of space within the university campus, with numerous new learning spaces forming part of both the physical and the digital campus. Much of the focus of how these spaces work to create supportive learning environments has been on undergraduate teaching. However, these spaces offer…

Support provided by the research advisor is understood to be one of the keys to success in higher-level studies. However, support remains a construct operationalised in many different ways, making it difficult to prescribe those behaviours supervisors should adopt or abandon to optimise support offered to students. This self-report study examines…

With the increasing demand for doctoral education, co-supervision, understood as the formally agreed supervision of a research student by two or more academics in doctoral programmes, has become common practice in postgraduate circles in the UK. If supervision with one supervisor is complex due to personal, academic, ethical and sometimes…

"Terra Cognita" surveys the current landscape of archival research and the experiences of emerging scholars seeking to navigate it. Drawing on data from the Council on Library and Information Resources' (CLIR's) Mellon Fellowships for Dissertation Research in Original Sources, the report takes an in-depth look at how the conditions and…

The complex task of "writing up" qualitative data provides difficulties and challenges for both doctoral candidates and their supervisors, which can often result in detrimental effects on the supervisory relationship. These effects can be heightened by the pressures currently felt by supervisors, not least to ensure their supervisees…

This study examines existing research in the field of language learning advising (LLA) with the aim of establishing a professional validation framework which can inform the development of a systematic and structured preparation of language learning advisers with appropriate associated authority. The role of language learning advisers emerged about…

This article is part of a larger study which presents findings from an in-depth longitudinal case study of a student's Ph.D. journey. It shows how criticism is produced and managed in the supervisory relationship. As well as an overview of types of criticism produced across a range of supervisory interactions, the article presents a micro-analysis…

Through a substantive grounded theory case study emerged conceptual categories related to the craft of experienced graduate research supervision: temporal-futurizing, ruling-requiring, motivating-alliancing, critiquing-comprehending, intellectualizing-presiding. These were compared with the qualities of novice supervisors. (Contains 41…

This article examines the contribution of language learning advisers to the creation of synergy in specific learning spaces and considers advisers' roles in relation to the development of successful learner self-management (LSM). Starting with an historical overview of the evolution of the self-access centre at the University of Hull, the article…

A discussion of Britain's regulation that master's and doctoral degree candidates must have two or three program supervisors identifies four potential problems: fragmentation of supervisory responsibilities; conflicting advice; unproductive games; and absence of overall perspective on the thesis. Experience with an improved, team approach is…

Examines some fundamental assumptions that have informed recent policy on doctoral research in the United Kingdom in light of empirical, quantitative research on doctoral supervisors and their students, and argues those assumptions are insensitive to significant differences between academic cultures of different disciplines. Looks at issues of…