‘It can be an unsettling experience’ : What do master’s dissertation supervisors actually do? - NET2017 Conference

Undertaking a master’s level dissertation can be a challenging experience for students during which they learn to question the existing evidence base for their discipline and apply it in a new and meaningful way. The guidance of an interested supportive academic can be invaluable and the alternative; an unengaged or elusive supervisor can result in student isolation frustration and lack of progress. The role is acknowledged to be a key one within higher education internationally however preparation for this responsibility is variable and there is relatively little research into this aspect of academic practice (Bamber 2015; Bruce and Stoodley 2013).