ABSTRACT. Chinese students have comprised a large part of higher degree research students in several English speaking countries. Their supervision experiences, however, have not been fully examined. Using semi-structured interviews with 24 student participants, this study explores the supervision experiences of Chinese overseas doctoral students studying in New Zealand, particularly focusing on how they handle challenges and difficulties and how they develop themselves in the supervision process. The themes of agency and autonomy emerged, challenging the stereotype of Chinese international students with learning and social deficits. The students were not a homogeneous group. We argue it is not necessary to overemphasise the impact of cultural differences on the supervisory relationship and that sometimes personal characteristics are more significant than cultural factors in shaping supervision experiences. pp. 62–78

Keywords: Chinese overseas doctoral students; supervision experiences; agency; culture; personality traits

doi:10.22381/KC6120186