Sweden

Swedish law requires all doctoral students to be co-supervised. Individuals seeking to become primary supervisors are required to complete doctoral supervision training programs to ensure they are equipped with necessary competencies to guide doctoral students. This chapter uses interviews, surveys, and documents to explore co-supervision and the experiences of co-supervisors, providing insights and comparing to global practices. We provide a historical overview of co-supervison in Sweden, covering its development over the past 70 years. We then analyse different types of supervision in terms of involvement and formality. Next then describe the contextual setting by examining supervision guidelines, supervisors’ role expectations, and work allocation. We then explore the definition, application, experience, and regulation of co-supervison in Sweden. Drawing from this analysis, we showcase successful instances of co-supervison in Sweden and address the associated challenges. This chapter offers a thorough examination of co-supervision practices, encompassing their historical origins, present implementation, and prospective advancements.