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  • © 2020

The Hidden Curriculum in Doctoral Education

  • Unveils the concept of the 'hidden curriculum' within doctoral education

  • Emphasises the importance not only of academic support, but the unseen exchange of knowledge and support within and beyond the academy

  • Draw up a framework for new model aiming to structure learning and maintain wellbeing by utilising the structures of both the formal and hidden curricula

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Table of contents (9 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xix
  2. The Hidden Curriculum in Doctoral Contexts

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 1-1
    2. What Is the Hidden Curriculum?

      • Dely L. Elliot, Søren S. E. Bengtsen, Kay Guccione, Sofie Kobayashi
      Pages 3-16
    3. Exposing the Hidden Curriculum in the Context of Doctoral Education

      • Dely L. Elliot, Søren S. E. Bengtsen, Kay Guccione, Sofie Kobayashi
      Pages 17-28
    4. Recognising the Hidden Curriculum Within International Doctoral Education

      • Dely L. Elliot, Søren S. E. Bengtsen, Kay Guccione, Sofie Kobayashi
      Pages 29-41
  3. The Hidden Facets and Players in the Formal and Informal Doctoral Curriculum

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 43-43
    2. Navigating the Hidden Curriculum: A Person-Centred Approach to Developing Doctoral Researchers

      • Dely L. Elliot, Søren S. E. Bengtsen, Kay Guccione, Sofie Kobayashi
      Pages 45-60
    3. Personal Pursuit of the Hidden Curriculum, Value, Choice, and Ownership

      • Dely L. Elliot, Søren S. E. Bengtsen, Kay Guccione, Sofie Kobayashi
      Pages 61-76
    4. Harnessing the Hidden Curriculum, Adopting and Adapting

      • Dely L. Elliot, Søren S. E. Bengtsen, Kay Guccione, Sofie Kobayashi
      Pages 77-94
  4. The Hidden Curriculum and Wider Doctoral Learning Ecology

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 95-95
    2. A ‘Doctoral Learning Ecology Model’

      • Dely L. Elliot, Søren S. E. Bengtsen, Kay Guccione, Sofie Kobayashi
      Pages 97-111
    3. The Hidden Curriculum: Educational Pillars for Doctoral Researchers’ Meaningful Experience and Successful Completion

      • Dely L. Elliot, Søren S. E. Bengtsen, Kay Guccione, Sofie Kobayashi
      Pages 113-127
    4. Beyond Surviving: Towards Thriving in Doctoral Education

      • Dely L. Elliot, Søren S. E. Bengtsen, Kay Guccione, Sofie Kobayashi
      Pages 129-145
  5. Back Matter

    Pages 147-156

About this book

This book explores the concept of the ‘hidden curriculum’ within doctoral education. It highlights the unofficial channels of genuine learning typically acquired by doctoral students independent of the physical and metaphorical walls of academia. The doctorate is a huge and complex undertaking which requires a range of support beyond academic foundations. The exchange between official and hidden curricula is therefore key, not just for achieving the qualification, but to also achieve transformative growth. This book offers a framework for a ‘doctoral learning ecology model’ to scaffold learning and sustain wellbeing by leveraging both formal and hidden curricula. This illuminating book will be of interest and value to doctoral researchers, supervisors, and mentors.

Authors and Affiliations

  • School of Education, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK

    Dely L. Elliot

  • Centre for Teaching Development and Digital Media, Aarhus University, Aarhus C, Denmark

    Søren S. E. Bengtsen

  • Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, UK

    Kay Guccione

  • University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Sofie Kobayashi

About the authors

Dely Lazarte Elliot is Senior Lecturer in the School of Education at the University of Glasgow, UK. With an interdisciplinary background in education, counselling psychology and psychology of education, her research specialises in the experiences of international doctoral researchers. 


Søren S.E. Bengtsen is Associate Professor in Supervision and Mentoring in Higher Education at Aarhus University, Denmark. He also serves as the Deputy Director at the Centre for Higher Education Futures, a research centre at Aarhus University. 


Kay Guccione is Senior Lecturer at Glasgow Caledonian University, UK. Her research specialises in mentoring for academic development, and she has published on trust, early supervisor development, the ‘value’ of the doctorate and supporting research writing through mentoring. 


Sofie Kobayashi is Researcher in higher education research at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark. She specialises in PhD education and supervision, and her research is both informed and informs her teaching and development work. 



Bibliographic Information

  • Book Title: The Hidden Curriculum in Doctoral Education

  • Authors: Dely L. Elliot, Søren S. E. Bengtsen, Kay Guccione, Sofie Kobayashi

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-41497-9

  • Publisher: Palgrave Pivot Cham

  • eBook Packages: Education, Education (R0)

  • Copyright Information: The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020

  • Hardcover ISBN: 978-3-030-41496-2Published: 28 March 2020

  • Softcover ISBN: 978-3-030-41499-3Published: 28 March 2021

  • eBook ISBN: 978-3-030-41497-9Published: 27 March 2020

  • Edition Number: 1

  • Number of Pages: XIX, 156

  • Number of Illustrations: 10 b/w illustrations

  • Topics: Higher Education, Curriculum Studies, Studying abroad, Thesis and Dissertation, International and Comparative Education

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 69.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book USD 69.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access