Abstract

Aims- This paper explores how professional doctorate candidates responded to the re-strictions and changed context of COVID-19. Using connectivism as a theoreti-cal framework, it explores the ways in which their patterns of study were recali-brated in light of the restrictions caused by the pandemic. Specifically, this study aims to: explore the experience of the professional doctorate student during the pandemic; and demonstrate the ways in which networks are recalibrated and adapt to changing circumstances.

Background- In 2020, in response to COVID-19 many countries, including the UK, went into lockdown resulting in most doctoral candidates being confined to their homes and restricted to online contact with peers and supervisors. Part-time students have a finely balanced pattern of work which was required to be recali-brated and refocused which required considerable adaptation on the part of the candidates.