Hello,

I'm an international student and have received a partial studentship to purse my PhD, which means I get a stipend but still have to pay a part of tuition fees.
I had a rocky start, all because the university's research department is very disorganized. I had a proposal, the one that granted me the funding, and they made me change topics, locus, everything. I went from Cross-cultural management to entrepreneurship. All without having a supervisor. After I delivered a short proposal in entrepreneurship I still had to wait 2 weeks to finally have a supervisor assigned to my project.

When I met my current supervisor, all went well. I started developing the proposal further, as well as the research questions, following his tips and advice closely. It's been only 6 weeks since the program edffectively started for me and I was happy, he had complimented my progress, ideas and critical thinking. I have been basically doing everything he told me to do, keeping up the good work. It was all fine until he assigned a second supervisor, his subordinate in the department to work with me. She has NEVER supervised anyone.

The first meeting with the 3 of us was a total shock to me. He changed everything he had previously said to me. Literally everything in order to agree with her. suggestions. I asked him several times during the meeting, "But Dr., in our previous meetings you told me to not use that approach" or "Dr. remember you specifically told me not to follow that route?", etc. because I was so confused. His responses? "Well, that's not really what I said." and "She is raising an important point." I was confused, hurt and in shock. It's the only way I can describe it.

It was like he had a whole new personality. She is basically now in charge. Not only her approach and advice don't fit into my proposal, but she refutes any suggestion or points I make. For example, I showed him a book I started reading about authoring skills on a PhD. She told him right away: I don't like that book, she needs to read a different one, I'll let her borrow mine.

Well, that was only the first meeting. You can imagine how I'm feeling. Please, can someone advise? I'm already feeling so down-hearted after this. Don't know what to do. Help.

PS: I apologize for the typos... This situation is really getting to me, I can't even type about it apparently lol

I think this is quite normal. You will often find that academics tell you one thing one week and something totally different the next. You are going to have to learn to get on with both of your supervisors and accept that your opinions may differ. It's best just to do what they say at first and then when they get to know you and know what you are capable of they will start to allow you to make decisions.

Yeh, I agree. It can be annoying but just swallow it and move on when it happens. Annoying but it will probably get better as they get to know you etc and you take more of your own charge as ToL says.