Overcoming impostor syndrome: an intercultural response to PhD candidature during the COVID-19 pandemic

This study investigates the impact of impostor syndrome on the academic progress of Indonesian international PhD students in Australia during the COVID-19 pandemic. Survey results showed that 45 per cent of 111 participants identified impostor syndrome as impacting their PhD progress. Applying positioning and agency theories, we draw from in-depth interviews to examine one participant’s lived experiences of imposter syndrome in detail. Critical analysis of her reflective narrative shows how she navigated cultural, religious, and academic identities to overcome impostor syndrome and successfully complete her PhD. We discovered that the supervisors’ unrealistic expectations of publication were a key trigger for this participant’s impostor syndrome and that pressures for academic publications increased during the pandemic. We also identify the need for more explicit university policies and realistic expectations for PhD students who pursue PhD by publication and for universities to raise mental health awareness of impostor syndrome during times of crisis.