This article discusses the learning of a supervisor of research degrees when the students are activists (people wishing and working to change things for the better in their work roles or social roles). It begins with responsibilities and then identifies such students’ needs and from them develops a set of freedoms and rights. They are freedoms to: express passionate concern; learn by discovery; read as required; write in the first person; and to writeas a story. The rights are to: emotional and intellectual support; an equality of regard; and a good debate with capable and respected examiners. Challenges to supervision are reached through these freedoms and rights. Finally, there are some questions that may be productive in thesupervision of activists.
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