Supervision

19. Research students should be left in no doubt as to what is required of them. In particular, it must be emphasised that a thesis should be the student’s own work and that, within the framework of supervision, students have the responsibility for bringing forward and developing their own ideas. A clear understanding between student and supervisor needs to be established at an early stage about the supervisor’s responsibilities in relation to the student’s written submissions. The understanding must cover the nature of guidance or comment a supervisor will offer within the general principle that a thesis must be the student’s own work.

20. Supervisors should ensure that all students understand the requirements of the degree for which they will be registered. Particular care should be taken to ensure that international students, whether registered full-time or part-time resident overseas, fully understand the concept of a British research degree, particularly requirements relating to originality and the viva voce examination associated with research degrees.

21. In the case of part-time students resident outside of the local region supervisors should ensure that there are adequate means available whereby formal consultation can take place on a regular basis. Use should be made of all forms of technology, such as e-mail to facilitate this process. Supervision should take place on a regular basis and may include visits by the student to the University or by the supervisor to the student as appropriate. Individual programmes may also have requirements for attendance at residential schools.

22. Where students are undertaking research as part of a team the supervisor should ensure that students are fully aware of how their own research fits into the group as a whole. It may be particularly useful to arrange regular meetings to review the relationship between individual and group research.

23. The responsibilities of the supervisor include:

• a) emphasising to the student the need for familiarity with the code of practice and postgraduate regulations
• b) giving guidance about:
• - the nature of research and standard expected
• - the planning of the research programme
• - literature and sources
• - attendance at taught classes, including the research training programme
• - requisite techniques (including arranging for instruction where necessary)
• - the need to develop oral and written communication skills
• - the problems of plagiarism (including drawing attention to the appropriate regulations)
• c) monitoring the progress of the research through regular consultations in accordance with departmental and University policy, and in light of discussion of arrangements with the student
• d) being accessible at mutually convenient times when the student may need advice
• e) giving detailed advice on the necessary completion dates of successive stages of the work so that the whole may be submitted within the scheduled time. The planning of the research programme should anticipate a final draft of the thesis being prepared by the end of a three-year period of full time research or an equivalent period for part-time study
• f) emphasising the importance of timely submission both in terms of good academic practice and in relationship to University and research council requirements and explaining the consequences of failing to meet the appropriate deadlines
• g) requesting written work as appropriate, and returning such work with constructive criticism and in reasonable time
• h) reading the whole of the final draft of the thesis, giving advice about appropriate length and ensuring that the thesis complies with regulations on the length of theses
• i) arranging as appropriate for students to talk about their work to staff or at graduate seminars, and to have practice in oral presentations, bearing in mind the demands of the oral examination
• j) ensuring that the student is made aware of inadequacy of progress or of standards of work below that generally expected. If at any time the supervisor is of the opinion that the student is unlikely to achieve the degree for which the student is registered, the supervisor must notify the Head of Department in writing without delay

24. The responsibilities of the student include:

• a) familiarising themselves with this code of practice and postgraduate regulations
• b) taking the initiative in raising problems or difficulties, however elementary they may seem
• c) discussing with the supervisor the type of guidance and comment found most helpful
• d) agreeing a mutually convenient schedule of meetings
• e) attending the research training programme and any other taught classes as required by the department
• f) maintaining and sustaining the progress of the work in accordance with the stages agreed with the supervisor, including in particular the prompt presentation of material, written in good, clear English, as required in sufficient time for comments and discussion before proceeding to the next stage (in this context written material includes interim reports, drafts of theses, running commentaries on the evolution of the argument, appraisal of written sources, laboratory results)
• g) complying with departmental reporting procedures and providing an annual progress report to the Graduate School
• h) taking the initiative to contact other students in the research area and arrange and take part in informal discussions alongside more formal research activities
• i) deciding when to submit the completed thesis, taking due account of the supervisor’s opinion which is, however, advisory only. The supervisor’s support of the decision to submit must not be taken as any guarantee that the degree sought will in fact be awarded. The recommendation to award rests entirely with the examiners
• j) ensuring that the thesis complies with all regulations including those relating to format and maximum lengths
• k) ensuring timely submission of the thesis to comply with University and Research Council requirements

25. Each Head of Department must appoint a Postgraduate Tutor. In order to avoid conflict of interests where students are supervised by the department’s Postgraduate Tutor, the Head of Department should appoint another member of staff as postgraduate tutor for these students. The Postgraduate Tutor works with the Head of Department to negotiate and meet the University’s admissions targets for research students and is responsible for assisting with the building and maintenance of the critical mass of research students within the Department. The Postgraduate Tutor will be responsible for:

• research student recruitment, including seeking supervisors and thesis committee members
• establishing and organising departmental progress monitoring procedures
• coordinating annual assessments and reports to the Graduate Office, particularly the transfer of registration at the end of the APG period
• working with supervisors to ensure timely completion and thesis submission
• ensuring that research students follow University regulations and any requirements specified by funding bodies, such as the Research Councils
• monitoring student participation in research training during the APG period
• implementing and monitoring the effectiveness of this Code of Practice within the department
• overall pastoral care of research students
• mediating on any disputes between supervisors and student
• acting on the student’s behalf before appropriate University authorities
• informing all postgraduate students of his/her functions and availability for consultation
• ensuring regularity of contact between supervisors and students