Academic Regulations Governing Postgraduate Degrees by Research and Thesis

5. Supervision of Programmes of Research

1. Each Postgraduate student will have a suitably qualified principal supervisor and auxiliary supervisor, appointed by Academic Council, whose responsibility will be to supervise the student on a regular and frequent basis. Academic staff who undertake the supervision of postgraduate research PhD students are themselves required to hold a PhD, Professorship or Associate Professorship in an area cognate to the proposed area of research. Members of academic staff undertaking the supervision of postgraduate research masters students are themselves required to hold at least a masters qualification in an area cognate to the proposed area of research (see 5.3. below).
2. Supervisors of postgraduate research students should not act as the internal examiner in the examination of research theses for students registered under their supervision. Postgraduate research supervisors may attend viva voce examinations, but should not participate in the examination unless an issue arises which demands their input. An internal colleague with, normally, as a minimum, a broad knowledge of the area of research should be invited to act as Internal Examiner.
3. Where collaboration has been arranged between the University/College and another establishment (see paragraph 1.9 above), an External Supervisor from the co-operating establishment may be appointed, with the approval of Academic Council.
4. The responsibilities of the supervisor(s) shall be:
   • to advise the student on the selection of the research topic and the nature and quality of the programme of research to be undertaken;
   • to ensure that the student acquires training in the methodology of research and scholarship and in the skills necessary for sustained independent effort;
   • to provide contact and guidance through regular and systematic meetings; to request regular written submissions as appropriate and to provide constructive evaluation and criticism in reasonable time;
   • to ensure that the student is made aware of any inadequacies of progress or standards below that expected for the degree registered and where necessary, to advise on withdrawal from the programme;
   • to liaise with the external supervisor of the co-operating establishment;
   • to advise on the methodology and form of presentation of the thesis and its subsequent examination;
   • to advise the Registry, through the submission of annual written reports, of the candidate's progress. These reports should include details of the frequency of contact maintained with the candidate and an appraisal of the progress of the work to date..
5. Change of Supervisor(s)
   Changes in supervisory arrangements must normally be made where there is agreement between the internal supervisor(s), the student, the proposed internal supervisor(s) and Head of School/Department (or his/her nominee), and on approval by Academic Council Standing Committee. All requests for a change of supervisor must be made on the appropriate form (R-103). In the event that such agreement cannot be reached, the student, internal supervisor(s), proposed internal supervisor(s) or Head of School/Department may refer the matter to the Registrar for arbitration. Where a postgraduate research student is being supervised by a member of staff who is due to retire from the University during the student's programme of study, an additional Internal Supervisor should be appointed and approved by Academic Council Standing Committee when the decision to retire is known. The additional supervisor should become the principal supervisor and should not normally be the Internal Examiner.
6. Supervisor/Student Relationship
   Where difficulties arise within a supervisor/student relationship every effort should be made at Faculty/ Department and School level to resume a reasonable working relationship. However, if a resolution is not possible at this level, either party may refer the matter to the Registrar for arbitration. Explanatory submissions should be made in writing.

 

 

Last Updated: Tuesday February 26 2008