Supervision: what to expect
One of the most important elements of the postgraduate research experience is the supervisory team and we have devoted ourselves to ensuring that this is of an excellent standard and incorporates current best practice from around the University and beyond.
As a research student within the School of Medicine and Population Health you'll be assigned to the research group most relevant to your studies and will receive expert supervision in your chosen area. Most research groups run specialist seminar series, and there is an active research culture within the Faculty with many activities that you can attend.
Find a supervisorWe make sure that there is a good working relationship between you and your research supervisor(s). All our members of staff have been through the process of writing a thesis, are specifically trained in postgraduate research supervision and, in the vast majority of cases, will have successfully supervised numerous research students in the past. You'll be assigned a minimum of two supervisors. This enables you to get a wide breadth of skills and knowledge while ensuring regular contact with a staff member with particular expertise in your PhD topic area.
All supervisors are selected for their expertise and involvement in the appropriate field of study. This does not mean that supervisors already know all there is to know about the subjects they supervise, and the best supervisor-student relationships are those in which there is a two-way interaction of research and learning, and in which the student explores and gains insights into aspects of the subject which are stimulating to the supervisor as well. The relationship between student and supervisor is not static and most students find that as they become more familiar with their field of research they become less directly dependent on their supervisor.
Supervisors will assist you throughout your studies, including advising you on your Doctoral Training Programme.
The quality of supervision is monitored by PGR Leads and the Faculty’s Postgraduate Research Committee, which also organises training for staff to ensure they share best practice in supervising postgraduate research studies.