Expectations of First Supervisors
EXPECTATIONS OF FIRST SUPERVISORS
This documentsets out the expectations of First Supervisors and includes details of sources of further information to support First Supervisors in their role.Faculties are responsible for monitoring the implementation of these expectations.
All supervisors should be aware of and refer to the following documents when advising research students:
The current version of:Research Degrees Regulations /
Research Degrees Handbook /
To obtain paper copies of theResearch Degrees Regulations,or versions required in special formats, please contact Lucy Allen ().
Expectation / Timing / Sources of InformationTo enhance your own supervisory skills and expertise:
attend Anglia Ruskin University’s Supervisor’s Development Workshop
complete compulsory ethics training
regularly update through attending supervisor CPD sessions and the Research Supervisor Conference / New supervisors at Anglia Ruskin University must attend the Supervisor’s Development Workshop within six months of their first appointment as a supervisor, and ethics training.
Potential supervisors are strongly encouraged to attend the Supervisors Development Workshop and ethics training prior to undertaking supervisory responsibilities.
Supervisors must undertake further supervisor CPD sessions at least once very two years and are encouraged to attend the annual Research Supervisors Conference hosted by the Doctoral School.. / Research Degrees Regulations, Section 5.
Training information (including ethics):
Supervisors conference:
Web.anglia.ac.uk/anet/rido/docschl/conferences.phtml
To possess knowledge of relevant contacts for research degree applicants, candidates and supervisors / Throughout the application phase and lifecycle of their registered PGR candidate(s). / Please see Contact Details at:
Liaise with applicants holding an offer, to guide them in academic matters relating to their course and arrange the initial post arrival meeting with the supervisory team, register for any Faculty welcome events and meet key contacts within the Faculty. / Following acceptance of a formal offer by the applicant. / Faculty research webpages
Registration / re-registration of candidates.
To liaise with the Faculty Research Administrator to ensure doctoral candidates are registered/re-registered. Candidates are required to re/register online via E-Vision / After confirming their acceptance of an offer to read for a postgraduate research degree, successful applicants are sent an induction pack including details on how to register as a student of the University. Registration windows exist in September, January, April and June. Offer letters stipulate a registration cohort – requests to defer to later registration cohorts are subject to Faculty approval.
Registered students must re-register to retain current student status for each year of study. Timing of re-registration depends on the date of first registration and any periods of intermission. / A link to e-vision is available from the My.Anglia front page (both staff and student interfaces)
For formal requirements: ResearchDegrees Regulations, Sections 2.30-2.34
Candidate’s Research Proposal.
To ensure that candidates understand the requirement to submit their Research Proposal on Progress Platform by the deadline listed in the Research Degrees Regulations.
It is expected that supervisors will work with MPhil/PhD/MD candidates prior to their formal registration in order to ensure submission deadlines are met.
To guide the candidate in completing the Research Proposal and Ethics checklist.
To advise candidates on training courses that may provide further support in the development of the proposal.
To liaise with other members of staff as appropriate over the content, resourcing and submission of the Research Proposal. This will include further nominees for the supervisory team, Heads of Department, Faculty Research Administrators and Faculty Research Degree Sub-committee Administrators. / The actual deadline for submission of the Research Proposal documentation is listed in the Research Degrees Regulations.
Late proposals will be treated as a resubmission. / Research Degrees Regulations, Section 3
Ethics guidance:
Statements confirming these actions have been taken must be completed on the Research Proposal milestone on ProgressPlatform.
Obtaining ethics approval.
To guide the candidate in obtaining ethics approval (from the appropriate committee/organisation)before the candidate undertakes the relevant part of the research. / For research requiring ethical approval, this must be obtained before the candidate starts to undertake the research. / Ethics guidance:
Research Degrees Regulations, Section 3.4
To provide, with other members of the supervisory team, expert guidance and advice to the candidate.
- To provide information and advice on approval of the research proposal, ethical approval, upgrade / confirmation of registration, the process of applying for extensions and intermissions, the production of refereed scholarly papers and articles, writing up and thesis production.
- To establish and maintain regular contact with the candidate. For example, agree at the first supervision with the candidate a minimum frequency of face-to-face supervisions.
- To respond promptly to all communications.
- To provide pastoral support for candidates, referring them on to specialist support services where necessary. To publish contact details and availability for student contact.
- To communicate effectively with other members of the supervisory team, including acting as/or identifying a mentor for supervisors/advisors located overseas.
- To be responsible for identifying other members of the supervisory team to ensure that the team reflects the subject area and approach used in the candidate’s research.
- To ensure the candidate understands the principles of good academic practice and to discuss Turnitin reports for work to be submitted for progression stages.
On an annual basis:
Ensurethat full-time candidates have, on average, at least one face-to-face supervision per month, and part-time candidates have, on average, at least one face-to-face supervision every 2 months. All candidates to have regular supervision meetings with the whole supervisory team, where practically possible, at least twice a year.
Ensure that across the supervisory team the annual timetable allowance for supervision of 35 hours for full-time candidates and 20 hours for part-time candidates is fully utilised by the supervisory team.
Within 5 working days.
Throughout the period of study.
Throughout the period of study.
Throughout the period of study.
Throughout the period of study. / Research Degrees Regulations
Sections3, 4, 7, 8 & 9
Research Degrees Regulations, Section 13
Academic Honesty Policy and Guide to Good Academic Practice. At
To adhere to University guidelines for contact with international research students.
To maintain the contacts record for international research candidates on a tier 4 visa,who first registered as a research degree candidate from September 2009 onwards. Please note that the requirements for international research degree candidates reflect the requirements of the UK Border Agency.
All international research students on a tier 4 visa have to make at least 10 face-to-face contacts in each year.
To send an up-to-date copy of the contacts form for each international research candidate to the Faculty Research Administrator every 2 months as requested on the form. / The annual contacts form is sent to the Faculty Research Administrator every 2 months. / Guidance notes and the contact forms are available at:
To agree with the candidate their research skills needs for the year.
To support the candidate in undertaking an initial assessment or revision of their Research Skills Training Needs Analysis. / Targets to be discussed and achievements reviewed during supervisory meetings. The Research Skills Training Needs Analysis form is submitted for the Annual Review process. / Guidance, Skills Diagnostic, PDP form and a sample PDP are available at:
Research Degrees Regulations, Section 4.20
To ensure completion by the candidate of a log of supervisions.
To ensure the candidate completes a log of the supervision on Progress Platform, and review the accuracy of the log and progress against targets set.
To ensure supervisory logs are available on Progress Platform for consideration by the Annual Review Panel. / Following every supervision. / The form for supervisory logs is available under the ‘additional meetings’ tab on Progress Platform.
To facilitate and monitor the research candidate’s progress
- To be responsible for ensuring candidates are aware of the key milestones and timescales in undertaking their research.
Aim to ensure that candidates submit their thesis for examination within the required timescales.
- For all research candidates, except Professional undertake Annual Review.
- To provide timely, comprehensive and evaluative feedback to the FRDSC on the research candidate’s progress.
- To negotiate and agree with the candidate deadlines for receipt of written work from the candidate and its return by the supervisor.
- To set objectives for the candidate to publish their research, unless the research is confidential or IPR would be compromised. For example to present their research in progress externally on an annual basis; presentation of research at a Faculty student forum/conference; submission of research to the annual Research Student Conference; submission of at least one article to a peer reviewed journal.
A candidate is expected to submit their thesis before the maximum period of registration has expired – any request for extensions must be formally applied for with supporting evidence.
For candidates starting their programme in September 2015 onwards:
PhD(Direct), PhD via MPhil and MD(Res) candidates are required to apply for upgrade or confirmation of their registration between 9-18 months after starting their programme for full-time candidates and between 15024 months for part-time candidates.
Professinal Doctorate candidates are required to apply for confirmation of registration no later than three years after starting their programme for part-time candidates and no later than two years for part-time candidates who studied Stage 1 on a full time basis.
For candidates starting their programme prior to September 2015:
PhD (direct) candidates are required to apply for confirmation of registration normally no later than two years after starting their programme for full-time candidates and no later than four years after starting their programme for part-time candidates.
PhD via MPhil candidates are required to apply for upgrade of registration normally no later than two years sfter starting their programme for full time candidates and no later than four years after starting their programme for part-time candidates.
MD(Res) candidates are required to apply for confirmation of registration normally no later than one year after starting thir programme for full-time candidates and no later than two years after starting their programme for part-time candidates.
Professional Doctorate candidates are required to apply for confirmation of registration no later than three years after stating their programme for part-time candidates and no later than two years after starting their programme for part-time candidates studying Stage 1 on a full-time basis.
Every year, before the anniversary of the candidate’s registration. If a candidate is intermitting or on Parental Leave, the Annual Review should be completed on their return.
January meeting of the FRDSC and on any other occasions, when requested.
At supervisory meetings. / Timescales for completion – see Research Degrees Regulations, Section 4
Research Degrees Regulations, Section 6
Research Degrees Regulations, Sections 9-13
Research Degrees Regulations, Section 4.14
Research Degrees Regulations, Sections 4.12 - 4.14
Research Degrees Regulations, Section 4.15
To advise research candidates to undertake a programme of skills acquisition so that they can demonstrate a comprehensive range of research skills as determined by the Joint Statement of the Research Councils.
To ensure that research candidates complete the 3-stage Generic Research Training programme, online Epigeum Intellectual Property Rights training and ethics training, all of which is mandatory, and their Faculty research training programme, some of which may be mandatory.
To encourage students to increase their range and level of research skills as defined in the Vitae Researcher Development Framework. / Stage 1 is linked to the Research Proposal application.
Stage 2 is linked to the Upgrade / Confirmation of Registration application.
Stage 3 must be attended before the viva.
Throughout the period of study. / Research training dates:
For Faculty ResearchTraining Programmes please refer to your Faculty Research webpages.
Research Degrees Regulations, Sections 3.5 – 3.8
To support the candidate in career development
To encourage research candidates to enhance their career opportunities by, for example, networking, attending conferences and seminars, both internal and external to Anglia Ruskin University.
To refer candidates to Student Services for careers guidance and encourage candidates to attend careers development sessions. / Throughout the period of study. / For Doctoral School events see:
web.anglia.ac.uk/ant/rido/docschl/conferences.phtml
For GradSoc events see:
Web.anglia.ac.uk/anet/rido/docschl/gradsoc.phtml
web.anglia.ac.uk/anet/student_services/employability/index.phtml
(also see the ‘support’ tab on the student view of my.anglia)
The Doctoral SchoolUpdated 27/08/2016