Graduate Studies
PhD | Supervision
Supervision
The supervisor
The relationship with your Supervisor is inevitably among the most important parts of academic life. Generally the supervision system works well and is extremely supportive and beneficial for both parties. Occasionally, however, problems do arise: students may feel unsure what to expect from their Supervisor, and may be anxious. It is possible to give some indications of good practice to help resolve or pre-empt difficulties, and to help remove anxieties; but it is also vital not to over-regulate, as the relationship between student and Supervisor, and the structure of their meetings, must be flexible. It has to suit those two specific people. You might reasonably expect to see your Supervisor fortnightly or at least three times each term. If either party needs to postpone a meeting, reasonable notice should be given; do not leave it until the last minute. Give at least 24 hours' notice if possible. Supervisors normally take care to provide written comments on written work, and to give constructive criticism; but students should not expect actual marks. And there is no need for written work to be provided for every meeting: general discussion and planning is vital, too. The length of a supervision can vary, depending on the stage you are at and on the nature of the written work, if any, to be discussed. As a rule, however, such meetings generally last between 30 and 60 minutes. At the beginning of each term, you should aim to have a planning meeting, and set out your objectives. This is, of course, especially important in the first term of your first year, when both the student and Supervisor should be prepared to discuss their ideas and expectations of how meetings should work. Some Supervisors like to start by assigning a piece of work (for instance, a literature survey or overview essay) to help focus your interests. On the other hand, students may wish to ask for more frequent meetings, and more structure, in the first term. For these reasons, it is vital to meet in the first week or two of each term, and to discuss the pattern of future meetings. If a particular structure of meetings and discussion is not working for you, say so: it is likely that you will be able to establish a different routine that suits you both. Both the student and the Supervisor have responsibilities. The Supervisor must contact the student if meetings are being cancelled, or work is not appearing on time. Similarly, students must be willing to keep in touch with their Supervisors, and not just go to ground for a term without letting their Supervisors know what they are doing! It is true that Supervisors are extremely busy at certain times of term (for instance, around undergraduate examinations), and students should not take the occasional reorganisation of a meeting as a rebuff: things are a bit more relaxed at other times in the academic year, and you can generally expect time to be made up then. It is important that you ascertain the extent of your Supervisor's availability outside of term-time: he or she is likely to be away particularly during the summer for fairly lengthy periods attending conferences or doing research in libraries outside Cambridge. You will probably also find that your Supervisor takes sabbatical leave at least once during the course of your research. You may be able to keep in touch during these times, but if your Supervisor expects to be absent from Cambridge for a term of more, he or she should arrange for a substitute Supervisor to be appointed during the period of leave. Your Supervisor will be required to write an annual report on your progress. Please note that the Degree Committee has the power to recommend to the Board of Graduate Studies that a graduate student be withdrawn from the Register of Graduate Students and to terminate a student's course if progress at any point is not satisfactory. If any problem arises in relation to supervision, and you feel that you are unable to discuss it with your Supervisor, or you have tried to do so without improvement, then you should not hesitate to contact any of the following, immediately and in confidence, for help and advice:- your Head of Department or your Department's designated graduate officer
- your Advisor
- the Secretary of the Degree Committee
- the Faculty's Graduate Students' Representative (see the Graduate Centre noticeboard).
The advisor
All PhD students within MML are assigned an Advisor in addition to a Supervisor. The main role of an Advisor is to provide an alternative source of advice for Graduate Students. The Advisor will normally be the person who participates, with the Supervisor or Independent Assessor, in the registration interview at the end of the first year. After the first year, the Advisor's role will be a very limited one.
