How to get the best out of your supervisor relationship
Published on 10 November 16
Your relationship with your supervisor or supervisory team is vital to your research, to your progress and to your wellbeing whilst undertaking your PhD.
The University clearly outlines what is expected from all parties in the relationship in the Supervision Policy for Postgraduate Research Degrees which provides the foundations for your relationship. However every supervisory relationship is different, it can depend upon your subject, your mode of study and of course how you (and they) work best.
Whether you’re relatively new to your PhD or not, it’s always worth taking a step back and examining how the relationship is working. So, here are a few things to think about to help you get the most out of the supervision process.
Be proactive and plan contact
Throughout your research degree you should take the initiative in maintaining regular contact with your supervisor.
Be proactive and arrange formal supervisory meetings. It’s important to have the same expectations from these meetings talk with your supervisor about the format and frequency of meetings and also about their preferred method of communication. If possible talk to other students who have the same supervisor and see how they have managed the relationship.
How often you meet with your supervisor(s) can depend on the nature of and the stage of your research, but you should be meeting on a regular basis. This ensures that your supervisor is kept informed of your progress and makes sure they have opportunity to give advice and feedback. By scheduling meetings you will also know in advance about any extended absences from campus to help you plan your work. A well planned schedule of meetings will also provide you with a structure that will help you stay on track.
Know what you want... and what to expect
Make sure you know what you want to discuss before you show up. Even better send an agenda or notes to your supervisor so you both know what you want out of the meeting.
Remember the role of a supervisor is to provide advice and guidance and it is very important that you keep them up to date on your progress. However, this is your research and you are expected to take the lead in shaping your research and overcoming problems.
Don’t be afraid to make notes as you talk, summarise meetings and keep a copy for your own records. This will make sure any actions are followed up.
Take feedback on board
As your discussions and research progress expect to receive feedback and to be challenged. Your supervisors' comments should be constructive - to provide you with guidance to help you progress. Try not to look at it as criticism and learn how to respond in a positive way - by questioning further or accepting you may have missed something.
That said, if there are any aspects of your supervisors' advice and feedback which are unclear don’t be afraid for ask for clarification - that’s much better than just ignoring it because you don’t understand! You might find it helpful to keep a record of your feedback so that you can refer back to it.
Be clear about deadlines… and meet them
Know what your supervisor expects and when. Are they the kind of person who expects regular written updates? Be clear about any interim deadlines and what you should be providing at that time and equally clear about how long it will be before you get feedback.
Repeatedly missing deadlines looks unprofessional and can impact your progress as it could mean that your supervisor has limited time to give you feedback. Remember they will be juggling many aspects of academic careers (teaching, their own research) alongside your PhD.
Ask the right people
Academics are very busy people so make sure they are the right person to contact. For admin questions, it is often better to contact your department's student support staff.
Further advice and information
Take a look at what other Manchester students have to say about their PhD experience including working with supervisors.
Other resources include your school handbook, which may outline specifics about supervision in your area and also see Vitae for some great resources on managing relationships no matter how far along you are with your PhD.