Each student is assigned a supervisory team by the Head of Department or their nominee before an offer of a place on a research degree programme is made. The supervisory team consists of a Principal Supervisor, secondary Supervisor and the Research Development Advisor. All members of the supervisory team are expected to work together to provide appropriate support for the student and will, between them, have appropriate subject expertise and experience of supervising research degree students.
Industrial/specialist advisors may also be involved in providing support to students, particularly in cases where the research is being carried out in an industrial setting. Such advisors provide support which is complementary to that being provided by the supervisory team and may focus on advice and guidance on the practical work being undertaken.
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Working with your Supervisory Team at Brunel
Responsibilities of the Supervisory Teams
Supervisory teams are responsible for providing guidance on: the nature of research in the discipline concerned;
- the standard of work expected in relation to the qualification aim;
- adhering to the Code of Practice for Research Degrees;
- the planning of the research programme, to meet the expected submission deadline;
- sources, methods and techniques, and specialist research skills required;
- possible career options;
- the development of professional skills;
- health and safety
- ethics, intellectual property, research integrity and the implications of research misconduct;
- the drafting of the thesis;
- the revisions and/or corrections which may be required as a result of examination outcomes.
Responsibilities of PhD students
To be successful in your doctoral studies you will need to be proactively and independently engaged with your supervisory team in a number of ways:
- taking charge of your own personal and professional development;
- developing and managing a calendar of regular appointments with your supervisory team
- engaging fully with progression reviews and annual reviews
- setting and keeping to timetables and deadlines, including planning and submitting work and maintaining satisfactory progress with their research;
- making supervisors aware of any specific needs or circumstances likely to affect the progress of your work;
- attending any development opportunities (research-related and other) and training that have been identified as part of you supervisory meetings and progression/annual reviews;
- adhering to the University’s regulations, policies and guidance