Louis Laybourne Smith School of Architecture and Design
Postgraduate Study

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• Postgraduate [home]
  • Research Degree application information
    • Before applying for a Research Degree
    • Supervision
    • Defining your topic
    • Finding your sources & information
  • Training
    • Divisional Structured Program
  • Research milestones
    • Proposal
    • Annual review of progress
    • Work-in-progress seminars
  • Scholarships and awards
  • Research groups
  • Forms
  • Links
  • Research staff
  • Louis Laybourne Smith School home

Supervision

• Making use of people - your supervisor
• The role of the supervisor
• Supervision, research degree administration and student support

Making use of people - your supervisor

One resource that is vital to the success of your research project are experienced researchers with some knowledge of your project and its background or related areas. These people can put you in touch with valuable sources, ideas, books, debates, etc, and may suggest approaches that you have not thought of.

The most important person, in terms of this kind of help, is your supervisor(s). All research students must rely upon their supervisor(s), and it is very difficult to successfully get started, or complete a project without a good working relationship with a supervisor(s). Normally your first port of call with any problem or issue that arises in your project, or simply some clarification of your thoughts on your reading is your Principal Supervisor, or your Associate Supervisor if your Principal is unavailable, or if it seems more appropriate.

Meeting with your supervisor regularly is essential. Without adequate supervision even the most exciting and innovative research projects can founder, and even the best students may lose their way, and become disheartened or distracted with more pressing obligations. This is because research is a demanding activity, that may force you to grapple with a whole range of new ideas, issues and theoretical approaches, some of which may be quite challenging. Your supervisor, acting as your mentor or guide, can help you through these challenges.

Try and identify a supervisor or potential supervisor before you put in your application. You can do this by visiting the School’s staff webpages.

The role of the supervisor

There are mutual obligations for both supervisors and students. The supervisor is expected to act as your mentor, meeting you regularly, reviewing progress and making specific suggestions and comments on your written work. Your responsibility as a research student includes making sure that you are available to meet regularly with your supervisor, and that you note down and act upon the feedback or advice provided.

If you feel that you are having problems meeting your supervisor, or are having any other related communication problems, you should see your Research Degrees Coordinator immediately. Their job is to ensure that your relationship with your supervisor is an effective one, and that you progress smoothly through your project to a successful completion.

Supervision, research degree administration and student support

Every student’s first point of contact with the School and the University is her or his Principal Supervisor (supported by an Associate Supervisor). The student’s relationship with the supervisor is very important and one of mutual obligation: the supervisor acts as a mentor and adviser, reading and commenting upon the student’s work, while the student should consider and act upon the supervisor’s advice. Both supervisor and student should meet regularly, and must work together to ensure the student’s progress.

The LLS School’s Research Degrees Coordinator, through a small School advisory committee, is responsible for appointing each student’s supervisor, for ensuring that each formal Research Proposal is successful, and for the overall welfare and progress of each research degree student in the School. This especially involves ensuring that the relationship between supervisor and student functions effectively, and that progress is made towards the completion of the degree.

To help identify any issues or problems that might arise, each September the research student must fill out an Annual Review of Progress form. This details their annual progress, any problems or issues affecting their progress during the past year, or any that they anticipate in the future. The Principal Supervisor comments upon the Report and passes it on to the Research Degrees Coordinator, who must ensure that any problems identified are discussed and addressed. All completed Annual Reviews of Progress forms are then sent on to the divisional Dean of Research Degrees, chair of the Divisional Research Degrees Committee, which has overall responsibility for research students in the Division (the LLS School’s Research Degrees Coordinator sits on this committee).

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