Research students

Look through “Golden rules on how to approach your supervisor” and select the most appropriate ones for you.


Golden rules on how to approach your supervisor

1. 
   Discuss frequency of meetings with your supervisor at the beginning.
   
2. 
   Always leave a meeting with your research supervisor having agreed a date for the next one.
   
3. 
   Do not become romantically involved with your supervisor.
   
4. 
   Don’t be too independent – you need to conform, too.
   
5. 
   If anything is interfering with your work, let your supervisors know.
   
6. 
   Establish exactly what is being criticized and how to put it right.
   
7. 
   Ask direct but positively constructed questions.
   
8. 
   Tell your supervisor what you are discovering as you are discovering it.
   

Below you will find different opinions of postgraduate students on supervision. Is research supervisor a boss, or a colleague, or a friend? What is your idea of an ideal supervisor? What do you prefer: to have a supervisor who is the name in his field, has plenty of ideas, which he is eager to share with you, or a supervisor who lets you make the research independently?


A. I found that my supervisor's advice on reading related to theory and methodologies was extremely good. While researching he gave me plenty of encouragement which really boosted my confidence. Once I started to write I found that he read what I gave him fairly promptly and his comments were very pertinent, enabling me to work through my ideas more logically. He has always made time in a busy schedule to discuss any problems. More than this, he went out of his way to be helpful when I was unwell. I have greatly appreciated the time and effort he has put into helping me and also for his encouragement and support throughout the four years I have been in the School. Although I could have felt somewhat isolated because my topic has few connections with other postgraduate research being undertaken, this has been minimised by the good working relationship which has been established with my supervisor.
(final year PhD student)
B. My experience has been that this School is a good place to do research on economics, because of the high level of staff expertise and their reputation and influence, which extend far beyond the U.K. Both of my supervisors have been helpful, available to answer questions, and interested in my work. I have found a joint supervision arrangement to be especially beneficial to my work, given its holistic and innovative approach, and in my opinion the School’s openness to joint supervision is a real strength.
(PhD third year student)