Your supervisor is there to guide you through every part of the candidature. As well as sharing their expertise on the research topic, your supervisor will offer you advice and support, and introduce you to the broader research community. The specific roles of the supervisory team are outlined in the .
To get the most benefit from supervision, you will need to develop an effective working relationship and clear communication with your supervisor. This can take some time and effort.
Expectations and a communication plan for supervision should be completed by each student and their principal supervisor after admission and then periodically throughout the candidature. Topics for discussion may include:
- mode and frequency of consultation
- timelines
- theoretical framework and methodology
- support networks
- services and facilities
- workflow expectations
- policy and procedures.
Changing your supervisor
If you feel your relationship with your supervisor is not working effectively, you may request a change to your supervisory team from the Research tab in your Student Centre. This step is not to be taken lightly, and will only be considered in extenuating circumstances. You can access your Student Centre by first logging into then by clicking on the Student Centre link on that page.
Students and supervisors are encouraged to contact the Graduate Research School if assistance is required.