Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê

A curated list of high quality resources to support staff in research supervision roles.

Regulations and codes of practice

• Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê Academic Regulations and Guidelines for ResearchÌýin the Academic Manual.

Support resources

Research and project supervision: An IntroductionÌý

This toolkitÌýintroduces some of the fundamentals of supervising students’ research at undergraduate, Masters and doctoral level.Ìý

The Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê GoodÌýSupervision Guide

Developed byÌýa Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê doctoral candidate, Dr Alexandra Bulat,Ìýwho interviewed Faculty Graduate Tutors across Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê, this Good Supervision Guide Ìýoffers guidance andÌýideas forÌýboth new and experienced supervisors. Ìý

Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê supervisory practice videos

, Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê supervisors share their experiences around a range of supervisory themes.Ìý

Personal, real accounts of research supervision: the PhD diaries

Professor John Wakeford's PhD Diaries are real accounts of the experiences of students, supervisors and examiners involved in the PhD process.Ìý

These diaries act as a useful resource to help PhD supervisors discuss and find solutions to various scenarios presented in the diaries.Ìý

Most diaries come with a list of questions to help guide them through the problem-solving process. Supervisors may also wish to share these diaries with students who are facing similar problems.Ìý

VitaeÌýProgramme resources

Vitae provide a non-profit programme supporting the professional development of researchers, experienced in working with institutions as they strive for research excellence, innovation and impact.

View the Ìýfor guidance on many aspects of supervision, organised by theÌýparticular kindsÌýof support students might need at different stages of theÌýdoctorate.

UKÌýCouncil for Graduate Education

 is a non-profit organisation supporting the enhancement of UK postgraduate education.ÌýThey have a range of helpful resources for supervisors,Ìýfor example:

• ²¹Ìý
• and
• ²¹²ÔÌý.Ìý

´¡»å±¹²¹²Ô³¦±ð±á·¡Ìý

´¡»å±¹²¹²Ô³¦±ð±á·¡Ìýhave producedÌýÌýwith suggestions for more effective supervisory practice.Ìý

Blogs andÌýcommunity resourcesÌý

There areÌýa number ofÌýhelpful websitesÌýand blogsÌýwhich are regularly updatedÌýwith reflections from both research students and supervisors:Ìý

1. Ìý
2. Ìý
3. Ìý

SupportingÌýstudents’Ìýmental health and wellbeingÌýÌý

Student Support and Wellbeing (SSW) have developed a digital tool, the Student Triage and Referral Tool (STaRT) [Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê sign-in required], to help Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê staff members worried about the wellbeing of a current Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê student.  Ìý

Students come to us with a range of difficulties or personal problems and it's not always clear what the best way to support them is. SSW have developed STaRTÌýas a guidance tool designed to help you if you're worried about the wellbeing of your students, to help them address these challenging situations. Ìý

STaRT provides tailored guidance and signposting, allowing staff to direct students to the most appropriate information and services depending on their individual situation. Ìý

Mental Health First Aid trainingÌý

If you would like to increase your mental health awareness or to enhance your skills in supporting others with their mental health you might find Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê Human Resources’ Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training options of interest. MHFA England offer three courses they can deliver to departments:  Ìý

• Adult Mental Health First Aid – two-day course to qualify as a mental health first aider.  Ìý
• Mental Health First Aid for Higher Education – intensive one day course to qualify as a Higher Education MHFA champion.  Ìý
• Mental Health Aware – four-hour session raising awareness of mental health. Ìý

Mental Health First Aid is an online version of the MHFA England course, endorsed by the Department of Health and Social Care and the Royal Society of Public Health. This course is designed to develop mental health awareness and improve knowledge of common mental health conditions so that we can provide the best support to our students. Ìý

Charlie Waller Memorial Trust resources Ìý

The Charlie Waller Memorial Trust was created in 1997 in response to the loss of son and brother Charlie to suicide after suffering from depression. They are now one of the UK’s most respected mental health charities, which has offered high-quality, evidence-based mental health training and advice for colleges and universities for many years.  Ìý

Their resources include: Ìý

•  designed to give non-specialist Higher Education staff the skills, knowledge and confidence to offer first line of support to students who may have mental health issues. The package is composed of six sessions, designed in easy-to-follow 20-minute modules; including signs to look out for, key helping skills, and knowing who else to involve and when. 
• .  Animations include ‘You can help’, ‘Keeping calm’, ‘Being prepared’, and ‘Your wellbeing’.  Ìý

Looking after your own mental health and wellbeing Ìý

The roleÌýof supervisor can, on occasion, feel hard to manageÌýand youÌýshould try to be mindful of the effects of your work on your health, and of your health on your work: sometimes, aspects of your job can have a negative effect on your health and wellbeing, and poor health can diminish the quality of your work and the pleasure you take in it. Ìý

Wellbeing support options for Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê staff:

• Reach out to your Departmental (Graduate) Tutor or LineÌýManager;Ìý
• Speak to your local Wellbeing Champion o°ù Mental Health First Aiders;Ìý
• Visit the Being Well at Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê webpages for resources for health mind, body andÌýwork;Ìý
• Access the Employee Assistance Programme: Staff Support ServiceÌý(freeÌýconfidential advice and counselling services); Ìý
• Online psychoeducational and cognitive behavioural therapy programmes;Ìý and
• Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê wellbeing events, courses and campaigns. Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý