The main supervisor’s role

The main supervisor's role should be detailed in your university's regulations. Read these regulations carefully as they set out your university's expectations about how your relationship with your main supervisor will be organised. The exact role of your supervisor will differ depending on your university, discipline, the main supervisor's style and workload. Your relationship with your supervisor will also be influenced by the role that the rest of your supervisory team play. However, there are a number of features that are typical across many institutions.

Supervisors should usually:

• ensure that you understand what is expected
• meet you regularly for a formal supervision
• ensure that you are aware of how your research fits into any research groups or projects of which you are part
• help you to co-ordinate the supervisory team responsible for your project
• give guidance about literature, training, research techniques and academic conventions
• provide constructive feedback on written work
• give feedback on your overall progress
• advise on courses, both specialist and concerning transferable skills
• help you to submit on time
• advise you on where to present your work
• read and comment upon the whole of the final thesis.

Here we have identified key responsibilities for those supervising research. Every supervisor has a different approach and may vary this according to their interpretation of your needs, so it is important to talk to them and understand their perspective. What are your shared aims and what contribution do they expect from you?