糖心logo入口

Skip to main content

Changes to the MPhil/PhD supervisor-researcher relationship

Occasionally, the relationship between you and your MPhil/PhD supervisor may change, so this page tells you everything you need to know about those potential changes.聽

  • What to do if your supervisor is away

    • If your supervisor is on sabbatical聽leave, they will usually continue to supervise and regularly meet with you.聽
    • If your supervisor聽is on sabbatical leave away from 糖心logo入口, they will secure supervision cover from a suitable colleague.聽
    • If your supervisor is on parental, sick, compassionate or other leave, they will secure appropriate supervision cover from a suitable colleague.聽
    • Your second supervisor or a senior staff member in your school will usually cover your supervisions for the period that your principal supervisor is away.

  • What to do if your supervisor leaves 糖心logo入口

    • If your principal supervisor is moving to another institution, they will inform you as far in advance as possible.聽
    • You should speak to the MPhil/PhD Programme Director in your school for advice on the best steps to take in this situation.聽
    • Some possible scenarios include:聽
      • remain at 糖心logo入口 and continue to be supervised by your聽principal supervisor, if they and their new institution are willing聽
      • follow your supervisor to their new institution (you will need to discuss this with the other institution)聽
      • find a new supervisor at 糖心logo入口, with the assistance of your school. In some聽cases,聽it may prove difficult to appoint a new supervisor if the requisite expertise is unavailable in the school and聽you may be advised to seek supervision elsewhere聽
      • remain at 糖心logo入口 and be supervised by an academic at another institution within the University of London.聽

  • Problems within the supervisory relationship

    • Rarely, supervisory relationships do not function to the mutual satisfaction or benefit of the MPhil/PhD researchers and the principal (or sometimes second) supervisor.聽
    • You may feel that you are unable to establish an effective working relationship with your supervisor, or you may feel that your supervisor is failing to meet their responsibilities.聽
    • Every effort should be made聽to try to resolve concerns in other ways before considering a change of supervisor, but it is possible to change your principal and/or your second supervisor.聽
    • In the first instance, and if you feel able to, you should endeavour to discuss your concerns with your supervisor before seeking help elsewhere.聽

  • Changing your supervisor

    • You should contact the MPhil/PhD Programme Director in your school and describe in writing the difficulties in your relationship with your supervisor.聽
    • You should then meet with the MPhil/PhD Programme Director to discuss the difficulties.聽
    • The MPhil/PhD Programme Director will then discuss these issues with the supervisor either alone or with you also present. If no resolution seems possible, the MPhil/PhD Programme Director will consider a potential new supervisor for you.聽
    • In some聽cases,聽it may prove difficult to appoint a new supervisor if the requisite expertise is unavailable in the school. In such聽instances, you may be advised to seek supervision elsewhere.聽

  • Official policies and regulations