General Regulations for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy: Part 5 Supervision of Students

1. Every candidate on admission as a Student for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy shall be placed by the board which approved the candidate’s application under the supervision of a member of the University or other competent person selected by the board, and the board shall have power for sufficient reason to change the supervisor of any student or to arrange for joint supervision by more than one supervisor, if it deems it necessary.

2. It shall be the duty of a supervisor to direct and superintend the work of the student, to meet the student regularly, and to undertake such duties as shall be from time to time set out in Policy and Guidance issued by the Education Committee. The supervisor shall submit a report on the progress of the student to the board four times a year as required, and at any other time when the board so requests or the supervisor deems it expedient; and shall carry out such other duties as are set out in Policy and Guidance issued by the Education Committee. The supervisor shall communicate the contents of the report to the student on each occasion that a report is made, so that the student is aware of the supervisor's assessment of the candidate’s work during the period in question. In addition, the supervisor shall inform the board at once if they are of the opinion the student is unlikely to reach the standard required for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy.

The Registrar shall send a copy of each report by the supervisor to the student's college, and to the Director of Graduate Studies or other nominated person under the board concerned.  

3. It shall be the duty of every Student for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy to undertake such guided work as their supervisor requests; to attend such meetings with their supervisor as the latter reasonably arranges; and to fulfil any other requirements of the Education Committee set out in its memorandum of guidance for students and supervisors.