Responsible supervision

This guide was compiled based on interviews obtained from University College London Faculty Graduate Tutors (FGTs) from across the disciplines (medical sciences, arts and humanities, education, mathematical and physical sciences, life sciences, population health sciences, built environment, engineering, laws, social and historical sciences). It is organised around three key principles, which can help supervisors to foster a culture of good supervision: 1. Set expectations, but be aware of the changing reality: advice on setting expectations early in the PhD, being flexible, planning the PhD process and managing the time you spend on supervision. 2. Listen, reflect and share: advice on listening to students, communicating with fellow supervisors, and working effectively within institutional structures and making use of resources available. 3. Think outside the (thesis) box: advice on how to think beyond the thesis as a piece of research and how to consider your students’ career aspirations, which may not always be academic.