Jump to Content

Your supervisor - your most important resource

Research degrees home  |  What you can study  |  Facilities  |  Key staff   |  Information for current students  |  Student work and experiences

Students undertaking a research degree within the University of South Australia engage in an individual program of research under the principal supervision of a staff member with appropriate expertise in the student's area of study. Students also have an associate supervisor. See Responsibilities, roles and relationships for more information.

 

Getting help

Experienced researchers with some knowledge of your project and its background or related areas are vital to the success of your project. These people can put you in touch with valuable sources, ideas, books and debates, and may suggest approaches that you have not thought of.

The most important person for this kind of help is your supervisor(s). All research students must rely upon their supervisor(s), and it is very difficult to successfully get started or complete a project without a good working relationship with a supervisor(s).

Normally your first port of call with any problem or issue that arises in your project, or simply some clarification of your thoughts on your reading, is your Principal Supervisor, or your Associate Supervisor if your Principal is unavailable or if it seems more appropriate.

Meeting with your supervisor regularly is essential. Without adequate supervision even the most exciting and innovative research projects can founder, and even the best students may lose their way and become disheartened or distracted with more pressing obligations.

top^

Supervisor and student roles

Research is a demanding activity that may force you to grapple with a whole range of new ideas, issues and theoretical approaches, some of which may be quite challenging. Your supervisor, acting as your mentor or guide, can help you through these challenges.

There are mutual obligations for both supervisors and students. The supervisor is expected to act as your mentor:

  • meeting you regularly
  • reviewing progress
  • making specific suggestions and comments on your written work.

Your responsibility as a research student includes making sure that you are available to meet regularly with your supervisor, and that you note down and act upon the feedback or advice provided.

If you feel that you are having problems meeting your supervisor, or are having any other related communication problems, you should see the Portfolio Leader Research Education immediately. Their job is to ensure that your relationship with your supervisor is an effective one, and that you progress smoothly through your project to a successful completion.

top^

Supervision, research degree administration and support

Every student's first point of contact with the School and the University is their Principal Supervisor (supported by an Associate Supervisor). The student's relationship with the supervisor is very important and one of mutual obligation: the supervisor acts as a mentor and adviser, reading and commenting upon the student’s work, while the student should consider and act upon the supervisor's advice. Both supervisor and student should meet regularly, and must work together to ensure the student's progress.

Portfolio Leader Research Education

The Portfolio Leader Research Education is responsible for:

  • appointing each student's supervisor
  • ensuring that each formal research proposal is successful
  • the overall welfare and progress of each research degree student in the School.
  • ensuring that the relationship between supervisor and student functions effectively, and that progress is made towards the completion of the degree.

top^

Annual Review of Progress

To help identify any issues or problems that might arise, each September the research student must fill out an Annual Review of Progress form. This form details their annual progress, any problems or issues affecting their progress during the past year, or any that they anticipate in the future.

The Principal Supervisor comments upon the Review and passes it on to the Portfolio Leader, who must ensure that problems identified are discussed and addressed. All completed forms are then sent on to the divisional Dean of Research Degrees, chair of the Divisional Research Degrees Committee, which has overall responsibility for research students in the Division.

top^