EXPECTATIONS OF FIRST SUPERVISORS
This document sets out the expectations of First Supervisors and includes details of sources of further
information to support First Supervisors in their role. Faculties are responsible for monitoring the
implementation of these expectations.
All supervisors should receive a printed copy of the following:
Research Degrees Regulations,
September 2013
http://web.anglia.ac.uk/anet/academic/public/research_degree_regs.
pdf
Senate Code of Practice on Research
Degrees: Procedural Document,
September 2013
http://web.anglia.ac.uk/anet/academic/qad/sen_codes_practice/sen
ate.phtml
To obtain copies of the Research Degrees Regulations, September 2013 and the Senate Code of
Practice on Postgraduate Research Degrees: Procedural Document, September 2013, please contact
Lorraine Shotliff Lorraine.shotliff@anglia.ac.uk
Expectation
To possess knowledge of
relevant contacts for
research degree candidates
and supervisors
Registration / re-registration
of candidates.
To liaise with the Faculty
Research Administrator to
ensure research degree
candidates are registered/reregistered. Candidates are
required to re/register online
via E-Vision
Candidate’s Research
Proposal.
To ensure that candidates
understand the requirement to
submit their Research
Proposal by the deadline.
To provide guidance and
support to enable the
candidate to submit their
Research Proposal on time.
To guide the candidate in
completing the Ethics checklist
(Stage 1 of the Ethical review
process), for submission with
the Research Proposal, to the
Faculty Research
Administrator. It is expected
that supervisors will work with
MPhil/PhD/MD candidates
prior to their formal registration
in order to ensure submission
deadlines are met.
Timing
ongoing
Sources of Information
Please see Contact Details at:
http://web.anglia.ac.uk/anet/rdcs/re
search/info.phtml
A link to e-vision is available from
the My.Anglia front page
October/November/January/February/
April/May/Jun/July, depending on the
date of first registration and any
periods of intermission.
Month of
Registration
October
November
January
February
April
May
June
July
Research Proposal
deadline
28 November
2 January
28 February
28 March
28 May
28 June
28 July
28 August
Professional Doctorate candidates are
required to seek approval of their
research proposal no later than 12
months after registration for full-time
Stage 1 candidates or 24 months for
part-time candidates.
1
For formal requirements:
Research Degrees Regulations,
Sections 2.25-2.29
Research Proposal milestone in
ProgressPlatform (including
Research Proposal form)
http://progressplatform.anglia.ac.uk
Senate Code of Practice on
Postgraduate Research
Programmes: Procedural
Document, Section 3
Research Degrees Regulations,
Section 3
Ethics guidance:
http://www.anglia.ac.uk/researchethics
Updated September 2013
Obtaining ethics approval,
when required.
To guide the candidate in
obtaining ethics approval (from
the appropriate
committee/organisation)
before the candidate
undertakes research requiring
such approval. Guide the
candidate in setting up a
robust research design.
.
For research requiring ethical approval,
this must be obtained before the
candidate starts to undertake the
research.
To ensure all members of
the proposed supervisory
team are aware they have
been nominated as part of a
candidate’s team.
At research proposal stage.
To provide, with other
members of the supervisory
team, expert guidance and
advice to the candidate.
 To provide information and
advice on approval of the
research proposal,
Confirmation of
Candidature, the process
of applying for extensions
and intermissions, the
production of refereed
scholarly papers and
articles, writing up and
thesis production.
 To establish and maintain
regular contact with the
candidate. For example,
agree at the first
supervision with the
candidate a minimum
frequency of face-to-face
supervisions.
Ethics guidance:
http://www.anglia.ac.uk/ethics
Research Degrees Regulations,
Section 3.4
Senate Code of Practice on
Postgraduate Research
Programmes: Procedural
Document, Section 5
Research Proposal milestone on
ProgressPlatform – first
supervisors are asked to confirm
this on the form.
http://progressplatform.anglia.ac.uk
Research Degrees Regulations,
Annex 9 - Senate Code of
Practice, Section 7
ongoing
Research Degrees Regulations
Sections 3, 4, 8 , 9 & 10
http://progressplatform.anglia.ac.uk
for relevant forms attached to
milestones.
On an annual basis:
 ensure, except for Stage 1 DProf
candidates who have regular
workshops and supervisions, that
full-time candidates have, on
average, at least one face-to-face
supervision per month, and parttime candidates have, on average,
at least one face-to-face
supervision every 2 months. All
candidates to have regular
supervision meetings with the
whole supervisory team, where
practicable, at least twice a year.
 ensure that across the supervisory
team the annual timetable
allowance for supervision of 35
hours for full-time candidates and
20 hours for part-time candidates is
fully utilised by the supervisory
team.
 To respond promptly to all
communications.
Within 5 working days.
 To provide pastoral support
for candidates, referring
them on to specialist
Ongoing
2
ProgressPlatform Training Guide
for Supervisors on Research,
Development and Commercial
Services website
Updated September 2013
support services where
necessary. To publish
contact details and
availability for student
contact.
 To communicate effectively
with other members of the
supervisory team, including
acting as/or identifying a
mentor for
supervisors/advisors
located overseas.
 To be responsible for
identifying other members
of the supervisory team to
ensure that the team
reflects the subject area
and approach used in the
candidate’s research.
(The Programme Director
fulfils this role for
Professional Doctorate
candidates)
Ongoing
Ongoing
To adhere to University
guidelines for contact with
international research
students.
To maintain the contacts
record for international
research candidates on a tier
4 visa, who first registered as
a research degree candidate
from September 2009
onwards. Please note that the
requirements for international
research degree candidates
reflect the requirements of the
UK Border Agency.
Ongoing – the annual contacts form is
sent to the Faculty Research
Administrator every 2 months.
Senate Code of Practice on
Postgraduate Research
Programmes: Procedural
Document, Section 30
Guidance notes, a flow chart for
supervisors and the contact forms
are available at:
http://web.anglia.ac.uk/anet/rdcs/re
search/info/international.phtml
Contact re UKBA requirements:
Niki Jones, UKBA Compliance
Officer, in the International Office
All international research
students on a tier 4 visa have
to make at least 10 face-toface contacts in each year.
To send an up-to-date copy of
the contacts form for each
international research
candidate to the Faculty
Research Administrator every
2 months as requested on the
form.
To agree with the candidate
their research skills needs
for the year.
To support the candidate in
undertaking an initial
Annually: For new candidates, to be
discussed at first review meeting with
independent convenor. For continuing
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Guidance, Research Skills
Training Needs Analysis Form
(formerly Skills Diagnostic), PDP
Updated September 2013
assessment or revision of their
Research Skills Training
Needs Analysis.
candidates, to be discussed at first
meeting with supervisor in each
academic year.
To ensure that a Personal
Development Plan (PDP) is
established for that year
The PDP is completed and submitted
for the annual monitoring review
meeting. The Research Skills Training
Needs Analysis should then be
revisited and a new PDP started for the
following year.
form and a sample PDP are
available at:
http://web.anglia.ac.uk/anet/rdcs/re
search/training/planning.phtml
To ensure completion by the
candidate of a log of
supervisions.
To ensure the candidate
completes a log of the
supervision and sends this to
all members of the supervisory
team, after each supervision.
Following every supervision.
Timeframe for circulation to be agreed
with the candidate.
The form for Notes of Meetings
with Supervisors is available for
students and/or supervisors to add
to their record on
ProgressPlatform as an additional
form.
http://progressplatform.anglia.ac.uk
To ensure the complete log of
the notes of meetings to be
submitted as part of annual
monitoring each year.
ProgressPlatform Training Guide
for Supervisors on Research,
Development and Commercial
Services website
To facilitate and monitor the
research candidate’s
progress
The normal expectation is that full-time
candidates will reach the standard for
MPhil within 2 years of registration and
for PhD within 3 years. Part-time
candidates should normally reach the
standard for MPhil within 3 years and
for PhD within 4 years. A professional
doctorate candidate shall normally
reach the standard for DProf within
four years. A Professional Masters
candidate shall normally reach the
standard for MProf within 3.5 years. An
MD (Res) candidate shall normally
reach the standard for the MD (Res)
award in 2 years.
Research Degrees Regulations,
Section 4

ongoing
Research Degrees Regulations,
Sections 3, 4, 8 & 9
Senate Code of Practice on
Postgraduate Research
Programmes: Procedural
Document, Sections 3, 4, 7, 8, 9
To be responsible for
ensuring candidates are
aware of the key
milestones and
timescales in undertaking
their research.
http://progressplatform.anglia.ac.uk
ProgressPlatform Training Guide
for Supervisors on Research,
Development and Commercial
Services website
4
Updated September 2013

To support candidates
to ensure they submit
for Confirmation of
Candidature within the
required timescales.
No later than 2 years after registration
for full time candidates; no later than 4
years after registration for part-time
candidates and no later than 18
months after approval of the research
proposal for Professional Doctorate
candidates.
Research Degrees Regulations,
Section 8

Aim to ensure that
candidates submit
their thesis for
examination within the
required timescales.
Timescales for completion – see
Research Degrees Regulations,
Section 4.
Research Degrees Regulations,
Sections 10-14

For first year research
candidates, except
Professional Doctorate
candidates, undertake
two reviews in this year,
one of which will be the
annual monitoring
meeting.
Within the first year of a candidate’s
first registration.
Research Degrees Regulations,
Section 4.12

To engage fully in the
annual monitoring
process within the
published timescale.
For new students in their first year
(except DProf candidates) 1 meeting
within 6 months of registration and 1
meeting within 12 months of
registration. Annually thereafter
including DProf candidates.
Research Degrees Regulations,
Sections 4.10 - 4.14

To provide timely,
comprehensive and
evaluative feedback to
the FRDSC on the
research candidate’s
progress.
February meeting of the FRDSC and
on any other occasions, when
requested.

To negotiate and agree
with the candidate
deadlines for receipt of
written work from the
candidate and its return
by the supervisor.

To set objectives for the
candidate to publish their
research, unless the
research is confidential or
IPR would be
compromised. For
example to present their
research in progress
externally on an annual
basis; presentation of
research at a Faculty
student
forum/conference;
submission of research to
the annual Research
Student Conference;
Research Degrees Regulations,
Section 4.13-4.14
Ongoing
Annually
5
Updated September 2013
submission of at least
one article to a peer
reviewed journal.
To ensure that research
candidates undertake a
programme of skills
acquisition so that they can
demonstrate a
comprehensive range of
research skills as
determined by the Joint
Statement of the Research
Councils
To ensure that research
candidates complete the 3stage Generic Research
Training programme, online
Epigeum Intellectual Property
Rights training and ethics
training, all of which is
mandatory, and the Faculty
based research training
programme, some of which
may be mandatory.
To encourage students to
increase their range and level
of research skills and monitor
the students’ progress to
achieve demonstration of the
skills within the Research
Councils’ Joint Statement,
To support the candidate in
career development
Encourage research
candidates to enhance their
career opportunities by, for
example, networking,
attending conferences and
seminars, both internal and
external to Anglia Ruskin
University.
Research training dates:
http://www.anglia.ac.uk/researchtr
aining
Faculty Research Training
Programme;
Research Degrees Regulations,
Sections 3.5 – 3.8
Stage 1: within 6 months of
registration.
Stages 2A & 2B: before Confirmation
of Candidature
Stage 3: 6 - 12 months before
submission of the thesis.
Senate Code of Practice on
Postgraduate Research
Programmes: Procedural
Document, Section 6
Ongoing with achievement of skills by
the time that the thesis is submitted.
Online Epigeum modules on
transferable skills:
ongoing
http://web.anglia.ac.uk/anet/rdcs/re
search/training/Epigeum.phtml
To refer candidates to Student
Services for careers guidance
and encourage candidates to
attend careers development
sessions.
Research Supervisor Training
To enhance your own
supervisory skills and
expertise
http://web.anglia.ac.uk/anet/rdcs/re
search/training.phtml#RST
To attend initially the
Supervisors Training delivered
by RDCS.
For a supervisor new to supervising
research students, within 6 months of
joining the supervisory team.
Also to attend at least 2 CPD
events per year, e.g. Faculty
supervisor fora and engage in
Annually
6
Updated September 2013
relevant CPD activity.
To attend the Supervisors’
Conference
Make, where a member, a full
contribution to Research
Committees; for example,
Research Committee, Faculty
Research Committee, RDSC,
FRDSC, RESC, FREP, DREP
Minimum attendance is 1 conference in
every 3.
Attendance at a majority of committee
meetings, as appropriate.
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Updated September 2013