Communicating with your supervisor

Communication with your supervisor
  • Different models of supervision are acceptable as long as the student’s needs are met within the boundaries expected of student/supervisor undertaking an undergraduate dissertation.
    • It is up to you to discuss this with your supervisor and agree what the supervision process will involve
  • If you request feedback, it is unrealistic to expect a response within 24 hours.
    • You must discuss with your supervisor an appropriate response time.
    • If you have not had a response from your supervisor within a 2- week period, a polite reminder email would not be unreasonable.
  • Your supervisor is not obliged to work evenings, weekends, or over holiday periods  such as St. Patrick’s Day, Easter and May Day. You need to factor this in when awaiting feedback.
  • It is not acceptable for any student to harass their supervisors with unrealistic timeframes or expectations. Therefore clear and mature discussion with your supervisor is encouraged from the start of the process.
  • Your supervisor has both teaching and research commitments. Additionally some staff only work at the University on a part time basis. It is your responsibility to find out if your supervisor will be unavailable on certain days/weeks.
  • You cannot assume that getting and responding to feedback from a supervisor will guarantee you a high mark (although it should of course improve your mark).
  • Your arrangements with your supervisor are your responsibility – therefore you must undertake to arrange to see him/her, as it is not the supervisor’s responsibility to ‘chase after’ you.
  • The amount of time and number of contacts that a supervisor may spend with any one student are limited. On average, it is expected that students will meet with their supervisor between six and eight times over the two semesters.
*Expectations to discuss in your first meeting
  • whether you will meet with your supervisor on an individual or group basis
  • if there are any days or periods of time throughout the 2 semesters that your supervisor will be unavailable
  • agreed milestones for submission of work
  • upon submitting work to your supervisors, after what period of time can you expect to receive feedback
  • the form that feedback will take – provided verbally or in writing

 

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