1. What to expect from postgraduate supervision
Dr. Patricia Mannix McNamara
Research Centre for Education and Professional Practice
Department of Education and Professional Studies
University Of Limerick
What to expect from postgraduate supervision

2. Supervisor Expectations
Important to know what is expected of you…
You can assume or try and guess what this is or you can really know
The only way to do this is to have the conversation about it with your supervisor (s) 2

4. Supervisor Expectations
Be clear what their expectations are and be clear for yourself that you can achieve them
Don’t be tentative about seeking clarity about what a supervisor is looking for (it saves untold amounts time if you are clear) 4

5. Supervisor Expectations
From the outset decide on your:
A) Time Lines & deadlines (stick to them as best you can and remember life does get in the way sometimes it is not the end of the world)
B) Milestones (e.g. papers, transfers, progression reports, confirmations etc)
c) Schedule of meetings
As it progresses make use of the training opportunities that you can and discuss with your supervisor what you want to do and why… 5

6. Supervisor Expectations
You will feel under pressure at times during a PhD… this is normal as it is the highest academic award that you are aiming for
If the pressure is too much don’t let it build speak to the supervisor and get help EARLY!!!
Remember the yearly progressions they are there to keep you focussed and help you finish (not to be punitive). Treat them as yearly goals and plan for them. 6

7. Student Expectations
What you need from your supervisor should be a discussion that you have at several junctures during the process (because your needs will change)
Be patient (your PhD might be full time to you but it is part of a larger workload for the supervisor, meetings may take time, feedback may take time…)
Be realistic in your expectations
Expect meetings where your supervisor gives your work full attention 7

8. Student Expectations: feedback
How do you take feedback?... Real feedback…
Become robust
Don’t take it personally, it usually isn’t personal (What you need is a supervisor who give you real feedback so that when you walk into a viva you are super prepared, that’s not the place where you want to be thinking I wish had better feedback)
Listen and take feedback, if you are stubborn now is the time to park it!!
Structure how you like to get feedback and have the discussion with your supervisor in this regard.
Make the process of feedback something you can deal with well. 8

9. Manage your supervision
Keep a record of your meetings through an Aide Memoire
This is brief summary of the content of the meeting with follow up action points
Follow up on those action points
At next meeting brief the supervisor on your follow up (you are showing…I am efficient, in control of my work, organised, committed…all the messages you wish to send)
Always leave a meeting clear on what you need to do to progress, don’t be afraid to ask (why lose time trying to figure it out when 1 minute of talk gives you the answer?) 9

10. Manage your supervisor (in a good way )
Do as much for yourself as you possibly can
If you need them to do a task on your behalf e.g. send mail on your behalf etc, draft it first if it is a help to them…
Ask what can you do to help with a task that is on your behalf…
Any forms that need signing etc like progression forms, ethics forms, or submission forms bring them printed to the meeting…
Take responsibility for following up with other signatories 10

11. Manage your supervisor (in a good way )
Have an agenda for your meetings…
Have your questions planned in advance
Be professional at all times 11

12. Build a good relationship
Take time to build a good relationship with your supervisor
If you are respectful of them and the pressures they may be under it will mean a lot to them…
Remember you may in the future wish to collaborate with your supervisor on work so build the type of relationship that leads to this…
Be empowered, committed and professional and it will stand to you in great measure… 12

14. Any thoughts or questions?14