Supervisor development and support

Supervisor–PGR Student Agreement and Principles

Our key tools for supervision are a great place to start in terms of setting expectations and structuring how you will work with your PGR student. They should be used collaboratively with your student.

Postgraduate Research Supervisor Handbook

This document is an easy reference point, covering all the key elements of supervision. 

Postgraduate Research Supervision Handbook (PDF, 3,267kB)

Workshop: Developing PGR Supervisory Relationships

• diversity of PGR cohorts and different approaches to supervisory relations
• assumptions made by students and supervisors, and how to manage expectations
• challenges in the supervisory relationship and how to seek help in overcoming them

• required in the Faculties of Health and Life Sciences and Arts, Law and Social Sciences. 
• strongly recommended in the Faculty of Science and Engineering.

Book your place on Develop

(Click on ‘Syllabus’ within the learning pathway)

Other sessions available

Sexual Violence Support Service information session 4 November, 15:00-16:00 Sign up now ​

Signposting your PGRs to further support

Supervisors play a vital role in supporting PGR student’s academic progress and overall well-being. While you don’t need to have all the answers, knowing where to direct students for the right help is essential. Find out about key support available to PGRs below:

Signposting to support your PGR students

Supporting students with a disability

There is separate guidance for staff about supporting students with a disability on SharePoint:

Supporting disabled students' learning and assessment,

The PGR Code and guidance on supervision

The PGR Code covers University regulations on supervision for PGR students, including how supervisors are appointed and how they support their students. There is also some additional guidance provided on topics such as confidentiality and plagiarism.

Guidance for supervisory teams

This guidance is intended to inform supervisors and postgraduate research students about the roles and responsibilities of supervisors within a postgraduate research supervisory teams.

Guidance for supervisory teams (Office document, 27kB)

Your supervisory community

The Bristol Institute for Learning and Teaching (BILT) offers a range of opportunities for supervisors, including training, workshops, and an annual supervisor symposium.

Read more about support and events from BILT