Supervisor development and support
You are never alone as a supervisor at Bristol. Find out about workshops, development opportunities and how to signpost your students to additional support.
Supervisor development opportunities
The Bristol Doctoral College and the Bristol Institute for Learning and Teaching (BILT), have a range of in-person and online events to enhance and support your supervisory practice.
Information and resources aimed at supervisors
These resources have been developed with supervisors in mind. Your students may also find it helpful to read through these resources to better understand your role as a supervisor.
This document is an easy reference point, covering all the key elements of supervision.
This guidance is intended to inform supervisors and PGR students about the roles and responsibilities of supervisors within postgraduate research supervisory teams.
Guidance for supervisory teams (Office document, 27kB)
There are a number of resources that are essential for both students and supervisors. These can be found on the Key tools for the supervisory relationship web page, and include the PGR Student-Supervisor Agreement and the Principles of PGR Supervision.
Supporting your PGR students
As a supervisor, your support goes beyond research—you’re often the first point of contact when students face challenges. From mental health and financial worries to plagiarism and disability services, knowing where to direct them can make all the difference.
Supervisors play a vital role in supporting PGR students' 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.
The Student Wellbeing Service provide information on student health and wellbeing for all staff who support students. This can be accessed via the staff SharePoint. You can also contact the Student Wellbeing team directly if you have any questions or concerns.
There is separate guidance on SharePoint for staff about reasonable adjustments and supporting disabled students' learning and assessment.
Guidance on supervising and supporting International PGR students, including practical advice and requirements, cultural considerations and top tips.
Supervisor guidance for International PGRs (Office document, 95kB)
This guide is informed by research from the ‘Returning to Research’ project, supported by the Enhancing Research Culture fund and led by Dr Helen Thomas-Hughes and Dr Alice Beck.