Supervision
Supervision is central to the process of studying for a research degree. Your supervisor will be an experienced member of academic staff, usually an acknowledged expert in the field, and someone with whom you will have regular contact.
They will help you organise your initial objectives once you have registered at Queen Mary and offer guidance on structuring your research and developing your transferable skills. They will also advise on reading materials, research seminars, training, conferences and workshops. Ultimately, they will help you produce the best thesis of which you are capable.
Other member(s) of staff may act as second supervisors, or provide training or advice in specific areas.
Finding and making contact with a potential supervisor
Start by establishing that the school or department you wish to study in has expertise in your area of interest. (See the A-Z course finder to find the relevant school / department website).
Academics welcome enquiries from prospective PhD candidates, so you are encouraged to contact possible supervisors to discuss how your research interests would fit within the department. Your prospective supervisor may well be able to offer advice on how to structure your research proposal; they may also be able to help you with your funding application.
If you are unsure about whether your research interests match with someone in the university, then you should send a brief summary of your research interest to the administrator in the relevant school. They will then forward your email to the relevant academic(s). You will find administrator's details on individual school websites.
What will the supervisor be looking for?
When you contact a possible supervisor, they will be looking for certain things to ensure you are a suitable PhD candidate:
- That they have the relevant knowledge to supervise your project
- That your project is suitable for PhD study
- That the school can support your project and that they have the necessary facilities and resources to do this
- That the project can be completed within the required time
- That you as a prospective student have the academic strength to complete your project.
