Graduate Supervision

Students make contact with a potential supervisor during the application process.  If that supervisor is interested and able to supervise that potential student, an offer letter is sent to the potential student.  If that potential student accepts that offer, the Supervisor listed in that offer becomes that student’s graduate supervisor. 

Your Supervisor is your first point of contact for academic matters. The Supervisor’s main responsibility is to guide the research and writing of your thesis. Your Supervisor will also oversee your choice of courses and will measure and report on your progress through your program.

While your Supervisor will help you fulfill the various requirements of your degree, it is your responsibility to meet all deadlines and to initiate procedures (i.e. your thesis proposal, human ethics documentation, graduate progress reports,) as necessary.

From your Supervisor you should expect feedback on your work within a reasonable time frame, consistent guidance with your research, clear financial arrangements for any research assistantships, and clearly defined expectations in terms of grad students’ roles in your lab or research area. Different Supervisors make different arrangements with students in terms of accessibility, but all students should have regular access to their Supervisors to discuss their general progress and, especially, to keep on top of their thesis work.

Should you have any concerns about the supervisory relationship, discuss them with your Supervisor immediately. If the Supervisor is unable to resolve your concerns, please contact the SKHS Graduate Coordinator. In rare instances, a student or faculty member may suggest a change of Supervisors. It is the student’s responsibility to inform the SKHS Graduate Coordinator of their wish to make such a change. The Graduate Coordinator will then take up the matter with the Graduate Subcommittee. After consulting with the newly proposed Supervisor, the Graduate Subcommittee shall make a recommendation on the matter to the Director of the School who has final authority over the decision.

SGS Guidelines for the Student/Supervisor Advisory Relationship

Graduate Student/Supervisor Meetings – Ad Hoc

Graduate students may request a meeting with their supervisor at any time for any purpose.  The supervisor may also request a meeting with the graduate student.  These meetings may be recorded using the SKHS Graduate Student/Supervisor Meeting Form. The SKHS Graduate Student/Supervisor Meeting Form is intended to ensure that both parties understand any expectations discussed during their meeting and to clarify any key dates identified.

Students will still complete the regular Progress Report Form per the SKHS specified schedule.

The SKHS Graduate Student/Supervisor Meeting Form may not be used for the Thesis Proposal Meeting.  Please see the Advisory Committee/Thesis Proposal Meeting Form.