C. Supervisors' responsibilities
37 The supervisor should provide the student with advice on the nature of research and the standards expected; about the planning and due scope of the student’s research programme; about the primary sources and secondary literature required to support the project; about the availability of and requirements for attendance at relevant seminars and taught classes; about research techniques (including arrangements for instruction where necessary); and questions of originality, plagiarism and publication of research results.
38 The supervisor should meet with the student for formal consultation at least three times a term in the case of full-time students, and at least twice a term in the case of part-time students. The number of formal consultations may be varied by mutual agreement as circumstances may require. Supervisors may also maintain contact through regular seminar meetings, in accordance with College and School policy and in the light of discussion of arrangements with the student. Supervisors are responsible for structuring at least the minimum number of supervisory meetings, and for maintaining simple but adequate written records which record the student’s progress and forward plans and the need for future supervisory meetings.
39 Supervisors should be accessible to students at other appropriate times when advice may be needed.
40 A clear understanding between the supervisor and student should be established at an early stage about the supervisor’s responsibilities in relation to the student's written submissions. The understanding must accord with University, College or School regulations, of which the student should be made aware, and must cover the nature and frequency of guidance or comment that the supervisor will offer.
41 Supervisors should give detailed advice on the importance of planning and the necessary completion dates of successive stages of the work so that the thesis may be submitted within the required time.
42 Supervisors should advise on matters relating to the presentation of work in the form of conference and journal papers, including the avoidance of plagiarism and the process of due acknowledgement.
43 Supervisors should facilitate contacts with specialists in other institutions and, where possible, access to necessary materials and facilities in other institutions and research sources.
44 Written work should be requested as appropriate, and returned with constructive criticism in reasonable time.
45 Arrangements should be made as appropriate for the student to talk about his or her work to staff or research seminars, and to have practice in oral examinations.
46 Guidance should be given to award-holders regarding the submission of periodic reports on their progress, and other regulations and procedures stipulated by their funding bodies.
47 Supervisors should ensure that students are made aware of any inadequacy of progress or of standard of work which is below that generally expected.
48 Where appropriate, supervisors should be prepared to refer students for professional guidance in respect of personal or other problems not necessarily directly related to the research.
49 The student’s principal supervisor(s) will report annually to the School Sub-committee on the student’s progress and any problems encountered during the year, and will also comment as appropriate on the student's annual report (see paragraph 57).
50 In the case of publicly funded students, supervisors are responsible for submitting formal reports on progress as required by the funding bodies.
51 Supervisors must inform students at the appropriate stage about procedures for the submission of the thesis, about arrangements for the oral examination, and what will be expected of them in defending their thesis, and about the range of possible outcomes of the examination. It may be appropriate to prepare students for the oral examination with a mock examination in the School.
52 Particular care should be taken with overseas students who may need in the early stages very frequent contact, and often advice, as the circumstances of individual students require. The assistance needed may include help with language problems and advice about language training. The supervisor should be aware that the period of time available for the completion of the thesis will normally be determined by the funding available and in many instances will be less than the maximum four-year period prescribed in 4 (c) above.
53 Supervisors should ensure that students are aware of their responsibilities, as set out below.