Pilot: Workshops for New PhD Supervisors
Introducing new developmental sessions for PhD supervisors
The University of Cambridge is offering new Continuing Professional Development sessions for supervisors of PhD students, as part of a pilot.
These sessions, principally aimed at those new to PhD supervision, will introduce effective strategies for supporting PhD students across disciplines. They will also provide dedicated time for participating supervisors to learn from each other, share experiences, and discuss common challenges. You will be encouraged to reflect on your practice and approaches.
These sessions complement the Supervising Postgraduate Research Students course provided by CCTL, going into further depth on specific topics.
The Research SuperVision Project
This pilot is part of the Next Generation Research SuperVision Project, which aims to transform research supervision practice and culture in the UK Higher Education sector. Working with over 50 research organisations, the project is funded by Research England and supported by all seven UKRI research councils, the Wellcome Trust and the Crick Institute.
As part of this project, a range of resources and activities have been developed for supervisors of PhD students. As one of the project's practitioner partners, Cambridge is contributing to a pilot of these initiatives. Your feedback as an attendee will help to refine and improve the sessions before future release to the broader Higher Education sector.
Session details
All sessions will be held in the Student Services Centre.
You are welcome to attend as many of the sessions as you would like, but do not have to attend all four in order to participate. Registration links are provided alongside the session details below.
As this is a research project where we will be gathering your input, we need your consent to participate before you can attend the workshops.
Please see the Participant Information Sheet for full details of the project.
Writing is a fundamental part of the doctoral journey, yet it often presents emotional, motivational and structural challenges. This session encourages peer learning and introduces a practical framework for analysing writing issues and developing effective strategies for supporting doctoral students with their writing.
- Monday 1 December
- 10-11.30am
- New Wing Seminar Room
Register here for Supporting doctoral students with academic writing
This session explores how research supervisors can provide clear, constructive and supportive feedback that enhances doctoral students' writing development and confidence. You will be encouraged to reflect on your current practices and we will explore evidence-informed strategies and tools that support both clarity and independence.
- Monday 19 January
- 10-11am
- Exam Hall D
Register here for Giving feedback on doctoral students' writing
This session introduces practical tools and techniques for setting and managing expectations, building rapport and developing strong working relationships with your supervisees. It introduces core supervisory skills and will be particularly valuable to those who have recently taken on, or are preparing to take on, a supervisory role.
- Friday 13 February
- 10am-12pm
- New Wing Seminar Room
Register here for Establishing boundaries and building rapport
This session offers supervisors an analytical lens for reflecting on their role and approach. We will discuss a curated selection of theories from the literature on doctoral supervision, not to offer clear-cut tips but to challenge you to move beyond habitual practices and adapt approaches that align with your context, your values, and your students' needs.
- Wednesday 25 February
- 2-3pm
- Exam Hall D