Supervising Undergraduates
Please also see the Accessibility & Disability Resource Centre for guidance on working with disabled students.
An Introduction to Undergraduate Supervision
This practical programme is only for those who are scheduled to begin supervising in the next few months. It is not for those who - at this point - have a general interest in learning about supervisions but have not arranged to start supervising.
This three-part programme of support prepares you to supervise undergraduate students at the University of Cambridge. The programme aims to help you understand the purpose of supervisions at Cambridge, be familiar with effective feedback practices, know how to deal with common supervision scenarios and feel confident with the practicalities of starting to supervise.
Please note that everyone new to supervising undergraduates at Cambridge must complete both the online module and the in-person workshop (or equivalent face-to-face training provided by your Department or Faculty).
The programme comprises three parts:
(1) Required: online module
Taking 1.5-2 hours to complete, this self-paced component includes pre-reading for the workshop as well as resources and further guidance which you may find helpful following the workshop.
(2) Required: workshop
In this face-to-face workshop you will benefit from activities and discussion with peers informed by the preparatory work undertaken in the online module. The workshops are organised around the type of supervision work students do; i.e. essay-based work or problem sheets. If you have any questions about which workshop to attend, please contact the Course Director Dr Mary Beth Benbenek.
Please note: we may publish extra dates throughout the year in response to demand.
(3) Optional follow-up session
We offer an optional follow-up session for those who wish to explore further after gaining some supervision experience. Details of this optional session are circulated directly to those who have completed the introductory workshop.
Online Supervision
Created in response to the rapid pivot to remote teaching & learning in 2020, our guide to supervising online provides a range of advice specific to the online environment, such as technological considerations, accessibility and how to facilitate discussion in a virtual setting. Please note that the guide has not been updated, but still contains useful advice.