Doctoral College

Doctoral Supervision

An infographoc describing doctoral training

Doctoral supervisor training programme

Initial doctoral supervisor training

This suite of 3 sessions is designed to introduce new doctoral supervisors to the practices and processes of doctoral supervision.

Session 1: Supporting PGR Development and monitoring progress

Session 2: Responding to student needs and having challenging conversations

Session 3: Giving Feedback

To book, visit the EduExe toolkit.

PGR pastoral tutor training

The PGR pastoral tutor has pastoral responsibility for the student and provides an additional layer of support to the supervision team. To support new PGR pastoral tutors, our training programme offers a two-hour workshop Introduction to PGR pastoral tutoring.

PGR examinations training

For those involved in examining doctoral degrees, we offer a suite of online resources on Conducting the viva: guidance for examiners.

CPD

The CPD for supervisors page offers resources on a range of themes for departments to use and adapt, including:

  • Supporting online supervision
  • Navigating challenging conversations
  • Exploring coaching approaches to supervision

In January 2024 we launched a new programme of Doctoral Supervision training. This new programme was developed with the University’s Doctoral Supervision Steering Group, alongside engagement with current scholarship and best practice in the sector. The programme consists of: 

If you have any questions about our Doctoral Supervision training programme, please contact the Educator Development team on eduexe@exeter.ac.uk 

Initial Doctoral Supervisor Training

This suite of 3 sessions is designed to introduce new doctoral supervisors to the practices and processes of doctoral supervision. It extends our previous training in two three two-hour sessions that cover: 

Please note this course is mandatory for all new doctoral supervisors, with only the first being mandatory for doctoral supervisors new to Exeter. 

PGR Pastoral Tutor training

The PGR pastoral tutor has pastoral responsibility for the student, and provides an additional layer of support to the supervision team. To support new PGR pastoral tutors, our training programme offers a two-hour workshop  Introduction to PGR pastoral tutoring. 

The session is offered three times per year. You only need to attend one session. Use the link below to book your place:

An introduction to pastoral tutoring for PGRs

PGR examinations

For those involved in examining doctoral degrees, we offer a suite of online resources on  Navigating the examinations process  on our  Supervision hub on the Education Toolkit. 

Continuing professional development (CPD)

All staff who supervise doctoral students are required to engage in CPD at least once every two years. CPD is offered within your department, led by the Department Directors of Postgraduate Research and their deputies.

The EduExe Toolkit offers resources to support CPD in doctoral supervision, including: