dissertation supervisor first meeting

First meeting with your dissertation supervisor: What to expect

The first meeting with your dissertation supervisor can be a little intimidating, as you do not know what to expect. While every situation is unique, first meetings with a dissertation supervisor often centre around getting to know each other, establishing expectations, and creating work routines.

Why a good relationship with a dissertation supervisor matters

Getting to know each other during the first meeting, getting to know the work environment during the first meeting, establishing a meeting and communication schedule, discussing your research idea with your dissertation supervisor, discussing expectations with your dissertation supervisor.

Writing a dissertation is an exciting but also intimidating part of being a bachelor’s, master’s or PhD student. A dissertation is often the culmination of several years of higher education, and the last step before graduating.

What is important to know is that the relationship that you establish with your supervisor can be a crucial factor in completing a successful dissertation.

A better relationship often results in better and timely completion of a dissertation. This finding is backed up by science. This study , for instance, points out that student-supervisor relationships strongly influence the quality, success or failure of completing a PhD (on time).

Good communication with a dissertation supervisor is key to advancing your research, discussing roadblocks, and incorporating feedback and advice.

Commonly experienced challenges in student-supervisor relationships, on the other hand, are “different expectations, needs and ways of thinking and working” (Gill and Burnard, 2008, p. 668).

Therefore, getting acquainted with each other to set a foundation for the upcoming collaboration is often what first meetings with dissertation supervisors are (and should be) about.

Many first meetings with a dissertation supervisor include a considerable amount of ‘small talk’. Thus, you can expect to engage in a casual conversation to get acquainted.

This conversation tends to look different based on whether you already know your dissertation supervisor, or whether you have never met them before. It could also be that you had a talk with your dissertation supervisor during a formal interview stage, but never talked informally.

Common questions to expect are:

• How are you doing?
• Did you find adequate housing, and did the (international) move go well?
• Did you bring a partner, spouse or family to a new country or city?
• What do you like to do in your free time?
• Where and what did you study before?
• How did you experience your degree programme so far?
• What courses did you enjoy?
• How did you come up with your dissertation topic?
• What are your ambitions for this thesis?
• What are your expectations and goals for both the thesis process?
• What do you want to do after graduating?

You may also like: Getting the most out of thesis supervision meetings

PhD students who start their dissertation are often introduced to their lab, research group or department during the first meeting.

It is not uncommon for the dissertation supervisor to walk around with the new student and introduce him or her to colleagues and supporting staff.

Getting to know your (new) work environment is less common for students who write a dissertation to complete their master’s degrees. Though in some cases, they conduct their master thesis research as part of a lab or existing research project, and will be introduced there as well.

There may also be a discussion about accessing an institutional email address or online work environment as a dissertation student. And any questions that are important to answer to kick off the dissertation process.

During the first meeting, it is very useful for both the student and the dissertation supervisor to discuss their collaboration for the coming months.

This particularly includes agreements on meetings and the frequency of communication. Even if your dissertation supervisor does not raise these issues during the first meeting, it can be helpful to raise them yourself.

Establishing a meeting schedule, or at least discussing how often you are planning to meet, how regularly, and within what time intervals, can reduce a lot of stress and uncertainty.

It can also be very valuable to talk about the frequency of communication. Does your dissertation supervisor appreciate a weekly summary of your progress? Or are you only supposed to reach out when you hit a roadblock?

Furthermore, what are the best ways to communicate? For instance, does your supervisor prefers emails? If so, check out some sample emails to a thesis supervisor ! Or does your supervisor prefer you to collect all your questions until the next supervision meeting, putting them on the meeting agenda?

While you can expect a lot of Smalltalk, planning, and organisational issues to dominate the first meeting with your dissertation supervisor, it is common to also chat about your research idea.

But don’t worry! Supervisors tend to be aware that you are just at the beginning of the dissertation process. Usually, they don’t expect you to provide a fully-fledged research proposal or a formal presentation.

However, be prepared to share your initial thoughts and ideas. Additionally, be prepared to explain why you are interested in the topic and how you roughly anticipate conducting your research and writing your dissertation.

Based on this information, the dissertation supervisor can already point you in the right direction, suggest relevant literature, or connect you with other students or colleagues who work on similar issues.

It is normal to feel slightly lost during the first weeks of working on your dissertation.

However, to keep this feeling to a minimum, it can be extremely helpful to create concrete steps and plans with your dissertation supervisor for the first weeks.

Expectations differ from supervisor to supervisor. Some may just expect you to simply get used to your work environment, read a lot and explore theories that are relevant to your dissertation. Others may want to see the first results in terms of a literature review or research proposal.

Thus, make sure to discuss expectations for the upcoming weeks during the first meeting with your dissertation supervisor. It will prevent you from overthinking what you should do.

Elsewhere, I have written a guide for first-year PhD students with some directions and advice . As a PhD student, you can use this guide as an inspiration and starting point to discuss your own supervisor’s expectations.

If you are writing a master thesis, your timeframe will be much shorter. Thus, it is even more important to define deadlines and milestones with your dissertation supervisor as soon as possible. The first meeting lends itself to making this plan.

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Getting the most out of thesis supervision meetings

• Cookies & Privacy
• GETTING STARTED
• Introduction
• FUNDAMENTALS

Getting to the main article

Choosing your route

Setting research questions/ hypotheses

Assessment point

Building the theoretical case

Setting your research strategy

Data collection

Data analysis

CONSIDERATION ONE

Things to discuss with your supervisor.

From your supervisor's point of view, this may only be the second time you have met to discuss your dissertation, and it could have been a few weeks or a couple of months since you first discussed your dissertation with them (i.e., STAGE FOUR: Assessment point may have been your first meeting). Therefore, start by briefly recapping what your dissertation is about, including the research questions/hypotheses that you are going to answer.

Next, if you developed a theoretical model for your dissertation (i.e., during STEP FOUR: Set the theoretical model for your dissertation in STAGE FIVE: Building the theoretical case ), it is worth showing this to your supervisor. After all, theoretical models are useful frameworks to describe what you are studying in a clear, succinct, and visual way. More specifically, your theoretical model should: (a) set the boundaries/scope of the research project in terms of the theories and constructs that will be studied and measured; and (b) illustrate the research hypotheses to be tested, and the predictions that are being made (if any) about the relationship between the constructs under study.

If you didn't develop a theoretical model, you should focus on explaining the main constructs you will be studying, and the potential relationships between those constructs. This will help your supervisor to understand the theoretical case for your dissertation upon which your research strategy is based. It will also allow you to spend the majority of the meeting discussing your research strategy, which is the main thing you need to discuss with your supervisor. When you discuss your research strategy, remember to focus on the major aspects of your research strategy rather than the detail and justifications behind all of your decisions. You just won't have time to do this unless your supervisor has given you a long meeting.

During this meeting, we would suggest that you: (a) determine whether your research design, research method and sampling strategy are sufficient; (b) get advice on whether your research strategy is likely to be achievable in the time you have available; (c) check that your research strategy meets your dissertation and university's ethical guidelines; (d) present your measurement procedure, if you have time; and (e) defend the choice that you have made. Each of these considerations is discussed in turn:

Determine whether your research design, research method and sampling strategy are sufficient

The research strategy that you set determines how you are going to carry out (i.e., operationalize) your dissertation. In this respect, your research design, research methods and sampling strategy need to fit with the research hypotheses you have set and the theoretical case you have built for your dissertation. This is important for achieve a good mark. However, these components of your research strategy also have a significant impact on the effort that is required to complete a dissertation. By effort , we mean the practical aspects of going out and collecting your data, which includes everything from setting up your research design, to building a representative sample of your population, gaining access to such data, collecting the data using the research methods you have set, before analysing that data. Whilst effort is not going to get you a good mark by itself, there is a minimum amount of effort that will be expected of you when it comes to carrying out your dissertation. For example, the use of secondary research is often criticised because there is a general expectation that you will go out and collect data in the field (i.e., primary research ), unless the secondary research, and the statistical analysis of that research is substantial. Similarly, the effort of putting together a probability sample can clearly be recognized over a non-probability sample due to the time and care that this takes. A third example would be your sample size , with the effort of collecting larger samples, for the most part, providing you with the ability to carry out more rigorous and extensive data analysis that is not possible with smaller samples.

By examining you research design, research methods and sampling strategy, your supervisor should be able to tell you, often from experience, whether the research you plan to carry out is sufficient for a good grade. There is nothing worse than meeting your supervisor too late when you are getting close to the end of the dissertation process, and finding out that you have not done enough. It is often too late to recover at this stage because you simply run out of time to analyse your data and write up your dissertation.

Get advice on whether your research strategy is likely to be achievable in the time you have available

Just as you don't want your research strategy to be insufficient, you also have to be careful that you don't take on too much, especially when it comes to the data collection phase. There are a number of factors that can affect the achievability of your dissertation, including issues of access (i.e., to people, organisations, data, facilities, and information), the size of the sample that you want, the length of the data collection process, whether you can receive help collecting your data, and what skills you may have to learn. If you are an undergraduate student, some of these factors can be difficult to judge because this will be your first dissertation, but even amongst master's students, this can be difficult. When you explain the research strategy you are using, it's a good idea to ask your supervisor whether they think it will be achievable in the time you have available.

Check that your research strategy meets your dissertation and university's ethical guidelines

Having worked through STEP SIX: Research ethics of STAGE SEVEN: Setting the research strategy , you should understand the ethical requirements arising from your choice of research strategy. However, if you do not know whether your choice of research strategy means that you need to write an Ethics Proposal , complete an Ethics Consent Form , or get permission from an Ethics Committee , we would suggest that you pass your ethical design by your supervisor. By ethical design , we simply mean those components of your research strategy that could undermine the five basic ethical principles you should abide by (i.e., minimising the risk of harm, obtaining informed consent, protecting anonymity and confidentiality, avoiding deceptive practices, and providing the right to withdraw). For example, if the research design involves exposing some participants to situations that may be psychological challenging or invasive, if the research methods involve some form of covert or deceptive aspect, or if the population that you are studying involves collecting data from minors or vulnerable groups, these are the kinds of things you should discuss with your supervisor. Since there is a danger that such ethical designs could undermine one or more of the five basic ethical principles, your dissertation may have to receive either informal or formal ethical approval . If your supervisor feels that you will not be able to get ethical approval, or that such ethical approval could severely delay your dissertation (i.e., since you cannot start collecting data until you have it), your supervisor may be able to advise you how to make small changes to your research strategy and ethical design to reduce the potential problems you could face.

Present your measurement procedure, if you have time

You'll not always have enough time to discuss your measurement procedure, but if there's one thing of detail that's worth asking your supervisor to look over, it's the measurement procedure you've used. This is important because the quality of your data is highly contingent on the quality of your measurement procedure (i.e., the reliability and construct validity of your measurement procedure).

If you've followed Route A: Duplication or Route B: Generalisation , this is not so much of an issue because (a) the measurement procedure you are drawing on in the main journal article should have been shown to be reliable and (b) you will not have made many (if any) changes. However, if you have followed Route C: Extension , especially a method or measurement-based extension , there may have been many changes to the measurement procedure used in the main journal article. Therefore, it is worth asking your supervisor to look over these changes. Unless your supervisor is a subject matter expert, they may only be able to help you with the face validity of the measurement procedure, but this can still be useful to avoid glaring mistakes. Your supervisor may be able to give you advice on things like the statement you read out to research participants to tell them what the research it about, what their ethical rights are, and so forth. They may also be able to offer advice on things like survey length or the number of data points you are trying to record in a structured observation, but for the most part, you should look to the main journal article and literature to determine such things.

Defend the choices that you have made

You don't want to defend your choices for the sake of it. If your supervisor strongly suggests that you change a major component of your research strategy, it would be advisable to seriously consider this. At the same time, unless your supervisor is an expert in your area of interest, you will know the contents of your dissertation far better than your supervisor: the research hypotheses you want to answer, the background literature to your dissertation, the research strategy that you plan to follow, and the justifications for all these choices. Making major changes to the theoretical case or research strategy you have set could require a lot of work, and you don't want to make these changes without being sure they are correct. it's worth remembering that you may have only spent 20 minutes with your supervisor, so some of the judgements your supervisor is making may be based solely of the main points you've put across in a short space of time, rather than a detailed assessment of the theoretical case or research strategy you have built. Therefore, if your supervisor does strongly suggest that you make any major changes, it is worth taking the time to defend the choices you have made in case these changes are unnecessary.

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Writing your dissertation - working with your supervisor

Posted in: dissertations

Your supervisor

Before you begin your dissertation, it is highly likely you will be assigned a supervisor to oversee your progress from first steps to completion. Your supervisor will help you formulate ideas and give you guidance on how best to develop your research topic and course of action. But you need to always remember that this is your project, and your supervisor will not provide you with content or additional lessons on a particular topic. Their role is to help you work out your own pathways to success.

Get organised

Lecturers are very busy people, and your dissertation is only a small part of the duties and responsibilities they have to carry out during the summer months. So in order to get the most out of your supervisor and maintain a positive and productive professional relationship with them, you need to get organised.

Here are some important guidelines to follow:

• Agree a timetable of meetings at the start of your project and stick to it.
• Ensure that each meeting has a focus e.g. “setting a research problem”, “analysing the data”, with a clear set of questions to ask.
• your research plan
• early results of your data collection
• draft chapters.
• Arrive on time to each meeting you have arranged. At the end of each supervision meeting agree some action points for you to focus on before the next time you meet.
• Keep a record of what you decide in supervision sessions.
• Don't bug your supervisor with emails in between your meetings. Save up your questions for your next scheduled appointment.

If you are not happy with an aspect of your supervision, discuss this with your supervisor. If this is too difficult or awkward, your personal tutor may also be able to offer advice.

See also Communicating with your tutor

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Dissertation Advisor 101

How to get the most from the student-supervisor relationship

By: Derek Jansen (MBA) | Expert Reviewer: Dr Eunice Rautenbach | January 2024

Many students feel a little intimidated by the idea of having to work with a research advisor (or supervisor) to complete their dissertation or thesis. Similarly, many students struggle to “connect” with their advisor and feel that the relationship is somewhat strained or awkward. But this doesn’t need to be the case!

In this post, we’ll share five tried and tested tips to help you get the most from this relationship and pave the way for a smoother dissertation writing process.

Overview: Working With Your Advisor

• Clarify everyone’s roles on day one
• Establish (and stick to) a regular communication cycle
• Develop a clear project plan upfront
• Be proactive in engaging with problems
• Navigate conflict like a diplomat

1. Clarify roles on day one

Each university will have slightly different expectations, rules and norms in terms of the research advisor’s role. Similarly, each advisor will have their own unique way of doing things. So, it’s always a good idea to begin the engagement process by clearly defining the roles and expectations in your relationship.

In practical terms, we suggest that you initiate a conversation at the very start of the engagement to discuss your goals, their expectations, and how they would like to work with you. Of course, you might not like what you hear in this conversation. However, this sort of candid conversation will help you get on the same page as early as possible and set the stage for a successful partnership.

To help you get started, here are some questions that you might consider asking in your initial conversation:

• How often would you like to meet and for how long?
• What should I do to prepare for each meeting?
• What aspects of my work will you comment on (and what won’t you cover)?
• Which key decisions should I seek your approval for beforehand?
• What common mistakes should I try to avoid from the outset?
• How can I help make this partnership as effective as possible?
• My academic goals are… Do you have any suggestions at this stage to help me achieve this?

As you can see, these types of questions help you get a clear idea of how you’ll work together and how to get the most from the relatively limited face time you’ll have.

Need a helping hand?

2. Establish a regular communication cycle

Just like in any relationship, effective communication is crucial to making the student-supervisor relationship work. So, you should aim to establish a regular meeting schedule and stick to it. Don’t cancel or reschedule appointments with your advisor at short notice, or do anything that suggests you don’t value their time. Fragile egos are not uncommon in the academic world, so it’s important to clearly demonstrate that you value and respect your supervisor’s time and effort .

Practically speaking, be sure to prepare for each meeting with a clear agenda , including your progress, challenges, and any questions you have. Be open and honest in your communication, but most importantly, be receptive to your supervisor’s feedback . Ultimately, part of their role is to tell you when you’re missing the mark. So, don’t become upset or defensive when they criticise a specific aspect of your work.

Always remember that your research advisor is criticising your work, not you personally . It’s never easy to take negative feedback, but this is all part of the learning journey that takes place alongside the research journey.

3. Have a clear project plan

Few things will impress your supervisor more than a well-articulated, realistic plan of action (aka, a project plan). Investing the time to develop this shows that you take your project (and by extension, the relationship) seriously. It also helps your supervisor understand your intended timeline, which allows the two of you to better align your schedules .

In practical terms, you need to develop a project plan with achievable goals . A detailed Gantt chart can be a great way to do this. Importantly, you’ll need to break down your thesis or dissertation into a collection of practical, manageable steps , and set clear timelines and milestones for each. Once you’ve done that, you should regularly review and adjust this plan with your supervisor to ensure that you remain on track.

Of course, it’s unlikely that you’ll stick to your plan 100% of the time (there are always unexpected twists and turns in a research project. However, this plan will lay a foundation for effective collaboration between yourself and your supervisor. An imperfect plan beats no plan at all.

4. Engage with problems proactively

One surefire way to quickly annoy your advisor is to pester them every time you run into a problem in your dissertation or thesis. Unexpected challenges are par for the course when it comes to research – how you deal with them is what makes the difference.

When you encounter a problem, resist the urge to immediately send a panicked email to your supervisor – no matter how massive the issue may seem (at the time). Instead, take a step back and assess the situation as holistically as possible. Force yourself to sit with the issue for at least a few hours to ensure that you have a clear, accurate assessment of the issue at hand. In most cases, a little time, distance and deep breathing will reveal that the problem is not the existential threat it initially seemed to be.

When contacting your supervisor, you should ideally present both the problem and one or two potential solutions . The latter is the most important part here. In other words, you need to show that you’ve engaged with the issue and applied your mind to finding potential solutions. Granted, your solutions may miss the mark. However, providing some sort of solution beats impulsively throwing the problem at your supervisor and hoping that they’ll save the day.

Simply put, mishaps and mini-crises in your research journey present an opportunity to demonstrate your initiative and problem-solving skills – not a reason to lose your cool and outsource the problem to your supervisor.

5. Navigate conflict like a diplomat 

As with any partnership, there’s always the possibility of some level of disagreement or conflict arising within the student-supervisor relationship. Of course, you can drastically reduce the likelihood of this happening by implementing some of the points we mentioned earlier. Neverthless, if a serious disagreement does arise between you and your supervisor, it’s absolutely essential that you approach it with professionalism and respect . Never let it escalate into a shouting contest.

In practical terms, it’s important to communicate your concerns as they arise (don’t let things simmer for too long). Simultaneously, it’s essential that you remain open to understanding your supervisor’s perspective – don’t become entrenched in your position. After all, you are the less experienced researcher within this duo.

Keep in mind that a lot of context is lost in text-based communication , so it can often be a good idea to schedule a short call to discuss your concerns or points of contention, rather than sending a 3000-word email essay. When going this route, be sure to take the time to prepare a clear, cohesive argument beforehand – don’t just “thought vomit” on your supervisor.

In the event that you do have a significant disagreement with your advisor, remember that the goal is to find a solution that serves your project (not your ego). This often requires compromise and flexibility. A “win at all costs” mindset is definitely not suitable here. Ultimately, you need to solve the problem, while still maintaining the relationship .

If you feel that you have already exhausted all possible avenues and still can’t find an acceptable middle ground, you can of course reach out to your university to ask for their assistance. However, this should be the very last resort . Running to your university every time there’s a small disagreement will not serve you well.

Recap: Key Takeaways

To sum up, a fruitful student-supervisor relationship hinges on clear role definition , effective and regular communication , strategic planning , proactive engagement , and professional conflict resolution .

Remember, your dissertation supervisor is there to help you, but you still need to put in the work . In many cases, they’ll also be the first marker of your work, so it really pays to put in the effort and build a strong, functional relationship with them.

Psst... there’s more!

This post was based on one of our popular Research Bootcamps . If you're working on a research project, you'll definitely want to check this out ...

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Tips for new PhD supervisors: how to hold effective meetings

Supervisory meetings should be planned, regular and positive in tone. Here are key elements to include in thesis supervision meetings for academics new to the role

Alice Ling Jiang

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Planning is key to fostering effective communication between student and supervisor during the dissertation supervision process. Positive interactions will give doctoral students confidence and a strong sense of independence. Each PhD student’s needs differ significantly, and it is incumbent upon the supervisor to design appropriate strategies from the outset. A vast array of articles offering enlightening and inspiring approaches for communication and thesis guidance are available online.

In this context, a few well-focused points for new PhD supervisors would seem beneficial. Adequate preparation is one of the keys to a fruitful supervision meeting with PhD students.

• Co-creation: how to find the ‘super’ in supervision
• Fostering freedom in PhD students: how supervisors can shape accessible paths for doctoral research
• Research supervision: working with the individual in front of you

Key elements to an effective PhD supervisory meeting

What, however, should an effective PhD thesis meeting include? Three primary elements come to mind. First, the student needs to clearly report their research progress. Second, the supervisor provides feedback, guidance and in-depth insight into the student’s most critical areas of need. Last, the focus for the next stage of research needs to be identified in order to continue the dissertation preparation process.

These three objectives can be further supplemented by following these suggestions during supervisory meetings with your PhD students.

1. Prepare in advance for themes or topics requiring discussion

Well before the meeting, encourage the student to email a tentative agenda or proposal to you. Ahead of the meeting, you, as the supervisor, read the email and identify which focal points require discussion. The student’s email should include at least two elements: (1) a summary of main research work progress accomplished to date; and (2) the complexities or hurdles encountered during the research phase (such as refining the research topic, theoretical considerations, data compilation, analysis methodology or writing process) that require further discussion with their supervisor. Writing the pre-meeting email is the student’s opportunity to organise and structure their thoughts, a task that is highly conducive to effective communication during the meeting.

2. Encourage students to proactively articulate their thoughts

At initial stages of doctoral study, students may not have a full spectrum of ideas to present. During this period, it would be natural for the supervisor to speak more frequently than the student during supervisory meetings. However, as research work progresses, students are expected to contribute more actively. Indeed, presentation skills are considered an integral professional component of doctoral-level training. To prompt interactive conversation, ask the student to prepare five to 10 PowerPoint slides to facilitate the exchange of ideas. As students encounter difficulty during their research process, they should be encouraged to think, reason and reflect independently, and to implement potential solutions before discussion with their supervisors. Online resources are plentiful for assisting doctoral students in preparation of efficient meetings with the supervisor.

3. Student note-taking and audio recording can be used to highlight key points

Notes and recordings can enable students to encapsulate meeting content in short form and will promote students’ ability to reflect meaningfully on the supervisor’s comments, reinforcing pivotal thoughts and concepts. Audio recording, with the supervisor’s consent, can allow the meeting to proceed at a natural pace without interruptions while students catch up with their note-taking. Using the recording after the meeting, students can organise key points. Brief summaries of content are helpful in ensuring that students properly grasp and retain important ideas, themes, concepts or approaches before embarking on the next stage of developing the dissertation.

Students should also email their meeting summaries to the supervisor for retention of records. If there are errors, these summaries will assist both parties in rectifying any discrepancies or inaccuracies. These summations can be used at subsequent meetings to verify whether the issues discussed have been satisfactorily resolved or if there remain any items that require adjustment or modification.

Use positive language during supervisory meetings

All stages of doctoral research come with inherent challenges. During meetings, the supervisor should strive to use positive verbal expression and body language throughout discussions. Cognitive theorists and educational psychologists have found that positive emotions can enhance concentration, focus, memory and problem-solving skills, while also enriching critical and creative thinking . Students who are emotionally stable and confident will be more deeply committed to their research.

On the other hand, those who are stressed or lacking in confidence are less likely to engage in effective dyadic communication and may harbour more doubts as to the viability of their ideas.

In my experience, amicable greetings, smiles and sincere encouragement are central to building a good supervisory relationship. A friendly supervisor can motivate and inspire doctoral students to innovate and move forward boldly, while enthusiastically communicating with their departmental peers.

Set and define challenging goals

Although students often have an overarching plan for their progress, supervisors can set even higher standards to be achieved gradually. Indeed, calm seas never make skilled sailors . Expectations and deadlines for completion of each stage need to be specified. Students should be made aware of the nature of high-quality research and should become familiar with the proper strategies and approaches to doctoral study. The scope and number of reading lists, the structure and length of literature reviews, and staged achievement goals must be discussed early in the supervisory process. In mid-phases of research, goals should be discussed and determined by the supervisor in conjunction with the student, inclusive of number of samples to be collected, experimental equipment or modalities, funding considerations and which journals to target.   

Hold regular supervisory meetings to encourage students to think deeply and formulate solutions

Ideally, expectations should be made open and clear in regularly scheduled initial meetings, taking into account shifting realities, as necessary. Flexibility is permissible, although students should be encouraged to honour the deadlines set by the doctoral programme, ensuring their timely graduation. 

Alice Ling Jiang is a professor in marketing at the School of Business at the Macau University of Science and Technology.

If you found this interesting and want advice and insight from academics and university staff delivered direct to your inbox each week,  sign up for the THE Campus newsletter .

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E-Mail To Dissertation Supervisor – How To Approach It

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Writing an e-mail to your dissertation supervisor can feel daunting. The process is often marked with anxiety, especially when one is uncertain about the nuances of professional communication or the specific expectations of their supervisor. Efficient communication with your academic advisor is a vital factor in your process towards completing a dissertation . This guide provides practical tips on how to draft an e-mail to your dissertation supervisor.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

• 1 E-mail to Dissertation Supervisor – In a Nutshell
• 2 Definition: E-mail to dissertation supervisor
• 3 E-mail to dissertation supervisor: Style and tone
• 4 E-mail to dissertation supervisor: Tips
• 5 E-mail to dissertation supervisor: No reply

E-mail to Dissertation Supervisor – In a Nutshell

• The first e-mail to dissertation supervisor should have a clear subject title, a formal salutation, and error-free language.
• Keep your e-mail to dissertation supervisor short, relevant and with a clear call to action.
• If you do not receive a response to your e-mail in, say, a week, you can send a polite follow-up email.

Definition: E-mail to dissertation supervisor

There are several instances where you would need to send an e-mail to dissertation supervisor, as highlighted in the list below:

• Arranging an appointment for an initial appointment of a follow-up meeting.
• Asking questions about a problem you encounter and getting clarification.
• Confirming agreements for matters you discussed.

It is a good idea to make a summary of what you and your supervisor agree on regarding issues such as deadlines and steps forward. Request your supervisor to verify your notes to ensure you agree and are completely clear on the way forward.

E-mail to dissertation supervisor: Style and tone

Write your e-mail to dissertation supervisor formally and use your school email address to come across as professional (in place of your account). The guide below gives tips on writing the e-mail to dissertation supervisor, the style to use and what to avoid.

Addressing your supervisor

It is best to address your supervisor formally in your first email. Since you do not know how they would prefer to be addressed, it is better to err on the side of caution. An initial informal e-mail to dissertation supervisor may send the wrong message and cast doubt your attitude and professionalism.

If your supervisor responds to your email with their first name in the closing, e.g., (‘Sincerely Gabriel’), it may be okay to address them by their first name in the following email. However, we recommend waiting until you have exchanged a few more emails where they have closed informally to be extra safe.

The table below gives examples of closings and salutations you can use in your e-mail to dissertation supervisor on formal and informal occasions.

Email signature

Using an email signature is at your discretion, although it is not necessary. However, you can model it as below if you do choose to use it or if your program requires it:

• First name and surname
• Study program
• Institution of study
• Telephone number
• Email address

The e-mail to dissertation supervisor must be well-written with good grammar and correct English (or any appropriate language). We strongly recommend that you proofread your e-mail to dissertation supervisor carefully for any mistakes before sending it or ask another person to read it to get a fresh set of eyes on it.

A concise e-mail to dissertation supervisor will display your professionalism and seriousness about your project.

E-mail to dissertation supervisor: Tips

Below are some valuable tips for writing an e-mail to dissertation supervisor.

Concise subject line :

The purpose of a subject line is to summarize the email and get the reader interested. Use a short, clear summary to reinforce your call to action.

Connections :

Make sure you mention any connection you may have with the supervisor. Did you hear the professor speak at an event, or were you referred to them by a former student or their colleague?

Keep it relevant :

Dissertation supervisors are usually busy, so stick to what is pertinent to the dissertation. For instance, do not add personal anecdotes to your e-mail to dissertation supervisor unless they are essential to the application.

Do not ask long, complex questions in the e-mail to dissertation supervisor :

Save any complicated questions for when you can speak to your supervisor more personally. This will allow you to get detailed answers and follow up where you are dissatisfied with a response. You will also save your supervisor the time and effort needed to write replies to your questions.

Have a clear CTA (Call to Action):

Your e-mail to dissertation supervisor should be very clear and leave no doubt about what you want from them. Ask your questions as clearly as possible. You are more likely to get a faster response if your supervisor is clear on what you want.

Introduce yourself :

After requesting to work with them, introduce yourself briefly. Include your institution of study, research interests and why you are interested in working with them. We also recommend attaching your resume to the email.

Respond as quickly as you can:

Confirm any appointments your supervisor makes, provide any information they request, answer their questions and request clarification on what you don’t understand. Taking the initiative to contact your supervisor shows that you are serious and driven. Contact your supervisor to arrange an appointment instead of waiting for them to set it.

E-mail to dissertation supervisor: No reply

Supervisors will usually always respond to your emails; however, the reply rate may vary. Do not take it personally if they do not respond to your email immediately. Researchers also teach research and travel, and may even supervise other students.

If you don’t receive a reply in about a week, you can follow up politely. However, be careful not to look too impatient by not allowing your supervisor sufficient time to reply.

If your supervisor still does not respond after your follow-up e-mail, you can contact your program or the department secretary, who can contact you with your supervisor.

How should you approach a dissertation supervisor?

Your first e-mail to dissertation supervisor should clearly state who you are and what you would like from them. It is beneficial also to mention how you heard of them, whether by attending their lectures, by recommendation, or another way.

When can I address my dissertation supervisor informally?

In your first e-mail to dissertation supervisor, address them formally by their title to avoid giving the impression of unprofessionalism. If your supervisor responds with an informal closing severally, you may assume that it is alright to address them as so.

Can I contact other potential supervisors?

Yes, you can. However, when sending an e-mail to dissertation supervisor, you should make it clear from the beginning that you are also contacting other potential supervisors.

This transparency will help you avoid any misunderstandings in the future.

What should I do if I don't get a reply to my e-mail to dissertation supervisor?

The response speed will vary among supervisors, as most are often busy with other commitments. Wait for about a week, then send a polite follow-up e-mail to dissertation supervisor.

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Supervising Dissertations

• First Online: 13 January 2024

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• Katharina Rietig 2  

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This chapter discusses central elements and steps in the research supervision process. The chapter proceeds to explore the key steps in the supervision process such as finding and specifying/narrowing down the topic, identifying the research question and contribution, discussing the research strategy and methods, the literature review and finding the path through the literature forest, identifying and selecting theoretical frameworks and theories, and subsequently proceeding to the case study/empirical part of the dissertation. It discusses the difference between primary/secondary literature-based dissertations (e.g., in philosophy or history) and case study-based dissertations that include the collection and/or analysis of primary/secondary empirical data. It reflects on different approaches and strategies around primary data collection through interviews, field work, and participant observation, as well as complying with risk assessment and research ethics in the process, and then proceeds to the analysis of quantitative/qualitative data. It closes with key considerations around writing the central discussion chapter that links the theoretical framework/theory to the empirical findings and discusses how they fit within the broader academic literature on the topic, before moving to the conclusion chapter that summarizes the contribution and offers broader implications for theory and policy/practice.

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The reflections offered in this chapter are based on supervising over 50 undergraduate and Master dissertations across environmental studies, political science, and international relations with a focus on empirical or case-study based dissertations.

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The Best of Beginnings: The First Formal Meeting with Your Supervisor

The Best of Beginnings: The First Formal Meeting with Your Supervisor As you embark upon the advanced research required for a thesis or dissertation, you may already know or have corresponded extensively with the faculty member who will be your primary guide. Perhaps you have taken courses with that scholar, are an admirer of his or her research or specifically chose that person to supervise your own research. On the other hand, you may have simply been assigned to your supervisor based on your research topic and have little or no personal or professional knowledge of the individual who will prove so important to your academic or scientific work. Whatever your prior experience of your thesis supervisor, dissertation mentor or committee chair may be (terminology varies among universities), your first formal meeting is a vital one, and it is essential to be well prepared and begin your working relationship on a positive and productive note. Preparation for the first formal meeting with a thesis supervisor can involve many different things and will vary from student to student and thesis to thesis, but knowledge of two kinds is especially important. For one, you should ensure that you learn as much as possible about your supervisor’s research and publications. You may already have done this thoroughly while choosing your university and supervisor, in which case refreshing your memory of the work you already know or taking the time to read and reflect on your supervisor’s most recent research or publication is a great idea. This is an ideal scenario, but it may be that you have not yet begun investigating the work of your supervisor. If this is the case, you may not have enough time before the first meeting to find and read everything that he or she has published, but one or two pieces closely related to the research you are planning will certainly be worth the effort you invest. The idea behind knowing your supervisor’s research and writing is not attaining the ability to demonstrate your knowledge (though that cannot hurt) or flatter your mentor (which is not the best policy and will likely be detected). Instead, the goal is to determine where your supervisor is coming from in intellectual terms and better understand how to read with accuracy and sophistication and thereby make the most beneficial use of the comments and suggestions he or she offers on your ideas and work. PhD Thesis Editing Services The primary knowledge you should bring to your first meeting with your supervisor is a clear conception of what you hope to achieve while working on your thesis or dissertation. Your research plan may still be somewhat hazy, but reviewing and clarifying it in your mind with the focus being to share it with your supervisor will help you be more precise and specific while discussing it. On the other hand, you may feel that your intentions are already crystal clear and set in stone, in which case it will be a good idea to accept the possibility of change and compromise, preparing yourself to be flexible so that you can benefit from the greater knowledge and experience of your supervisor. Remember that however you and your new supervisor discuss the work ahead, a friendly and professional relationship will serve your needs best, and such a relationship is based upon mutual respect when opinions differ as well as when they agree.

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PhD Success: How to Write a Doctoral Thesis provides guidance for students familiar with English and the procedures of English universities, but it also acknowledges that many theses in the English language are now written by candidates whose first language is not English, so it carefully explains the scholarly styles, conventions and standards expected of a successful doctoral thesis in the English language.

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Effective proofreading is absolutely vital to the production of high-quality scholarly and professional documents. When done carefully, correctly and thoroughly, proofreading can make the difference between writing that communicates successfully with its intended readers and writing that does not. No author creates a perfect text without reviewing, reflecting on and revising what he or she has written, and proofreading is an extremely important part of this process.

First Meeting with Dissertation Supervisor

The preparation of the plan for the first meeting with the supervisor is very beneficial in terms of saving time. Students pursuing graduation often have questions related to the first meeting with the supervisor. In this article, our UK assignment writing experts are providing the proper guideline related to the first meeting with the supervisor.

The schedule of the first meeting with a supervisor can be structure by the synopsis. You need to first send synopsis in advance. As it is the technique which will help your dissertation supervisor in scrutinizing issue and finding that whether specific issues is feasible and relevant or not.

The graduate supervisor will also analyze whether there is a relationship present knowledge, problem statement, research objectives and research methodology.

Before having the first meeting with a supervisor you can expect that the supervisor which you have to choose will support you in gaining the knowledge about a particular subject. You can assume that you have made a selection of a good supervisor.

It means that you can expect that the supervisor whom you have selected will help you in writing a problem statement for the research paper. They would help you in making adjustments in research objectives and will suggest you with better research methodology for achieving desired research objectives.

It is very much essential for you to match your expectations with that of your supervisor at the time of the first meeting. As it is the tactics that will help you in developing a strong relationship with your supervisor.

Before preparing the agenda and synopsis for your first meeting with your supervisor you need to consider the following such as how many times will you meet, how many times will supervisor read your synopsis and what kind of comments you can expect? What does your supervisor expect of you and how ambitious are you?

What discussion to have with the supervisor at the first meeting?

The points you should discuss during the first meeting with the supervisor include:

a) Analyze the expectation of the researcher and Professor

At this step, you need to do Identification researcher requirements and working methods of professors. Do students generally have questions about what to ask from the supervisor during the first meeting? The answer to the question is that

At the initial phase of discussion with the supervisor during the first meeting, it is very much important for you to develop an understanding of the working pattern of your supervisor.

The first question which you can ask from your supervisor during the first meeting could be related to what techniques or methods they use for work. By getting and analyzing the answer to such a question you will be able to judge whether you have made the selection of the right supervisor.

Secondly, you should have a discussion about problems with your supervisor at the time of the first meeting. During your first meeting with your supervisor, you should clearly state the objectives which you intend to achieve by writing a dissertation  or thesis on a particular topic.

In the context of the professor or supervisor, it is very much important for them to develop an understanding that every type of researcher has unique expectations.

They also need to understand that ineffective communication can give rise to misunderstanding and might lead to confusion. Therefore, At the initial meeting, both supervisors and researchers should develop an understanding of each other needs, As these tactics will help both of them in developing a strong relationship with each other.

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b) Frequency of direct meeting, E-mail communication, the timing for meeting

During the first meeting, you should discuss the Frequency of direct meetings, E-mail communication, the timing for a meeting, etc. As both supervisors or professors and researchers might have expectations and preferences related to meetings and communication.

You should organize at least one meeting in a month with your professor. The decision related to the Number of the meeting which should be organized is completely dependent on the stage of the dissertation or thesis.

It is very much essential for the researcher to develop an understanding that the supervisor could have other problems because of which they might face difficulty in providing a quick response. In such a situation, you can ask for an estimated time for receiving feedback.

c) Time and length of the meeting

During the first meeting with your supervisor, you should discuss the timing and length of the meeting. This type of discussion is very much important as it will help both professors and researchers in preparing the schedule.

While making the decision related to the timing of the meeting you should consider the type of problem you intend to discuss in a specific meeting.  It is very much important for you to decide the time of the next meeting at the end of the first meeting with the supervisor. You should spend approx.

Half an hour on the first meeting of you is with the supervisor. You should discuss a relevant point that you have highlight in your document.

d) Bilateral deadlines and Submission of Work

At the first meeting, you need to discuss the time intervals when you need to submit your written work. In simple words, you should discuss the deadline for submitting the draft of the work.

Researchers should prepare a list of problems that they should discuss during the meeting with the supervisor. In other words, you should prepare an outline of the meeting as it will help both of you in saving time.

e) Timing for feedback

You should discuss in a general meeting that how the feedback would be sent either it will be oral or written. After submission of written work, it is very much essential for the supervisor to provide a clear indication of the period when he or she will be able to provide feedback.

While giving the time for feedback professor needs to consider the scope and other commitments.

f) Research topic, research questions, and research methodology

During your first meeting with the supervisor, you can have discussions related to the research topic, questions, and methods. Researchers can take advice about the topic which they have selected for performing research.

The supervisor or dissertation advisor must respect the ideas and decisions taken by the researcher. You should also consider the advice or suggestions provided by your supervisor considering their experience.

g) Change of provisional supervisor, relationship with other professors and co-supervision

It is the first meeting that provides you with an opportunity for determining if the research project and interests of the supervisor and researcher are compatible.  At the time of the first meeting, you should discuss the problems which you are facing in researching a specific topic.

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What preparation should be done for the first meeting with a supervisor?

The preparation of the first formal meeting with the Dissertation supervisor can include several things that differ from one student to another and also on the thesis.

Before having a meeting with the thesis supervisor, it is very much essential for you to gather a large amount of information about the person whom you have select as a supervisor.

You can perform such activity when making a selection of a thesis supervisor. Researchers can also perform investigations for gathering the work of the supervisor. By gathering the information about the dissertation supervisor you will be able to determine whether they have knowledge or expertise in the field on which you are performing research.

It has been concluded from the above that during the first meeting you can have an important discussion about save many things.

Another fact which has been found from the above is that the first meeting allows both researcher and professor to develop an understanding with each other which is crucial for working together and accomplishing desired goals.

Frequently ask questions

Ques 1. What should I discuss at the first meeting with the Dissertation Supervisor?

Ans:  At the first meeting with your thesis supervisor you can discuss the research topic, objectives, questions, research methodology, findings, etc.

Ques 2.  What preparation I should do before having a meeting with Ph.D. Supervisor?

Ans: Before attending a meeting with the dissertation supervisor you should gather information about them.

You should prepare a proper plan and make notes of things about which you want to have a discussion. For instance, If you want to discuss the research topic in the first meeting then you should first select some of the topics which you think are relevant to your field. You should also prepare a list of questions that you want to ask a Ph.D. supervisor.

Ques 3. What questions should I ask the Dissertation supervisor at the first meeting?

Ans:  The questions you should ask from a Ph.D. supervisor are: You should ask a question about their educational background and experience in a particular field.

It is very much essential for you to ask your thesis supervisor about their working method. During the first meeting with your Dissertation supervisor, you should ask them about their expectation from researchers or scholars whom they are guiding.

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Checklist for first meetings between supervisor and doctoral student

A useful checklist of things that might be discussed during the first few meetings between supervisor and student

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Humanities Blog

• How to undertake writing a dissertation

by HUMS Ambassador Team | May 17, 2024 | Geography and Global Development , Postgraduate | 0 comments

The sheer scale and importance of a dissertation can often incite dread in students and a fear of taking on such a big task, but dissertations don’t have to be as intimidating as they seem, and dare I say they can actually be quite fun! These are some of my key tips for taking on a dissertation, and they worked for me, so hopefully they can work for you too…

Make sure to pick a topic you actually like

Sounds silly but so many people pick topics due to convenience or perhaps external pressures, but dissertations take a lot of hours of work, and also motivation when the workload gets intense. Therefore, enjoying and being passionate about your topic is key to making the dissertation process easier but also you can learn so much from the extensive research you conduct during this time, and if it is a topic you love then that can be really exciting.

It is ok for your topic to change around a bit

Obviously it is not so ideal if this is happening in the last few days before the dissertation is due! Yet, your topic shifting and evolving in different ways is not always a bad thing, as during research you may realize a certain angle or topic is better, or maybe you just don’t think your work flows like you expected, and as annoying as this can be it is perfectly normal and happens to a lot of people.

However, always communicate these changes with your supervisor first! And speaking of…

Make the most of your supervisor

Supervisors are literally there to be a support for you during this time, and they are also experts in their field who can use their experience to guide you. But they have also been students once and understand your struggles so there is no need to be intimidated by them!

Make the most of the meetings you have with them, such as by preparing drafts before the meeting or coming in with questions, as these meetings are not frequent but are vital times for you to gain feedback that can be constructively applied to your work.

Be careful with overreading

Something I am very guilty of which doesn’t seem bad but can make work more difficult. It is amazing to be so interested in a topic that you read a wide variety of papers surrounding it, but it is much more time efficient and less stressful for you to focus your searching more. A key tip is picking out key words relating to what you need to find out and including those as an integral part of your search.

Try and timetable your dissertation structure

A dissertation has a lot of components to be completed, and some are a lot more work than others, therefore it can be helpful to plan out your time where you want certain things to be completed, and maybe using your supervisor to help with this. This can help you plan around when life things come up, but also to ensure you are making the necessary progress to successfully reach your deadline with the completed work.

Leaving plenty of time to proofread

I did not do this in my undergraduate degree and left just one day to go over almost 45 pages of work! Leave a couple of days but at best a week before submission for proofreading, just in case any major changes need to be made or if you need to check things with a supervisor who may take a while getting back to your emails depending on their wider commitments.

Hopefully these tips help you in your dissertation journey, however, the most important thing is to try and enjoy the experience as much as you can, and take it in your stride. If you manage your time well and plan your dissertation in detail, as well as following some of the tips above, then you’ll be great!

Written by Bethany, current MSc Global Development (Environment and Climate Change) student at The University of Manchester

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Hutchinson murder trial: Defense attorney grills lead detective over discipline for meeting victim's widow for drinks months after slaying

M ay 15—With trial underway for two men charged with first-degree murder and other crimes in connection with a purported murder-for-hire of a popular Oakland County businessman Daniel Hutchinson, the defense on Wednesday grilled a key witness — the detective who headed up the case — about a formal reprimand he received from his supervisor for meeting Hutchinson's widow at a bar months after the slaying.

Sgt. Dwaine Green of Oak Park's Department of Public Safety returned to the witness stand in Oakland County Circuit Court for cross examination, where defense attorney James Thomas appeared to suggest Green may have compromised the case back in October 2022 when he met Marisa Hutchinson for drinks, after work hours, without his supervisor's permission. Thomas is representing Marco Bisbikis, accused of masterminding the Hutchinson homicide plan; it's alleged Bisbikis wanted the Hutchinsons killed because he was posed to benefit financially due to a will he had drafted for the couple.

Daniel Hutchinson, of Pleasant Ridge, was fatally shot June 1, 2022 outside his Pay Beny pawn shop on Greenfield Road in Oak Park. He was also the well-known owner of Hutch's Jewelry located down the street from the pawn shop, whose customers included famous rap musicians and other wealthy clients. The accused gunman is Detroiter Roy Larry, who reportedly carried out the shooting while on a bicycle. Larry and Bisbikis are being tried together.

According to court records, a private investigator told Oakland County chief litigator John Skrzynski that Green had an after-hours meeting with Marisa Hutchinson, and that some family members reportedly suspected Marisa Hutchinson was in a sexual relationship with Green. Skrzynski relayed the information to Green's supervisor at the Oak Park public safety department in January 2023, and that month Skrzynski and Green's supervisor interviewed Green about the meeting and the allegations. Green denied the sexual allegations but admitted to meeting Marisa Hutchinson outside of work, and he was subsequently written up for violating department policy. But it wasn't until last Thursday that the defense learned about the meeting and the disciplinary action. That prompted a request by Thomas last week to postpone the trial, which Judge Nanci Grant denied.

Assistant prosecutor Ric Polanco first raised the issue in court on Tuesday, questioning Green about meeting Marisa Hutchinson at the bar — which he admitted to, but again, denied anything "sexual or inappropriate" occurred. Rather, Green testified, the meeting was an opportunity for Marisa Hutchinson to discuss the case away from the security surrounding her house since the slaying.

Court records show the issue initally emerged after Daniel and Marisa Hutchinson's teenage daughter reported overhearing a telephone conversation between her mother and Green in October 2022, then followed her to the bar.

Marco Bisbikis was arrested the next month and charged with Hutchinson's murder and other related crimes, though Green testified he had been a suspect early on. Green also said that Marisa Hutchinson "had expressed concerns about (Bisbikis) for some time," but that it wasn't discussed at that particular meeting.

Still, Thomas pressed Green on Wednesday about him spending time with Marisa Hutchinson at the bar that day. "What could you possibly have been thinking?"

In response, Green said: "Evidently, I wasn't thinking correctly," adding that he had shown poor judgment in meeting with her.

Since the reprimand, Green's been promoted to sergeant. He also testified that he's in line for a promotion to lieutenant.

(c)2024 The Oakland Press, Sterling Heights, Mich. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.