Key information
- Guidance for online approval – document checklist, document guide and approver guides
- Administrative forms
- PhD programme
- Research Master's programme
- List of Approved Doctoral Conveners of Examiners (PDF)
- Postgraduate research opportunities database submission form
- Supervisor updates
Support and award opportunities
Graduate Research School support for staff
One-on-one advice for supervisors, Postgraduate Co-ordinators, Heads of Department, and thesis examination conveners
Please contact the School for support, if you have a tricky situation with a candidate, or an examination. The Dean or the Manager can advise about supervision and progress issues. We are also happy to come to your department to provide staff with updates on policy and best practice.
Professional development workshops and courses
Together with the Centre for Educational Design and Innovation ( CEDI ), the Library, the Career Centre and others, we offer a programme of professional development support for supervisors, postgraduate co-ordinators and examiners. Visit the Staff workshops page which includes a section for staff support.
Visit the CEDI website to find out what is coming up, and also see their offerings.
Research supervision resources
Resources for research supervision are available in OURDrive.
These resources include:
- Attracting and recruiting research candidates
- Key processes for supervisors
- Building positive relationships with your candidates
- Supervising the literature review
- Assisting candidates with writing
- Supervising the research methodology
- Supervising international and culturally diverse candidates
- Supporting distance and part-time research students
- Fostering a vibrant graduate research
- Examining a thesis
Book resource: Doctoral education in international context: connecting local, regional and global perspectives (PDF)
OUSA Supervisor of the Year awards
These awards are run jointly by OUSA and the Graduate Research School. Each year, usually as part of the Graduate Research Festival, all thesis candidates are emailed requesting nominations for these awards. Nominations are considered by a panel consisting of the OUSA Postgraduate Representative and Postgraduate Representatives for each Division. The Awards include finalists (two) and a winner of each Division, as well as Overall Supervisor of the Year and New Supervisor of the Year (usually within 5 years of completing their doctorate).
Recent winners
2025
Divisional winners:
- Commerce – Professor Helen Roberts
- Health Sciences – Associate Professor Lynette Brownfield
- Humanities – Dr Lynley Edmeades
- Sciences – Dr Bridie Allan
Supervisor of the Year – Dr Bridie Allan
2024
Divisional winners:
- Commerce – Dr Jeff Foote
- Health Sciences – Associate Professor Anna Pilbrow
- Humanities – Dr Dan Osland
- Sciences – Dr Matt Larcombe
New Supervisor of the Year – Dr Andrew Reynolds
Supervisor of the Year – Dr Jeff Foote
2023
Divisional winners:
- Commerce – Associate Professor Julia Albrecht
- Health Sciences – Dr Caroline Decourt
- Humanities – Professor Merata Kawharu
- Sciences – Dr Gert-Jan Jeunen
New Supervisor of the Year – Dr Caroline Decourt
Supervisor of the Year – Associate Professor Julia Albrecht
2022
Divisional winners:
- Commerce – Dr Julia Albrecht
- Health Sciences – Dr Mike Garratt
- Humanities – Dr Christina Ergler
- Sciences – Professor Sheila Skeaff
New Supervisor of the Year – Dr Mike Garratt
Supervisor of the Year – Professor Sheila Skeaff
2021
Divisional winners:
- Commerce – Dr Sherlock Licorish
- Health Sciences – Dr Charlotte King
- Humanities – Dr Fairleigh Gilmour
- Sciences – Dr Anna Garden
New Supervisor of the Year – Dr Fairleigh Gilmour
Supervisor of the Year – Dr Charlotte King
2020
Divisional winners:
- Commerce – Associate Professor Grant Dick
- Health Sciences – Dr Alana Alexander
- Humanities – Associate Professor Angela Wanhalla
- Sciences – Professor James White
New Supervisor of the Year – Dr Alana Alexander
Supervisor of the Year – Associate Professor Angela Wanhalla