What makes a good thesis supervisor?

The ideal supervisor is approachable and works to establish a good rapport with their students. Part of being experienced and interested in supervision, a key quality of an ideal supervisor, is having a complete understanding of the requirements and process of completing a thesis.

Does it matter where you get PhD from?

Where you do your PhD does matter a whole lot. The location where the school is located, the facilities within the school, the cost of study as well as living, and many factors need to be considered in making a decision.

Does the university of your PhD matter?

No it doesn’t matter. What’s most important is that you are interested in the research subject and feel comfortable with your supervisor and the type of supervision he/she will give you. Also don’t forget that even a (generally) lowly regarded university could be highly regarded in specific specialisms.

Why is it important to find a PhD supervisor?

Your PhD supervisor will play a vital role in your PhD, providing you with the mentorship, feedback and support you need to succeed. That’s why it’s so important to spend time finding a PhD supervisor who will be a great fit for you and your project.

How important is it to be prepared for a PhD?

“Being trained to cope with failure is one of the most important parts of your PhD. If you don’t know failure, then you’re not being stretched enough.” That said, you will reach the point where you know more than your supervisor about a specific aspects of your research.

Is Your PhD supervisor talking in a foreign language?

If you feel like your supervisor is talking in a foreign language, don’t panic. “Often in one-to-one meetings, you will understand what your supervisor says at a basic level, but will only have a good grasp of the implications and ramifications towards the end of your PhD,” says Hand.

What are the outputs of a PhD?

Important research outputs include books, editorials, reports, press articles, exhibitions, public engagement work (Google is probably going to be a useful tool). It’s also worth looking at any past or present PhD research overseen by your supervisors (university websites are a good place to look for this).