Read about the responisibilities and what is expected from the supervisor throughout the PhD journey. You will also find forms, courses and other resourses.
PhD supervisor's responsibilities
- Provide advice on the formulation and delimitation of the topic and research questions
- Discuss and evaluate hypotheses and methods
- Discuss the structure and execution of the presentation (outline, linguistic form, documentation, etc.)
- Discuss results and their interpretation
- Stay informed about the progress of the candidate’s work and assess it in relation to the planned timeline
- Assist in introducing the candidate to relevant academic communities, including facilitating international research stays during the dissertation process
- Provide the candidate with guidance on academic dissemination
- Provide the candidate with guidance on research ethics related to the dissertation
- Assist in the selection of PhD courses
Start up phase
What happens before, during and after the start up phase?
The faculty decides whether a candidate is admitted to a PhD programme. The admission decision must include the appointment of at least one supervisor (main supervisor).
Admission to the doctoral programme is formalised through the signing of the admission agreement by the candidate, supervisors, and representatives from the academic unit and faculty. This agreement regulates the rights and obligations of all parties.
Once admitted to a PhD programme, the candidate must, in collaboration with their supervisor, develop the final project description. This must be submitted to the doctoral committee for final approval.
Main supervisor and co-supervisors
A PhD candidate at UiS must have at least two supervisors – a main supervisor and a co-supervisor. All supervisors must hold a doctoral degree or possess equivalent academic competence within the relevant field and be active researchers. Typically, the main supervisor is employed at UiS. If the faculty appoints an external main supervisor, a co-supervisor from UiS must also be appointed.
The main supervisor has the primary academic responsibility for the candidate. The co-supervisor provides guidance and shares the academic responsibility for the candidate with the main supervisor.
Supervisors are allocated a certain number of hours for PhD supervision. The number of hours and the distribution between the main and co-supervisor vary from faculty to faculty.
Academic inclusion and international research stays
As a supervisor, you must ensure that the candidate becomes involved in relevant and active research communities at UiS and externally as early as possible. You should also guide the candidate in planning an international research stay, including selecting a host institution and an appropriate research environment.
Course component
The training component must include courses equivalent to 30 ECTS credits. The faculty determines which courses can be included. All PhD candidates must receive training in the philosophy of science and research ethics.
When the candidate plans their courses, the supervisor should provide advice. These may be courses offered both at UiS and externally.
Main elements in the PhD education
Progress report
Once every year, both the main supervisor and the PhD candidate each submits a progress report to the faculty. The report must be based on the approved proejct plan, and should give an update on the progress of the candidate. In the progress report you should also inform about changes in the project plan and how the supervisor-candidate relationship is.
The deadline for reporting is 31 January each year. The first progress report is to be submitted at least three months after the candidate has been admitted to the PhD programme.
Mid-term evaluation and final seminar / 50%-seminar and 90%-seminar
A mid-term evaluation will be conducted either in the third or fourth semester. At some faculties this is called a 50%-seminar. At the seminar the candidate will present their work for assessment by an evaluation committee appointed by the faculty.
The faculties has different guidelines for mid-term evaluations. Therefore it is important that the candidate and the supervisors familiarise themselves with the local guidelines.
At some faculties a final seminar / 90%-seminar will be held towards the end of the PhD period.
Submission and doctoral defence
It is the responsibility of the main supervisor to alert the faculty to an imminent thesis submission, to ensure that neccecary preparations can begin.
Rules and regulations
Here is an overview of the most important regulations, forms and rules that PhD supervisors should know about.
Regulations for the Philosophiae Doctor (PhD) degree at the University of Stavanger (lovdata)
All doctoral level activity at the University of Stavanger is subject to these regulations
Ethical guidelines for supervisors/employees at the University of Stavanger (pdf)
It is the responsibility of the supervisor to manage and carry out the supervision of PhD candidates in accordance with these guidelines.
Retningslinjer for medforfatterskap (pdf)
Supervisors often publish together with their PhD candidate. The UiS "Retningslinjer for medforfatterskap" (Norwegian) builds on the Vancouver reccomendations.
Agreement on admission to the PhD programme (word)
The agreement is signed by the candidate, supervisor(s), Head of department and any external employers.
Courses and resources
Supervisory Qualification Programme (SQP)
UiS has a supervisory qualification programme for PhD supervisors.
Registration: In november each year, the heads of departments are asked to submit a list of potential participants from their unit.
SQP is module based, and held during the spring semester. Participants are expected to spend a total of 100 hours on preparations, assignments and participation in the modules.
Resources
Resources that might be of help in the supervision:
- Taylor et al (2018), A handbook for doctoral supervision, 2nd edtition, Routledge ISBN 978-1-138-19479-3
- Anne Lee (2012), Successful research supervision: Advising students doing research, Routledge, ISBN 978-0-415-66353-3
Contact
Contact the PhD administration.
The science ombud at the University of Stavanger is the ombudsperson for research ethics. The ombud is independent and can offer advice in situations related to research ethics