Training for Postgraduate Research Supervisors

There are a number of resources available to help guide you through the process of supervising PGR students. The below resources may help if you are new to supervising PGR students or if you wish to refresh your knowledge of the support available.

Tools and training

• Supervising Postgraduate Research Students
  The aim of this course is to provide guidance for those new to supervising postgraduate research students, or those new to supervising students at the University of Essex. The course is designed to set expectations and equip you with the knowledge and confidence to ensure the development of good supervisory practice. The course covers key aspects of supervision from supervising in the early stages to preparing for the research examination. There are 2 compulsory activities within this course:
  1. Complete the lesson content (1-6)
  2. Confidence check
  Once you have completed all these, you will see a Claim Certificate button, where you can download your certificate of completion.
• Postgraduate Research Supervisor Training Booster
  This booster is intended for all PGR supervisors who have been supervising at Essex for more than 3 years and acts as refresher to the Supervising Postgraduate Research Students Training. It is designed to ensure supervisors continue to feel fully equipped to provide the best level of support to our students. The booster should be completed every three years. There are two compulsory activities within this course:
  1. PGR Supervisor Booster
  2. Essential Quiz
  Once you have completed all these, you will see a Claim Certificate button, where you can download your certificate of completion. Please note that this booster will be available from September 2026.
• Good Practice Guide for PGR Supervision (.pdf)
  This guide has been developed to support all supervisors, whether new or experienced, in providing the highest possible quality of supervision to University of Essex postgraduate research (PGR) students. It is designed to be used in conjunction with Departmental PGR forums, the Supervising Doctoral Students Moodle course, and supervisor training courses provided by Organisational Development.
  We have an institutional membership to Vitae. This membership includes networking opportunities and a wealth of online resources including impactful publications and reports. PGR Proficio courses are also closely mapped to the Vitae Researcher Development Framework, which can act as a tool to ensure your PGR students are reaching their full potential.
• We have an institutional membership to Vitae. This membership includes networking opportunities and a wealth of online resources including impactful publications and reports. PGR Proficio courses are also closely mapped to the Vitae Researcher Development Framework, which can act as a tool to ensure your PGR students are reaching their full potential.
• Course: Good Practice Case Studies - This searchable database contains information on inspirational case studies to help you with your teaching and learning practice.
• Examining the doctorate: This course is managed by Organisational Development and delivered by an external expert. This can be booked on HR organiser. This course is currently paused.
• Training for internal examiners: This is a Moodle course which has been designed for people with experience of examining a PGR thesis at another institution, but where it will be their first time here. You can get in touch with the pgre team to find out more.

Events and Awards

• The annual PGR Celebration Event is a chance to celebrate the success of our postgraduate research students, their supervisors and the professional services staff who support them.
• The Supervisor of the Year Award and the Professional Services Award for PGR Support are also celebrated at the event. Staff members are nominated by PGR students to recognise the excellent work undertaken by colleagues in supporting and mentoring our postgraduate researchers. 

Helpful resources

• The Postgraduate Research Education Team supports many aspects of the University's postgraduate research education provision, including Doctoral Training Partnerships and postgraduate research student skills development. 
• PGR supervisor policies and procedures.
• A PGR student’s skills training and development is supported by Proficio.
• At the University of Essex we have a number of doctoral training partnerships which support our students.
• PGR awards requirements
• Postgraduate research support