Supervisor registration
Why supervise?
As a supervisor, you will have the privilege of watching your students grow into independent researchers who make a meaningful contribution to knowledge. You will also become part of a community of UTS staff who are committed to developing the next generation of professionals and researchers who can lead our global society.
Types of research supervisors
Types of research supervisors
Supervisor titles
Graduate research supervisors are recognised by the following titles:
- Principal Supervisor: The lead (first) supervisor who takes primary academic responsibility for the graduate research candidate
- Co-Supervisor: A supervisor who contributes to the academic guidance and supervision of a graduate research student, may sometimes act as principal supervisor for administrative matters.
- Assistant supervisor: A salaried professional UTS staff who provides specialist support and advice to the student.
- External supervisor: A non-UTS employee who provides specialist experience and advice to the student.
Supervisor categories
These categories are defined in the Supervisor Register Protocol.
Category | Eligibility | Supervisory Roles |
---|---|---|
Category 1 | A research-active UTS academic or honorary UTS academic with a defined responsibility for graduate research supervision and:
| Principal Supervisor or Co-supervisor |
Category 2 | A research-active UTS academic or honorary UTS academic with a defined responsibility for graduate research supervision and you have not yet supervised a PhD student to completion | Principal Supervisor or Co-supervisor Supervision of a PhD student requires that:
|
Category 3 | A UTS professional (non-academic) staff member with a PhD | Assistant Supervisor |
Category 4 | Academic staff at a university or research institute (other than UTS) | External Supervisor |
Category 5 | Member of a private or public sector, or community organisation | External Supervisor |
How to register
How to register
All graduate research supervisors must be admitted to the Graduate Research School supervisor register before they start supervising students. To register, please complete the following steps:
- Complete either the supervision registration application for UTS staff/honorary appointments, or the supervision registration application for external supervisors and forward it to your faculty research office (see contact details below).
- Provide evidence that you meet the criteria for your chosen supervisor category.
- Complete the training and professional development required for your supervision category.
Once your faculty has approved your application, it will be forwarded to the Graduate Research School (GRS) for final approval. You will receive an email confirmation from GRS once you have been admitted to the supervisor register.
For information on the expectations and responsibilities for managing research as part of a graduate research program, view the Graduate Research and Supervision Policy.
Your initial registration as a supervisor will be for a period of three years, after which you will be required to register again using the same process. GRS is responsible for renewing expiring supervision registrations in consultation with your faculty.
Submit your completed application via email
- Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
- UTS Business School
- Faculty of Design, Architecture & Building
- Faculty of Engineering and IT
- Faculty of Health
- Graduate School of Health
- Institute for Sustainable Futures
- Connected Intelligence Centre
- Faculty of Science
- Faculty of Law
- Institute for Public Policy and Governance
- TD School
Training requirements
Training requirements
To register or re-register as a graduate research supervisor at UTS, you will be required to complete a series of training and professional development modules. In particular, you will need to complete the online module Graduate Research Supervision at UTS.
You may also be required to undertake additional training activities based on your supervision category. GRS offers a number of workshops to strengthen supervisors’ knowledge, skills, and tools in best supervisory practices . Your faculty may also offer others. Register for upcoming GRS supervisor training and development workshops.
First-time registration
Category 1 supervisors (new to UTS)
- Completion of GRS supervision module Graduate Research Supervision at UTS within six months of seeking registration
- Completion of, or contribution to, two additional supervisor training modules offered by GRS or your faculty.
Category 2 supervisors (new to graduate research supervision)
- Completion of GRS supervision module Graduate Research Supervision at UTS within six months of seeking registration
- Completion of two additional supervisor training modules offered by GRS or your faculty.
Category 3, 4 and 5 supervisors
- Completion of GRS supervision module Graduate Research Supervision at UTS within six months of seeking registration.
Re-registration
Category 1:
To re-register as a Category 1 supervisor, you will need to demonstrate:
- current and active involvement in research appropriate to the field of study
- active involvement in supervision of HDR students
- completion of the Graduate Research Supervision at UTS training module in the six months prior to re-registration
- completion of, or contribution to, two additional supervisor training modules offered by GRS or your faculty.
Category 2
Most Category 2 supervisors are expected to upgrade their registration to Category 1 by the end of the first three-year registration period. To do so, you will need to demonstrate:
- current and active involvement in research appropriate to the field of study
- a track record of successful research degree supervision (that is, timely student progression and completion)
- completion of the Graduate Research Supervision at UTS training module in the six months prior to re-registration
- completion of, or contribution to, two additional supervisor training modules offered by GRS or your faculty.
Categories 3, 4 and 5
To re-register as a category 3, 4 or 5 supervisor, you will need to demonstrate completion of the Graduate Research Supervision at UTS training module in the six months prior to re-registration.
From registration to active supervision
From registration to active supervision
Once you have formally registered as a supervisor, your UTS profile page will indicate that you can supervise research students.
This will inform potential students in your research area that you are qualified to supervise them. Students may also be able to find you through the UTS Find a Supervisor search tool. However, you should also make an active effort to recruit qualified students through your networks.
Your supervision journey begins when a student expresses interest in undertaking a research degree under your supervision and you agree. During the student's application process, you will need to form a supervisory panel with the appropriate expertise.