PhD Supervisor Development Programme 2025-26
Support your supervisory practice and connect with colleagues across Ulster through our comprehensive development programme.
It is relevant to those who are new to supervision and to more experienced supervisors and offers practical workshops, relevant updates, and opportunities to share expertise with peers across all campuses and disciplines.
What we offer
Our online workshops are designed to fit around your schedule while maximising opportunities for cross-campus collaboration. Sessions cover essential supervisory skills and provide timely updates from the Doctoral College on policy, practice, and support available to you and your researchers.
Join our supervisor community
Beyond formal workshops, you can connect with fellow supervisors through the PhD Supervisor Network – an informal community of practice where you can share experiences, discuss challenges, and learn from colleagues. Regular on-campus meetings provide valuable space for peer support and professional development.
Who can participate
The programme is open to all academic staff at Ulster involved in, or preparing for, PhD supervision.
For more information about upcoming workshops and network meetings, please contact the Doctoral College.
PhD Supervisor Development Programme 2025-26
| Workshop Title | Date and time | Register |
|---|---|---|
Induction for PhD Supervisors Mandatory for New PhD Supervisors | 9 September, 10:00am-12:00pm | Register for Induction for PhD Supervisors |
Supporting a Neurodiverse Postgraduate Research Community Professor Debbie Riby, Durham University |
9 October, 10:00am-12:00pm | Register for Supporting a Neurodiverse Postgraduate Research Community |
Chairing / Examining a PhD Viva Heads of Doctoral College | 23 October, 10:00am-12:00pm | Register for Chairing / Examining a PhD Viva |
Library Support of the PhD Researcher: A Guide for Supervisors Library Support Team | 10 November, 12.30pm-1.30pm | Register for Library Support of the PhD Researcher: A Guide for Supervisors |
PhD Supervision: Giving Good Feedback Dr Hugh Kearns |
19 November, 10:00am-12:00pm | Register for PhD Supervision: Giving Effective Feedback |
Supporting Mental Health and Wellbeing of PhD Researchers Prof Karen Kirby and Student Wellbeing Team |
8 December, 2:00pm-4:00pm | Register for Supporting mental Health and Wellbeing of PhD Researchers |
Chairing / Examining a PhD Viva Heads of Doctoral College | 17 February, 2:00pm-4:00pm | Register for Chairing / Examining a PhD Viva (Repeat of previous workshop) |
Open Access and Copyright Essentials for Supervisors Library Support Team | 9 March, 12.30pm-1.30pm | Register for Open Access and Copyright Essentials for Supervisors |
Induction for PhD Supervisors Mandatory for New PhD Supervisors | 1 April, 2:00pm-4:00pm | Register for Induction for PhD Supervisors (Repeat of previous workshop) |
Ethics: Preparing Your PhD Researcher for Ethics Applications Professor Ann Marie Gray | 16 April, 10:00am-12:00pm | Register for Ethics: Preparing Your PhD Researcher for Ethics Applications |
Pedagogical Approaches in Doctoral Education Professor Sonja McIlfatrick | 12 May, 11:00am-1:00pm | Register for Pedagogical Approaches in Doctoral Education |
PhD Supervisor Network Events 2025-26
| Event Theme | Facilitators | Location | Date and time | Register |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team Supervision: Recognising the Pitfalls and Pearls | Dr Ian Cleland and Prof Alison Gallagher | Belfast Campus - Room: BD-02-036 | 6 November, 12:30pm-1:30pm | Register for November Supervisor Network Event |
| TBC | Prof Alison Gallagher | Coleraine Campus - Room M102 - Collab Lab & Balcony | 28 April, 12:30pm-1:30pm | Register for April Supervisor Network Event |
| TBC | Prof Alison Gallagher | Derry~Londonderry Campus - MI022 | 25 June, 12:30pm- 1:30pm | Register for June Supervisor Network Event |
