Your supervisor is the key person in your graduate degree program. The principal role of the supervisor is to help students achieve their scholastic potential and to chair the student’s Supervisory Committee. The Supervisor will provide reasonable commitment, accessibility, professionalism, stimulation, guidance, respect and consistent encouragement to the student.

Supervisors should be available to help their graduate students at every stage, from formulation of their research projects through establishing methodologies and discussing results, to presentation and possible publication of dissertations. Graduate supervisors must also ensure that their students’ work meets the standards of the University and the academic discipline.

The Handbook of Graduate Supervision has more information on the roles and responsibilities of supervisors.

Who can be a supervisor?

Any Faculty member who is a member of the UBC Faculty of Graduate Studies is eligible to serve as a graduate student supervisor. Generally, this means any UBC tenure-track Faculty member who has been approved to supervise by their home Faculty and is a:

• Full Professor
• Associate Professor
• Assistant Professor (some programs require Assistant Professors to co-supervise with a more senior Faculty member).

Co-supervision

Supervision of a student can be shared by two co-supervisors. At least one co-supervisor must meet the criteria above. Upon approval by the Dean of Graduate Studies, other well-qualified individuals may serve as co-supervisors.

Individuals requiring special permission from the Dean of Graduate Studies to serve as a co-supervisors:

• honorary faculty
• adjunct or clinical faculty
• senior instructors
• off-campus professionals

Requests for the Dean's approval of a co-supervisor must be submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies by the Graduate Program Advisor or Head of the Department. Requests must be made at the time of formation of the committee, and must include details of the composition of the committee, a brief rationale for the appointment, and a copy of the individual's CV. Approval is valid for a period of five years.

Departure of a supervisor

If a student's supervisor leaves the University but the thesis is close to completion the supervisor may, with the permission of the Dean of Graduate Studies, continue. In this case, a co-chair of the supervisory committee who is a full-time member of the Faculty of Graduate Studies must be appointed. If the supervisor is unable to continue, every effort should be made by the graduate program to secure a new supervisor for the student.

If the Chair is on study leave or any other leave exceeding two months, it is highly recommended that an interim co-chair who is a member of the Faculty of Graduate Studies be appointed.