Supervisor - Psychology Programmes

Dissertation/Project Supervisor

General Requirements
The following provides direction to supervisors with regard to their role and responsibilities in relation to the dissertation process on DBSs taught undergraduate and postgraduate awards.

Dissertations/projects typically carry a significant credit allocation of up to 30 credits and have a workload associated with them which can span more than one semester and/or the complete academic session. Dissertations and projects are usually a significant demonstration of (some) programme learning outcomes. Students should be provided with written guidelines to outline and
assist in the completion of their dissertation/project and to advise them of the role of their Supervisor. All students must have an academic supervisor.

Major Responsibilities

The supervisor facilitates the development by the student of attainable goals and guides the student towards completion of the dissertation/project within a disciplinary or interdisciplinary area. If a student is not progressing according to the agreed dissertation/project schedule the supervisor should discuss it with the student.

The supervisor will:

• Meet with the student on a regular basis. This can be done by any of the following methods: face-to-face phone zoom email Google Meet etc. A careful record is to be kept agreed upon between supervisor and student of all meetings including dates actions agreed and deadlines set.

• Communicate by e-mail or phone as appropriate with their students at other times to ensure the student is sufficiently supported.

• Discuss the work schedule of the dissertation/project plan progress and identify potential problem areas if possible.

• Attend the associated DBS Filter Committee meetings to discuss the students application.

• Discuss with students any ethical issues associated with their dissertation/project and advise accordingly including approval from the DBS Ethics Committee if required.

• Where required complete the first meeting form paperwork in conjunction with the student.

• Complete the dissertation meeting form after each meeting to monitor and assess their students progress and to highlight any potential issues which may be relevant to the students successful completion at the end of the dissertation. Provide copies of such completed forms to the student.

• Provide guidance in relation to relevant literature and research methodologies/methods as appropriate to the students dissertation topic.

• Attend presentations and/or oral examinations as necessary.

• Assess and give feedback on the students performance throughout the term of the dissertation/project through face-to-face/online meetings. Feedback should be given typically within 3 weeks of submission.

• Read and give formative feedback on draft elements of the dissertation/project for example the introduction materials for data collection etc.

• Mark the submission in accordance with the marking sheet and give feedback in relation to the marks awarded.

• Attend 2 meetings per year one of these to include a supervisors training workshop/marking workshop.

The supervisor is not responsible for:

• Re-reading chapters of the thesis.

• Sourcing the sample for the study.

• Analysing the data.

• Proofreading drafts for grammatical and spelling mistakes.

• Providing feedback on full drafts of any dissertation/project work.

Qualifications and Experience of Dissertation/Project Supervisors
Dissertation supervisors are normally required to hold a minimum of a masters degree in the specific area (or a cognate discipline) in which they are supervising and to show evidence of appropriate professional qualifications and experience in the relevant field. They may be either full-time or part-time staff members. If the project is placement-related the student might have a second supervisor at the placement.

This job description is a guide to the work the post holders will initially be required to undertake. It may be amended from time to time to meet changing circumstances by mutual agreement. It is expected that the post-holders and their manager will review the job description regularly.

Pay Frequency:

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This job description is a guide to the work the post holder will initially be required to undertake. It may be amended from time to time to meet changing circumstances by mutual agreement. It is expected that the job description will be reviewed regularly by the post-holder and their manager.

DBS is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex race disability age sexual orientation gender reassignment religion or belief marital status or pregnancy and maternity. If you require any adjustments or additional support within the recruitment process please contact us directly.