What do doctoral candidates really think about supervision?
Updated: Sep 14
The Research England-funded Next Generation Research SuperVision Project has commissioned
Advance HE to do a 'deep dive' analysis of the qualitative responses to the Postgraduate Research Experience Survey (PRES). Examining 1,000 responses selected from over 100,000 postgraduate researchers’ (PGRs’) surveys across five years (2021-2025), the report offers a unique lens on the current state of doctoral supervision in the UK.
The report uncovers significant patterns in how supervision shapes the PGR experience—not just in terms of academic progress, but in respect of isolation, wellbeing, and professional identity.
The analysis also highlights how the intersection of supervisor support, team dynamics, and institutional culture contribute to a positive, or less positive, PGR experience.
As a sneak preview here is what postgraduate researchers identified as ‘best’ practice:
Supervisors who acted as mentors, role models, and advocates were credited with fostering confidence, independence, and a strong professional identity.
Exposure to diverse training, interdisciplinary collaboration, and real-world applications (e.g., industrial doctorates, placements) enhanced employability and readiness for varied career paths.
Supportive environments that combined academic, emotional, and practical guidance were seen as instrumental in enabling doctoral researchers to thrive and prepare for future careers.
Supervisors at all levels who engage in professional development that targets pastoral care, mental health and wellbeing, inclusive communication and constructive feedback.
There are also respondent recommendations for institutions around developing effective reporting channels, monitoring of inappropriate supervision, protecting and allocating appropriate time for supervision.
Reflecting on the value of the data, Professor Luke Windsor, Dean of the Doctoral College, University of Leeds said:
"Supervisors are the primary human interface between an institution’s approach to doctoral education and the individual postgraduate researcher’s experience, this important report sheds light on what success looks like at this organic and relational level."
The full report is now available, and is a welcome addition to the RSVP Collection.
