Guidance for Managing Personal Relationships Between Postgraduate Research Students and Their Supervisor
Students should not be admitted onto a research degree under the supervision of a member of staff with whom they have a close personal or intimate relationship. Members of staff are responsible for declaring such relationships during the application and admissions process.
Close personal or intimate relationships should always be deemed incompatible with a postgraduate supervisory relationship. However, it is recognised that social relationships may exist or develop, particularly where the student is also a member of staff at the University. Each case should be assessed by the Head of Research Degrees on an individual basis and in line with the Staff and Students Personal Relationships Policy.
- Where a close personal or intimate relationship exists (or existed) between a postgraduate research students and their supervisor the relevant Head of Research Degrees should be notified of any relationship so that alternative supervisory arrangements can be put in place.
- The Head of Research Degrees will contact the student privately to ensure they are aware of the disclosure and then outline the next steps to the student and to the member of staff. The information will be handled sensitively, and the parties treated with dignity.
- The Head of Research Degrees will approve the student’s new supervisory team through the established change to registration details process (RF9).
- The member of staff should not be permitted to remain on the student’s supervisory team. The member of staff may act as an advisor to the PhD, particularly where their research expertise is necessary to the project. Where the Head of Research Degrees deems it necessary, an additional supervisor may be added to the team.
- The member of staff should not be involved in that student’s progress monitoring (including approval of research programme, confirmation stage and annual monitoring) or examination (including the independent chair).
A member of staff cannot act in the capacity of Postgraduate Research Tutor or Head of Research Degrees for any student with whom they have a close personal or intimate relationship. For the avoidance of doubt, where the relationship involves the student’s Head of Research Degrees, the Director of the Doctoral School will act as approver of the new supervisory team.
It is recognised that the removal of a member of staff from a supervisory team may act as a deterrent to disclosure. This is considered the best approach in which to protect students whilst also preserving research integrity. Where a member of staff leaves a supervisory team, their contribution to the research will be acknowledged in line with the University’s research integrity policy.
Further advice should be sought from Legal Services where changes in supervisory teams may cause difficulties where contracts or other arrangements are in place with external partners or funders.