RIDS | Tygerberg Doctoral Office
PhD Supervision
A productive and positive supervision relationship is the bedrock of a successful doctoral journey. Supervisors and students are encouraged to enter into conversation at the outset. The respective responsibilities of supervisors and students are outlined in detail in the FMHS Doctoral Guidelines as well as the co-signed Memorandum of Understanding.
Every doctoral candidate must have one internal, SU supervisor. An external main supervisor is allowed as long as there is formally an internal SU co-supervisor who participates actively in the doctoral journey and assures that the candidate works to SU and FMHS deadlines. As a rule of thumb, two supervisors per student are ideal for lone-standing studies, whereas the allocation of up to four supervisors per student can be ideal where a cohort approach is taken.
Prerequisites for PhD Supervision
1. A PhD supervisor should usually hold a doctoral degree. Detailed information about eligibility for PhD supervision is available in this document.
2. Along with clinical PhD students, every supervisor of
clinical research towards a PhD, is expected to have active Good Clinical Practice (GCP) certification.
3. Finally, all doctoral supervisors in the FMHS are required to attend formal supervision training. The available options include the following:
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click here (5 August to 29 November 2024)
- SU Postgraduate Office supervisor traing:
Please enquire to Ms Alison Bucholz at alisonb@sun.ac.za
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Centre for Higher and Adult Education (CHAE) Postgraduate Supervision course:
click here? -
For bedside training, not PhDs:
Centre for Health Professions Education (CHPE) Supervisor as Teacher course:
click here -
Dormant:
FMHS Research Development and Support course on Postgraduate Supervision in Health Sciences:
click here
Supervisor motivations for a student to exceed the maximum duration of a PhD are required six months before the maximum registration period is reached. These motivation letters are scrutinised by the CPR, Faculty Board and Senate. They are requested together with the annual progress report by October each year, for every PhD student in year 5 or later who has not submitted a dissertation for examination in time for March/April graduation. These motivations are submitted to tyg-phd@sun.ac.za by 15 November, annually.
PhD Support
- PhD Support HOME
- PhD Application
- PhD Funding
- PhD Registration
- PG Accommodation
- Year 1 Milestones
- FMHS Doctoral Guidelines
- PhD Supervision
- Student Experience
- Proposal Review
- Ethics Application
- Research & Writing
- Free Courses
- Examination
- Outputs
- Graduation
- FAQ Contacts
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