Supervisory Committee and Research Supervisor
Overview
The program of each student is overseen by a committee of not less than 3 committee members (normally at least at the rank of Associate Professor), plus the student’s Research Supervisor.
The supervisor provides academic guidance directed toward the completion of Ph.D. dissertation of high quality, and assists with the financial planning associated with the program. In case of absence from the campus of a month or more, the advisor must appoint an acting advisor for each of his/her Ph.D. candidates.
Eligibility
The research supervisor or a co-supervisor must be a full-time, regular faculty (at least at the rank of Assistant professor) or associate faculty member in the School. Emeritus or Associate faculty is normally required to appoint a full-time regular or associate faculty member as a co-supervisor. Further information is at https://www.grad.ubc.ca/current-students/supervision-advising.
Other members of the supervisory committee are nominated by the student’s advisor. The committee should be as diverse as possible, including faculty members with primary appointments in Faculty of Medicine and the Faculty of Applied Science.
The supervisory committee membership may include senior instructors, honorary faculty, adjunct faculty, off campus professionals as well as faculty members from other universities. A request for approval for these members submitted to the Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies must include a copy of the individual’s curriculum vitae and a letter from the graduate program advisor.
Timing
Other members of the supervisory committee are normally set before the research proposal defense, and certainly no later than the student’s admission to candidacy. It is the best interests of the student, and a G+PS requirement, for the student to schedule a meeting with the supervisory committee every year, especially after admission to candidacy. The majority of cases with a very difficult doctoral examination or extended completion time occur when there are not regular meetings with the supervisory committee.
Annual Meetings
It is required that the supervisory committees meet regularly to ensure student’s progress. Annual meetings require 3 people (of which the supervisor is one). If a committee member cannot attend, they will organize a one-on-one meeting with the student.
Below is the minimum required timeline for annual meetings:
| Type | From start of program | |
| First Meeting | Initial meeting with student and committee | 6-12 months |
| Second Meeting | Comprehensive Exam | 18-24 months |
| Third Meeting | Pre-defense meeting | 36 months |
| Final meeting | Defense | If the defense does not happen by the fourth year, committee must meet yearly (month 48, 60, etc) until thesis defense |
Expectations Document
All incoming MASc and PhD students and their supervisors will be given a set of expectation documents. Students are required to meet with their supervisors at the onset of their program to discuss the roles, responsibilities, and expectations of both student and supervisor.
Supervisors of students with program start dates prior to September 2018 are encouraged to use this document as well to facilitate a discussion on the graduate student-supervisor relationship.