Making the Most of Supervisory Meetings
22 May 15:00
Effective and regular communication with academic supervisors is vital to the successful completion of a doctoral degree. Structured discussions help students refine research questions, strengthen methodologies, and navigate both theoretical and practical challenges.
However, the format and frequency of supervisory meetings can vary significantly — shaped by departmental expectations, research disciplines, and supervisory styles, including the number of supervisors and their preferred working methods. While some students benefit from weekly, in-depth meetings, others rely on occasional, student-initiated check-ins. Feedback can be detailed and regular or sporadic and unpredictable, even within the same department.
Regardless of the format, clear and consistent communication is key to sustaining research momentum, developing academic skills, and enhancing research quality. Well-organised, purposeful meetings also support time management and productive engagement with feedback.
This panel brings together experienced doctoral students to share strategies for making supervisory meetings more effective and rewarding. Rather than focusing on common challenges, the discussion will highlight best practices for structuring meetings, setting achievable objectives, engaging with feedback, and fostering open and transparent communication with supervisors.
Attendees will leave with practical tips to strengthen their supervisory experience and support steady progress throughout their doctoral journey
OBJECTIVES
• Recognise the key components of productive, goal-oriented supervisory meetings that support steady research and writing progress.
• Develop effective strategies for setting clear, achievable objectives to guide future supervisory discussions.
• Reflect critically on their current supervisory relationships and identify practical actions to improve meeting structure, communication, and overall research progress.
Moderator
Keiko Kanno
Panellists for TT25
Clara Fortes Brandao (DPhil, Anthropology)
Elvira Miceli (DPhil, Asian and Middle Eastern Studies)
Frederick Morgan (DPhil, English Language and Literature)
Our booking process
When your application is received, you will be emailed a link and then have 48 hours to complete a pre-workshop form requesting additional information. If you do not meet this deadline, your application will be cancelled.
See our full Terms and Conditions below
If you have specific circumstances which may affect your engagement with this event, or your meeting our Terms and Conditions, please continue with your booking and contact us by email to discuss how we can support you: researcherdevelopment@socsci.ox.ac.uk
The Chair
Keiko Kanno
Other Divisional Events
Researcher Development Terms and Conditions
In booking any training workshops, you agree that:
COMMITMENT: application is not an expression of interest; it is a firm commitment. You will be available for the full duration of the course session(s); if you are not, please do not make a booking. You will not accept any subsequent meeting invitations that may fall during the given workshop times.
PRE-WORK / HOMEWORK: if applicable, you will complete any given pre-work and/or homework as described on the workshop web listing, as it constitutes part of the workshop
CANCELLATION: should your circumstances change, and you are not able to attend the full session(s). you will cancel using the CoSy booking system (link in booking confirmation email) giving at least 72-hours' notice, so we can offer the place to someone on the waiting list. Cancellations by email will not be accepted.
ARRIVAL: you will join, or arrive at, the workshop 5 minutes before the advertised start time, to ensure a prompt start.
LATE POLICY: you understand that the online room will be locked / workshop door will be closed 10 minutes after the event start time and late-comers will not be admitted. This is to preserve the integrity of the course for those who are present.
ENGAGEMENT: you will give the session your undivided attention and engagement. You will not be able to do other tasks in parallel. If online, you will ensure that your environment and internet connection allow you to participate verbally and with video cameras on. These are interactive workshops, and it is not appropriate to attend from a silent or shared workspace.
ATTENDANCE RECORD: you understand the Register will be taken in the last half-hour of the course, and anyone not present in the room at that point will be marked as non -attending (see below)
FEEDBACK: you will contribute feedback afterwards, to help us understand how well the session met its intended aims, and facilitate our continuous improvement
CONSEQUENCES OF NON-ATTENDANCE: you understand that any non-attendance
a) is visible to departments and supervisors/PIs, and
