The University through its Research Code of Practice promotes an environment which fosters and supports research of high ethical standards, mutual co-operation, professionalism and the open and honest exchange of ideas and there are clear procedures to identify and address inappropriate conduct including the Whistleblowing Code of Practice and Code of Practice for the Investigation of Research Misconduct.

Through the Research Code of Practice the University provides direction to its researchers in meeting the legal and ethical requirements of conducting research. The University encourages career development of their researchers and provides training and mentoring of new and existing researchers supporting the principles of the Concordat to Support the Career Development of ResearchersLink opens in a new window. Also refer to the section on Leadership development for principal investigators (PIs)Link opens in a new window.

Researchers involved in the supervision and development of other researchers should be aware of their responsibilities and ensure that they have the necessary training, time and resources to carry out that role, and request support if required. The University offers training and mentoring to those charged with the supervision and development of other researchers and students.

Heads of Departments and their senior colleagues should ensure that a research climate of mutual co-operation is created in which all members of a research team are encouraged to develop their skills and in which the open exchange of ideas is fostered and in which individuals are empowered and enabled to own the research process.

Student Supervision

The above principles should also apply to the supervision of Research Degree Students.

Each department must adopt guidelines for the supervision of research in accordance with requirements prescribed from time to time by the Senate and as specified in the PGR Guidance.

A supervisor must observe the responsibilities set out in these guidelines, which also includes Guidelines on the Supervision and Monitoring of Research Degree Students.

A supervisor must decline appointment as a supervisor of a research programme unless that person expects to be able to discharge the responsibilities set out in these guidelines.

Before agreeing to supervise a student, supervisors should satisfy themselves that they have the necessary knowledge and expertise to supervise the project which the student wishes to undertake, that the project is appropriate for the degree concerned and can reasonably be undertaken with the resources available and in the required timescale, and that they are confident, as far as is possible, that the student has the capacity to undertake the project successfully.

Both the supervisor and the department have a number of specific responsibilities in regard to research students. These and other information can be found in the Guidelines on Responsibilities for the Supervision of Research Degree Students developed by the Doctoral College.

For further information, please contact;

Doctoral College https://warwick.ac.uk/services/dc/
Telephone: +44 (024) 7657 5533
Email: doctoralcollege@warwick.ac.uk