Working on a dissertation is often accompanied by various unforeseen situations. This may be the lack of scientific literature to analyse or a change in the approach to research. However, there are cases when, after the approval of the dissertation topic, a student needs to change his or her supervisor. What should be done in this case? In this article, we will give you a detailed explanation of the peculiarities of the procedure for changing a supervisor and the rules that must be followed.
Reasons for changing your supervisor
There is no universal reason for changing a supervisor, as each researcher has individual circumstances in which he or she works. However, the most common ones include:
- Changing the topic for the dissertation. For effective and productive cooperation with the supervisor, it is important that the topic of the dissertation directly corresponds to the supervisor's research interests and specialisation. This allows the mentor to provide qualified advice and recommendations during the writing process. However, sometimes there is a need to change the research topic, which may require a change of supervisor, as the new topic may be beyond his or her competence. To learn more about how to change the topic for your dissertation, read our article on this topic.
- Difficulties in communication. Another common reason for changing a supervisor is difficulties in communication and collaboration. This may be due to differences in views on writing a dissertation or a personal conflict between the mentor and the student.
- Inability to work. In the event of dismissal or transfer of the supervisor to another job, a replacement is necessary. In such a situation, the student needs to find a new mentor who can provide proper guidance and counselling in the process of writing a dissertation.
The procedure for changing a supervisor: step-by-step instructions
1. Preparation of the application
In order to change the dissertation supervisor, the applicant must prepare a special application in which he or she must explain the reason for the change. When writing it, you should avoid subjective wording such as ‘like/dislike’ or ‘want/need’. Instead, you should use correct, neutral wording without emotional colouring.
In the text, pay attention to:
- the specifics of the personality and temperament of the current manager;
- the subject of the dissertation;
- the peculiarities of the functioning and internal policy of the academic institution;
- the relationship of the supervisor with the management of the institution.
If the applicant independently selects a new candidate for the role of supervisor, additional documents must be prepared, namely:
- an application in the prescribed form from the proposed candidate;
- an extract confirming the applicant's enrolment in a postgraduate programme.
2. Submission of documents
The next step is to submit the documents. At this stage, all the necessary documentation must be submitted to the Academic Board. It is the Academic Council that gives permission to change and appoint a new supervisor. The decision is made on the basis of the submitted documents and justification.
After approval by the Academic Council, the new appointment of the supervisor must be formalised. The deadline is no later than 30 days from the date of the decision to change the previous supervisor.
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