Supervisors and Programme Director
Your relationship with your supervisor and/or course director is extremely important and you should establish contact with him/her right from the beginning. If you are registered for a taught course, ensure that you are clear what the course director expects from you. You should make an appointment early in the programme to discuss your studies for the year to clear up any questions you might have. If you are undertaking a thesis, it is absolutely crucial that you meet regularly with your supervisor, who has been charged by the University to look after your research programme.
The supervisor will read drafts, offer advice and make suggestions about contacts outwith the University, attendance at conferences and the presentation of your work to scholarly gatherings. You and your supervisor should establish an open, professional relationship through regular contact and together you should work out a schedule of appointments for the semester.
The frequency and length of your meetings with your supervisor will vary depending on what stage your project is at, your individual needs and your supervisor's routine. There is no fixed rule other than a University-wide minimum of three meetings per semester. You will normally have more frequent contact with your supervisor, but it is your responsibility to inform your supervisor (or the Director of Postgraduate Studies) if you are dissatisfied with the level of supervision received.
It is also crucial that you keep your supervisor informed of both your work and whereabouts, particularly if you plan to be away from St Andrews for any considerable period of time. Your supervisor should be the first person you consult about any difficulties you might encounter with your work or with life in St Andrews, as the one best-placed to offer immediate help or to facilitate further professional advice.