Tagged / Doctoral Supervision; BU Research

UKCGE Recognised Research Supervision Programme: Deadline Approaching

Whether you are a seasoned supervisor or just starting out in supervision, professional recognition is a powerful way to validate your expertise and contribute to a thriving research culture at Bournemouth University.

The UK Council for Graduate Education (UKCGE) offers a national accreditation programme that allows you to benchmark your practice against the Good Supervisory Practice Framework.

Why apply?

UK universities are increasingly prioritising supervisor development to enhance research culture and doctoral support. The Research Supervisor Recognition Programme (RSRP) encourages supervisors at all levels to engage in structured self-reflection, using the Good Supervisory Practice Framework to identify strengths and target areas for growth.

Key benefits of RSRP Awards:

  • Structured Self-Reflection: Evaluate your methods and decision-making.
  • Benchmarked Excellence: Map your practice against national standards.
  • Professional Growth: Identify clear pathways for improvement, whether applying for Full or Associate awards.

With over 30 BU supervisors already recognised, now is the perfect time to join their ranks.

Which pathway is right for you?

The Research Supervisor Recognition Programme offers two levels based on your current experience:

Award Level Eligibility
Recognised Supervisor (Full Award) For those who have supported doctoral candidates all the way through to final examination and completion
Recognised Associate Supervisor (Associate Award) For those who haven’t yet seen a candidate through to completion, or who supervise in an informal capacity

Steps to apply

1. Write your reflective account

You will need to write a reflective account of your supervisory practice aligned with the Good Supervisory Practice Framework.

Submit your application using the relevant form:

Recognised Supervisor Reflective Account Form  Word 56.37KB

Recognised Associate Supervisor Reflective Account Form Word 55.72KB

Find out more about structured self-reflection

2. Gather your references and supporting documentation

To authenticate your reflective account, you are required to provide supporting documentation.

For the Full Award, you will need:

  • A reference from a former doctoral candidate.
  • A reference from a colleague who knows about your supervisory practice (e.g., a co-supervisor).

For the Associate Award, you will need:

  • A reference from a colleague who knows about your supervisory practice (e.g., a co-supervisor).
  • A Supervision Observation report.

Forms for Referees:

Personal Reference Form  Word | 51.36KB
Supervision Observation Form (Associate award only) Word | 51.93KB
See further guidance for referees 

3. Seek formal approval

Before your application can move to the final review stage, a formal approval email must be sent from your Associate Dean Research, Innovation and Enterprise directly to researcherdevelopment@bournemouth.ac.uk 

Key information

Peer-reviewed feedback: Applications are reviewed by a two-person panel. You will receive detailed, actionable feedback regardless of the outcome.

Fully funded: The Doctoral College is covering the full cost of applications for all BU supervisors.

Support for your application: Access the guidance and tips shared during our recent Supervisory Lunchbite workshop here.

FAQs:UKCGE | Frequently Asked Questions

Important Deadlines

Internal BU Deadline: 9am, Monday 16 March 2026

UKCGE Deadline: Friday 20 March 2026

Expected Outcome: June 2026

Complete applications should be submitted to Julia Taylor (Doctoral College) at researcherdevelopment@bournemouth.ac.uk

Studentship Funding Panel: call for Chair, Deputy Chair & Panel Members

Funding opportunities, Fusion, PG research

***DEADLINE EXTENDED TO 6 FEBRUARY 2023***  The Studentship Funding Panel is responsible on behalf of the Research Performance and Management Committee (RPMC) for providing internal funding and support to ensure the University maximises opportunities for investing the University’s QR RDP Supervision grant in match funded studentships, in line with the BU2025 Research Principles.

We are seeking expressions of interest (EoIs) for the Chair, Deputy Chair and Panel members for the new panel.

Chairs should be members of the Professoriate – this is extended to Associate Professors for the Deputy Chair role. Applications from underrepresented groups (minority ethnic, declared disability) are particularly welcome.

EoIs for Panel members are open to the wider academic community, not just the Professoriate.

Application: EoIs will be reviewed against selection criterion which includes knowledge and experience of knowledge exchange, innovation and impact, experience of chairing meetings and plans for leading the research agenda across the university.

EoIs for the Chair and Deputy Chair roles should consist of a short case (maximum length of one page) on the form provided outlining suitability for the role. These should be submitted to the Doctoral College mailbox by the deadline of 5pm on 6 February 2023.

EoIs for Panel member roles should consist of a short case (maximum length of half a page) on the form provided outlining suitability for the role. These should be submitted to the  Doctoral College mailbox by the deadline of 5pm on 6 February 2023.

Please note: EoIs should specify to which role the applicant is applying.

There will be a delay in response to Panel member applications until the Chair and Deputy Chair roles are appointed by 6 March 2023. After this the Panel Members will be contacted about their appointment.

There will be an orientation meeting on at 10am on 9 March 2023 for the Chairs and Deputy Chairs. This will be with Deputy VC Tim McIntyre-Bhatty.

Full details are available here:

BU Studentship Funding Panel – ToR.pdf

BU Studentship Funding Panel – Chair & Deputy Chair Role Descriptor

BU Studentship Funding Panel – Panel Member Role Descriptor

BU Studentship Funding Panel – Expressions of Interest