Supervisions are a key part of enabling undergraduates to realise their full academic potential. Except in those cases where supervisions are arranged on a Departmental or Faculty basis, College Directors of Studies are responsible for overseeing supervision arrangements; in all cases, Directors of Studies authorise payments for them.
The intercollegiate guidance for supervisors is available online (raven password required).
If anything is unclear, do feel free to contact the Tutorial Office (via supervisions@homerton.cam.ac.uk)
Deadlines
We ask that reports should be submitted at least a week before the end of each term. This is essential if they are to be used at end of term meetings with Directors of Studies and Tutors as the basis for a proper review of progress and for advice on vacation study. In the Easter Term they are important for discussion of course options for the following year, or in a few cases as
part of the basis for an appeal.
The timing means, of course, that reports must often be submitted before the last supervisions of the term have taken place, and supervisors are strongly encouraged to notify Directors of Studies of any significant change or fresh concern arising after the report has been submitted.
Reports must be submitted before payment can be processed within Colleges. Colleges undertake to process supervision claims as speedily as possible. If there seems to be an unreasonable delay over payment contact the College, preferably via supervisions@homerton.cam.ac.uk
Important Information
The Cambridge Centre for Teaching and Learning offers a practical programme of supervision training, designed for those who are scheduled to be supervising in the next few months.
We aim to ensure that neither supervisors nor students take on unnecessary work, thereby allowing the system to operate smoothly and effectively. If there are any doubts or concerns about workload, we encourage seeking guidance from the appropriate Director of Studies or the Senior Tutor.
You are expected to show professionalism, consideration and respect to your students, and to manage the work you perform:
- The University and the Colleges all have various codes of conduct relating to its members, including guidance on appropriate conduct and behaviour. You should be mindful of these and note that you may be subject to one of a number of College policies and procedures relating to misconduct, bullying or harassment. Consequently, you should be mindful of your interactions and relationships with your students. For example, you should not consume alcohol during supervisions.
- If you feel there is any conflict of interest in supervising individual students, please contact the College Director of Studies. In particular, you should not have a close personal relationship, or a sexual encounter, with any students that you supervise. You also should not supervise any student with whom you have had a previous close personal relationship, or a previous sexual encounter.
- You should be clear to student(s) of the dates, times and locations of scheduled supervisions and provide sufficient notice. If you are unable to give your supervisions at the time(s) agreed with the student(s), you should wherever possible notify the student(s) who you are supervising no later than 1 hour prior to your agreed starting time. You should seek to rearrange supervision times with the undergraduate students being supervised. Please note that payment is made only for supervisions actually delivered, or for supervisions where
students failed to attend and you had previously reported it. - In the case of incapacity likely to last for more than a few days, you should inform the relevant Director(s) of Studies to discuss what arrangements to make to ensure the continuity of the students’ supervision.
Students are advised that attendance at supervisions is one of the most central requirements for all undergraduates. For supervision teaching to work effectively as a key part of the Cambridge experience, a student is normally expected to
- hand in all set work that you assign to them, completed to the best of their ability within the time-frame available, by the agreed deadlines.
- attend supervisions promptly, and give as much notice as possible to you of any unavoidable absence or delay.
- note and respond to the advice and guidance given by you on their work.
- engage pro-actively with questions and discussion during supervisions.
- show consideration and respect for the opinions of both you as their supervisor and other students.
- respond promptly to all correspondence from you.
If there is a genuine reason why a student will not be able to make a supervision, they must contact their supervisor well in advance. In the case of sudden illness, students should try to get a message through; if asked, Tutors will always be able to contact the Director of Studies on a student's behalf. Students who fail to turn up for a supervision without sufficient warning or explanation will be charged the cost of the missed supervision(s). Persistent failure to attend supervisions should be reported to the DOS, Tutor, or Deputy Senior Tutor.
Typically, Directors of Studies provide briefings on students’ details, contact information, any relevant guidance from Student Support Documents, the expected frequency and number of supervisions, as well as the volume and level of work expected from students. It’s important not to deviate from these expectations without consulting the Director of Studies first. Additionally, if the relationship involves a departmental role, it may be necessary to consult course administrators, and relevant Directors of Studies.
Any serious concerns about a student (pastoral or academic) should be raised promptly. Supervisors are not expected to take on duties that are Directors of Studies or Tutorial team are specifically trained and supported to deal with. Please contact a student's DOS or Tutor, or the Senior Tutor team.
- Supervisors should be familiar with the general safeguarding guidance provided by the University.
How do I access CamCORS?
How do I apply to become a Supervisor?
Supervisors must apply for a supervisor account annually. Can can do so by completing an application form available online.
How honest should I be when writing my reports?
Girton encourages honesty in feedback, aiming to strike a balance between positive reinforcement and constructive criticism. Recognising strengths is important, but so is addressing areas for improvement. While most students will receive overwhelmingly positive commentary, in some cases, feedback may not be entirely favourable. Providing open and evidence-based feedback is crucial for student learning and growth.
It’s acknowledged that relentlessly optimistic feedback may not always benefit students, especially if it does not accurately reflect their performance. Unrealistic expectations followed by disappointing results can be particularly challenging for students. Directors of Studies have the opportunity to review reports before they are released to students and can suggest changes or add their own insights.
If there’s uncertainty about what to include or the tone to adopt, it’s encouraged to consult with the Director of Studies. Ultimately, the goal is to provide feedback that supports students in their learning journey and helps them improve their performance.
What should my reports include?
Reports need not be long when work is satisfactory, but should be detailed enough in all cases to give students a sense of particular strengths or weaknesses as well as any recommendations for further work and an indication of their overall level of performance. The fields to record a student’s academic quality (Industry, Progress, Interest, Class) should always be completed where possible, as this information may be needed as evidence for Examination Access and Mitigation Committee applications. The content of the report should only provide information about the individual student’s work, any other matters should be raised directly with the student’s Director of Studies, Tutor, or Senior Tutor, as appropriate.
If there are grounds for concern or the work is unsatisfactory Colleges are grateful for as full a report as possible.
Teaching space is available in Homerton and can be booked by email through supervisions@homerton.cam.ac.uk. Please note that you should not book space for supervision groups that don't contain Homerton students (mixed-College groups of Homerton and non-Homerton students are okay).
Alternatively space may be available in Faculties and Departments. If you have any problem finding an appropriate place in which to supervise contact the Director(s) of Studies of the student(s) you are supervising.
Initial Payment for New Supervisors
The intercollegiate University recognises that supervisors require preparation at the outset to take on the role of supervising undergraduates. This will include a mixture of required online and face-to-face training, typically provided by CCTL, as well as other orientation exercises at their personal discretion. From Michaelmas Term 2023, all new supervisors will receive a payment in recognition of those tasks.
The payment for 2024/25 is £103.
New supervisors do not need to apply for this payment: eligible supervisors are identified by the date they were given access to CamCORS and must submit at least one approved supervision report to qualify for the payment. Eligibility will be checked, and payments made, towards the end of January, April, July, and October each year. Payments will be sent either directly to a new supervisor or via their College, according to their preferred payment method on CamCORS.
Current Payment Rates
The following are the 2024-25 rates used between Colleges when their employed staff or Fellows offer their supervision services for other Colleges. These intercollegiate rates may be used by Colleges to set their own payment rates for supervisions, but Colleges set their payment rates independently. Supervisors are advised to check with individual Colleges the precise rates of payment that will apply to them.
Per supervision:
- 1 pupil: £38.65
- 2 pupils: £46.03
- 3 pupils: £55.24
- 4 or more pupils: £64.45
