A contractual solution to problems in the supervision of PhD degrees in the UK

The process of supervising research students is not always smooth, and supervisors on occasion encounter difficult students whose research momentum is problematic. Some of the troubles supervisors experience are described, and remedies such as motivating students, issuing warnings to them and relinquishing the supervisory role are discussed. An alternative strategy is suggested, that of the negotiation of a written contract between supervisor and student, and the foundations of this form of agreement are examined. This is followed by a proposed outline for such a contract. Criticisms of this strategy are then discussed, and the article concludes with a call for more consideration to be given to a strategy rarely utilised or even considered in the process of research student supervision.