UKCGE Research Supervision Recognition Programme (RSRP)

RSRP offers two levels of recognition, depending on your experience of doctoral supervision:

• Recognised Associate Research Supervisor – for those who support doctoral researchers but have not yet seen a candidate through to completion.
• Recognised Research Supervisor (Full Award) – for those who have supervised doctoral researchers from registration through to successful completion.

You should choose the level that best reflects your current supervisory experience.

This award is for colleagues who contribute to doctoral supervision but have not yet supervised a doctoral researcher through to completion. Supervision may be formal or informal and can include a wide range of roles across the research environment.

This award is particularly relevant for:

• early-career researchers
• postdoctoral researchers
• technicians
• Research Professionals
• Professional Services colleagues in PGR-facing or supervisory support roles

The Associate award recognises the developmental nature of supervisory practice and supports progression toward the Full award where appropriate.

The Full award is for experienced supervisors who have seen at least one doctoral researcher through to final examination and completion.

Applicants are expected to demonstrate reflective supervisory practice aligned with the UKCGE Framework for Good Supervisory Practice, drawing primarily on doctoral supervision experience.

If you have previously achieved the Recognised Associate Research Supervisor award and later supervise a doctoral researcher through to completion, you may apply for the Full award.

If your Associate application was submitted within the last five years, you may reuse relevant evidence from that application when applying for Full recognition. You will only need to address the criteria not already covered, supporting progression without unnecessary duplication.

There are usually three windows throughout the year for submission. Upcoming windows are:

• 27 October 2025 – 18 March 2026
  Expected outcome: June 2026
• 21 March 2026 – 17 June 2026
  Expected outcome: September 2026
• 20 June 2026 – 21 October 2026
  Expected outcome: January 2027

To access support from OD&PL, you will need to:

• Complete the Expression of Interest: UKCGE Research Supervision Recognition Programme (RSRP)
• Sign up to the Research Supervision Development Community on MS Teams

For application support:

• Full Recognition: Contact Jenny Rivas-Perez ([email protected])
• Associate Recognition: Contact Heledd Jarosz-Griffiths ([email protected])

These workshops are open to doctoral supervisors and wider research team members who are considering or actively preparing an application for UKCGE Research Supervision Recognition.

Introduction to Supervisor Professionalisation and Recognition

This session introduces the UK Council for Graduate Education (UKCGE) Framework for Good Supervisory Practice and outlines routes to professional recognition at both Associate and Full levels.

• 20 April 2025, 2.00–3.30pm

Writing your application for recognition of your supervisory practice (Full Award)

Delivered by an external provider, these workshops are designed for colleagues applying for Full recognition. They are suitable for supervisors who have taken at least one doctoral researcher through to completion.

• 25 February 2026, 2.00–4.00pm
• 13 May 2026, 2.00–4.00pm

The Recognised Associate Research Supervisor (RARS) Award Programme is a structured development programme designed to support colleagues who contribute to doctoral supervision but may not yet have supervised a doctoral researcher through to completion.

While the programme is designed to support Associate-level applications, the guided workshops are also open to colleagues preparing applications at both Associate and Full levels.

This programme is particularly relevant for:

• new formal supervisors
• postdoctoral researchers
• technicians
• Research Professionals
• Professional Services colleagues in PGR-facing or supervisory support roles

The programme acknowledges and celebrates the essential contribution of those supporting doctoral researchers, even when not formally named on a supervisory team.

Participants are supported to develop a reflective application aligned with the UKCGE Framework for Good Supervisory Practice. The guided workshops focus on selected areas of the framework and are intended to complement — rather than replace — individual reflection and evidence gathering across all criteria.

Please note: the guided workshops do not directly cover Sections 1, 6, and 8 of the UKCGE Framework for Good Supervisory Practice. Applicants are expected to address these areas independently as part of their application.

Guided writing workshops (RARS Programme)

The RARS Award Programme runs in cohorts and includes a series of guided workshops:

Cohort 1 (December to February)

Cohort 2 (March to May)

• Workshop 1: Foundations of Effective Supervision – 26 March 26, 2026, 2-4pm
• Workshop 2: Building Strong Supervisor Relationships – 16 April 2026, 2-4pm
• Workshop 3: Exploring Key Elective Criteria – 29 April 2026, 2-4pm
• Workshop 4: Reflecting and Growing as a Supervisor – 12 May 2026, 2-4pm

Cohort 3 (July to September)

• Workshop 1: Foundations of Effective Supervision – 02 July 26, 2026, 2-4pm
• Workshop 2: Building Strong Supervisor Relationships – 16 July 2026, 2-4pm
• Workshop 3: Exploring Key Elective Criteria – 03 September 2026, 2-4pm
• Workshop 4: Reflecting and Growing as a Supervisor – 17 September 2026, 2-4pm