Your supervision team typically comprises at least two, and at most four, experts holding a PhD, with your primary supervisor being affiliated with Radboud University.
This team is responsible for providing guidance throughout your PhD journey, including holding regular meetings to discuss research progress, training opportunities, and career development.
Note that supervision requirements tend to vary greatly across different graduate schools within Radboud University. Therefore, it’s recommended you consult the specific guidelines of your respective graduate school to ensure compliance with all expectations and to make the most of the resources available to you.
As an incoming PhD student, you can expect your supervision team to be composed of:
Your Primary Supervisor must hold a PhD and be a faculty member at Radboud University. This person will guide your overall research, offer academic advice, and ensure you stay on track. They should have experience supervising PhD students and a strong research background.
A Co-Supervisor also holds a PhD and brings expertise in specific aspects of your research. They provide specialized knowledge and feedback, either from within or outside the university, and help support your academic progress.
You may also have an Advisory Committee or additional Supervisory Team Members, all of whom must hold a PhD and offer expertise in your field. They will review your progress and provide feedback to ensure your research is on track.
Among the supervision team, one member is typically designated as the Daily Supervisor. This individual provides regular, hands-on guidance to ensure the day-to-day progress of your research.
If your research involves external collaboration, you may have an External Supervisor. This person must hold a PhD and be an expert in your research area. They will help guide the external aspects of your work and maintain alignment with academic or industry standards.
Lastly, while optional, you may also have a Mentor. Although not always required to hold a PhD, a mentor should have significant experience in academia or industry. They provide career guidance, help with networking, and offer support in balancing the demands of your PhD. Please note that Mentors’ roles and requirements vary per graduate school and you should search for graduate-school specific guidance on this matter (usually clarified in your TSP template document).