Supervising research of students - Starterkit
- In short
- Learn how to effectively supervise student research and theses
- Develop skills in feedback, communication and expectation setting
- Reflect on your own supervision style
- Join interactive sessions with exercises and role play
Why this course?
Supervising academic research can be complex. The most effective approach depends on the student, the supervisor(s), and the type of research project. In this introductory training, new supervisors gain key educational insights and practical tools, enabling them to start supervising bachelor’s and master’s students with confidence.
Is this course for me?
This course is designed for people who are new to supervising student research. For example:
- PhD candidates who supervise bachelor’s or master’s theses
- Early-career lecturers in higher education
- Researchers who guide students through research projects
The training is aimed at participants with little to no prior experience in supervising students. You don’t need any previous supervision experience to take part.
What will you gain?
By the end of this course, you’ll have a clear understanding of what effective supervision looks like—your role as a supervisor, how to communicate well, how to give feedback, and how to align expectations with your students. You’ll learn how to set realistic goals for the research process and how to provide focused, constructive feedback on both the final product and the student’s learning journey.
You’ll also leave with practical ideas you can use right away, grounded in educational theory that translates directly to day-to-day supervision. Through hands-on practice in common supervision scenarios, you’ll become more aware of your natural supervision style and more confident in responding to different student needs and challenges. Finally, you’ll use your own experiences to identify concrete next steps and continue developing as a supervisor.
What are the costs?
The participation fee for this course is €400. Staff members of Utrecht University may be eligible for a discount or can pay using 2.5 O&T units.
Professional education at Utrecht University
By joining this course, you’ll benefit from high-quality education at Utrecht University, a broad and internationally oriented research university. What makes us unique is that we are the only university in the Netherlands that conducts academic research into how professionals learn. This means our teaching methods are specifically designed to support the way professionals develop and apply new knowledge in practice.
Within our professional education programmes, leading researchers share the latest insights from their fields. At the same time, participants bring their own professional experience into the learning environment. This exchange of knowledge and perspectives often leads to new insights that you can apply directly in your own work.
What will we do?
The course consists of two interactive sessions of three hours each. Short theoretical input is combined with group exercises, reflection and role play, so you can immediately practise what you learn.
Session 1 – The building blocks of effective supervision
In the first session, we’ll start with a short introduction and get to know each other. You’ll explore what helps (and what can hinder) student learning during supervision, and what characterises effective supervisors. You’ll also reflect on your own natural supervision style and discuss the different roles and responsibilities that come with supervising student research.
Format: short theory inputs, group work and peer exchange.
Session 2 – Communication, feedback and challenging situations
The second session begins with sharing experiences and practical tips. From there, we focus on aligning expectations with students, giving feedback that supports learning, and communicating clearly also when conversations become more challenging. You’ll practise how to handle common supervision issues, such as procrastination, in a constructive and professional way.
Format: theory inputs, group work and role play.
Please note: this course is taught in English.
When are the meetings?
Meeting | Date | Time |
|---|---|---|
1 | 21 April | 09:30 – 12:30 |
2 | 12 Mei | 09:30 – 12:30 |
Where is the course held?
The sessions take place at Utrecht Science Park. On the Utrecht Science Park website you can find an overview of the different travel routes and transport options. You can also view an overview of the available paid parking options if you plan to come by car .
Who will be teaching?
Our Utrecht University trainers combine strong academic expertise with a clear understanding of professional practice. They are actively involved in relevant, up-to-date research in their field and translate that knowledge into teaching that is practical, interactive and directly applicable to your work.
Their approach is tailored to how professionals learn: focused on real-life cases, peer exchange and hands-on learning. Collaboration is central throughout the course, and the learning environment is designed to encourage dialogue, shared learning and co-creation.
Any questions?
This course is delivered by Educational Development & Training (Onderwijsadvies & Training) at Utrecht University. We support education professionals throughout their careers by offering training, tailored solutions for educational challenges, and expert advice for schools and degree programmes. We connect academic knowledge with educational practice to develop fresh perspectives and practical improvements. You can reach us via:
- onderwijsadviesentraining@uu.nl
- +31 (0)30 253 2261
General questions For general questions about Professional Education at Utrecht University, please contact: professionals@uu.nl Or call us on weekdays: +31 (0)30 253 1018
Questions about career or study programmes Do you have questions about your career development or choosing a programme? Our lifelong learning advisor Afke van der Velden is happy to help: a.i.s.vandervelden@uu.nl
Payment and cancellation terms All services provided by Educational Consultancy & Professional Learning are subject to our payment and cancellation terms and conditions.
How can I register?
Great to hear that you’re interested in the course Supervising Research of Students. You can register using the yellow registration button on the right-hand side of this page. The registration deadline for this course is 7 April 2026.