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Support for Supervision of the Doctoral Thesis

Guiding Framework For A Good Relationship In The Doctoral Programme

Through actions aimed at supporting thesis supervision, we seek to promote excellence in doctoral training at our university.


The Doctoral Thesis Supervision at UC is understood as a training process supported by a group of actors, whose purpose is to cultivate an independent researcher mentality in the student, through the generation of flexible research environments, which give space to creativity, with a clear regulatory framework and shared knowledge. This is done through the generation of flexible research environments that provide space for creativity, always guided by a clear regulatory framework and from shared knowledge.

Based on the above, as a Graduate School we have established 3 central objectives for the guidelines on the direction of doctoral thesis:

  • Promote consensus between student and thesis supervisor on the way they will work during the development of the thesis
  • To strengthen the support mechanisms for monitoring the progress of the thesis, avoiding administrative overload.
  • Explain in detail the roles and responsibilities of all the actors of the UC community involved in doctoral training.

These guidelines are set out in 3 documents:

1.- UC Doctoral Thesis Supervision“: Cultivating the independent researcher mentality.”: This document corresponds to a synthesis of the Guide, intended to be easy to use and quick to consult.

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    Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (UC) is the holder of the proprietary rights of the “Support Guide for Doctoral Thesis Supervision – Second Version,” submitted on the university’s behalf to the Department of Intellectual Property Rights under No. 2021-A-11265 on November 26, 2021. UC wishes for the contents of the Guide to circulate freely, while protecting the associated intellectual property rights. Please read the terms of this Licensing Agreement. If you have any objections, please refrain from accepting.

    UC hereby authorizes the interested party to download this material available on our website, only if the following conditions are accepted:

    1. UC authorizes the Licensee to reproduce one (1) digital or print copy of the Guide for personal use.
    2. Said reproduction, even if partial, shall include: (i) the title of the Guide and (ii) the names of the author(s).
    3. The Licensee is hereby expressly forbidden from adapting the Guide to another text type, or otherwise modifying, translating or transforming the original material in any way.
    4. The Licensee is hereby expressly forbidden from distributing the Guide to the public by means of free distribution or selling copies.
    : This document contains the Guide in extenso, with the theoretical framework and the elaboration in detail and in greater depth of the elements of the previous document.

    3.- Guiding Framework for a Good Relationship in the Doctoral Programme: This document contains guidelines to channel the resolution of eventual conflicts according to clear protocols consistent with our institutional regulations.

    For inquiries on issues related to the Support Program for the Supervision of Doctoral Thesis, write to the email apoyodirecciondetesis@uc.cl

    Principles for Dissertation Supervition at UC

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    I

    Doctoral Students are Researchers in training who must show initiative in both the development of their doctoral research and their professional and research skills.

    II

    To make this possible, doctoral students need to develop a strong relationship with their directors and dissertation advisors, where communication is key to ask for support to carry out their doctoral research. Students should also be able to notify concerns and difficulties they may have along the way and that may alter the development of their dissertation.

    III

    In case of conflicts between students and the dissertation supervisor, or other members of the doctoral community, official channels of the institution should be prioritized to determine a resolution. In addition to the existing regulations and standards, the Guiding Framework for Good Coexistence can be used as a reference.

    IV

    Dissertation Advisors are the main responsible for the training of doctoral researchers and must be available to pass on their knowledge to students, advise and guide them in the development of their dissertations, and keep fluent communication and feedback with them.

    V

    It is essential that Dissertation Advisors agree on regularly reviewing the development and progress of the dissertation work along with their students to be aware of their requirements and difficulties. This should reduce misunderstandings and facilitate the completion of the task on time.

    VI

    Dissertation Advisors should be able to encourage students to join research teams when possible, promoting access to proper infrastructure and services offered by the university.

    VII

    In the case that there is a joint doctoral supervisor supporting the student’s doctoral research, both dissertation advisors should follow the same instructions for supervision. Roles and responsibilities must be agreed upon from the beginning of the joint work.

    VIII

    Dissertation committees are essential to ensure the quality of the dissertation, as they also help the researcher in training to successfully achieve progress in the development of their work. They can also support the dissertation advisor and the head of the program to detect future problems that may affect the academic performance or progress of the student.

    IX

    It is essential that the heads of programs are available to advise and support students, guiding them about their studies, their relationship to their dissertation advisor, and the resolution of possible conflicts between them. They must support dissertation advisors to carry out their work and anticipate possible problems, ensuring the optimal conditions for the development of their tasks during the process.

    X

    Doctoral or Postgraduate Committees are essential to support and ensure quality standards in doctoral training, including aspects of dissertation supervision. Their mission is to prevent, convey and facilitate solutions in the academic field that could not be worked out by any of the parts.

    XII

    Management teams are in charge of supervising the good performance of the program and guiding students on administrative affairs, providing them proper information about university services and the development of their dissertations and doctoral studies in general.

    XII

    Our Graduate School is an advisor for the UC doctoral community on training issues, including aspects of dissertation supervision such as training workshops or socialization of good practices. At the same time, it is in charge of the resolution of possible academic conflicts between students and dissertation supervisors if they have not been solved in the first place.


    Research cycle support

    Workshops on Doctoral Thesis Direction

    Thesis Direction and Student Follow-up

    Complementary material

    cloud_downloadInfographic: Protocol for Conflict Resolution between Students and Thesis Supervisors cloud_downloadInfographic: Thesis Supervisors and Thesis Co-Supervisors
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