Change my current supervisors

Changing current supervisors

As your research project progresses, your supervision team might need to change. If this happens, you can request changes to your advisory committee (includes your supervisors).

If your new principal supervisor is in a different department, and the dean has not approved an exception, see Change of department to learn how to start that application.

Through My Overview you can view your key milestone dates (agreements tab) – including expected thesis submission date, supervisors and other candidature details (research tab) – when you log in to my.unimelb (SSO login required).

From the my.unimelb homepage, click on the 'Home’ button then select 'My Graduate Research Student forms', to search for the relevant form.

Alternatively, log directly into the 'Forms' section of my.unimelb and search for the form.

Once you have reviewed your details, follow the instructions in the Apply to change supervisor section.

Who can supervise me?

Supervisors need to be suitably qualified, experienced and registered. The Graduate Research Training Policy (MPF1321) describes supervisor eligibility for University of Melbourne staff, honorary fellows and experts external to the University.

External supervisors

You or your advisory committee may suggest adding an external supervisor to your advisory committee.

All external supervisors must be certified by the University. If the expert is not already certified with the University, a request must be submitted to have them added to the external supervisor register. Find out how you can apply to change supervisors or advisory committee members.

Request to change your supervisor

Before you submit a request to change your supervisor, make sure you have learned how to work effectively with your supervisors. There are procedures you can follow to change supervisors, if your current supervisor isn't working out for you.

Lastly, check the University's Graduate Research Training Policy.

Apply to change supervisors or advisory committee members

Supporting documentation (for adding an external supervisor only)

You will need supporting documentation if you wish to add an external supervisor. You or your supervisor should request the following documentation from the external supervisor:

• A completed External Supervisor Agreement [Word]
• A copy of their CV

Please note: If you are enrolled in a jointly awarded PhD, the University requires a completed External Supervisor Record (Joint Award) [Word] form only.

Once your external supervisor has supplied the required supporting documentation, your local graduate research administrator will need to submit it for approval.

Submit your application

If you have already started a form, please return to your form to submit your application.

Return to already started form

If you need to create a new form, please start a new application.

Apply to change supervisors

Please note: The online form you will use to apply for a change of supervisor is the 'Request Change in Project Details' form.

How to get help

Get technical help

If you are having an issue with the online 'Request Change in Project Details' form, you can:

• View known technical issues and discover how to get around these
• Contact Stop1 if you cannot find advice for your technical issue or if you are experiencing login problems.

How to cancel a form

Learn how to cancel forms that you have submitted by mistake and need to withdraw. Follow the same process to cancel forms you have started filling out, which you no longer need to submit for approval.

Get other form help

If you have a question about filling in the online 'Request Change in Project Details' form, or your degree details on the form are not correct, contact your local graduate research administrator.

Get advice

If you need more information about changing your supervisor, you can talk to:

• your supervisors
• your advisory committee chair
• your local graduate research administrator.

My application is approved – what's next?

You should discuss early in your candidature what your and your supervisors’ roles and responsibilities are. It is good to have a clear understanding of what is expected of you, and what you should expect from your supervisors.

Discover how you can best work with your supervisors and use the Supervision Agreement [Word] as part of your discussions.

How to get advice

If you need more information about your approved change of supervisor/s, you can talk to:

• your supervisors
• your advisory committee chair
• your local graduate research administrator.