Information for Supervisors
Supervisor Responsibilities
NINE DTP supervisors have a number of responsibilities:
- to assist applicants with the application process and to complete the nomination form for the Studentship Competition.
- to ensure timely completion of the PhD. Our expectation is that the thesis is submitted for examination on or as soon as possible after the end of award date.
- to develop a flexible programme of supervisory meetings in response to student needs.
- to comply with institutional requirements concerning supervisory arrangements, e.g. through formalisation of expectations of both staff and students in a learning agreement and keeping agreed written records of supervisory meetings and actions. Our normal expectation is that there is a minimum of 10 structured interactions between the main supervisor and the student each year, with the full supervisory team meeting at least three times each year.
- To oversee the Development Needs Analysis process and ensure that the award-holder’s training needs are assessed and accommodated.
- To provide letters of support for funding applications to the DTP and to fulfil annual reporting requirements.
What can Supervisors expect from NINE DTP?
- Regular updates and information on ESRC studentships and ESRC Postgraduate Training Guidelines
- Regular updates on training events
- Support in ensuring your students’ research training needs are met
- Advice for your students in applying for funding from the DTP, including support for training events, overseas fieldwork, conferences, overseas institutional visits, placements and internships
- Additional support for your students where consultation with ESRC is required.
Reflections of a Supervisor
Read a supervisor's personal reflections on the nature and role of a doctoral supervisor.
DownloadResearch in Practice: Guidance for Supervisors (DTP2)
Research in Practice (RinP) was introduced to NINE DTP award holders commencing from October 2024 as a core component of ESRC doctoral training, designed to develop transferable skills, broaden professional networks, and support engagement beyond academia.
The initiative is designed to help PhD students apply their research skills in different settings, and explore how academic knowledge can create positive change beyond the university.
Every ESRC-funded studentship under NINE DTP2 includes 6 months funding for Research in Practice activity. 3 months of this funding is for a PhD placement. The remaining 3 months may be used flexibly depending on the needs of the student. This might take the form of training and development, collaborative partnerships, career development, knowledge exchange, or student conferences and events. These opportunities may come through NINE DTP or through the PGR's own networks.
Placements
Research in Practice placements are intended to give PhD candidates structured opportunities to apply their research skills in real‑world settings. Placements can help students build confidence, develop professional insight, and understand how research connects to policy, practice, industry, communities, culture, or other sectors. PGRs may use placements to explore areas such as public engagement, knowledge exchange, advisory work, strategic partnerships, or to gain practical insight into potential career pathways.
Responsibility for arranging a Research in Practice placement does not sit solely with the supervisor. Students have different needs and approaches, and placements are developed collaboratively between the student, supervisor, and NINE DTP.
Supervisor role
Support discussions about what type of placement would be beneficial and how it aligns with the PhD project.
Work with the student to identify appropriate timing within the doctoral programme.
Ensure the placement complements, rather than disrupts, doctoral progress.
Where helpful, supervisors may suggest relevant opportunities or contacts from their professional or academic networks.
Student responsibilities
Reflect on how a placement could support research development and longer‑term career aims.
Initiate conversations with supervisors about appropriate focus and timing.
Take an active role in identifying, shaping, or proposing suitable placement opportunities.
Plan ahead, remain flexible, and maintain momentum in doctoral research during the placement.
NINE DTP support
Coordinate high‑quality Research in Practice placement opportunities to share regularly with students
Highlight and share national PhD placement schemes
Support students to design, develop, and propose their own placement ideas.
Provide travel and expenses funding for approved placements up to £1500.
A dedicated Research in Practice Lead is available for advice and ongoing support.
RinP Placements: Frequently asked questions
The host organisation, student, and NINE DTP must agree arrangements for the placement, including Intellectual Property (IP), employer liability before it begins. NINE DTP provides a template placement agreement. Students submit an application to NINE DTP for approval, with a supervisor letter of support. Once approved, students must follow their institutional processes to ensure any required insurance is in place.
The host organisation determines the focus, scope, and required skills. Often this is done through conversation with the selected student, with many hosts tailoring the placement work to the skill, interest or development needs of the student.
Students continue to receive their stipend from NINE DTP. Hosts are invited to contribute to additional costs such as travel and subsistence.
NINE DTP studentships already include time for the Research in Practice placement, meaning students are funded for a total of 3.5, 3.75, 4, or 4.5 years depending on their award. Universities, however, issue offer letters for 3.25, 3.5, 3.75, or 4.25 years, with a clearly stated additional three months awarded once the placement is completed. This is an institutional administrative approach rather than a difference in funding entitlement, as it is simpler for universities to add time than to withdraw funding if a placement does not take place. The student’s full funding position, including the placement time, is made explicit in their PhD offer letter.
| NINE DTP2 funded award | University offer letter | Research in Practice time |
|---|---|---|
| 3.5 years | 3.25 years | + 3 months on completion |
| 3.75 years | 3.5 years | + 3 months on completion |
| 4 years | 3.75 years | + 3 months on completion |
| 4.5 years | 4.25 years | + 3 months on completion |
Students cannot receive both host remuneration and a stipend. If a placement is paid, the studentship must be suspended. Earnings may be taxable and visa conditions apply for international students.
No. Students cannot receive both a stipend and remuneration from a host organisation during a Research in Practice placement. If remuneration is paid, the studentship must be suspended.
If a placement is not agreed and approved nine months before the funding end date, a review process is triggered. If no placement can be completed in reasonable time, the funding period will be reduced by three months or the RinP 3 month extension opportunity removed, depending on institutional arrangements.
For international students, full-time placements must be integral to the PhD programme to comply with visa conditions. NINE DTP continues work to move all international award holders to a 'PhD with Placement' Programme in collaboration with the consortium universities to ensure they are able to complete the placement full time without affecting their visa. Students must complete the evaluation and case study at the end of the placement.
NINE DTP will support students to confirm their visa requirements and PhD programme before committing to a full time placement.Placements would typically be in a non-academic organisation in order to broaden the experiences of the student. Academic placements are permitted where they meet skills needs identified through the Development Needs Analysis. They must be clearly distinct from the PhD project and involve working outside the student’s department or supervisory team.
Yes. If you have an opportunity or idea please visit the Information for prospective partners page and complete the NINE DTP Placement Host Proposal Form . NINE DTP will add you to a list of prospective hosts and share your opportunity across all NINE DTP award holders. The opportunity could not be matched to a student already based within your department or supervisory team, it's expected that an academic placement would offer a new experience to a PGR.
Overseas placements are only permitted in exceptional cases where skills cannot be developed in the UK. Students may undertake both an overseas placement and an OIV, but normally not at the same host without strong justification.
No. Placements and fieldwork are considered distinct activities.
Short periods of sick leave may not need to be made up if objectives can still be met. Longer absences may require an extension. Annual leave should be taken outside the placement where possible; any leave taken must be made up to complete the full duration.
Placement essentials
- Research in Practice placements must last 3 months FTE in total. They may be completed as a single block or phased across the PhD
- Placements can be undertaken on a full-time or part-time basis and may be in-person, remote, or a combination of both, depending on the needs of the host organisation and the student
- Placements may be taken with more than one host organisation, as long as the total time on placement does not exceed 3 months FTE
- Academic placements are permitted where they meet specific developmental needs of the student, but must not be undertaken with the student’s current supervisor and/or research team and must take place outside of their home department.
- The placement should not be undertaken within the first few months of the PhD and should not take place during a master’s period.
- The placement should be approved and scheduled at least nine months before the NINE DTP funding end date and completed before the final three months of the studentship. Please note the NINE DTP funding end date may differ from the institutional offer letter, see FAQs below for full details.