Preparing for your first supervisor meeting | Advice from a current PhD Student

Hey wonderful humans!
I'm Lucy, an English Literature PhD Student at the University of Birmingham and today I'm talking about your first supervisor meeting. I cover what to expect, how to prepare, what you should bring up and hopefully allay some fear or apprehension you have about the process!
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My name's Lucy and I'm a humanities student focusing on queer romance novels of 21st century, so obviously this won't be the same as science people. Also everything I say is my own opinion! If you have any questions about PhD life or studying at UoB feel free to leave a comment or contact me on social media.
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SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:
Instagram: / phdlifewith. .
Twitter: / phdlifewithlucy
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This video was developed in collaboration with my role in the University of Birmingham Student Team. You can find out more about the Student Team here: www.birmingham.ac.uk/study/st...

[@RQUEEN95]

I really appreciate this video, this is the first video i found that gave me the advice that i needed

[@arbazmuzaffer]

the best video to watch right before my ist supervisor meeting at UoB. Thanks a lot.

[@hebabehram2007]

Thanks Lucy for this great video, I am going to meet my supervisor in 10 minutes from now and I was looking for some tips, your video was the first in the list. You are a sweet person with very natural style, no pretentions and good advices. I am feeling a little bit relaxed after listening to your experience.

[@basakbozkurt]

Thank you very much Lucy. I wish, I would have watched this video before my first supervisor meeting.

[@DebzDabz]

Thank you so much for sharing your experiences!

[@Michael-cm4fh]

Thank you so so much for doing this video!! Really useful and I'm going to take all your suggestions on-board for my first meeting.

[@LucyHargrave]

Of course! I'm glad you found it so useful :)

[@CharlotteRoger097]

Thank you for sharing your advice! Makes me feel a lot less nervous for my first meeting!💫

[@LucyHargrave]

Of course! I'm sure you'll do great :)

[@ANKIT-og6vg]

Thank you so much for giving such valuable suggestions.

[@yogisaputramahmud7843]

Greetings from Australia, Lucy. Thanks for sharing the video. I will be having my very first supervisory meeting next week. The advice is super helpful!

[@LucyHargrave]

I'm so glad you found it helpful! Hoping the meeting went well!

[@elizabethzawadi3544]

Thank you . I wish I had seen your video before my first supervisory meeting.

[@user2211mk]

Thanks for tips Lucy!

[@marziehhajebrahimi3837]

Thank you lucy. I am going to meet my supervisor in two days. Now I feel more comfortable about it.

[@user-lu7my5qq9o]

Thanks so much，hope my first meeting in next week just like you so succesfully

[@irislin4156]

Thank you so much for your video! It is really helpful. I just finished my first meeting with supervisors.

[@LucyHargrave]

I’m hope your supervisor meeting went well ☺️

[@taochen9251]

thank you so much for your sharing! It is useful!

[@sakalameck]

Timely advice for me. Thank you.

[@zakiyatulmufidah8350]

Thank you for sharing this Lucy, I wish my first meeting with supervisors will run smoothly regardless of my language barriers.

[@LucyHargrave]

I hope so too! I'm sure it will :)

[@zakiyatulmufidah8350]

@@LucyHargrave Hai Lucy, just want to let you know that my first zoom chat meeting wth My prospective PhD supervisors was well done. Thank you for your tips. Keep producing such beneficial content for PhD life and its preparartion

[@sulemanrasheed1634]

Really unique video on its own. Have my first Ph.D. meeting tomorrow. Your advice would definitely be helpful! Thank for sharing

[@LucyHargrave]

Glad it was helpful! I hope the first PhD meeting went well!

[@sulemanrasheed1634]

@@LucyHargrave Yup it went great. My supervisor is really kind and your tips really helped a lot 😸

[@bernadettamazimbe5349]

Thank you for this. Very helpful

[@godswilllaks1530]

Thank you for sharing these value insights ,I will be meeting my supervisor in few days.I will draw from your experience. God bless(Subbed)

[@LucyHargrave]

Thank you 😊 I hope your supervisor meeting went well!

[@NoorashidahShidah13]

thanks ya...for your sharing

[@BreathlessExistence]

Thanks a lot for this

[@freakyboy4552]

so helpful thanks

[@ahumanbeing1283]

Am having a meeting in few hours, scared shitless actually lol . Thanks for the advice

[@LucyHargrave]

It’s completely normal to be scared but I’m sure you’ll do great!

[@ahumanbeing1283]

@@LucyHargrave 🙏 I hope I'll get through it. Thanks again !

[@souravmukherjee4987]

@@ahumanbeing1283 hey! How was it?

[@ahumanbeing1283]

@@souravmukherjee4987 hello! It went well actually!!! ♥️ Thanks for asking

[@souravmukherjee4987]

@@ahumanbeing1283 Congrats. I will be meeting my Ms supervisor in January and I am tensed and preparing from now😅😅

[@suedferreira]

Thank you for sharing this! I am curious to know more about the following meetings with your supervisor. What kind of materials do you prepare to show how you have been progressing in your PhD? :)

[@LucyHargrave]

It depends what you agree with your supervisor in the previous meeting. At UoB you will always submit a GRS2 form listing what you did in the last month. Sometimes you’ll need to prepare some written work, other times you’ll need to prepare a written plan, a list of books you’ve read, ethical forms. It really depends on your project and what you are focusing on that month ☺️

[@suedferreira]

@@LucyHargrave, thank you for your kind reply! I will follow these suggestions to structure the meetings with my supervisor from now on. All the best! :)

[@phongnhi77]

Thank you for your video. I also did my proposal in Jan 2021 and started my PhD this October. It is quite long time and honestly, when I read my proposal again now, I see it is unclear and I have not known what I should change to improve and make it more specific. I am quite nervous for the first meeting and do you think it is suitable to ask the supervisor more materials to read so then I can fill in my knowledge gap and discuss the ideas in the project in later meetings?

[@LucyHargrave]

Definitely! One of the first things I did was talk to my supervisors about gaps in my knowledge and they were really supportive 😊

[@lakhnechahmed2735]

How to find and convince the PhD supervisor of my thesis and what universities are the PhD accepted? Note that I have a master’s in management

[@leyougetabebetaye7232]

Thanks

[@LauraEtemah]

Thanks for sharing.

[@LucyHargrave]

Thanks for watching!

[@fauziahrizki]

Thanks for sharing! Im planning to set my very first meeting next month. Do you think I should invite both (first and second) SPVs altogether or do it seperately? thanks!

[@LucyHargrave]

Hello! Firstly good luck! I personally would talk to them together as this is your supervisory team so it is important that all three of you are on the same page!

[@ChalachewLove]

Hello, Thanks, Lucy for this great video. I am going to meet my supervisor in 2 days now. Can you tell me what my supervisor might ask me? Help me, please.

[@justo412]

Thank you, i am having my first meeting with a research group leader for a potential internship role and cant keep calm. Pray for me

[@LucyHargrave]

Best of luck! I’m sure you’ll do great 😊

[@lakhnechahmed2735]

I am Ahmed from Algeria, I am 51 years old. I would like to complete a Ph.D. in budgetary management. What universities can I accept and be less expensive and that provide training in my specialization? What is the way to convince the supervisor and how do I find a PhD project that is acceptable to my supervisor? Thank you....

[@dareabdulwasiu3753]

Hello, what should I expect as regards Msc meeting with my potential supervisor, I am having one next week. Does your clues goes well as for MSc program too?

[@LucyHargrave]

Hey, sorry only just sure this! I would say so, although you’ll have less time with your MSc supervisor it is still good to build a rapport with them etc 😊

[@cherryto3031]

Hi Lucy! I am an international student too from UoB. I am meeting my supervisor at a cafe for the first time in person after graduation. Any tips on how to talk and greet her? Please advise

[@LucyHargrave]

I am so sorry I've only just seen this comment! I hope the meeting went well :)

[@cherryto3031]

@@LucyHargrave yeah it went well and happy...anyways thank you for replying kindly ☺️

[@alhamgawad1318]

I need question and andwer about supervisor and student?

[@LucyHargrave]

Hello, what is your question about supervison?

[@alhamgawad1318]

Actually I dont know exactly but I have to take test related to my language and in this test the examiner will focus on speaking between student and supervisor .How I prepare my self for this question ?

[@LucyHargrave]

It sounds like they will be testing your English language ability by imitating a casual conversation between a supervisor and student. This isn't something I've had to do myself as English is my native language. I could only suggest brushing on certain words that are used in academia but not as much elsewhere. Looking at a website like www.academic-englishuk.com/vocabulary might be useful. Sorry I couldn't help more!

[@alhamgawad1318]

@@LucyHargrave lam very much obliged to you

[@iamclaudelouis]

Thanks

[@LucyHargrave]

No problem