At ACU, we're committed to excellence in research supervision and training. By becoming a recognised supervisor, you'll play a vital role in guiding HDR candidates through their academic journey, fostering innovation, and contributing to a thriving research culture. Learn more about the accreditation process and how you can get involved.

Supervisor roles

The Higher Degree Research Supervision Policy details the roles, responsibilities and the composition requirements of supervisory panels for ACU graduate research candidates.

An ACU staff member who has been accredited as a supervisor (Full or Provisional) via the prescribed process may be appointed to the role of Principal Supervisor, Co-Supervisor or Research Advisor on a graduate research candidate's supervisory team.

The Principal Supervisor is an ACU staff member who is accredited as a HDR Supervisor (Full) and has been appointed to lead a team of two or more supervisors in the provision of guidance and assistance to a candidate in the undertaking of the relevant degree requirements. The Principal Supervisor is the academic leader of the supervisory team and has official responsibility for the overall management of the candidate's candidature from enrolment to final thesis examination.

The Co-Supervisor is an ACU staff member who is accredited as a HDR Supervisor (Full or Provisional) and is appointed to the graduate research candidate’s supervisory team to support the Principal Supervisor in the provision of guidance and assistance to the candidate.

An Associate Supervisor is a specialist in the discipline from outside ACU who can provide expertise to the supervision of the graduate research candidate. The Associate Supervisor is appointed to the candidate’s supervisory team to supplement the supervision provided by the Principal Supervisor and Co-Supervisor.

An Associate Supervisor (End-user) is a specialist from an end-user (organisation) external to ACU who can provide expertise to the supervision of a graduate research candidate and who will directly use or directly benefit from the research. An Associate Supervisor (End-user) supplements the supervision provided by the ACU Principal Supervisor and Co-Supervisor.

Principal Supervisors are encouraged to consider the value of including an Associate Supervisor (End-user) on a panel. Many of the graduate research projects carried out at ACU are conducive to, and would benefit from, end-user associate supervision.

Learn more

Accreditation

In keeping with Section 10 of the Higher Degree Research Policy, graduate research candidates shall be supported by staff who are accredited ACU supervisors.

There are two levels of accreditation at ACU:

  • Staff who have supervised at least one graduate research candidate to completion can apply to be accredited as Supervisor (Full).
  • Staff who have not yet supervised at least one graduate research candidate to completion can apply to be accredited as Supervisor (Provisional).

Supervisors who are external to ACU, do not need to complete ACU accreditation.

 
Accreditation Category Eligibility Criteria Role on Supervisory team*
HDR Supervisor (Full)
  • Have an ACU Staff appointment of at least 0.4 FTE, or hold an honorary or adjunct appointment; and
  • Hold an AQF level 10 (Doctoral Degree or equivalent) qualification; and
  • Be classified as active in research within the discipline/s in which they will be supervising to the satisfaction of the Faculty Associate Dean, Research as per the Research Active Definition Policy; and
  • Have completed the ACU supervisor training program, a similar program at another higher education institution or provide evidence of relevant professional experience; and
  • Have completed respectful supervisory relationship training at ACU or a similar program at another higher education institution.
  • Principal
  • Co-Supervisor
HDR Supervisor (Provisional)
  • Have an ACU Staff appointment of at least 0.4 FTE, or hold an honorary or adjunct appointment; and
  • Hold an AQF level 10 (Doctoral Degree or equivalent) qualification; and
  • Have relevant research experience within the discipline/s in which they will be supervising to the satisfaction of the Faculty Associate Dean, Research; and
  • Have completed the ACU supervisor training program, a similar program at another higher education institution or provide evidence of relevant professional experience; and
  • Have completed respectful supervisory relationship training at ACU or a similar program at another higher education institution.
  • Co-Supervisor

*HDR Supervision Policy Section 8.30: The supervisory team must, at all times, include a Principal or Co-supervisor who has supervised at least one (1) HDR candidate to completion. When this is the Co-supervisor, they must also be classified as active in research within the discipline/s they will be supervising in, to the satisfaction of Associate Dean of Research in their Faculty.

Before submitting an accreditation request, staff should:

Step 1

Review the Higher Degree Research Supervision Policy and the Research Active Definition Policy.

Step 2

Complete the required HDR Supervisor training modules

The HDR Supervisor Training modules are available in the Staff Learning Hub. Staff who have not completed supervisor training at ACU or at another institution should self-enrol and complete the modules.

Begin training

Step 3

Contact their Faculty Associate Dean Research to discuss accreditation.

Faculty of Education and Arts fea.hdr@acu.edu.au
Faculty of Health Sciences fhs.adr@acu.edu.au
Faculty of Law and Business lawbusinessresearch@acu.edu.au
Faculty of Theology and Philosophy adres.ftp@acu.edu.au
Step 4

Submit their Supervisor Accreditation Request ‘SupReq’ e-form in Orion.

Go to Orion

An online student's hands are hovering over a laptop. An iced coffee also sits on the table.

Training

The HDR Supervisor Training Course is now available in the Staff Learning Hub. Staff who have not completed supervisor training at ACU or at another institution should self-enrol and complete the modules.

Begin training

For further support, contact the Graduate Research School

grs.supervisors@acu.edu.au
Page last updated on 08/09/2025
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