thesis advisory panel

Thesis Advisory Committee

See Standards for Maintaining Satisfactory Progress

The thesis advisory committee is an essential, independent advisory panel that adds to the mentoring provided by the student’s research mentor. The membership of the committee should be determined after discussion between the mentor(s) and the mentee, and consist of at least three mentoring faculty members of the GSBS who can provide advice and support to the student. The student should declare the thesis advisory committee simultaneously with declaring the mentor(s) and laboratory, or as close as is possible to the time (not to exceed 3 months) the laboratory is declared.

The thesis advisory committee must meet with the student at least once per semester starting from the point of laboratory declaration. It is the responsibility of the student to ensure these meetings occur each semester, and that the appropriate progress reports are submitted electronically to the PhD program manager. Early meetings will focus on developing aims for a research proposal to act as the basis of the qualifying exam, as well as review initial progress and the relevant literature. At any time, the thesis advisory committee also acts to advise and support the student with their training experience, academic progress, and career development. Throughout the student’s candidacy phase, the thesis advisory committee plays an important role in working with both the mentor and mentee to refine and resolve any substantive or professional divergences.

The qualifying exam, comprising a thesis proposal (written document and oral defense) and discussion of relevant general knowledge from core classes, confirms candidacy for the Doctor of Philosophy degree. This exam is evaluated by the thesis advisory committee, plus an MTA director or their delegate (a senior faculty from their MTA). PhD students should successfully complete the qualifying exam by the end of their fourth semester (June 30th), and MD/PhD students by the end of their first year in the PhD-phase (MP1). Further details regarding registration and expectations for this exam can be found in “Thesis Proposal” to follow.

Following confirmation of candidature, the thesis advisory committee continues to advise on research directions and scope, preparations for thesis defense and publications, as well as responsible generation and handling of data arising from their research in the mentor’s laboratory. The thesis advisory committee will also advise on career development and on any other challenges or difficulties students may encounter during their PhDs. On occasions where additional help or focusing of effort is required, the thesis advisory committee may require more frequent meetings.

Last updated 2 days ago

Have a language expert improve your writing

Run a free plagiarism check in 10 minutes, generate accurate citations for free.

• Knowledge Base
• Dissertation

Purpose and structure of an advisory report

Published on October 28, 2016 by Bas Swaen . Revised on July 18, 2023.

Some dissertations include a separate advisory report that is specifically designed for a company or organization that wants to act on the author’s advice.

Instantly correct all language mistakes in your text

Upload your document to correct all your mistakes in minutes

Table of contents

When should you create a separate advisory report, structure of an advisory report, tips for writing your advisory report, other interesting articles.

The advantage of having a separate advisory report is that readers can quickly learn about your opinions without having to read the whole dissertation. It’s the best option when you want to deliver concrete recommendations and an evaluation thereof to your client (especially if you used an advisory research question).

Here's why students love Scribbr's proofreading services

Discover proofreading & editing

As different entities have different requirements for advisory reports, it’s always good to find out what your client specifically wants. Nonetheless, all advisory reports tend to have a similar basic structure.

• At the beginning of your research, decide with your client whether you will provide a separate advisory report . If yes, seek clarification on the report’s purpose and its intended readers .
• Take your client’s expectations regarding design and content into consideration. The structure suggested above is a good starting place, but also look at similar reports prepared for or by your client to familiarize yourself in advance with specific requirements or styles. Make sure you also know how long the report should be, when it must be submitted, how far the recommendations should be developed and any constraints that must be considered.
• What will the measure contribute to solving the problem or issue ? How soon?
• What are the measure’s pros and cons ?
• Which of the presented measures are the best ? In what order?
• What would implementation require (in terms of money, time, people and the organization)?
• Be succinct and brief . The reader should be able to understand the information you are presenting quite quickly.
• Ask your client and other stakeholders for feedback on a draft of your report before you finalize it.

If you want to know more about AI for academic writing, AI tools, or research bias, make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples or go directly to our tools!

Research bias

• Anchoring bias
• Halo effect
• The Baader–Meinhof phenomenon
• The placebo effect
• Nonresponse bias
• Deep learning
• Generative AI
• Machine learning
• Reinforcement learning
• Supervised vs. unsupervised learning

 (AI) Tools

• Grammar Checker
• Paraphrasing Tool
• Text Summarizer
• AI Detector
• Plagiarism Checker
• Citation Generator

Cite this Scribbr article

If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the “Cite this Scribbr article” button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation Generator.

Swaen, B. (2023, July 18). Purpose and structure of an advisory report. Scribbr. Retrieved September 9, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/dissertation/purpose-structure-advisory-report/

Is this article helpful?

Get unlimited documents corrected

✔ Free APA citation check included ✔ Unlimited document corrections ✔ Specialized in correcting academic texts

Rice University is now accepting applications for graduate study for 2025 admission. Click here to apply .

Applications for GCURS 2024 close Sept. 29! Visit gcursapply.rice.edu to begin your application.

Feb. 27, 2023

Selecting your master’s thesis committee members, by karyssa courey: selecting a thesis committee is like completing a puzzle every piece of this process is very valuable to have the right fit for your committee.

First off, congratulations on advancing to this stage in your academic career! Meeting the requirements for your thesis is not an easy task but you did it! You deserve to celebrate your achievements, both big and small. 

After you have finish celebrating, it’s now time for you to select committee members for your thesis. A thesis committee is a group of faculty members who provides mentorship for your entire thesis experience.

Before you begin randomly selecting members of your committee, there are a few steps and strategies that will help you pick the right members!

Where do I start?

• Review the requirements for thesis committees in your department

Rice provides requirements for thesis committees online . For example, a thesis committee for a graduate student in the psychological sciences must have three members (your advisor and two others). At least two committee members must be within your department. Reviewing the requirements will help you understand who can and cannot be on your committee!

• Breaking down your topic

If you are considering committee members, you likely have a draft of your master’s proposal or at least an idea of what your project will be about. Consider the keywords of your project (i.e., what are five terms that can be used to categorize your proposal?). These keywords are the core of your project and can help you identify faculty that align with your interests and research goals.

• Connect your topic to faculty research

Now that you have identified your keywords, think about faculty that you know in your department that are knowledgeable in the topics you are studying. You can also search faculty/lab websites or Google Scholar if you are unfamiliar with a faculty member’s research expertise. 

If there are aspects of your master’s proposal that are interdisciplinary, don’t be afraid to search for faculty outside of your department that can provide you with a valuable perspective on your research topic.

Who should I be in communication with?

• Talk with your advisor

Often, your advisor will have suggestions for potential committee members. Your advisor is one of the few people that will understand both the scope of your research project and know the faculty expertise in your department. Listen to your advisor’s recommendations and suggestions, note any faculty that may be a good fit, and share any ideas that you have based on your search in steps 2 and 3. Don’t feel constricted the recommendations from your advisor either, your peers could also be a resource.

• Talk with your peers

Older peers in your program often have a great perspective on selecting thesis committee members. Your peers may also have first hand experience with the same faculty members you are considering. E.g., Professor X provides more substantive feedback than Professor Y, so if you want substantive feedback, this is extremely helpful information!

• Talk with other faculty

Don’t be afraid to schedule meetings with potential faculty members if you want to discuss your thesis. Meeting with faculty is a great way to explain your project, hear their feedback, and gauge their interest.

I’ve talked to everyone on the list; what's next?

• Email potential committee members

Once you have selected your committee members, it is now time to email them! This might be scary or feel like a daunting step, but remember that the faculty at Rice are here to support you and help cultivate your skills as a researcher. Committee members are your team members, and are here to ideally provide constructive feedback to make your project even better!

When emailing faculty, make sure to use an appropriate tone, provide the title of your thesis, explain your project in a few sentences (or add your abstract), and note any specific reasons that that faculty is a good fit.

For example, if a faculty member has expertise relating to a theory you are applying in your research, make sure to name the theory in your email! The goal is for your potential committee members to have a clear understanding of the scope of your project and connect their expertise to your project.

What should I be mindful of during this process?

• Handling rejection

If a prospective committee member declines your offer, it’s okay! Do not take it personally or be discouraged! There may be many reasons why a faculty member might decline (e.g., tight on time, perceived lack of fit, or think another faculty member might be a better fit). Do, however, consider other faculty members and consider scheduling a meeting to discuss your thesis project. Meeting with potential committee members can help you understand if they would be a good fit, plus it’s a great opportunity to meet faculty members outside of your courses!

• Sticking to your timeline

Lastly, keep in mind your deadlines. Different departments have different requirements for scheduling your proposal and declaring your master’s candidacy. For example, in the Psychological Sciences department, a student can propose their master’s without declaring a master's candidacy. However, it is required that committee members are notified at least ten days prior to scheduling your proposal meeting.

6 Email Templates to Ask Someone to be on Your Thesis Committee

By: Author Hiuyan Lam

Posted on Last updated: October 20, 2023

Categories Professional Etiquette

Writing a thesis is one of the most challenging parts of being an undergraduate or graduate student. You need to know how to ask someone to be on your thesis committee, especially if you are looking for a mentor to guide you through the writing process.

If you are currently starting the dissertation process, these unique email templates will help show you how to ask someone to be on your thesis committee.

How to ask someone to be on your thesis committee: When asking senior students

  These email templates will help you figure out how to ask a senior student to be on your thesis committee.   Senior students are perfect for helping you through the writing process. You can ask a student with whom you get along and share similar ideas.  

When asking professors to be on your thesis committee

  Your professor would be an invaluable addition to your thesis committee, especially since they could provide you with unique insight and constructive criticism.   Here is how to ask someone to be on your thesis committee if the person is your professor.  

You May Also Like:

30 Great Words to Describe a Teacher

How to ask someone to be on your thesis committee: When asking professionals in your field

  Professionals can offer diverse and useful expertise if they choose to join your thesis committee. Here is how to ask someone to be on your thesis committee if you’re asking professionals in your field.  

  These are unique email templates that you can use when trying to figure out how to ask someone to be on your thesis committee.   Whether it is your professor, a senior student in your faculty, or a professional in your field, these templates will help you get that positive response that you are seeking.   If you are currently working on your thesis and wondering how to ask someone to be on your thesis committee, these templates will surely help you get some ideas.  

Thesis Advisory Panel (TAP)

Your Thesis Advisory Panel (TAP) consists of your supervisor(s) and at least one other member of academic staff from your department. Full-time students meet with their TAP at least once every six months. The purpose of TAP meetings is to discuss your progress and training needs and to give advice on the direction of your research and your professional development.

You and your TAP will document your meeting on the TAP meeting form in SkillsForge, highlighting your progress and any goals that you should be working towards for the next meeting. This record of your TAP meeting must be signed by you and your TAP members. You will also complete the Review of Supervision report (a paper document, not online), which is confidential and held securely in the department.

Schedule of TAP meetings for MA (research) students

Two TAP meetings are required over the course of this programme. While there is some flexibility, there are hard deadlines, as indicated on SkillsForge (at 6 and 12 months).

Held: towards the end of the Autumn term or the start of the Spring term.

Purpose: To review progress of research and confirm project plan.

Submission: 3,000-5,000 word writing sample and plan for dissertation.

Held: Month 10 or 11.

Purpose: to assess readiness to submit, not to give detailed comments on the whole draft.

Submission: draft of the dissertation and timetable for submission.

Schedule of TAP meetings for MPhil/PhD students

The TAP meets twice a year for full-time students. (Part-time students: one TAP per year, towards the end of the first year. All timings below are for full time students.) During a typical PhD programme, there will be six meetings. These should follow a set pattern, as set out below . While there is some flexibility, there are hard deadlines, as indicated on SkillsForge (at 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, and 36 months).

Held: within six months of registration, ideally December or January.

Purpose: to enable the panel to become familiar with your work.

Submission: writing sample of up to 5,000 words.

Held: in Month 9-10, after the Progression Day and integrated with the Progression Panel meeting.

Purpose: to confirm thesis topic and provisional title, and to progress to Year 2.

Submission: annotated bibliography; a written plan for Year 2; training record; all submitted 14 calendar days prior to the meeting.

Held: in Spring term (or mid-way) of the second year.

Purpose: to evaluate what needs to be done before Year 2 Progression Panel.

Submission: one substantive chapter of thesis (i.e. not literature survey); chapter-by-chapter thesis outline; research plan with milestones.

Held: in Month 24 and integrated with the Progression Panel meeting.

Purpose: review progress on research plan, and to progress to Year 3.

Submission: substantive chapter of thesis; written plan for Year 3 including research questions; draft bibliography for thesis; training record. All submitted 14 calendar days prior to the meeting.

Held: Spring term of third year.

Purpose: to evaluate standard of ongoing thesis and consider external examiners.

Submission: one substantive chapter (not same as for meeting 3); revised thesis outline; dissemination plans.

Held: towards end of third year.

Purpose: to agree completion dates and external examiners.

Submission: table of contents with breakdown of work already complete; timetable for completion.

Actions for you

Complete the Research Integrity Tutorial (RIT) before your first TAP meeting.

Complete the Being an Effective Researcher Tutorial (BERT) before your first TAP meeting.

Complete the Review of Supervision form with the non-supervisory member of your TAP at the end of every TAP meeting. This is to be done in absence of your supervisor and will not be shared without your consent.

University Guidelines on TAP / Supervision

• The Institut in numbers
• Our governance
• Our commitments
• Conference Center
• Innovation and technology transfer
• Strategic plan for 2019-2023
• How to support us
• Why support us?
• We need you
• Disease sheets
• Find in journal
• Press documents
• Resources for medias
• Our Sars-Cov-2 research projects
• All our COVID-19 news
• Our Covid-19 disease fact sheet
• Our response to fake news
• The Institut Pasteur
• Our missions
• Medical Center
• The research journal
• All SARS-CoV-2 / COVID-19 from the Institut Pasteur
• Education center
• Programs and courses
• Startup Awareness
• Housing in Paris
• Cooperation
• International programs
• International calls
• Fellowships and mobility
• Pasteur Network
• Biological Resource Center (CRBIP)
• WOAH Collaborating Centers
• Industry Partnerships
• Investor Partnerships
• The Carnot Label
• Our job offers
• When you arrive
• Why join us?
• Pasteurians and Alumni Network
• Picture Library
• Scientific publications
• Follow the institut Pasteur on Facebook
• Follow the institut Pasteur on LinkedIn
• Follow the institut Pasteur on Twitter
• Follow the institut Pasteur on Youtube
• International
• Public Health

Thesis advisory committee (TAC)

A central component of the PPU program, offering additional support and guidance to the students, is the thesis advisory committee (TAC) that follows the progress made by each student on their thesis project.

The role of the TAC is to discuss the project with respect to the original aims and in light of new advances in the scientific field and the research plan for the next year and to provide advice for scientific and career issues. Each Committee is composed by three to four members : the Ph.D. advisor, a tutor (mentor), an external expert in the domain of the student’s Ph.D. project and a member of the doctoral school. The latter is suggested by the university, while the Ph.D. advisor suggests the names of two experts to the PPU Program Committee.

The Teaching Director of Institut Pasteur appoints the tutor, in agreement with the director of the scientific department to which the student is affiliated. The tutor serves as chair of the TAC. This role may be given to the external expert or the representative of the doctoral school (but not the advisor) by prior agreement, informing the PPU program office. In most cases, the TAC replaces the university committees taking place in other programs.

Students meet with the TAC whenever necessary, but not less than once per year. The meetings are organized by the student, in consultation with the Ph.D. advisor and the PPU program office. The first TAC meeting takes place in February of the first year. The second and third TAC meetings are programmed between October and March of subsequent academic years.

Before the meeting, the student writes a brief progress report that addresses research progress and plans, courses, publications, and any additional information pertinent to the student’s thesis, to be sent to the TAC Committee and the PPU program office at least one week before the scheduled meeting.

The meeting is organized in the following sequence:

1. A brief discussion among the members of the TAC in the absence of the student.

2. A presentation of the research progress and future plans by the student to provide an opportunity to discuss in detail the work described in the progress report.

3. The members of the TAC address questions to the student, discuss obstacles that may arise, and offer suggestions (the advisor should not participate in the discussion, unless requested).

4. A brief discussion with the student in the absence of the thesis advisor.

After the meeting, the chair writes a report on the progress and plans for the thesis. This report is sent to the PPU program office at Institut Pasteur ( [email protected] ), within one month of the date the TAC was held, preferably sooner. The PPU office submits a copy of the report to the doctoral school of the student. This report serves the purpose of updating the PPU program and the doctoral school on the student’s progress, and suggestions made by the TAC.

Department of History

PhD in History

Combine creative ideas and innovation with academic study to develop key skills for your career in the field, academia or research.

If your passion lies in research, our doctoral degrees give you the independence to focus on a specialism of your choice. Study with us and receive expert research guidance from our supportive staff.

Your research

The focus of your work will be an independent research project. We provide training which will equip you with skills in a wide range of research methods to support your growing expertise. The PhD requires a dissertation of up to 90,000 words.

Postgraduate research provides opportunities to develop your academic, creative and practical skills. You'll work independently in an academic environment where scholarship and creativity go hand-in-hand.

Join one of our leading research groups, which bring together historical expertise in various fields. Find out more about our research groups .

[email protected]

Related links

• Research degree funding
• Accommodation
• International students
• Life at York
• How to apply

We also offer an MPhil in History, working towards shorter dissertation of up to 60,000 words over two years (four years part-time).

Apply for the MPhil in History

3rd in the UK for research impact

and 11th overall in the Times Higher Education ranking of the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021.

Committed to equality

We are proud to hold an Athena Swan Bronze award in recognition of the work we do to support gender equality in history.

Access to exclusive resources

Our Borthwick Institute for Archives houses one of the most extensive collections of archives in the UK. York Minster Library is the largest cathedral library in the UK and holds material spanning 1000 years of history. We also have strong partnerships and consultancies with museums, archives, heritage sites, the media, artists and community organisations.

The deadlines for applications for funding schemes are usually in January. You must have been accepted onto the PhD before you make any application for funding. This typically means that you'll need to have approached a supervisor and applied to our programme by December.

Supervision

We'll help match your research interests to our supervisory expertise. Explore the expertise of our staff.

Training and support

Your progress throughout your degree will be continually guided by your supervisor , who will help you to hone your focus and deliver specialised research.

Alongside regular meetings with your supervisor, you'll attend a Thesis Advisory Panel (TAP), consisting of at least one member of staff in addition to your supervisor. You'll meet twice a year (once a year for part-time students) to discuss your research project, including more general professional development and career training.

Course location

This course is run by the Department of History.

You'll be based on  Campus West . Most of your training and supervision meetings will take place here, though your research may take you further afield. Distance learning options are available.

There are opportunities for you to study abroad. We have an annual desk exchange scheme with Lund, Sweden, which all our PhD students are invited to apply for.

Entry requirements

You should have, or be about to complete, an MA in History or an equivalent subject with a distinction or very high merit.

English language requirements

If English is not your first language you must provide evidence of your ability.

Check your English language requirements

Apply for this course

We welcome approaches from students from under-represented communities, including first-generation students and BAME students.

To apply for a PhD, you'll need to submit your CV (no more than 2 pages), the academic transcript for your UG and PGT degree (if relevant), an example of your written work (no more than 2000 words) and your research proposal. You may also need to submit a certificate of English proficiency. 

You will be asked to identify the supervisor in the Department who has agreed to supervise your project. Before you submit an application, you must have contacted a supervisor and shared your project idea with them.

Any questions regarding the application process should be directed to [email protected].

Have a look at the supporting documents you may need for your application.

Find out more about how to apply .

Identify a supervisor

As part of any application for a research degree, you will need to name one or more academic staff who could supervise your research. You should approach them informally to discuss your proposed project before you apply.

Find a supervisor

Research proposal

To be accepted onto the PhD programme, you must submit a research proposal. This proposal should convey how your project is original, feasible, and demonstrate a good grasp of the wider scholarship in the area you want to work in. The proposal should be your original work and not produced using AI tools. It should be no longer than 2000-2500 words in length (including a bibliography).

You should use these headings for your proposal:

• title -  a short description of the project, noting dates and places
• research context – what existing work does the project build on, or what neglected area does it study?
• research questions – what are the questions you are going to answer?
• project – what is the original contribution of the project and how are you going to execute it?
• methodology and sources – what primary sources and/or methodologies are you going to use and why?
• bibliography - a list of the key books and articles on this topic.

As part of your application, you'll be interviewed by one or two academic staff members, including your prospective supervisor. The interview will last around 30 minutes to an hour, with plenty of time for you to ask questions and find out what York can offer you.

As part of the interview, you could have the chance to tour our facilities, including the Humanities Research Centre , the Borthwick Institute for Archives and the University Library , and attend a research seminar.

Careers and skills

Your PhD will help to extend your qualifications, giving you the ability to use research and historical thinking to shed light on historical problems and communicate this knowledge with others. You will become equipped with transferable skills in communication, data analysis, archival research and collaboration, opening the door to a wide range of career opportunities.

Our dedicated careers team offer specific support including a programme of professional researcher development and careers workshops and 1:1 career support sessions. They will help you to build up your employability portfolio and to engage in activities that will build up your skills and experience within and outside of your research work.

Career opportunities

• archives practitioner
• heritage manager
• academic researcher
• museum professional
• historic buildings conservation officer
• lecturer or teacher

Discover York

We offer a range of campus accommodation to suit you and your budget, from economy to deluxe.

Discover more about our researchers, facilities and why York is the perfect choice for your research degree.

Graduate Research School

Connect with researchers across all disciplines to get the most out of your research project.

Meet us online or on campus

Find out all you need to know about applying to York

Scholarships

Find scholarships to support your studies