Fellowship of the graduate school is an indication that you have met the criteria that entitle you to act as supervisor, panel member or examiner to postgraduate students.
There are two grades of fellowship; associate fellow, and full fellow. In addition the title ‘Honorary’ is applied to fellows or associate fellows who are not substantive employees of the University.
What are the implications for supervisors?
All postgraduate supervisors must appear on the list of Fellows in some capacity. Honorary and associate fellows are equally entitled to act as supervisors. However the academic supervisor must be a substantive member of staff, and therefore cannot be ‘Honorary’. In other words, there must be at least one substantive member of University staff in every supervisory team.
What are the implications for progress panels?
Surprisingly few. Honorary and associate fellows can act as panel members. However, at least one member of the panel must be a Fellow of the graduate school with prior experience of postgraduate examination.
What are the implications for examiners?
Again, surprisingly few. Honorary and associate fellows can act as internal examiner. However, an associate fellow cannot chair an examination. Therefore if the internal examiner is an associate fellow, there must be an independent internal chair.
Where can I find the Fellows’ list?
An up-to-date list is kept on the University’s internal web-site, or you can always contact us.
What if my preferred supervisor/examiner is not on the list?
Members of staff from outwith Newcastle University should first apply for the appropriate honorary, visiting or guest status.
If you are a substantive member of academic staff, or you are already an honorary, visiting or guest, then complete this online form to apply for Fellowship or Associate Fellowship.
What are the application criteria for full fellow?
A fellow of the Graduate School in the Faculty of Medical Sciences:
- Must hold an academic University appointment (Lecturer, Senior Lecturer, Reader,
Professor or equivalent, with University as the main employer); - Must have gained a doctoral degree or have equivalent experience of research;
- Must have had previous experience of successful supervision as the Academic Supervisor OR co-Supervisor, defined as taking the student all the way through to
research degree award; - Must be demonstrably research active (e.g. have published within the current or last two calendar years (as evidenced by a standard PubMed search) or provide equivalent evidence of current research activity);
- Must have previous experience of examining or have received training in examining research degrees.
What are the application criteria for associate fellow?
Where all the criteria for fellowship cannot be met, candidates may be appointed as Associate Fellows if they meet the following criteria:
- Must have gained a doctoral degree or have equivalent experience of research;
- Must be demonstrably research active (e.g. have published within the current or last two calendar years (as evidenced by a standard PubMed search) or provide equivalent evidence of current research activity).
Associate Fellows will be expected to gain training in supervising research degree students and examining research degrees.
What are the application criteria for honorary fellows?
Honorary University appointments may be designated as Honorary Fellows or Honorary Associate Fellows of the Graduate School, if in all other aspects they meet the criteria described for Fellows and Associate Fellows, respectively.
Since an honorary member of staff cannot act as Academic Supervisor, then an Honorary Full Fellow must have had previous experience of successful supervision as the Lead Supervisor OR co-Supervisor, defined as taking the student through to research degree award.