MMathPhys/MSc in Mathematical and Theoretical Physics Handbook (2025-26 Entry)

3.4 Academic Advsiors and Reporting

Your college will assign you a tutor and the Maths and Physics departments will choose an academic advisor for you. 

Advisors should be the first point of contact for students on all academic matters and are expected to monitor their student’s progress throughout the year. 

Advisors and students are expected to meet a minimum of two times in Michaelmas Term: once at the beginning of term and once at the end. In Hilary Term and Trinity Term, students will meet with their supervisors a minimum of once per term.

Advisors should make initial contact with their advisees to arrange further contact. After the initial meeting between student and advisor, the onus will be on the student to arrange further meetings.

Your academic progress will be monitored by your academic advisor and also your college tutor. College tutors will receive reports from the class tutors for the classes you attend. In addition, academic advisors of MSc students will submit termly reports on their student’s progress via the Graduate Supervision Recording (GSR). These reports are reviewed by the Course Director.

For MSc students, it is mandatory to complete a self-assessment report via GSR for every reporting period. You can access GSR via the following link: https://www.ox.ac.uk/students/selfservice. Students will be sent a GSR
automated email notification with details of how to log in at the start of each reporting window, and who to contact with queries.

• Completing the self-assessment will provide the opportunity to:
  Review and comment on your academic progress during the current reporting period
• Measure your progress against the timetable and requirements of your programme of study
• Identify skills developed and training undertaken or required
• List your engagement with the academic community
• Raise concerns or issues regarding your academic progress to your Academic Advisor
• Outline your plans for the next term (where applicable)

If you have any difficulty completing this you must speak to your Academic Advisor or the Course Director. Your self assessment report will be used by your Academic Advisor as a basis to complete a report on your performance this reporting period, for identifying areas where further work may be required, and for reviewing your progress against agreed timetables and plans for the term ahead. GSR will alert you by email when your Academic Advisor has completed your report and it is available for you to view.