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Should I call potential PhD supervisor?
When you’re applying for a doctoral programme, it’s a good idea to email a potential PhD supervisor to discuss your research area and whether they’d be interested in supervising you.
How do you approach a potential PhD supervisor?
The Dos and Don’ts of Contacting a PhD Supervisor
- Do check how (and if) they want to be contacted.
- Do research their current research interests and activities.
- Do stick to email for that first contact.
- Do keep it brief for now.
- Do give them something to reply about.
- Don’t start by asking for funding.
How do I request a thesis supervisor?
Here are some things to keep in mind when emailing potential PhD supervisors to increase your odds of getting a response.
- Keep it short. Professors are short of time and receive a ton of emails each day.
- Make a Connection.
- Have a Clear CTA.
- Introduce yourself.
- Have a Clear Subject Line.
- Thank them for their time.
- Follow up.
Should you contact a potential PhD supervisor before applying?
It’s well known that contacting a potential PhD supervisor before applying to their position can greatly increase your chances of success. Unfortunately, it also works the opposite way. The good news is that leaving a great impression is much simpler than you would think; it simply comes down to how you structure your first email.
How do you mark a prospective PhD student as a colleague?
In particular, if a prospective PhD student writes with a substantive technical question about my research area (not just a copy-pasted paper title), that question marks them as a colleague, and I’m much more likely to pay attention and respond.
Do advisors get to advertise funded PhD positions directly?
[I’m answering from a US perspective. In many European PhD programs, advisors advertise funded PhD positions directly, only after funding is approved, and they have complete control over admission into their group. My advice may not apply in that setting.]
How do you write an email to a potential supervisor?
Use formal language (no emoticons, abbreviations, etc.) Address a potential supervisor as Dr (appropriate for anyone with a PhD) or Prof. Be direct. Introduce yourself and your reason for emailing. State if you are interested in a course project, an honours project, or a masters project.