Should you contact a PhD supervisor before applying?

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?

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 I call a potential supervisor?

Not only will this give you an opportunity to show them how excited you are to work together, but it will also allow you to get a sense of their personality. After identifying potential supervisors, call or email them to find out if they are taking on new students.

How do I contact a supervisor for a PhD?

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.

What should I ask a potential PhD advisor?

Questions to Ask of Potential Graduate School Advisors

How many graduate students are you currently advising?
How many graduate students have graduated under your advisement in the last five years?
How long does a graduate student usually take to finish?
How much funding is available for your students?

How to make contact with a PhD supervisor?

These pages are good resources to find out about their work and research interests in their own words. You will also be able to find their email address there. In most cases, the best way to make first contact with a potential PhD supervisor is by email. This should be a formal email, in many ways similar to an application cover letter.

How to write an email to a potential ph.d.advisor?

A sample email to a business school prospective advisor 4. A sample email to a comparative literature prospective advisor 5. A sample email to a computer science prospective advisor. AND FOR HANDS-ON INDIVIDUAL HELP WITH ALL ASPECTS OF THE GRADUATE SCHOOL APPLICATION, WE OFFER THESE SERVICES:

Do you need to write a research proposal for a PhD?

Crafting a good research proposal can be time-consuming and may require a deeper understanding of the potential supervisor’s research before starting writing. For some PhDs, such as pre-set projects, it will not be necessary to write a research proposal at all. Often, emails to the potential supervisor will lead to a request for a meeting.

Is it good to email a potential supervisor?

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.