Thread by @AaronAkpuPhilip

WRITING TO A PROSPECTIVE SUPERVISOR AND REQUESTING FOR SUPERVISION

I present to you 7 steps that have worked for me and I hope it helps you.

A thread

1. Have a clear subject line: Ensure that the subject line of your email says the reason why you are writing.

For example; “Request for PhD Supervision”. A bad example of a subject line is: “Research proposal and CV”. This does not tell the prospective supervisor why you are writing.

2. Use of proper names and titles: Ensure that your email addresses the academic respectfully and professionally. Also be sure to capture their academic titles if writing for the first time.

For example, “Dear Professor James” or “Dear Dr. Aaron” if you are in doubt and unsure of what to use, simply use “Dear Sir” or “Dear Ma.”.

3. Salutations: Your opening line could be a brief line of salutations. For example, “Compliments of the day and hope my email meets you well?”. Please note that this is optional. It is okay to go straight to the point without salutations. This is a subjective opinion.

4. State your reason for writing: Let them know from the outset why you are writing. For example, “I am writing to request that you supervise me for my proposed PhD Research titled……” Be sure to write the title of your research too.

5. Show the linkage between their research interests and yours: To do this, you will need to have researched about the prospective supervisors. Note their research interest and publications that align with your research.

Explain this in a few lines. Prospective supervisors are impressed if you have researched on them and clearly showing them the connection in your email.

For example, your 2005 paper titled "HIV and Disability in Nigeria" resonates with my proposed topic due to the exploration of the Social Determinants of health..

6. Attach crucial documents only: Attach your Research proposal, CV and academic transcripts. If possible, attach them as a single PDF document so that they have access to them at a glance. These are the most important documents to attach. U can mk reference to others on ur CV.

TIPS:
Ensure that your email is succinct but comprehensive. Resist the temptation of writing long emails. This will make you write unnecessary points.

If a supervisor is pleased with your proposal and credentials, they will usually schedule a call or meeting with you where you will have the opportunity to say more.

Ensure that your email address is professional for example [e-mail]. It is good practice to have your name captured in your email address.

If you do not have an email that reflects your name, it will be beneficial to create one for this purpose. Resist the temptation of using an email address such as [e-mail].😀

Regards,
AAP

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