When you are emailing a potential thesis supervisor it’s important that your communications are professional – first impressions matter! Your email should be formal, in many ways similar to a job application letter. Below are some tips to help you get off to a good start.
Email etiquette
- Start with a proper salutation such as “Dear” (not “Hey”)
- Use the academic’s first name or title and surname (e.g., Lauren or A/Prof. Kark)
- Conclude your email with a formal sign-off such as “Kind regards” or “Sincerely”
Introduce yourself
- Provide the academic with an overview about yourself – what you are studying, the research area or topic you are interested in and when you hope to start your thesis
- Provide a brief statement about why you’re interested in the topic or area and what you think you might bring to the project
- Remember to show your eligibility and enthusiasm!
Next steps
- In your email suggest a meeting to further discuss the project
- Thank the academic for their time and consideration
- Be patient if you don’t hear from the academic immediately. If there is no reply after a week or two, it may be worth sending a polite follow-up email