Finding and Contacting a Graduate Advisor
A graduate advisor is a faculty member who provides academic guidance throughout your program and, more specifically, supports the development and execution of your research whether completed by thesis or major research paper.
A primary advisor is required for all thesis-based programs and for some programs that include a major research paper or research project. Because requirements vary by program, please review your program page carefully to confirm whether securing an advisor is required and when you should contact potential advisors during the application process.
If a faculty advisor is required, you are encouraged to explore faculty profiles in your area of interest and contact potential advisors to discuss your research interests and whether they are accepting graduate students.
If you are currently completing your undergraduate degree at the University of Guelph, you may already be familiar with faculty members in your department whose research interests align with yours. You are encouraged to speak with professors whose courses you have taken or whose research interests you find compelling.
Undergraduate research projects, honours theses, or independent study courses can also be good opportunities to explore research topics and build connections with potential graduate advisors.
If you are considering continuing your studies at U of G, these conversations can help you learn more about potential research opportunities and whether a faculty member may be accepting graduate students.
Step 1. Identify Your Research Interests
Your research interests often develop gradually. You may begin identifying them during your undergraduate studies by reflecting on questions such as:
- What topics genuinely keep your attention?
- Which courses or subjects make you want to learn more?
- Which assignments or projects did you enjoy most?
Research interests often start as questions you find yourself thinking about repeatedly and as areas of research where reading academic articles is enjoyable rather than painful. In most cases, your interests connect to your academic background and strengths. For example, someone with experience in finance may be interested in financial economics or someone interested in health systems may pursue public health. Most researchers begin with broad interests that become more focused over time.
Step 2. Identify Potential Advisors
Visit department websites and review faculty profiles to learn about professors’ research interests, publications and current research projects. Look for faculty members whose work aligns with the topic you would like to study.
You can also review their recent publications on platforms such as Google Scholar or Research Gate or personal faculty webpage.
Try to identify 3–5 potential advisors who share similar research interests, are actively publishing in the field, and may be accepting graduate students. The graduate program coordinator of the program of interest may also be able to advise whether a faculty member is currently accepting students.
Step 3. Contact Potential Advisors
Email is usually the best way to contact a potential faculty advisor.
Your email should be brief (ideally under 200 words) and should demonstrate that you are familiar with the professor’s research and explain how their work connects to your research interests. The email should highlight any relevant research experience or skills. Do not be modest; if you have some outstanding grades in relevant courses or are part of an existing publication, be sure to share that information. You may want to indicate that you plan to apply to a specific graduate program and express your interest in working with them.
Be sure to personalize each email rather than sending the same message to multiple professors. Faculty members receive many emails, so demonstrating genuine interest in their work is important (e.g. “In reading your latest publication in Nature, I was drawn to your call to...”).
If you do not receive a response, send a polite follow-up email after a couple of weeks and c.c. the program Graduate Program Coordinator and/or Assistant.
Step 4. Prepare for a Meeting with Potential Advisors
Sometimes potential advisors would like to meet you to better understand your expectations and work style. You can prepare for these meetings by learning more about their research and thinking about how your interests genuinely align with their work.
Be ready to explain your research interests and discuss your academic background and experience. The faculty advisor may also be assessing whether you are self-motivated and persistent, as research often involves challenges and setbacks.
You may also want to prepare questions about the professor’s research projects, opportunities for graduate students, and expectations for students in their research group. These meetings are also a valuable opportunity for you to determine whether the advisor is a good fit for you. Graduate students typically work closely with their advisors for several years, so it is important to consider whether communication will be supportive, respectful, and constructive.
If you progress to second and third meetings, do not hesitate to ask to connect with existing graduate students to learn about their experiences working with the advisor. This is also a good time to ask what kind of funding you could expect to secure were you to complete thesis-based research with the advisor. And if you are considering other Universities to complete research, be sure to share that information as well.
The best relationships between graduate students and advisors are based on reciprocity and mutual benefit. Ideally, this will be revealed in your initial engagements so that you can move forward with confidence.