Supervisor guide
From search to a funded supervisor.
Six steps international students use to secure funded Master's and PhD offers in Canada.
- 1
Pick your field and programs
Use Find Funding to shortlist 8–15 programs that match your research interests.
- 2
Find professors with active funding
Open each university's researcher directory. Look for recent papers (last 2 years) and active grants (NSERC, CIHR, SSHRC).
- 3
Check if they take students
Read the professor's lab page for 'Prospective students' notes. Search the NSERC awards database for their current grants.
- 4
Send a short, specific email
3–5 sentences: who you are, which of their papers interests you and why, how your skills fit, and attach your CV.
- 5
Follow up and track
Follow up once after 10–14 days. Track every email, reply and deadline in a spreadsheet.
- 6
Apply with supervisor support
Mention the professor in your application. A supportive supervisor greatly improves your funding chances.