Free Email Course
5 Days to a
PhD
Application
A free, five-day email course on applying for a PhD: how admissions really work, how to shortlist supervisors, how to write an email that gets a reply, how to structure your statement of purpose, and how to finish with a strong CV and referees.
Day 1 arrives immediately after you subscribe. Unsubscribe anytime with one click.
What each day covers
How Admissions Really Work
Who actually decides, what they look for, and a 12-month timeline you can follow, worked backwards from your target intake.
Shortlisting Supervisors
Where to find them, how to judge a group in ten minutes, the red flags to avoid, and a shortlist spreadsheet with a fit score.
The Cold Email
The three rules of an email that gets a reply, a template to adapt, how to follow up, and how to use AI to critique your draft.
The Statement of Purpose
A five-part structure with word budgets, vague-versus-specific examples, and AI prompts that interview and critique you without writing it for you.
The Final Package
An academic CV, referees who write strong letters, applying for funding in parallel, and a submission checklist for every application.
Who this course is for
Students planning to apply for a PhD or research master's
Final-year undergraduates and Master's students choosing a direction
Applicants who have been ignored by supervisors and want to know why
Anyone applying to more than one country or university system
Want expert feedback on your own application? See the PhD Application Masterclass, or apply for 1:1 supervision. Also free: the 5-day research proposal course.