📣5th years 📣 (and below), this one is for you!
It’s the spring semester before your rotational year and you have until the last week of the semester to choose a thesis topic and supervisor and I’m here to help you out.
First of all, why is this important? What does it matter who I choose?
It doesn’t matter if you want to be stressed and struggle through this, especially for students who have no experience in research work. This is going to be a relatively long process between you and your supervisor and so you need someone who can properly guide you through the steps and help you when you are stuck. The thesis makes up 20 of the compulsory 360 credits you need to obtain in your 6 years of training so it is imperative that you do it right.
What to consider when selecting
You can either select a topic from the list of available research topics the department has or you can propose a topic that you discuss with your supervisor. We will discuss some factors to consider while selecting. The order in which you place these factors is entirely up to you and will determine how you approach your thesis work.
- Supervisor Experience: Ensure that if you choose a topic, the supervisor you select has experience with that topic or related topics, so that they can actually assist you to the best of their capability. They may even be able to send related publications or their own publications to help you form an idea of what they expect from you.
- Methodology: What kind of work do you see yourself performing for the thesis? Can you set up questionnaires and distribute to collect data? Are you willing to comb through hundreds of articles to find a few sentences of evidence? Do you have ample experience with statistical tools like Excel and SPSS to perform necessary calculations and data analysis? These are questions to ask yourself because it can also determine how soon you need to begin work- someone who needs to collect data via surveys may need to begin much earlier than someone conducting a literature review, for example.
- Communication and availability: This was the most important thing for me personally. I do not have much experience in research work and so I took note of how quickly my supervisor responded and the fact that even when busy, she could give a rough timeline of when she could get back to me. Considering all the tasks I had to do, I am grateful I prioritised this. So observe how easy communication is. Some of you might have your rotational year in other countries and will not be able to come to the clinics/departments in person to find your supervisors- will they be able to accommodate for that?
- Interest: For me, this was lower on the priority ladder when choosing a topic. For each topic, there will always be the more interesting parts and those that are less so. It certainly helps if you can find something that keeps you engaged and curious, but it doesn’t need to be your number 1 priority. It is rather unlikely that this work will determine your future career or what field you go into so you don’t need to stress about getting it done in, say, the Department of Surgery just because you want to become a surgeon later on.
Where do I start?
- Go to the uni website’s home page.
- Click on the Menu tab and under Divisions, you can choose either Departments or Clinics.
- The list of Departments/Clinics comes up and for each that you choose, visit the Research tab on the topic right corner of the page and the list of available topics and research groups will show up.
- Make a list of topics that interest you and the supervisors for each topic.
- On the Research tab, you will also have access to previous publications by the department. Ensure you take some time and go through the the publications by your supervisor of interest and any other related publications to have an idea of what they might expect.
How to Approach A Potential Supervisor
You can begin with an email and set up a time to meet in person, if needed. Your email should clearly state your intentions and your current plans. Remember to be respectful because this is your initial contact and you need to make a good first impression, even over text. I have attached a template email here that can be used. If you are granted a meeting, appear on time and prepared.
What to Prepare On My First Meeting
At the time you first meet with your supervisor, you should have have your topic of interest in mind, an idea of what methodology you intend to use and a time-line of when you plan to start and finish. Thesis requirements state that you must consult with your supervisor at least two times: first when working out the draft of the topic, then after surveying the literature references. Of course, you/your supervisor may need more than two consultations but 2 is the minimum, so ensure that you account for that.
You should aim to have clarified the following by the end of your first meeting:
- Your topic agreed on, both by you and your supervisor.
- The chosen methodology.
- The first step suggested by your supervisor with a timeline for the next contact: it could be reading publications, setting up a questionnaire, deciding on the hypothesis that will be the basis for the study, or something else.
- Your supervisor’s preferred mode of contact: you may have started via email but they prefer in-person meetings or MS Teams. This will ensure that you can get constant and quick communication.
I Sent an Email and Got No Reply
It can happen that you do not get a reply after sending your email. Wait at least a week for a reply before doing anything. Do not immediately bombard them with more emails. You can do one of 3 things:
- Send a maximum of one more email as a reminder. Consider that it could have gotten lost in the mailbox amongst other emails.
- Inquire with the secretary of the department about the best time to meet with them in-person, or even leave a message if possible.
- Find another thesis supervisor.
What If I Approach Someone Who Is Not a Good Fit for Me?
It can also happen that after initial contact with a supervisor, you decide that you would prefer to pursue your thesis work elsewhere. Send the email as soon as you make this decision. Thank them for their time taken to speak with you and remain respectful in this email. Here’s a template for that.
Anything else?
Be flexible with your topic and with your methodology. Once you choose your supervisor, they may recommend some modifications in your title or your research approach. You can ask questions and figure out why they may suggest one thing over another. Remember that they are on your side and there to help you, not to offend you or belittle your ideas. Ultimately what you decide to submit is up to you, but if you are going to have their support and seal of approval, be open-minded.
Good luck and be sure to reach out if you have any questions. I will help where I can and redirect where I cannot. If you are a PTE student that has experience in research and you have some tips for fellow students, kindly drop them in the comments.
Author’s note: All advice provided in this article is based solely on my personal experiences and opinions, and does not represent professional expertise in any field.