Stage 3 of 8 · 9 lessons · ~4 weeks

Choose programmes and supervisors

Build a shortlist of 6 to 10 programmes chosen on what you will actually learn, who you will work with, where graduates end up and what it costs to live there. For research degrees, find the groups and supervisors whose work fits yours.

Start: Using rankings carefully

Lessons· one lesson for each topic, in this order

Do this

Pull 20 candidate programmes from official portals and subject rankings.
Read the module list or handbook of each and cut the ones that do not fit.
Check entry requirements for your country and your converted grades.
Look up where recent graduates of each programme work, especially international ones.
Compare total cost including city living costs.
For research degrees, list 10 researchers and read two recent papers by each.
Email up to 5 potential supervisors with specific, short messages where the programme expects it.
Fix a final list of 6 to 10 in three tiers.

Start with

GuideFree
EducationUSA
US Department of State
Guidance on choosing US programmes and understanding accreditation and funding

Practise

Google Scholar
Find who publishes in your topic and read their recent papers before emailing anyone

Keep handy

Mastersportal
Compare programmes across countries by field, tuition and duration
FindAPhD
Advertised PhD projects and funded masters by research, filterable by funding

Also worth your time

EURAXESSGo deeper
The EU portal for research jobs, including many paid PhD positions

Before moving on: A shortlist of 6 to 10 programmes in three tiers, each with modules or a research group that fits, graduate outcome evidence, total cost and entry requirements checked, plus a list of 10 researchers with papers you have read if you are applying for a research degree.

Tauseef's advice

In the United States, check whether a masters is professional (course-based, usually self-funded) or thesis-based, and whether the department funds masters students at all. For PhDs, the department admits you and funding usually comes with the offer; read the department's own funding page rather than assuming.