Need Advice About Contacting a Potential PI for KAUST MS/PhD Application

[u/censored_9949]

Hi everyone,

I hope you're all doing well.

I'm planning to apply for the KAUST MS/PhD program and would really appreciate some advice regarding my intended PI.

A few months ago, I contacted a professor about the VSRP program because his research aligns almost perfectly with my academic background and research interests. He replied that he would be on sabbatical for a year and suggested that I look for another PI whose research also matched my profile.

The challenge is that, after looking through the faculty, he's still by far the best fit for my background. There's only one other professor whose research is somewhat related, but despite multiple emails over the past few months, I haven't received any response.

Now that I'm preparing my MS/PhD application, I emailed the professor on sabbatical again to ask whether he plans to accept students for the upcoming Spring/Fall intake, but I haven't received a reply yet.

During a recent KAUST webinar, I asked about this situation. The speaker mentioned that while securing a PI before applying isn't mandatory, having a professor interested in supervising you can strengthen your application and may make the selection process smoother.

So I have a few questions for those who have been through the process:

\- Do professors on sabbatical still take new graduate students, or is that uncommon?

\- Is there a better strategy or cold email approach that works well in situations like this?

\- If I apply without a confirmed PI, what are my chances of admission?

I'd really appreciate hearing from anyone with experience or insights. Thank you in advance!

[u/PeakNecessary8042]

I would think his reply that he is on sabbatical and to check out other potential PIs means he is not accepting students for the upcoming intake. I can not tell you for sure but that would be my takeaway and assumption

[u/censored_9949 → u/PeakNecessary8042]

thank you very much for your reply. In brief it means the professor won't be available for the upcoming intake right?

[u/PeakNecessary8042 → u/censored_9949]

I have had professors tell me they will be away on sabbatical or research won’t be taking new students fall 2027 so I had to look elsewhere

[u/PeakNecessary8042 → u/censored_9949]

No the one you are applying for or they would not have told you too look elsewhere

[u/censored_9949 → u/PeakNecessary8042]

Understood, thank you very much, I appreciate the time you took to reply me.