This investigation elicited the perceptions of thirteen of the most successful research supervisors from one university, with a view to identifying their approaches to selecting research candidates. The supervisors were identified by the university's research office using the single criterion of having the largest number of completed research degree graduates over a five year period. The supervisors were interviewed individually and it was found that although they had individual approaches to selecting research candidates, there were key strategies that many employed. The supervisors' views of effective selection practices are analyzed, compared and contrasted with the principles described in the literature, and then critically evaluated. (Contains 5 online resources.)