4 year Wellcome Trust PhD in Integrative Neuroscience Interview

I am submitting an application for this 4 year PhD programme and I was wondering what are most peoples backgrounds who are applying? Mine is medical genetics and I understand they consider a wide range of degree programmes.

Also, I am trying to tailor my personal statement to neuroscience but should I also include my extra-curricular activities such as sports and hobbies?

Any help on this would be great!
Thanks

I am submitting an application for this 4 year PhD programme and I was wondering what are most peoples backgrounds who are applying? Mine is medical genetics and I understand they consider a wide range of degree programmes.

Also, I am trying to tailor my personal statement to neuroscience but should I also include my extra-curricular activities such as sports and hobbies?

Any help on this would be great!
Thanks

Looking at the research that goes on there, they seem to include a lot of disciplines! My background is more Psychology-orientated.

And I put a bit in my PS about hobbies, linking it to societies thy have there, but my personal tutor just crossed a line through it all when he checked it over, so I don't think thy're really bothered

Unless you have a LOT of space to fill, I wouldn't bother with sports, nor hobbies unless they're neuroscience relevant.

Hi,

has anyone heard anything from Cardiff? I'm getting anxious...

Yes, my friend has an interview for their four year programme.

When did they find out? I still havent heard

Ok, I still haven't heard anything from Cardiff... So I'm pretty sure it's a rejection.

I'm a Swiss student and I really hoped I could get into a good UK university (one of the Russell Group) for a PhD, but the truth is that I really don't know how realistic that is.

I have a very good Bachelor's Degree in Psychology and an excellent Master's Degree in Neuropsychology and Neuroinformatics. I have research experience with healthy human subjects and patients, as well as with laboratory rats. I know a bit of programming, I speak 5 languages and I work for the Brain Festival.

How good are the applications that these universities usually receive? Are they very different compared to my qualifications? Do candidates have a lot of research experience? I have 2 posters, but no publication. Or do candidates usually have won awards? Or are they involved in many extracurricular activities?

I guess that my main question is... Do I stand a chance to get into a good UK university for a PhD in Neuroscience or should I rather set lower goals?

Thank you for your help!!

Thank you very much for your reply! All you said is very helpful.
Also thank you for still giving me some hope about Cardiff. But the more I think about my application documents, the more I realize that I could've done some things in a better way...

We'll see! Let's hope there's a PhD for me out there

Good luck! I'm sure you'll find happiness wherever you end up! Did you apply to any of the other programmes? If you've done neuroinformatics it sounds like you'd be a better fit for the bristol, newcastle, oxford and UCL ones, roughly in that order.

Thank you for your support!

I've done neuroinformatics but only as a minor, my research interests are definitely more psychology oriented. I want to study behaviour and cognition under a clinical perspective, which seemed the major focus of the Cardiff programme. I haven't applied to any other programme since by the time of the application deadlines, I was still finishing my Master's degree and had time to apply only to my favourite programme (Cardiff).

I've noticed that most PhD programmes/positions have a January deadline. Does that mean that during the rest of the year no other PhD positions will be advertised?

Any luck guys?

I had my UCL interview yesterday - have my Oxford one Friday. Eek. My friend accepted an offer for the Cardiff one.

Wow, you got 2 interviews? That's great! Well done, congratulations to you and your friend!