PhD The Early Process, Application and Interview advice

Hello,

PhD advise seems to be a common thread amongst the TSR postgrad community. This thread provides an insight into the early and later PhD application process.

Warning! This is not a definative guide by is aimed to be added to with other peoples advise.

Mod edit: this post has also been added to the TSR wiki, and expanded upon. It can be found at: PhD Courses: Tips and Advice for Making your Application. Many thanks to Epoch for his hard work!

Reasons for doing a PhD

Everyone has thier own reasons for doing a PhD but serveral things are considered a must

1) Commitment and an eye for detail
2) Intelligence (not merely high grades but a willingness to learn etc)
3) Independance
4)Aspiration
5) Passion for your subject

Keep these in your mind during the application process and interviews!

Applying for a PhD

First things first think about what you want to do, the subject your intrested in and make a list of ideas. A good person to seek early is your supervisor if still at uni. They should stear you in the right direction and give you sound advise. But be warned some academics an be out to curtail your plans before you start and are best ignored!

Ok now to start looking for your subject area. A great place to start is

www.findaphd.com

This list all current phd courses in all subjects and is a great place to see whos offering what. Then start looking for department specific websites this is where there are detailed PhD listings. Remember PhD details will be released at different times so contact the postgraduate admissions tutor.

Fear not! if your subject of choice is not there then contact the academic staff directly with your C.V and a letter detailing you situation and intrests. This is a good way to get first hand advise and also a way of testing the water some what regarding your credentials

At this point make sure you know the funding situation of the PhD as this will dictate much of the application process. You can be awarded a PhD place with no funding which is very difficult to pursue.

As a rule in house school scholarships are very hard to get so projects which are specifically funded are worth finding.

The C.V

Now you have found your course or have a contact in the department of your choosing sit down and get that C.V in order. For PhD places an academic C.V is often needed. This is a posh term for a detailed subject break down of your undergrad and postgrad (if any) degrees so far. Include any relevant experience relating to the project and do not be afriad to tailor a C.V for an individual PhD. It helps to be affilitated with a academic society as this shows that you are serious and implies that you are well read (May be!).
This keeps cropping up in discussions and I would like to help provide a guide line about what to expect as I have been through a few already!

Good C.V links
http://www.prospects.ac.uk/downloads/documents/prospects/IDD/Special%20Interests%20Series/CVs/2007/Academic%20CV%20updated%20version.pdf

http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/services/humanresources/jobsintro/apply/cv/

http://www.jobs.ac.uk/careers/articles/1220/Academic_CV_Building_Where_to_Start

Coverng letter and Online applications

The covering letter may not be asked for as of the variety of submission processes that each university may imply. Make it concise why have you chose this PhD and what makes it suited to your skills. Do not try to answer the question just outline why you want this place and your qualifications and where you currently study/work.

Online applications are slightly more difficult in that more specific details need to be employed. However if you have a good C.V then it becomes easier to fill in. Personal statements for PhD need to be academically focused as well as social.

DONT forget your references

Remember to ask academic staff which know you and are not just associated with the subject. From this they want to know whether you are hard working, commited and shown intrest in the subject before. Pick your references carefully as they have possibly the most say in the early PhD selection process

The research proposal
This is where I need help and addition advise would be greatly accepted! I did not have write a long one alot of science subjects do not need one at all but arts most likely do. Consultation with the supervisior of the PhD is paramount in my experience.

Now you wait and hope for the dreaded interview.............

The Interview
This is not a definative guide and it would be good for other people to contrbute there experiences and opinions on the matter

The "formal" interview and Interview styles

The interview can take two different paths the first often an informal chat with the supervisior where the project is discussed generally

The second is usually a board of people usually 3 to 5 which ask questions. As far as I know Oxbridge is different in this respect they seem to have a series individual interviews.

What to expect

The first question in most interviews seems to be "Why do you want to do a PhD and what has brought you to this position so far ?"

What follows is a series of questions that is designed to test your knowlegde of the basic aspects of the programme. What it entails and what contibution is expected. The project supervisor will want to know specifics the other will want to see how you delt with the question.

During my interview they seemed to want to see my past work, e.g dissertation etc. but they would never ask directly. It is a good idea to have the work prepared and key places marked. Make sure you know the work in depth and be prepared to ask answer any questions on it.

Usually if the PhD involves a studentship or is funded by an outside body they will have a representative. They will assess how you present youself and will probably want to hear how the project is likely to benefit the company or the University.

The interview panel want you to express a wider knowledge. It is key you have read reccomended references and understood them as it will just help your case. Also find out what is cutting edge at the moment and bring with you or make a typed sheet with problems you might want to tackle during the PhD

Remember that you do not want to answer the PhD title but you are aware of lines of evidence that you might want to pursue.

Presentations

Be confident and speak fluently. Made the audience know you are confident (even though you might not feel like it)

Focus on your research unless asked not to and relate this to the project. Essentially what can you bring to the table?

Have it practiced and timed. Draw together on a concluding slide and expect questions

You and yourself!

At the interview they want to see that your motivated to do the project and prepared.

Be confident and don't be afriad to say "I don't know".

Wear something smart. I know some places are not to fussy but it never harmed any one to look smart on interview

Try not to be nervous!

Again each institution has its own style and i would like to open a thread to disscuss the possiblities.

!!!!Sorry about the poor spelling!!!!

Reply 400

redferry

19

Original post

by Jedi4

The response is I will hear back soon probably by the end of the month.

I've applied to the AHRC, EHRC etc. Anything that was available I applied to for funding.

By grants do you mean "alternative funding' like the alternative guide to funding? I can self fund just short of a couple of grand. So I'll probably try that.

I mean those weird ones for women from Yorkshire/people born in Birmingham/Quakers etc

Usually won't fund a whole PhD but if you apply to enough it could get you through for sure

Reply 401

Jedi4

Original post

by redferry

I mean those weird ones for women from Yorkshire/people born in Birmingham/Quakers etc

Usually won't fund a whole PhD but if you apply to enough it could get you through for sure

Thanks for the reply.

I will look for some of them and also the ones mentioned in alternative funding guides, Should I send these out after I have been officially rejected from formal funding?

Even if it is £50 to a couple hundred, grand that would help as I can say I got some money at least- and it would financially too, would feel a little embarrassed if I didn't get any get funding,

If you know you any websites or books for these I'd be grateful if you could email them me, I have the 'alternative guide to funding' pdf I can PM a dropbox link.

The funding wait is killing me basically my future is out of my hands :frown:

Reply 402

redferry

19

Original post

by Jedi4

Thanks for the reply.

I will look for some of them and also the ones mentioned in alternative funding guides, Should I send these out after I have been officially rejected from formal funding?

Even if it is £50 to a couple hundred, grand that would help as I can say I got some money at least- and it would financially too, would feel a little embarrassed if I didn't get any get funding,

If you know you any websites or books for these I'd be grateful if you could email them me, I have the 'alternative guide to funding' pdf I can PM a dropbox link.

The funding wait is killing me basically my future is out of my hands :frown:

Normally a lot of them are actually linked from the universities own website funding pages.

Reply 403

mcr2288

I have the alternative guide as well. To be honest... i don't believe it really helps... in the end you ll get lost in the emails...most of the funding also from charities etc. is not ment to be for any science phd. It is usually for 3rd year phd's only in their last 6 months... and it is also very competitive.

In science phd's especially ones that require laboratory work, u definitely need to have full funding... you need around 4k a year for lab fees, more for maintenance and tuition also.

Anyway...good luck to all. I haven't yet been lucky for a place... i now start to believe that the reason is my degree mark (2.2). I also feel that the MSc i chose is a waste of my time and money...because they advertised a totally different thing and now we have been learning irrelevant stuff all year long. My choice could have been so much better. The only thing I have now is to try my best to improve my marks through this Msc as it is the only thing I got.

Reply 404

Jedi4

Original post

by mcr2288

I have the alternative guide as well. To be honest... i don't believe it really helps... in the end you ll get lost in the emails...most of the funding also from charities etc. is not ment to be for any science phd. It is usually for 3rd year phd's only in their last 6 months... and it is also very competitive.

In science phd's especially ones that require laboratory work, u definitely need to have full funding... you need around 4k a year for lab fees, more for maintenance and tuition also.

Anyway...good luck to all. I haven't yet been lucky for a place... i now start to believe that the reason is my degree mark (2.2). I also feel that the MSc i chose is a waste of my time and money...because they advertised a totally different thing and now we have been learning irrelevant stuff all year long. My choice could have been so much better. The only thing I have now is to try my best to improve my marks through this Msc as it is the only thing I got.

I've herd similar reviews on the alternative guide to funding book, worth a shot if your just a little short.

I thought you just pay a one off tuition fee each year e.g. year one 4k, year two 4k, and year 3 4k etc. What extra lab fees can they charge?

That's what my masters was like a one year fee that covered all tuition fees.

Reply 405

mcr2288

It does, you are right, this is in the fees section, basically it is how much they can assign to each student to spend. It is normally included in the fees, which they are covered by the studentship... otherwise if you have to find you are own funding, imagine it can be a lot more difficult.. especially for science... basically in science you cannot have zero funding and start searching...no one is giving you around 13k-15k a year to study that you need. It just doesn't work. Plus you will be probably in the lab 9-5 and you won't have much time in the office to do applications etc. and as a result you will be less focused on your work.

For example, in your 3rd year undergrad, once a lecturer told me that the university has its own funding for lab work for undergrads which was around £300 for their final year project... and we were paying the same fees as everyone else. So I think its a budget thing.. and if you have to do travelling for your phd as well...that's another something extra. :rolleyes:

Reply 406

username1366837

11

I finally got the decision about my application for the Graduate Teaching Assistantship. I didn't get it, but as the panel was impressed with my application thtey offered me a partial scholarship plus paid teaching. So glad, as this covers tuition and most of my living expenses. Really gives me peace of mind, because without funding it would have been tough 3 years. :smile:

Reply 407

Jedi4

Original post

by redferry

Normally a lot of them are actually linked from the universities own website funding pages.

Yessssssssssssss

I got a full fee waiver.

Reply 408

redferry

19

Original post

by Jedi4

Yessssssssssssss

I got a full fee waiver.

Congrats!!!!

Reply 409

Jedi4

Original post

by redferry

Congrats!!!!

Thanks!

Reply 410

Jedi4

Original post

by redferry

Congrats!!!!

So I've got the fees sorted and living expenses will take care of themselves hopefully, but I've been told to apply to grants and funding during the phd, who usually gives out such awards?

Reply 411

redferry

19

Original post

by Jedi4

So I've got the fees sorted and living expenses will take care of themselves hopefully, but I've been told to apply to grants and funding during the phd, who usually gives out such awards?

That's more a case of applying to anyone and everyone I'm afraid!! What's your subject again?

Reply 412

Jedi4

Original post

by redferry

That's more a case of applying to anyone and everyone I'm afraid!! What's your subject again?

That's what I thought :frown:

wanted a little break.

Health Informatics is the subject.

Reply 413

redferry

19

Original post

by Jedi4

That's what I thought :frown:

wanted a little break.

Health Informatics is the subject.

Hm I can't really claim to know anything about grants in Health informatics.

(edited 11 years ago)

Reply 414

mcr2288

URGENT!

i have an interview on Friday for an Mres... they told me we would have a chat on skype for my interests and motivations on the project.

do u have any tips? the project is on disinfection on water treatment...

thanks a lot guys

Reply 415

katiegud

Original post

by mcr2288

URGENT!

i have an interview on Friday for an Mres... they told me we would have a chat on skype for my interests and motivations on the project.

do u have any tips? the project is on disinfection on water treatment...

thanks a lot guys

Try to stay calm. I was so freaked out during my interviews that I made stupid mistakes, which cost me funding at a couple of universities.

Reply 416

arguendo

14

Hi guys

I'm a tad early on this, but masters apps/funding apps have taught me early is necessary...

I'll be going into an LLM from September and I am open to pursuing a PhD (the LLM is to pursue my specialised area of interest and get a taste of independent research to hopefully confirm/rule out PhD interest). I've already identified academics I'd potentially want to approach for PhD supervision (provided current interests continue); they are at different institutions to my LLM university. Ideally I would have done my LLM at those institutions and taken taught classes with those academics to build a relationship & hopefully get their support for my PhD app, but lack of funding prevailed and I'm going elsewhere with partial funding. How can I counteract this missed opportunity during my LLM year? Any tips for networking from afar?

Posted from TSR Mobile

Reply 417

0le

21

Original post

by arguendo

Hi guys

I'm a tad early on this, but masters apps/funding apps have taught me early is necessary...

I'll be going into an LLM from September and I am open to pursuing a PhD (the LLM is to pursue my specialised area of interest and get a taste of independent research to hopefully confirm/rule out PhD interest). I've already identified academics I'd potentially want to approach for PhD supervision (provided current interests continue); they are at different institutions to my LLM university. Ideally I would have done my LLM at those institutions and taken taught classes with those academics to build a relationship & hopefully get their support for my PhD app, but lack of funding prevailed and I'm going elsewhere with partial funding. How can I counteract this missed opportunity during my LLM year? Any tips for networking from afar?

Posted from TSR Mobile

Not sure what LLM means.

Reply 418

arguendo

14

Original post

by djpailo

Not sure what LLM means.

It's the taught postgraduate course for law (so equivalent to MA etc).

Posted from TSR Mobile

Reply 419

0le

21

Original post

by arguendo

It's the taught postgraduate course for law (so equivalent to MA etc).

Posted from TSR Mobile

Lol I had to look up LA. :P Okay, so a masters.

Networking from afar can be done through careers fairs, university talks (you'll probably get emails about guest lecturers) and heck, even just emailing them straight. Look on findaphd.com, jot the names down of professors offering phd's and then propose your idea to them instead of the one they are offering.

PhD The Early Process, Application and Interview advice

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