PhD Studentship applications

I'm seriously considering applying for PhD studentships in the coming autumn. It's likely to be in either the molecular biosciences or pathology/infection. How many do people typically apply for? Is it common for people to apply for more than one at a particular university?

Cheers.

Given the numbers of people going into postgrad education, you're looking at application numbers that could be going into triple figures, especially if there's money involved

It's pretty common for most people to apply to a wide range of studentships/PhDs given success rates.

Annoying for me as I have always genuinely wanted to go into academia, I'm not just doing this to get through the recession!

I'm seriously considering applying for PhD studentships in the coming autumn. It's likely to be in either the molecular biosciences or pathology/infection. How many do people typically apply for? Is it common for people to apply for more than one at a particular university?

Cheers.

Oh and double check the entry requirements - because of the numbers going into postgrad education, a studentship in your field that use to take freshly graduated undergrads may have put the MSc requirement on it, just to cut numbers down/up the standard of students applying. You could have a fantastic CV with extra things like a Wellcome Trust scholarship but if you're coming up against people who have their lab experience, scholarships AND an MSc to boot, they'll take the better qualified student as they'll require less research training in the long term.

I wouldn't be too scared of being out-competed by MSc applicants. Some places may select against you for it but there are others to whom it'll just be something they put on to cut the number of applicants down. It'd probably depend on whether they put "required" or "preferred" but it doesn't cost you much to apply anyway if it's a position you really want. They can always reject you if it is strictly required but you might impress them enough to get an interview.

Most of the ones I've been looking at appear to be combined MPhil or MRes with a PhD, I'd probably apply for these ones.

I'm only saying this because as a general whole, unless you've been through the postgrad selection process for studentships, funding or even applications, you really cannot gauge how cutthroat and competitive postgraduate study is ESPECIALLY if money's involved. I'm being openly realistic with the OP so that when they come to apply, they've covered and read about every eventuality

Didn't say to be scared did I? And to the OP - definitely don't be put off. However in response to the OP's question about numbers applying and how best to stand out from the crowd, you're going to come up against people who are better qualified than yourself. In the same way that so many people get rejected for funding or studentships even with a first/distinction at MA level profile. Competition is VERY tough at the moment and at the end of the day, even if they don't specify that applicants need an MSc or it's a preferred requirement, it may well the institution's way of sifting applicants and as a result, given that funding's been cut across the board as well, you could have one of the best applications going but you still might not make it to interview.

I'm not sure whether you were after a response to this but I should say I've secured a funded PhD studentship for the coming year. I've also failed to get one and been told it was because I didn't have a masters (though in that case it actually turned out that another project was given funding rather than the one I applied for, so I'm not sure how to take what I was told).

I didn't say they would ALWAYS take the better qualified student though did I?

I just said having a further qualification will always only aid your application, it'll never have a negative factor. And I know for my field, you'd have to be FANTASTIC to take someone straight out of undergrad without a relevant Masters.

And you don't know that doing a Masters course would have been unnecessary - you've been very lucky and obviously impressed the admissions board for whatever it was you applied for.

It must depend on the field then. In the areas I'm familiar with (biology, neuroscience and neuropsychology) most of the people I know who have or are working towards PhD did not do a masters first.

There is an element of luck in all postgrad applications - ask any of the postgrads on this forum. Luck will always rear its ugly head in postgraduate life

Would you not be insulted if somebody told you your achievements were down to "luck"?

OP: I applied for 3 and got all 3 (luckily). Not having a MSc won't really count against you - I only had a Bachelors when I applied. The most important thing is previous research experience.

Thanks, that's the general impression I am getting. I wouldn't consider doing a MSc, most of the of the PhD and Post-docs students I've been working with and talking to didn't do an MSc... Perhaps times are different now though, but it's a rather large financial commitment that I'm not prepared, or can afford to make really! Annoyingly UCL have only just brought in the MSci in Biology and it's not available to my year group

I guess it all depends on the subject but like I say - given the state of the postgrad world, it'll never harm your chances. Plus these days you'll more likely to come up against people who did the MSc for whatever reason, left the academic world and now have decided to go back into it as they can't find a job.

Absolutely. I'm just a bit energetic in my opposition to the people recommending MSc courses to get a PhD at the moment, citing increased competition due to the financial crisis. For most people doing an MSc means that getting a career development loan or something similar will be necessary (most funding will only cover fees and some living costs) and I object to advice that's going to lead young people into more debt during a recession.

Edit: Sorry, didn't mean to imply that was your recommendation