Your PhD interview date is fast approaching. This article provides carefully chosen tips to help you prepare, and ten PhD interview questions you should be ready to answer.
What to do before the interview.
It is important to treat the PhD interview like a job interview. Dress smartly and bring two printed copies of your application form. It is also useful to bring your research proposal or your notes on how you will fit into the existing research project. Organise materials neatly so that you can quickly access any information requested, but also commit crucial details to memory—and rehearse.
Do background research on the university, the department, and the academics who will interview you. Prepare several informed questions about their current research and the overall research culture in the department.
Make sure you know where and when the interview will occur and arrive ahead of time. If possible, visit the building in advance. You will feel more at ease if the surroundings are a little familiar.
To avoid embarrassment, try to find out how to pronounce the names of staff members you will meet.
Top 10 interview questions.
The “right” answers to these are personal and depend greatly on what the specific staff members and their department is looking for. Scour the PhD studentship advert, the department’s mission statement, vision, aims and objectives and information about current staff research to learn about research priorities, interests, and positions in theoretical debates. Showcase your personal skills, capabilities and attributes, and how well they fit.
Tell us about yourself.
Include not only your academic background, but your personal motivation—and particularly what motivates you to do in-depth research in this specific field of study.
Why have you applied to do a PhD here?
This is where research can give you an edge. Show that you have chosen this programme/department/university for strong and valid reasons, such as your high regard for named researchers’ work, the availability of specific collections, equipment, or lab resources, and overall reputation. Give concrete examples, not banal generalities.
What can you do for us?
Academics will have to give up a great deal of time to supervise you, most of which they will receive no scheduled hours or recognition for. So, what research skills, personal attributes, connections, theoretical ideas and so on do you have that will make it worth their while? Again, give specific and concrete examples.
What do you think pursuing a PhD will do for you?
If you plan to become an academic, say so, but not in terms of just getting a job—talk about your long-term research plans. If applying to a professional doctorate programme, show that you understand the realistic career impact. Applicants pursuing a PhD towards the end of their career may want to talk about gaining recognition for innovative practice or solving complex issues through research. It is important to showcase your knowledge, motivation, background and commitment at this point.
What skills do you have that make you a good fit for the PhD place you have applied for or for the department?
Tailor your response specifically: Play up your strengths, including any prior research training and experience. Discuss project management skills, leadership skills, interpersonal skills, collaborative working, critical thinking and international experience or understanding.
Tell us about your research project.
If proposing your own topic, over-prepare. Refer to current scholarship and explain how your cutting-edge work will break new ground. If applying to join a project, show that you understand its value and demonstrate that you are the right person to make it happen. Be enthusiastic!
What would you say are your greatest strengths and weaknesses?
Yes, that tired job-interview question will appear here as well. Make sure the strengths you list include examples, and your “weaknesses” are also “strengths”—for example, “sometimes I’m a terrible perfectionist.” It is important to mention and demonstrate how your determination reaps project succession. The panel will want to know that you will persist in completing the PhD. Demonstrate this!
Tell us about a challenge you have overcome in the past.
It’s best to choose a research challenge as your answer: for example, how you handled an issue during your Master’s dissertation such as a disagreement with a supervisor or an issue with ethical approval. If you use a career or personal challenge, show how you used research or project-management skills to solve it.
What do you see as the most important issue/problem in this field today?
This question gives you space to show your knowledge of current research, theory and practice. Use this as an opportunity to showcase your knowledge.
Is there anything you would like to ask us?
This is your chance to show how informed you are and position yourself as an intellectual equal. Be prepared. Be ready.
We hope you found our Top Ten PhD Interview Questions and Answers article useful.
I’m very interested to study research subject PhD as well research man in the future my subject also research than how can got this chance.
You have really helped me with the video and the texts on PhD/job interview. Thank you so much.
Instructive and precise.
Thank you.
dear can you provide sample answer