I applied to The University of Oxford a while back now (after my MSc had ended) and was invited to interview for a NERC DTP in the Dynamic Earth, Surface Processes and Natural Hazards stream. This was, naturally an exciting, yet daunting prospect. I didn’t have a clue what to prepare, or what to wear! So, I feel that I should offer some advice to those who may be in the same boat in the future and wondering how to approach this unnerving event.
1. Contact the supervisor
Firstly, I think the most important thing to do when applying for any PhD is to develop a relationship with your potential supervisor. You need to know whether they share the same interests as you and are willing to develop the project you think you may want to push forward with. You also need to ensure that you get along – I can’t imagine that 4 years with a supervisor who you don’t enjoy the company of is much fun. So, drop them an email entitled PhD application and I am sure they will be happy to reply and have a chat with you about your ideas, regardless of whether you take them forward or not.
2. Make the application
All PhD applications are unique and request different things from their applicants. When I applied to Adelaide it was much like a job application – they really didn’t want much from me, except 3 referees. Oxford wanted a little bit more, so I had to prepare a 500 word document that discussed an issue within the NERC remit; for this, I chose to discuss the complexities between radiocarbon dating and tephrochronology as a dating method. Obviously, you’ll be expected to provide scans of your official documents (i.e. passport, academic transcripts for Undergraduate and Masters degrees etc). Adelaide did not charge me to make an application, but I know that some foreign universities do. Most UK universities do not charge UK citizens to apply for PhD’s, but Oxford and Cambridge have an application fee of £50. After the application, there is about a 1-2 month wait for a response, depending on how quickly you submit!
3. If you are successful for an interview
Congratulations! Oxford was the only place I had an interview. Adelaide did not require an interview and so I can only discuss what I know from Oxford. The interview was more of a discussion and was very informal and relaxed. There was myself and a panel of 5 academics, 2 of which were specialists in my area. Interview questions included (roughly) the following:
- Why do you want to do a PhD? How did your interests in this science arise?
- Why do you want to study at Oxford?
- What did you do for your MSc research?
- Discuss some problems you encountered during your MSc research and how you resolved these
- Summarise your MSc thesis in a tweet
- What would you do if your chosen supervisor was unavailable and as a result you were unable to study the proxy you have come here to study?
- What are your intentions beyond the PhD?
- Why are you so interested in tephra?
- Why are you so interested in the Southern hemisphere?
- Do you have any questions to ask?
The interview lasts for ~30 minutes. Mine lasted for 25 minutes, with 5 minutes of me asking some questions. I wore a relatively short pencil skirt with a floral chiffon shirt and suede shoe boots. Most girls wore similar and perhaps also had a suit jacket, but I was so nervous, I was sweating everywhere.. Most men were wearing suits, but I would say that suit trousers and a shirt with a tie would be perfect for the occasion – they were certainly judging the words and not the clothes. I actually had spilt a load of food down my shirt and had a massive stain down it, so there we go.
During the day, Oxford also put on a lunch, but as my interview was at 2.30pm, I wasn’t too pushed on eating lunch with people who had already had their interview. It was a very well prepared day though.
My interview was on the Tuesday and I had the offer e-mail by lunchtime on Friday, so it is safe to say that Oxford admissions is very efficient and a nice, smooth process. I am awaiting to be assigned a college at the moment.
My advice would be to treat it like having a chat with a fellow academic. However, be very aware that there are staff in the room who do not know your specialism like you do – perhaps refrain slightly from jargon. Also, if there is a tour offered, play nice, because they will be providing feedback to the ‘judges’ and they do have an influence on your position at the university. Good luck if you’re applying anywhere! Feel free to message or email if you want any other advice!
Rebecca Elizabeth Smith 