Thank you so much for all the advice. It helped me a lot. Got rejected from Oxford. Should’ve watched your videos for the personal statements but I only found you before the interview. Anyway, I got a fully funded UKRI Studentship and I am very very grateful for your support through your channel. I aspire to make my own RU-vid channel as well. Something that would help so many like you’re doing. Continue the good work. Really really appreciate it ❤
Thank you for the great video, this is excellent advice! As you've suggested, I'm posting below my comment that I originally wrote under another great video of yours named "Rejected from your dream university, now what?". I agree that perhaps it fits better here! :) Please let me emphasize one point further: I believe it's important for candidates to focus not on who they are and whether they are good enough during the interview, but instead on what the project is about, what needs to be done, what are the knowns and unknowns, what outcome the supervisors are hoping to achieve, etc. This shift does two things: first, it allows you as a candidate to escape the trap of constant self-doubt (or at least to alleviate the negative effects of it to a certain degree). Second, it fundamentally changes the nature of the questions you'll be asking and, as a consequence, how you'll be perceived by the committee. Imagine you're already in charge. What's next? In that sense, "reality-check" questions are very good, e.g., "Do I understand it correctly that we know this and that, but we don't know this and that other thing?", "What's the fundamental difficulty here? Why hasn't it all been done 50 years ago? (well, not in these words, this will sound harsh and arrogant) Am I right that this is because of this and that? Is there any hope of circumventing these problems?" In a way, these questions signal to the committee that you are on a quest of doing whatever the project is about anyway, and they are only there to help you on your way. *You*'re the main character, *you*'ll be the one carrying the project forward. Others are there to help you, not the other way around. (This is not just some kind of mantra, this is what doing a Ph.D. actually involves a lot of the time, especially a little further down the road, with all the good and bad things this implies.) Obviously, I was doing none of these things and asking none of these questions during my Ph.D. interviews back then. I can only give this advice with the benefit of hindsight! Now that I'm looking for postdoc positions, I'm trying to use some of it to my own benefit :) Good luck everyone!
Your example on ability to learn, “introducing new information to the interviewee”, is this applicable to all PhD programmes or perhaps just for specific programmes like yours?
For most Oxford and Cambridge interviews, it is the case. I also gave an interview for a PhD at the institute of Cancer research and I will have to listen to it again but I do remember them asking me about things I didn't know and I sort of had to guess based on the information I was given. In the next video I'll give more details on what I was asked in the Oxford interview so maybe that'll give you a better understanding.
Hello, this video was very useful thank you. Can I ask when you mentioned ability to learn, what information they give you and ask questions based on that? Because this is my weak point to reply and think instantly on the spot and I’m working on this.
It depends on the field, but for STEM subjects it can be some data like a graph and they ask you to interpret the figure and what the graph shows, and what you can deduce from the data :) You can practice by reading some papers and looking at figures to see how the graphs/figures show the data and what the authors deduced from the figures :)
what are interviewers looking for in MSc and PhD students? PhD Interview UK: 1. Knowledge 2. Ability to learn 3. Enthuasism 4. Future plans For the interview, think of it as a discussion. Just jot down as a brief note. TQ, sis :)
Thank you for all your great videos! How can I contact you? As I plan on applying for Msc's this year, and would greatly appreciate your feedback. I've watched and applied your teachings on creating a Phd personal statement and unsurprisingly, I believe I have a stronger application. Do let me know how we can talk. All the best
Thanks! When is your interview? I was hoping to edit it on the weekend as it's a long video! But if it would help you to have it sooner, I can try my best :)
ma'am i have my interview for master degree, and they ask me to present a research paper of American university...can you make the tips how to convince the committee
Assalamu Alaikum sister, I hope you are doing well, Actually i am in a bit strange situation now as i contacted one prof regarding ny phd opportunities he might have. At first email he replied that for 2023 application there is a lot time still then i replied that i would like to have a conversation beforehand and prepare supervisors and documents so i can apply asap in september this year and tryna get scholarships. So he now wants to have a meeting (he didn't mention interview). so now i am being confused that what will he be asking? should i ask him that? Plz help me in this.
It's for the conversation you asked for, to discuss the project and see if you're a good match. It's almost like an informal interview where you meet and see how you get along with the other person
Hey hira! Thanks for the informative video. This has been a great help tbh. I have few queries to ask lemme know how can I connect if there is any email. Pls share. Many thanks and stay blessed n safe!
Hi. QUESTION: Is it easier to get a place at oxford for postgraduate studies than just undergraduate studies? I'm planning to do my MSc in Software Security. Do you know anything about that? I would love to have a one to one session and pay for it :)
Hi Oliver! Yes I think it's definitely easier to get in for a Masters because there are so many more courses and fewer applicants who do postgraduate degrees. I'm happy to help you! Please reach out on twitter @oxford_juggler and we can arrange a one to one session.
