phd interview tips uk

• Common PhD Interview Questions
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In this guide, we’ll share 11 common PhD interview questions and our suggestions on how to answer them.

A PhD interview is an essential step in securing a doctorate position. This is because it enables the prospective supervisor to get to know you better and determine whether you’d be a good fit for the project. Equally, it provides you with the opportunity to learn more about the project and what the university offers. Although being asked to attend an interview by the admissions committee can be daunting, it’s actually a positive sign. It means that based on your application and academic qualification, the academic department believes you have the potential to make a good PhD student for the position.

Whilst most questions you’ll be asked during your PhD interview will focus on your proposed research project, a handful of generic questions will almost certainly be asked. To give yourself the best chance of succeeding in the interview, we highly recommend that you prepare answers to these generic questions beforehand.

Without further delay, here are 11 common PhD interview questions and tips on how you should answer them.

1. Tell Us About Yourself

It comes at no surprise that this common ice-breaker question is at the top of our list. This question will likely be asked to help you calm your initial nerves and settle into your interview. As this is a warm-up question, aim to give the interviewer a general overview about yourself as opposed to a detailed breakdown. To achieve this, structure your answer into three sections:

• Academic History : start with a summary of your academic background – where and what have you studied? What grades did you achieve?
• Research Topic : go onto explain your research interest in your chosen topic – what do you like about it? Do you intend to pursue a career related to it upon obtaining your degree?
• Why a PhD : Finish with why you want to undertake a PhD – do you want to make a contribution to science? Do you want to get a job in academia?

2. Why Do You Want to Do A PhD?

Although you may have touched on this in your answer to the above, your interviews will want to know more of the detail if they ask this question as a direct followup.

Though it may appear obvious, the interviewer is specifically interested in discovering your personal motivations for undertaking a PhD . Too often, students answer this question by listing the benefits of a PhD. Not only will the interviewer already know the benefits of a PhD, but a generic answer also won’t help you stand out among the other applicants.

To answer this question and leave a lasting impact, try to include an academic or personal experience that has strengthened your passion for research. As well as this, outline what your career aspirations are and explain how the proposed PhD will help you achieve them. The key to selling yourself here is to let the interviewer know how passionate you are about the project without having to say it.

3. Why Did You Choose This Project?

This is your chance to show that you have researched the University, supervisor and project.

First, talk about the project. Is there a particular aspect that you’re interested in? If so, mention it. This will show that you’re engaged in the topic and already have a basic understanding of the field. Besides this, a great way to show that you’ve really looked into the research topic would be to discuss a certain part of the methodology the project could adopt.

Next, talk about the University – there may be several universities offering similar projects, but what makes this one stand out? Is it their resources? Is it the prospective supervisor’s research group? Is it their previous involvement in previous influential studies? Again, show that you’ve adequately researched the University and clearly understand what makes it unique.

Finally, you can mention if your decision to apply to their university has been influenced by the expertise of the proposed supervisor. Given that the supervisor will be highly knowledgeable in the research topic you’re applying to, it’s possible they may have contributed to some significant findings in it. If so, it’s acceptable to acknowledge this by mentioning how you would like the opportunity to work under their guidance. However, be careful not to overdo. Although you may be sincere in your answer, it can go against you if your supervisor feels like you’re trying to flatter him. To avoid giving this impression, focus on how his or her expertise will help you develop into a competent researcher.

4. Why Should We Choose You?

A very blunt question, but your PhD supervisor will want to make sure you’re the best candidate for the position. This is especially true given they’ll be responsible for supporting you over the next few years. Therefore, the primary aim of your answer will be to reassure them you have the skills and experience required to undertake a doctoral study. To achieve this, identify the critical knowledge and skills required for the project and discuss how you meet each of these. Follow up each justification with a short, relevant example to help give your answers more impact.

When asked this question, some students tend to just summarise their academic CV and cover letter . This isn’t an effective way to answer the question as you’re telling the supervisor information they already know about you. It’s fine to reiterate a few key points, however, try to delve deeper into what you can offer going forward as opposed to what you’ve achieved in the past. As part of your answer, identify the soft skills which will be imperative to the doctorate and state how you have each of these. These can include skills such as effective communication, great time management, problem-solving, adaptability and high work ethic.

5. How Did You Come up With This Project?

If you’ve developed your own research proposal , then expect to have to defend it as part of your interview. You should have a thorough understanding of what the current gaps in knowledge are surrounding your research topic and how these could limit the findings of your study. Besides this, you’ll want to show that you’re clear on what the key aims and objectives of your project are and appreciate how they could contribute to your field of research. This last point is essential in convincing the interviewers this project is a worthy pursuit. What makes your project groundbreaking and worth dedicating several years to?

The interviewer wants to know if you have thought out all aspects of your project and so will likely scrutinise the finer details of your proposal. Therefore, be ready to outline the literature you’ve read and discuss how you evaluated different methodologies before suggesting your current one.

If you want an edge over other students, you can also produce a high-level plan, similar to the one below (but with more detail), which outlines the different phases of your research project. This can include stages such as the literature review, undertaking experiments, producing your thesis and preparing for your viva voce. Although they won’t expect your plan to be fully accurate, especially given how dynamic research projects can be, it will show your positive attitude towards being imitative and taking responsibility for your project.

6. What Challenges Are You Expecting to Encounter in This Project?

A common PhD interview question students struggle with is “What difficulties do you think you will face?” This purpose of this question is to check how much you’ve thought about the project. Students who provide a poor answer generally do so as they think admitting to any potential difficulties may make them seem incompetent. This couldn’t be any further from the truth.

Identifying potential difficulties shows the interviewers you’ve given serious thought to the project. This reassures the supervisor that should you run into difficulties during the research, you’re not only capable of identifying them but also mature enough to do so. Not highlighting potential difficulties, whether it’s due to a lack of confidence or understanding the project, suggests your project will be vulnerable to problems which could go amiss.

When answering this question, try to follow up on each potential difficulty with how you intend to address it. This can include measures such as making use of internal development opportunities, enrolling onto external training courses or signing up to specific research master classes.

7. What Are Your Strengths and Weaknesses?

This is a standard question for most interviews, and a PhD interview is no different.

Pick strengths that compliment your PhD programme. For example, if applying to a Physics or Engineering PhD, mentioning you have good attention to detail would be highly beneficial given the amount of data analysis involved. Try to support each of your claims with a relevant example. Using the above case as an example, you could discuss how as part of your Bachelor’s or Master’s dissertation project, your high attention to detail allowed you to streamline some of your experiments or identify potential problems with your data.

Likewise, try to discuss a weakness that won’t be detrimental to your research project. An example of something you would want to avoid would be “I have a tendency to put the hard tasks off until the end until I know I should really start working on them to not miss any deadlines“. Although this may seem like a harmless response, it will seriously concern the interview panel. This is because a model student will need to be consistent in their efforts to meet the challenging workload, even in times of difficulty. As before, follow up your weakness with a plan on how you intend to address it. For example, if you state your weakness as public speaking, a suitable follow up would be to discuss how you would like to work on it by presenting your research to undergraduate students and attending seminars.

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8. Can You Describe a Time You Encountered a Problem or Challenge and How You Approached It?

A key trait of all successful researchers is the ability to overcome problems independently. Given that even a minor problem can derail a research project, it’s important for your project supervisor to know whether you can adequately address them.

Despite what your example may me, try to cover the below three aspects as part of your answer:

• Identification – How did you identify the problem? Was a check you had in place triggered or did you stumble upon it naturally?
• Deconstruction – How did you break the problem down? Did you identify any assumptions or limitations which could have been associated with it? If so, how?
• Overcoming – How did you identify the solution? If you had several solutions, how did you determine the most sensible one? What did you learn from it?

Your example doesn’t need to relate directly to the research programme you’re applying to, however, it should be kept academic if possible. For example, you could discuss a challenge you encountered during your undergraduate dissertation project, such as limited literature on your research topic or inaccurate experiment results.

The key point to remember here is that a supervisor is there to supervise, not to fix all your problems. Not only will they not have the time do to this, but it will directly go against the ethical requirement of ensuring your work is yours and yours alone.

9. What Are Your Career Aspirations?

Your interviewers will want to see that you’ve considered what you will do after completing your PhD. This is to help them determine what your motivations are and to confirm that you want to enrol onto a PhD for the right reasons. It’s clear that anyone who has thought through their decision will have a long-term plan in mind, even if it’s a handful of well-considered options.

Don’t feel like your answer needs to relate to academia. One of the many benefits of a PhD degree is that it can lead to a variety of career paths. By being open with your true intentions, they can better determine what support and training you’ll require from them.

Despite your long-term goals, research into this and know the route you’d like to take post-PhD. A good understanding of your career plans and how to get there will go a long way in conveying your commitment to the project.

10. How Will You Fund This Project?

The interviewing panel will ask about this if your project is self-funded or conditionally funded (e.g. competitive funding schemes where funding is not guaranteed).

You don’t need to provide a complete breakdown of your savings, nor would they expect you to. The primary concern the interviewers want to address is that you’re fully aware of the costs associated with undertaking a PhD . If you intend to apply for external funding or take on a part-time job, mention this. In doing so, make sure you stress that you will base your part-time work around your PhD and not the other way around. The interviewers want to reassure themselves that you will make your research your top priority throughout the course of your degree.

11. Do You Have Any Questions for Us?

This interview is not only for the supervisors to evaluate you but also for you to evaluate them, the PhD project and University.

Although you will have already researched the position at length, ensure you ask questions when offered to do so. Asking questions will show that you’re engaged and are an individual who likes to make informed decisions. Not asking questions, or not asking well thought-out ones, will send the wrong message.

If you’re wondering what makes a great question, a quick internet search for “What questions should I ask at a PhD Interview?” show’s you’re not alone. Some examples of great questions to ask in a PhD interview are:

• Are there any major developments or partnerships planned for the department? – Although this won’t always be the case, the department may be planning to upgrade its research facilities or partner with another leading institution. Asking about this shows you’re genuinely enthusiastic about undertaking influential research.
• What are the supervision arrangements? – This is a great way to find out if your expectations match that of your potential supervisors. This can include aspects such as how often the two of you will meet and what level of support they intend to provide.
• Will there be any opportunities for teaching within the department? – If you intend to pursue an academic career after completing your research, this will be a brilliant way to show them you’re committed to your long-term plans. Even if you plan on following a different career path, asking will let you know whether there is any opportunity to earn whilst you study.
• What opportunities will I have for presenting my research? – This shows you intend to be an active member within your research field. This won’t be great only for your development but will help the university increase its research network and reputation in the wider community.

Other PhD Interview Tips and Advice to Help You Prepare

• Format – The format of the PhD interview varies depending on the University. If you’re unsure of what format your upcoming interview will follow, get in touch with the department you will interview with. They should be able to give you an idea about what to expect and how long it will typically last. This knowledge will prove invaluable when preparing for a PhD interview.
• Video interview – Some interviews will be conducted as either a phone interview or a skype interview. This is especially true if you’re an international student still within your home country. If so, conduct your interview in a place with a reliable internet connection and a clean backdrop.
• Attendance – Usually, your interview will comprise the primary and secondary supervisor. However, sometimes your interview panel can comprise non-technical staff or the Head of Department.
• Presentation – You may be asked to prepare a PhD interview presentation if you’re proposing your own research topic . If you’re requested to do this, keep it brief, use at least 80% of the time they permit and base it around your research proposal.
• Paperwork – Bring two to three copies of your application form, and if applicable, your research proposal. Although in most cases your interviewers would have bought their own copy, it’s better to be on the safe side.
• Etiquette – If you’re unsure of what to wear to a PhD interview, a good general rule of thumb is to wear what you would to a formal job interview. In other words, keep it formal. Additionally, learn how to pronounce the names of the interviewers and any other staff members you may mention beforehand.
• Practice – There’s a lot of truth in the old saying ‘practice makes perfect’. You will want to practise as many PhD interview questions as you can. Don’t just limit yourself to the ones discussed on here. Find as many PhD questions as you can and prepare draft answers for all of them. In fact, you don’t even need to limit yourself to questions specifically for PhD students. There are many out there that, although written for generic academic interviews or the job market, will be applicable to you. If you find yourself short on resources, try searching for ‘tell us a time when you…’ in google as these will provide great scenario-based questions you can practise with.

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March 14th, 2023

Invited to the phd interview here’s how to prepare.

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Estimated reading time: 10 minutes

Firstly, congratulations! If you’ve been invited to a PhD interview, it means that your application was solid enough to make the shortlist. That’s a small win. Now, onto the preparation for your interview. The PhD interview is an excellent opportunity for you to showcase why you’re a good fit for the programme. This requires you to prepare well for a successful admission. Here are some focus areas and tips for your interview.

Know your research proposal thoroughly

If you submitted a research proposal with your application, ensure that you read it thoroughly and know it well. There’s no such thing as overpreparation with your proposal. Of course, your proposal will be refined several times as you progress along the PhD, but for the interview, you can expect questions around the rationale, methods, and expected outcomes of your research. There can also be questions about the impact your research is likely to have. Also, have a think about the timelines of your project to answer questions around practicality and feasibility.

Research your interviewers

Your invite will indicate who is on your interview panel. Usually, they are likely to be your first and second supervisors. Although you may have contacted them previously and worked with them on your proposal, it’s advisable to read up on their work, research papers that they contributed to, their research interests and the work they’re presently involved in. All this information will be available on the faculty webpages of the department you’re applying to. Knowing this information will help you reiterate why and how you think their supervision will inform your work and how you hope to contribute to their on-going projects.

Brush up on technical know-how

There may be some questions around your past experience and academic background to gauge how well-suited your candidacy is for the topic and the programme you’re applying to. Additionally, these questions will also help your interview panel understand your training needs and how best they can be met to support your studies. Therefore, it’s necessary that you do some reading on the technical aspects of your research, the methodologies you’re proposing to deploy, the analytical tools you’ll be using among others. It’s advisable to be candid about your training needs and what you hope to gain from the programme.

Be sure about your motivations

The interview will be a discussion involving lots of “why” questions. Why do you want to do a PhD? Why do you want to go to LSE? Why do you want to research the topic you’re proposing? The answers for all these questions will be different but the common threads highlight your underlying motivations for applying to the PhD programme. Think long and hard about these questions before your interview. The interviewers want to understand your motivation and ensure that you recognise the commitment involved in signing up for a PhD programme. So don’t be afraid to get personal and really answer with your truest intentions.

The interviewers are likely to ask questions about your funding plans. If you’re planning to self-fund, you must state this clearly. If you’ve applied to funding opportunities, be sure to list them out along with when you’re expecting the decisions from the funding bodies. If you’ve applied to the department’s studentship opportunities, make sure you reiterate it during the discussion. While it’s not necessary to get into the fine details, it’s important that you clearly outline your plans around funding.

Final words of advice

Be reasonably confident. Prepare notes that you can refer to during the interview, if that is permitted. Ask questions about opportunities for collaboration, the research agenda in the department, or even the cohort size. Lastly, make sure to send in a thank-you note to your interviewers post your interview.

All the best! 😊

About the author

I’m Aish, an MPhil/PhD student at the Department of Psychological and Behavioural Science. I study the impact that personality characteristics can have on performance at the workplace. When I’m not actively PhD-ing, I spend my time cooking, writing, and hula-hooping.

Thank you, Aishwarya, for your thorough and clear explanations. I truly appreciate your assistance.

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How To Prepare for a PhD Interview

• Katie Baker
• September 26, 2023

So, you’ve written your personal statement, you’ve sent through your application and now you’ve been invited to a PhD interview, the first step is to congratulate yourself; only 30 – 50% of PhD applicants make it through to the initial interview stage. The invitation is a sure-fire sign the admissions team were impressed by your academic track record, essays, research proposals and personal statement, but you aren’t out of the woods and in the door just yet. 

PhD interviews are conducted by universities to discuss the PhD program or your research proposal with you in more detail. You can also expect to be asked questions about your academic background, skills, and career goals. By asking these questions, university admissions teams will assess whether you are capable enough to carry out doctoral research. With enough preparation, your PhD interview doesn’t need to be daunting. 

To help you prepare for your interview, this page will outline advice on how to prepare for a PhD interview and give you an insight into what typically happens at PhD interviews. However, it is worth bearing in mind that each university interviews its potential PhD candidates differently. 

Along with following the advice outlined here, you will also want to ensure you have a good idea of what to expect from your interview. For example, some university boards will ask you to do a short presentation; others will only ask you questions based on your research proposal and other application materials that spurred them to pick up the phone and invite you to elaborate on your application. 

Know What To Expect From a PhD Interview

Even though PhD interview questions can vary significantly from institution to institution, depending on the circumstances of your PhD application or be formulated specifically around your subject area, every interview serves the same purpose. 

So while it is difficult to give you an idea of a standard PhD interview format, the principle is the same; you will be discussing the finer details of your research proposal or your academic background if you are applying for a program with pre-determined aims and objectives. 

Formal interviews will put you in front of a postgraduate recruitment panel, potentially comprising admission tutors and PhD supervisors; on the other end of the spectrum, you could be asked to meet your potential supervisor for lunch or in a coffee shop on campus to discuss your research interests. Some universities even choose to include orientation activities in the initial interview process; this will give you the chance to explore the research facilities and meet staff members and peers. 

Whichever setting your interview takes place in, and whoever is present, remember that the focus will always be on your achievements, academic interests, and goals.

PhD Interview Presentations

If a PhD interview presentation is required, you will be informed by the university well in advance to allow you to prepare. Your prospective department will also outline their expectations for the presentation, including how long it should be, what needs to be covered, and how it should be delivered. 

Typically, PhD interview presentations should take no longer than 15 minutes to complete, be delivered via PowerPoint and cover your academic achievements and background, research methods and the impact of your research. However, for students interviewing for advertised positions, there may be a requirement to give a short presentation on a specified topic related to your field.

How Long Does a PhD Interview Take?

There is no one-size-fits-all answer for how long a PhD interview takes; the duration depends on the format, how quickly you provide the information that the postgraduate recruitment panel and several other factors.

With some interviews, you should block out an entire day in your calendar as the university may invite you to meet the recruitment panel in the morning, have lunch on campus, explore the department, and have your formal interview afterwards. With others, you can expect to meet your future supervisor and speak with them for an hour over coffee. Whichever interview format you are invited to, remember you’ll be doing the degree be prepared to make the most of it!

PhD Interviews for Advertised Positions

Most STEM PhD programs come with pre-defined aims, usually part of a research program with broader research objectives; your doctoral research will contribute to the body of research. Furthermore, many advertised PhD projects will also have secure funding. With these kinds of positions, all applicants must prove via their interviews that they can carry out the research to a high standard and prove they deserve the secured funding or studentship.

For example, imagine a particular PhD degree involving the analysis of a particular protein. Being a talented and competent life scientist can get you the interview, but exhibiting your knowledge of the specific proteins and familiarity with the techniques and equipment you need to run your analytical research will seal you the position. You don’t need to be an expert; you need to prove your capacity to become an expert – given the chance.

With advertised positions, the interviews are typically more formal, and the main component will comprise a question-and-answer session where you will be in front of a qualified postgraduate recruitment panel involving three or more people, including project supervisors, postgrad admissions staff, lead investigators and funding reps.

The panel will focus on your research goals and interests and how they correlate to your academic background. You may also be expected to expand on sections of your application which need more clarification. 

It isn’t heard of for interviewers to ask you to give a specific presentation in addition to answering questions. However, this presentation shouldn’t be too long or complex. Alternatively, you may be asked to cover your research proposal in more intricate detail or summarise previous research projects. 

At the end of the interview, you will get the opportunity to ask your own questions; prepare some in advance; this will show your interest and enthusiasm, and you will also gain clarification that the program is right for you.

PhD Interviews for Self-Proposed Research Proposals

If you have applied for a position with a self-proposed research proposal, the interview will differ from the interviews for students hoping to complete doctoral research with pre-defined objectives. 

With self-proposed research proposals, you won’t only need to prove your competency, but you will also need to prove the value and originality of your project. Once accepted, you will have freedom over the research you conduct – to a certain extent – however, you will still gain access to similar levels of support, training and resources. 

Even though you have to defend your research proposal, these interviews are typically more flexible and relaxed; you won’t have the pressure of competing for secured funding or affirming why you deserve studentship above other applicants. However, you will face just as much scrutiny as students competing for advertised positions as you will need to confidently convey that the project is viable in terms of time, methodology, and facilities available at the university. 

It is more likely that interviews for students proposing their own research will be more casual; don’t take this as an indication that they are any less important. The postgraduate research panel or your potential supervisor will still need confirmation that you have the right skills and knowledge to go in-depth with research in their field. 

Taking on a new doctoral candidate is a big multi-year commitment for PhD supervisors; you will want to assure them it is worth their time. Typically, this process will include going through points already illustrated in your proposal and expanding on uncovered areas. If funding is on the cards, it will be allocated on a merit basis; with this in mind, elaborate on the value of your project.

How to Prepare for a PhD Interview

Regardless of how your interview is conducted, you will still need to speak about your research proposal and previous work and experience. Spend ample time reviewing your former essays, considering your previous feedback, and going over your proposal with a fine-tooth comb. You should always be prepared to defend any claims you have made with evidence and examples.

During the interview, expect the academic work carried out in your bachelor’s and master’s degrees to be brought up. The merits of them won’t seal your acceptance offer, but discussing your academic background can exhibit your enthusiasm and show how your interest in your research topic developed.

In addition to re-reading your work, take the time to familiarise yourself with the current or recent research carried out by your supervisor. This familiarity will prove that you will relish the opportunity to work with them. If you aren’t sure who your PhD supervisor will be, review the research carried out in the department. 

The lack of originality in research proposals is one of the main reasons for PhD application rejections, which typically happens before the interview stage. However, during your PhD interview, you will also need to verify, if you have self-proposed your own research, that you have investigated the field to ensure your thesis will be completely original.

For PhD projects with pre-set aims, never overlook any of the details of the program. Beyond reviewing the objectives, take an interest in who will be involved, clue yourself in about external funders, and note the available development and training. 

Practice doesn’t only mean perfect; it also means you are committed, capable and confident. Enlist the help of your current academic contacts and peers while practising your interview or presentation material. This is especially important if you don’t have much experience with public speaking or giving presentations.

What To Wear and Bring to a PhD Interview?

Appearance isn’t everything in a PhD interview, but it can go a long way for potential candidates wanting to make the best first impression. Even though academics don’t typically share a similar wardrobe with CEOs during their average workdays, you should present yourself how you would if you were attending a job interview for your dream job. 

The PhD admissions team will inform you if you need to bring anything specific to your interview, such as a presentation. However, if it makes you feel more comfortable and prepared, you can bring hard copies of your previous essays or dissertations, which you can re-read or reference where appropriate. It may also be beneficial to bring a hard copy of your research proposal if you submitted one. 

A notepad and pen will also help you to take notes after you have asked your questions at the end of the interview. Remember, like a job interview, a PhD interview will assess your suitability for the university and the suitability of the university for you. Doctoral research is a big commitment; you will want to ensure that the institution is right for you; your initial interview may be your only chance to explore the campus and meet the staff.

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Preparing for your PhD interview

Getting through to a PhD interview is a great achievement in your PhD acceptance journey and you are almost at the final stage. In this final article in our series of postgraduate application tips, Dr Ioannis Pantelidis of the University of Brighton Doctoral College has put together some of his tips for preparing for your interview.

• Rereading your statements – whether this is your own proposal or a funded project, Dr Pantelidis suggests reading all of your statements that you have sent to the doctoral college out loud; such as your CV, PhD proposal and your cover letter. The more times you read it out loud, the more you will start remembering some of the key elements that might end up being part of the questioning methods of the potential supervisors.
• Know your project inside out – If it is a funded project, know all of the different areas of the project and see how others may have researched similar projects. Be ready for any questions around the methods of the project. If you have written the project, then you have an advantage, as nobody knows this better than you.
• The interview itself – in the interview, the panel are looking for motivation and passion about the project. When looking at your CV, the panel will be looking for continuity within your previous studies and what you are trying to research. You need to also explain why your project is unique. If it is a funded project, think about what you can contribute to this funded project which is different. You will need to be able to explain the essence of your project in a simple sentence that anyone could understand.
• Key questions to expect – Dr Pantelidis notes that he always wants to know why a student wants to study at that particular university, ‘ why here ?’ Even if you had previously studied at the same university, the panel will likely ask why you did not decide to study somewhere else. Another question could be ‘ why you ?’ and why not anybody else. Here you should play to your strengths and explain why you are the better researcher and person for the project – do bring in your personality characteristics and attributes, but always refer back to your research skills and your passion for that particular project. The next question is likely to be ‘ why this topic ’ and why not anything else. Relate this back to your evidence of the continuity of your studies. Another question could be ‘ why this particular method ’ and be ready to defend it. You could also be asked ‘ where do you see yourself in the future ’ and they will be looking for how your PhD will impact this. You may be asked about weaknesses that may or may not be related to your project. Showing how you overcome weaknesses or how you are working on them will demonstrate how you are bettering yourself. Finally, you might be asked if you have any questions to ask the panel or supervisory team . It is highly advisable that you prepare some questions, such as about training availability, teaching opportunities, conference funding, publications, or anything that you want to know more about to demonstrate that you have a real interest.

You can see Dr Pantelidis’ full video below.

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N¡na March 8, 2021 - 9:54 am Reply

This is a helpful post, thanks for sharing. I’ve got a year until my EdD interview, but I’m thinking about it now.

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Top 10 PhD Interview Questions

So, you’ve been invited for a PhD interview. Congratulations! This means that the admission committee thinks you are qualified and capable of doing a PhD at their university. The interview will allow the committee to determine if you’re a good fit, and you have the motivation and drive to complete a doctorate. While you cannot predict the exact questions you will be asked, certain topics are almost inevitable. Here are ten common PhD interview questions.

1. Tell us about yourself

This is a popular opener for just about any type of interview. It’s meant to be an easy icebreaker, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a wrong answer. Make sure to your response is relevant to the context of a PhD interview. Talk about your academic background, motivation, and interests. You don’t have to get into the details at this point, just give an overview.

2. Why do you want to do a PhD?

This is another straightforward question that doesn’t have a straightforward answer. A PhD is a big undertaking and you’ll have to be driven to see it though. Your answer should address your motivation for doing a PhD in a way that conveys your passion and enthusiasm for the subject.

3. Why are you interested in this program?

What drew you to this program and this school? Does it have a unique feature or take a different approach than other programs? Are there certain professors you are interested in working with? Your answer to this questions shows you have done some research and are ready to engage in the department. It’s also an opportunity to demonstrate that you don’t just want a PhD, you want one from this school.

4. What experience makes you a good candidate?

Yes, the interviewer has read your CV, but this question allows you to draw their attention to specific qualifications or skills that might not be obvious from just your resume. Talk about courses you have taken that have taught you the necessary skills for graduate work or give examples of past research experience from your Bachelor’s or Master’s.

5. How did you develop this proposal?

There are no trick questions here. The interviewer wants to see that you are engaged with the field and spent some time preparing your proposal. Take them through your thought process and discuss the background reading and research you did. What other approaches did you consider before deciding on this one? What will your project contribute to the field?  

6. What difficulties would you expect to encounter during this project?

No matter how carefully you plan, no project goes off without a hitch. Be honest about where you see potential difficulties, but more importantly discuss how you plan to work through them.

7. What are your strengths and weaknesses?

Another classic interview question, and one you definitely don’t want to be answering off the top of your head. Pick a strength that is relevant to this position and then give a few examples of how you have used it well. When it comes to choosing a weakness, be truthful and then (using examples again) talk about how you have been working to overcome it.

8. Tell us about a time you experienced a setback

The next three to six years of your PhD won’t be smooth sailing. You are likely to hit many snags along the way. The interviewer wants to know you are resourceful and can handle these setback. Try to think of an academic challenge you have had to overcome rather than a personal one.

9. What are your future career plans?

This is another way to suss out your motivations for doing a PhD and see if you have given a thought to what comes after your doctorate. How will a PhD help you achieve your future goals? Someone with a clear goal in mind is likely to be more committed to doing a PhD. For many, the goal will be to pursue an academic career, in which case this is an opportunity to show you understand the academic career path.

10. Do you have any questions for us?

Remember that this interview goes both ways. It is important that you have some questions to ask the interviewer to show your engagement and the serious consideration you are giving their program. You are preparing to spend several years of your life at this school. Think about what is important to you and what would make or break your decision to attend this university. Prepare a list of questions ahead of the interview.

The interview is your time to shine, and being prepared will allow you to do just that.

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Prepare for an academic interview

What to expect at academic interviews and how to prepare effectively.

Most academic interviews will follow a similar format. 

What to expect

Panel interviews are most common, where you are interviewed by a number of people together, usually between two and six. The panel is likely to include at least one person from the department (possibly the head of department or research group), a representative from Human Resources, and often someone from another department outside your discipline. 

You will usually be asked to give a presentation either to the panel or to other members of the department or research group. This will commonly be on your research and could include plans for future research. You may also be asked to present on your teaching practice or give a mini-lecture. 

You may also be given the opportunity to talk informally to other departmental staff to find out more about the department and teaching and research activities. 

Preparation

Take time to develop a deeper understanding of the research group you're applying to. Use a variety of approaches to get to know the department or institution; you could ask your colleagues, explore the institution's website and read relevant papers related to their research.

Job adverts often include contact details of someone you can talk to informally about the vacancy before applying. It is a good idea to do this especially if you are not already known to the people recruiting. 

Here are some examples of the things you will want to know:

what are the research interests of other staff and how can your research complement or add to the group? 

(if it’s a teaching position) what courses are currently being taught? Where you can make a contribution? 

are there any new courses you could develop as a result of your subject expertise? 

what opportunities are there for collaborations, both intra- and inter-disciplinary? 

In preparation for your presentation you should ask for advice from, and practise with, your supervisor and any other members of your department or research group who have  knowledge of your research area. 

Find advice on presentations for academic interviews on the jobs.ac.uk website: 

jobs.ac.uk - tips for presentations  

Part of your preparation should include thinking about the questions which might come up during the interview. Academic interviewers will focus on questions about your: 

previous research, including research methodologies and skills 

ideas for future research projects and funding proposals 

track record in attracting funding 

teaching experience and style 

thoughts on how you can contribute to the teaching and research of the department 

involvement in the wider academic community through committees 

Examples of questions asked

Some examples of the type of questions asked at academic interviews are given below. 

Motivation and Knowledge 

Why are you attracted to this post? 

What do you feel are the key skills of an effective lecturer? 

Describe your working relationships? For example, tell me about your experience of collaborative projects, close working with colleagues in department, development of external relationships? 

What are the current issues around teaching, learning and assessment in Higher Education? 

What do you think are your particular strengths that would make you the ideal person for this job? 

There is considerable administration involved in running courses.  How do you think you would cope with this, as well as the teaching and research? 

How do you feel your particular research interests would allow you to contribute to and complement the research activities in this department? 

What do you see as your major research achievements? 

How can you demonstrate international excellence in research quality? 

Describe your experience of generating research income. What plans do you have to generate research funding in the future? 

What impact do you believe your research to date has made? 

How have you disseminated your research findings? 

What does “making an impact with your research” mean to you? 

Tell me about your publication record? How would you judge this achievement and what are your future plans? 

How much influence have you had on the direction of work undertaken?  Tell me about something which you have initiated. 

Tell me more about your future research plans. 

Teaching and Supervision 

How equipped do you feel to contribute to teaching within our degree programmes? 

What teaching methods have you used? 

What level of experience have you had in planning and developing teaching material for courses? 

What do you think are the main challenges facing a lecturer when teaching a large group of undergraduates? 

How would your teaching methods vary according to the size and level of groups you would be teaching – if at all? 

How do you address different learning styles in your teaching? 

What experience do you have of using e-learning systems? 

How do you evaluate your teaching effectiveness? 

Teaching is important but in your view should a department give it as much of a priority as research? 

What experience have you had of supervising research projects or students? 

Related Links 

Further support with interviews

jobs.ac.uk - interview tips  

AGCAS survey - Getting the first lecturing job  

Advice for STEM PhD interviews and common questions

PhD interviews are part of almost every PhD application process, and they are an opportunity for you to get to know the faculty of the institution/university you’re applying to, and to demonstrate your potential to embark on a research project. This blog post provides examples of some of the most common interview questions, and advice on how to prepare a presentation on either a research project you’ve done (e.g. during an internship, bachelor’s thesis, or a master’s programme). I am currently doing a PhD at Oxford in Genomic Medicine and Statistics, and I applied to several biomedical science, biochemistry, and genetics PhD programmes in the UK in 2022 - below are questions taken from interviews at Oxford, Cambridge, and Imperial College.

At the start of the interview, you will often be asked warm-up questions such as “tell us about yourself in 2 minutes”, “why do you want to do a PhD?”, “what experiences have you had that could help you during a PhD?”, and “what makes you different compared to other candidates?”. It’s a good idea to brainstorm answers to these questions in advance, which should help to calm your nerves, and help you communicate to the panel why you’d make a great PhD student on their programme.

Often PhD programmes will ask you to present a previous research project for 5-10 minutes, either with or without slides. If they ask you to make slides, they will often specify the maximum number of slides: keep to the slide count, but you can use animations. Your slides should be simple and uncluttered and don’t have anything on your slides that you don’t talk about. Make sure you explain enough background so that someone from a general science background can understand you - your interviewers are very unlikely to have experience in your current field. Furthermore, explain why you are doing/did specific experiments or made particular choices - this needs to come before the “how”. You can end with the implications of your findings and why they are important, along with possible future directions for your work. Practice the presentation in front of friends, family, and members of your current research group if you have the opportunity, and if your interview is over Zoom, it’s a good idea to have a rehearsal with a friend to make sure you’re as confident as possible for the real thing.

Your interviewers are very likely to ask you some questions about this presentation. They may ask why your experimental setup is a good model for what you’re investigating, what previous findings your work relies on, what other labs are doing research in your current field, or what is new in your current/previous research field(s). They may also ask how you ensure that you generate high-quality data, what your controls were (positive and negative), or how a particular technique you used works. Another interesting question I was asked at one of my PhD interviews was “what would you include in a grant based on your current findings?”. Alongside these technical questions, your interviewers may ask what you found challenging in your project, and what you enjoyed the most. One of the best things to get across in your answers to these questions is how they have prepared you for a PhD - how did they help you become more resilient, acquire problem-solving skills, or learn a particularly useful technique?

Aside from your scientific abilities, they may also want to know what you do outside the lab for work-life balance, how you deal with any conflict in the lab, and what you’re looking for in an ideal PhD supervisor. The interviewers also often ask students to tell them about a time you failed or troubleshooted, alongside “what are you doing to work on your weaknesses?”. The purpose of these questions is to find out whether you’re prepared for the challenges that arise during a PhD.

Some PhD programmes will send you a paper in advance of the interview to present to them. If this is the case for you, it’s a good idea to present the knowledge gap this paper was trying to fill, how they solved it, and what this means. They may also ask what you liked/didn’t like about the paper, whether the authors make unsupported claims in the discussion, and what further work could be done to build on the findings.

Interviews often end with the panel asking whether you have any questions for them - remember, this is your opportunity to see if the programme is a good fit for you! Examples of questions you could ask are: “what surprises PhD students when they start a PhD?”, “are there opportunities for teaching?”, and “what do you like about working here as a group leader?”.

I hope this information was useful, and further information can be found on the Find a PhD website 🔗 and the YouTube channels of Dr Andy Stapleton 🔗, Hira Javaid 🔗 and Dr Amina Yonis 🔗.

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5 tips for passing your PhD viva

Every Doctoral researcher is expected to defend their thesis through an oral test - so discover how to prepare for your PhD viva and ensure you make a good impression on the examiners

What is a PhD viva?

A viva voce is an oral test, which literally translated means 'with the living voice'. It's a focused discussion giving you the opportunity to present your PhD thesis and then defend it in front of a panel of academic experts.

1. Understand what's expected of you

Traditionally, your thesis would always be discussed in person, with the interview style viva exam overseen by at least two (internal and external) examiners. Afterwards, they would provide you with a joint written report detailing any corrections that need to be made.

However, following the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the online PhD viva has become more commonplace with this examination more likely to take place via Microsoft Teams, Skype or Zoom.

The virtual experience will still typically follow the same format, but you'll be briefed in advance about the arrangements and any technical aspects to bear in mind. You can prepare for an online PhD viva by reading our video interview tips .

The chair of the viva is usually the internal examiner, although it can be an independent person. If you and the examiners agree, your PhD supervisor can also be present.

The examiners' main objective is to ascertain that you've written your own thesis, so if you have and are ready to talk through how you completed it, there's no need to panic. You may even enjoy the viva voce test.

In addition to assessing your thesis, the examiners are also there to assist you in deciding how and where this research might be published.

There are various results between a 'pass' and 'fail' but it's very rare to slip up at this point of a PhD. Most Doctorate awards will be made upon the condition that a number of minor corrections are made, with re-submission requests far less common.

However, while the pass rate is high, the viva exam itself can still be intellectually demanding. This is because you'll be debating issues that are conceptually complex, so preparation is crucial to your success.

At the end of it, whatever the outcome, be prepared to take on board any advice, as the examiners are there to help you improve your argument or the presentation of your thesis.

2. Know your thesis inside out

While you can be sure this isn't a memory test - as you're fine bringing notes and a copy of your thesis with you to the PhD viva - it's still important to gain a good understanding of what you've written and be knowledge about your field of study.

You'll need to think carefully about where this original piece of work would be placed in the context of the wider body of research carried out in this field. Questions will surely be asked about this, as well as whether the project could possibly be developed further through any future research.

As you'll be explaining parts of the document to the examiners (who'll also have a digital or physical copy), make sure the pagination is the same in your version as the one they're looking at to avoid any issues regarding everybody being on the same page.

If you get stuck at any point during the viva exam, you can use looking at the thesis as an excuse to re-focus and gather your thoughts.

3. Anticipate the viva questions

The examiners will have prepared a series of questions for you to answer at the viva voce, but this is nothing to get too concerned about. The questions will all be based on your thesis - what it's about, what you did and what you found out - and why this matters, in relation to your field of study.

So when getting ready for the viva, consider the types of questions you're likely to be asked, including:

• What original contribution has your thesis made to this field of study?
• Explain the main research questions you were hoping to address.
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of your thesis?
• If you had to start the thesis again, what would you do differently?
• If funding was no object, describe how you'd follow on from this project.
• What are your plans for the future?

It can be helpful to practise your answers beforehand, ideally vocalising them by arranging a mock mini viva - although, as you aren't restricted in terms of referring to notes in the exam, you can leave room for spontaneity, and you don't need to learn it all off by heart. If your viva is being held online, you can ensure any technical issues are identified before the day by having a run through with your supervisor or a friend.

While it may sound simple, stick to answering the questions posed. It's really easy to go off on a tangent and this can open up other lines of enquiry from the examiners - possibly in areas you hadn't expected to be quizzed about.

On the other hand, it's completely fine to bring personality to your reasoning and use stories as a means of describing the learning process you've gone through and the techniques mastered over the last three or four years that have brought you to this point.

4. Learn about your examiners' own work

The senior and well-respected academics who'll be reading your thesis will have their own ideas on conducting PhD standard research. Therefore, it's worth taking a look online at their academic profiles to discover if there's any correlation with the research they've had published and your own work.

From this, you should be able to gain a better idea of their motivations, their possible views on your thesis and the kinds of questions they might wish to discuss after having read through it.

You should research up-to-date theories, read any recent papers on the subject and speak to others who've recently had their own viva exam. Think about how your work differentiates from the research carried out by others in your chosen field.

Prepare to provide any supporting evidence asked of you by the examiners - for example, they may request to see experimental data you mention once the exam is over.

It's also necessary to check the policies and practices in place at your university and be sure of what the roles of the examiners are and how the viva panel will be structured. In many cases, Doctoral students can choose the examiners conducting the PhD viva.

5. Plan towards the viva exam

From the moment you know the date of your viva voce, work backwards and plan the steps you'll need to take before the day itself. Allow enough time to assess and review your work so that as the day approaches, you can focus on the practicalities.

This encompasses everything from making sure you relax, eat and sleep well the day before to arranging transport so you get to the viva on time - if you're attending in person.

An online PhD viva will present its own challenges, so ensure your working space is presentable and you still make an effort in terms of what you'll be wearing.

It's always advisable to adhere to interview etiquette and go with something that's both smart and comfortable. By looking the part, this should get you in the right frame of mind to communicate in a professional manner.

In the build-up, avoid any situations that might make you feel stressed and instead try to adopt a positive attitude, one that results in a genuine eagerness to engage in a debate about the work you've been toiling over for a substantial period of time.

If you're travelling to the examination, be sure to check that you have everything you wish to take with you, including the thesis, plus any notes or other materials that will help support your claims.

The PhD viva can last between one and four hours - usually two - so it's necessary to pace yourself to get off to the best possible start.

Remember, the examiners aren't trying to trip you up - they want you to pass and are primarily there to hear you talk about your project. So, after the polite introductions they'll typically start with an icebreaker to put you at ease and help calm the nerves.

It's meant to be an open and honest conversation about your work, so feel free to politely disagree with the examiners, especially on areas you feel strongly about. Don't forget to use examples from your thesis to back up what you're saying, remembering to be clear and concise.

If you know your way around your thesis and can explain your thinking and way of working, this test shouldn't be a problem. And if you don't know the answer to a specific question - admit it, as it's better to concede your limitations in an area than ramble on and hope they don't notice you're struggling to come up with an explanation. No research is perfect, so it's important to appreciate this during the discussion - but don't be too overcritical about your work either, as that's not your job.

Finally, as the PhD viva can quickly move from a series of friendly questions to those that are more in-depth, take some time to think before answering. Don't worry about any periods of silence from the examiners, as this certainly isn't an indication that you're doing badly.

Find out more

• Explore possible careers at your PhD, what next?
• Consider getting an academic job .

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PhD Interview Questions and Answers (13 Questions + Answers)

Most PhD applications include an interview. This allows your university (and perhaps even your prospective supervisor) to discuss the PhD with you in more detail.

This article lists some of the most common PhD interview questions along with their answers. The goal is to help you prepare for a PhD interview and pass with flying colors.

1) How did you develop this proposal?

When responding to this question, demonstrate your thought process, research skills, and the evolution of your ideas. Let's choose the subject of "Renewable Energy Integration in Urban Planning" as an example.

Sample answer:

"My proposal on 'Renewable Energy Integration in Urban Planning' originated from my undergraduate thesis on sustainable cities. Intrigued by the potential of renewable energy in urban environments, I conducted a literature review to identify gaps in current research. This review highlighted a lack of comprehensive strategies for integrating renewable technologies at a city-wide level. I then consulted with experts in urban planning and renewable energy, which provided practical insights into the challenges and opportunities in this field. I designed a methodology that combines spatial analysis with energy modeling to explore optimal renewable energy integration in urban landscapes. This proposal represents an amalgamation of academic research, expert consultation, and innovative methodology development."

This answer is effective because it mentions a literature review demonstrates the ability to conduct thorough research and identify gaps in existing knowledge.

2) Why do you wish to pursue a PhD?

For this question, it's important to articulate your passion for the subject, your long-term career goals, and how the PhD program aligns with these aspects.

Let's choose the subject of "Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare" for this example.

"I am passionate about leveraging technology to improve healthcare outcomes, and pursuing a PhD in Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare aligns perfectly with this passion. During my Master's, I was fascinated by the potential of AI to revolutionize diagnostic processes and personalized medicine. I believe a PhD will provide me with the deep technical knowledge and research skills necessary to contribute significantly to this field. My goal is to develop AI systems that enhance medical diagnostics, ultimately improving patient care and treatment efficiency. This PhD program, known for its pioneering research in AI and strong healthcare collaborations, is the ideal environment for me to develop these innovations and achieve my career aspirations in healthcare technology."

This is a great answer because you clearly state that the PhD will provide the necessary skills and knowledge, indicating a clear understanding of the purpose of the program.

3) Why do you think you are the right candidate for this PhD program?

Discuss how your research interests align with the program's strengths and the faculty's expertise. Explain how the program's resources, courses, and research opportunities can help you achieve your academic and career goals.

"I am deeply passionate about environmental science, particularly in the area of sustainable urban development. This passion was ignited during my master's program in Environmental Studies at XYZ University, where I completed a thesis on urban green spaces and their impact on city microclimates. This research not only honed my skills in data analysis and GIS mapping but also highlighted the importance of interdisciplinary approaches to environmental issues. I am drawn to your PhD program at ABC University because of its innovative research on sustainable urban planning and the renowned work of Professor Jane Smith in this field. Her research aligns with my interest in integrating green infrastructure into urban planning to mitigate climate change effects. My perseverance, attention to detail, and ability to synthesize complex data make me an ideal candidate for this challenging program. Pursuing this PhD is integral to my goal of becoming an environmental consultant, where I plan to develop strategies for cities to reduce their environmental footprint."

This response is effective because it mentions particular aspects of your experience and the program, avoiding generic statements. It also outlines how the PhD fits into your career path.

4) What do you plan to do after you have completed your PhD?

Be specific about the type of career you aspire to, whether it's in academia, industry, research, etc. Explain how the PhD will equip you with the skills and knowledge for your chosen career path.

"After completing my PhD in Computational Neuroscience, I plan to pursue a career in academia as a university professor. My doctoral research on neural network modeling will provide a strong foundation for teaching and conducting further research in this area. I aim to develop innovative courses that bridge computer science and neuroscience, addressing the growing demand for interdisciplinary knowledge in these fields. Additionally, I intend to continue my research on applying machine learning techniques to understand brain function, which has potential implications for developing new treatments for neurological disorders. This academic pathway allows me to contribute significantly to both education and research in Computational Neuroscience."

This is a great answer because it connects the PhD research directly to future career plans.

It also articulates how your work can impact both academia and the broader field of Computational Neuroscience.

5) Why have you chosen this specific PhD program?

Mention specific aspects of the program that attracted you, such as the curriculum, research facilities, faculty expertise, or reputation.

Explain how the program aligns with your research interests or academic background.

"I chose the PhD program in Artificial Intelligence at MIT because of its cutting-edge research and interdisciplinary approach, which perfectly aligns with my academic background in computer science and my passion for machine learning. The program's emphasis on both theoretical foundations and practical applications in AI is particularly appealing. Additionally, the opportunity to work under the guidance of Professor [Name], whose work in [specific area, e.g., neural networks or AI ethics] has deeply influenced my own research interests, is a significant draw. This program is an ideal fit for me to further develop my skills and contribute to the field of AI, ultimately aiming for a career in AI research and development in the tech industry."

This answer connects your background and goals to the program's offerings.

Including a specific professor's name shows detailed knowledge about the program and faculty.

6) What impact would you like your PhD project to have?

When answering this question, convey both the academic significance and the potential real-world applications of your research. Let's choose a project focused on developing eco-friendly battery technologies for electric vehicles for this example.

"My PhD project aims to develop new eco-friendly battery technologies for electric vehicles (EVs), addressing both the environmental impact of battery production and the efficiency of energy storage. I hope my research will contribute to the academic field by advancing our understanding of sustainable materials for energy storage, potentially leading to publications and patents. Beyond academia, I envision this project significantly impacting the EV industry by providing a more sustainable and efficient battery alternative. This innovation could play a crucial role in reducing the carbon footprint of transportation and supporting global efforts towards a greener future. Ultimately, I aspire for my work to not only advance scientific knowledge but also drive real-world changes in how we approach energy sustainability in transportation."

This is an excellent answer because it connects the project to larger environmental goals and societal benefits. It also reflects a forward-thinking approach, demonstrating your understanding of the project's potential long-term implications.

7) What difficulties would you expect to encounter during this project?

It's important to demonstrate awareness of potential challenges and convey a proactive mindset toward problem-solving. Let's choose a project focused on the development of a novel AI-driven diagnostic tool for early detection of neurological diseases for this example.

"In developing an AI-driven diagnostic tool for early detection of neurological diseases, I anticipate several challenges. Firstly, the accuracy and reliability of the tool depend heavily on the quality and diversity of the data used for training the AI algorithms. Obtaining a comprehensive dataset that adequately represents the population can be difficult due to privacy concerns and data availability. Secondly, ensuring the AI model's interpretability to be clinically useful while maintaining high performance is another challenge, given the complexity of neurological diseases. To address these, I plan to collaborate with interdisciplinary teams, including data privacy experts and neurologists, to source and utilize data ethically and effectively. I also intend to continuously refine the AI model, focusing on both its predictive accuracy and clinical applicability. These challenges, while significant, present valuable opportunities for innovation and interdisciplinary collaboration."

This response is effective because it clearly outlines realistic challenges specific to the AI diagnostic tool project. It also presents a proactive approach to overcoming these challenges, showing problem-solving skills.

8) How will you fund this project?

When answering this question, show that you've thought about the financial aspects of your research and are aware of funding sources that are available and applicable to your project. 

"I have identified multiple funding sources to support my renewable energy research project at Stanford University. Firstly, I plan to apply for the DOE Office of Science Graduate Student Research (SCGSR) Program, which offers substantial support for projects focusing on sustainable energy. My proposal for this grant is already in progress, highlighting how my project aligns with the DOE's priorities in advancing clean energy technologies. Additionally, I'm exploring departmental fellowships at Stanford, particularly those aimed at renewable energy research. I am also keen on establishing industry partnerships, given the project's relevance to current energy challenges and the potential for collaborative funding and technological exchange. Last but not least, I will seek conference grants to present my research findings, which can lead to further academic collaborations and additional funding opportunities."

Notice how this answer mentions funding sources that align with the renewable energy focus of the project and the resources available at Stanford University.

9) Tell us about a time you experienced a setback

Focus on a situation relevant to your academic or research experience. Let's use a real-world example where a research experiment failed due to unexpected variables.

"During my Master’s thesis on the effects of soil composition on plant growth, I faced a major setback. My initial experiments, which involved growing plants in different soil types, failed to produce consistent results due to unanticipated environmental variations in the greenhouse. This was disheartening, especially as the deadline approached. However, I responded by reassessing my experimental setup. I consulted with my supervisor and decided to control more variables, such as humidity and temperature. I also refined my data collection methods to include more frequent soil and plant measurements. These adjustments led to more reliable results, and I successfully completed my thesis. This experience taught me the importance of adaptability in research and reinforced the value of meticulous experimental design."

This is a great answer because it shows how you’ve encountered and overcame a specific problem, demonstrating resilience and adaptability.

10) What are your strengths and weaknesses?

When answering this question, it's important to present a balanced view of yourself, showing self-awareness and a commitment to personal development. Choose strengths that are relevant to a PhD program and weaknesses that you're actively working to improve.

"One of my key strengths is my analytical thinking, which I demonstrated during my Master's project where I developed a novel algorithm for data analysis. This required me to not only understand complex theories but also apply them creatively to solve real-world problems. As for weaknesses, I sometimes struggle with overcommitment, taking on too many projects at once. This occasionally led to stress during my undergraduate studies. However, I am actively working on this by improving my time management skills and learning to prioritize tasks more effectively. I've started using project management tools and setting clear boundaries, which has already shown improvements in my workflow and stress levels."

This answer maintains a good balance between strengths and weaknesses. It also shows self-awareness, demonstrating a proactive approach to personal development.

11) Why have you chosen to study for a PhD at this university?

Mention specific aspects of the PhD program that attracted you. Explain how your research interests align with the work being done at the university.

"I am drawn to the PhD program in Astrophysics at Caltech due to its outstanding reputation in space research and the unparalleled resources available at the Owens Valley Radio Observatory. My research interest lies in the study of exoplanets, and Caltech's active projects in this area, such as the Zwicky Transient Facility, align perfectly with my academic goals. The opportunity to work under the guidance of Professor [Name], known for pioneering work in exoplanetary atmospheres, is particularly exciting. Additionally, Caltech's collaborative environment and emphasis on interdisciplinary research are conducive to my professional growth, providing a platform to engage with experts from various fields in astrophysics."

This response directly connects your research interests with ongoing projects and facilities at Caltech. It also shows you’ve done your research on faculty members and their work.

12) What can you bring to this research group?

Focus on your unique skills, experiences, and perspectives that will contribute to the research group's success. Let's choose the field of Biomedical Engineering at Johns Hopkins University for this example.

"As a prospective member of the Biomedical Engineering research group at Johns Hopkins University, I bring a unique combination of skills and experiences. My expertise in microfluidics, honed during my Master’s research, aligns well with the group’s focus on developing lab-on-a-chip devices for medical diagnostics. I have also co-authored two papers in this field, demonstrating my ability to contribute to high-impact research. Additionally, my experience in a start-up environment, where I worked on developing portable diagnostic tools, has equipped me with a practical understanding of translating research into applications. I thrive in collaborative settings, often bringing interdisciplinary insights that foster innovative problem-solving. I am excited about the prospect of contributing to the group’s ongoing projects and introducing fresh perspectives to advance our understanding and application of biomedical technology."

This response shows your relevant expertise, ability to work in a team, and the unique perspectives you can offer, positioning you as a valuable addition to the research group.

13) Do you have any questions for us?

Asking good questions demonstrates your motivation. It also shows that you’ve given some genuine consideration to the project and/or program you’re applying to.

Some questions you can ask the interviewer include:

• What will the supervision arrangements be for the project?
• What kind of training and skills sessions are offered as part of the PhD program?
• How many other PhD students has this supervisor seen to completion?
• Are there any major developments or partnerships planned for the department?
• Are there likely to be any changes to the funding arrangements for the project?
• What opportunities will I have for presenting my research?

Remember: you’re a good student, with lots of potential. You’re considering at least three years of hard work with this university. You need to know that you’ll get on with your supervisor, that your work will be appreciated and that there are good prospects for your project.

What to wear to a PhD interview

Wear formal attire for a PhD interview. Your best bet is to wear a suit. A navy blue suit is the best and most versatile option. No matter your gender, a suit is always very professional.

For men, wear a suit with a tie, dress shirt, and dress shoes. For women, wear a suit (pantsuit or skirt suit) with a blouse, or conservative dress, and closed-toe shoes.

When in doubt, it’s better to be slightly overdressed than underdressed. The goal is to make a professional impression and feel confident, without your attire distracting from the conversation.

What to expect from a PhD interview

At its core, a PhD interview will consist of questions that allow your potential supervisors to get to know you better and have an understanding of what you’d like to study, why you’ve chosen your field of study, and whether you’d be a good fit for the PhD program.

You should expect general questions to help the interviewer get a sense of your likes and dislikes, and your overall personality.

Next, expect questions about your personal motivations for studying a PhD. Your interviewer will also be interested in any relevant experience you have to qualify you to study this PhD.

In the next section, expect questions about your PhD project. You should be prepared to discuss your project idea in detail and demonstrate to the interviewer that you are the ideal candidate.

Last but not least, the interviewer will discuss your future ambitions and give you an opportunity to ask questions. Remember that this interview goes both ways.

It’s important to ask the interviewer relevant questions to show your engagement and the serious consideration you are giving their program.

You are preparing to spend several years of your life at this school. Think about what is important to you and what would make or break your decision to attend this university.

Prepare a list of questions ahead of the interview.

Understanding the interviewer’s point of view

During a PhD interview, interviewers are typically looking for a range of traits that indicate whether you are well-suited for the rigors of a doctoral program and a research career.

These traits include:

Intellectual Curiosity and Passion: A strong enthusiasm for the subject area and a desire to contribute to and expand knowledge in the field.

Research Skills and Experience: Demonstrable skills in conducting research, including designing experiments, collecting and analyzing data, and interpreting results. Prior research experience relevant to the PhD topic is often a plus.

Resilience and Perseverance: The capacity to handle setbacks and challenges, which are common in research, and to persist in the face of difficulties.

Collaboration and Teamwork: Although PhD research can be quite independent, the ability to work well with others, including advisors, faculty, and other students, is crucial.

Self-Motivation and Independence: The drive to work independently, manage one's own project, and stay motivated over the long term.

Fit with the Program: Alignment of the candidate’s research interests and goals with the strengths and focus of the PhD program and faculty.

These traits not only indicate your readiness for a PhD program but also your potential to contribute meaningfully to their field of study and succeed in a research-oriented career.

Related posts:

• University Interview Questions (16 Questions + Answers)
• Project Manager Interview Questions (14 Specific Questions + Answers)
• Strength-Based Interview Questions (21 Questions + Answers)
• Engineering Interview Questions (15 Questions + Answers)
• Business Analyst Interview Questions (17 Questions + Answers)

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Interview for Prospective Research students

All academic departments are expected to interview applicants before making an offer of a place on mphil/phd and some mres/phd degree programmes. you will only be interviewed if you are shortlisted by the academic department you have applied to..

This webpage provides you with general information about the interview and what to expect. Interviews are intended to be an opportunity for information exchange between you and the academic department. 

Purpose of interviews

The purpose of interviewing potential research students is likely to vary between different academic departments. However, the primary aim is for you to give further information to selectors/potential supervisors about your motivation, commitment and potential for study at the doctoral level. 

Before interviewing a potential research student, the department will have already assessed a number of criteria from information you provided in your application:

• academic qualifications and history;
• English Language ability;
• academic references;
• research proposal;
• personal statement; and
• sample of assessed work.

The application form is used as a short-listing mechanism. The interview forms the next stage of the application process.

Who will arrange my interview?

If your application passes the first review stage, you will be invited to an interview. The academic department to which you have applied for a place will make the arrangements for your interview by email. The email will contain the details of the interview, including the interview format. If you need any special arrangements to be made for your interview – for example, if you have a disability – you should raise this when the department contacts you.  

Who will conduct my interview?

The academic department will confirm who will be interviewing you. This can include one or more members of academic staff and might include your potential supervisor. 

What will my interview include?

Doctoral students are expected to have certain attributes and the interview will be an opportunity for departments to get further information about the candidate’s: 

ability to process complex concepts, reason analytically and critically; 

ability to evaluate their own work and the work of others; 

capacity to conduct independent research as well as to accept guidance from others; 

enthusiasm for research; 

motivation and perseverance in achieving objectives; 

organisational skills; 

capacity to establish good working relationships; 

personal and academic integrity. 

What should I do to prepare for my interview?

Most interviewers are looking at your ideas, attitudes and opinions; they are not looking at getting the "right answer". They will be looking for evidence of a strong interest in the subject as well as enthusiasm for it. It will be important to be well prepared for your interview and there are a number of sources of information you might find useful including: 

• information about MPhil/PhD programmes at the LSE – the  programme pages  and programme regulations  www.lse.ac.uk/resources/calendar/research.htm . You may also like to look at previous students' PhD theses which you can access online  etheses.lse.ac.uk/
• sample of interview questions - see below
• your application form – you might wish to re-read this in case you are asked any questions in relation to what you said in it
• the research interests of academic staff in the Department you have applied to -  LSE Experts Directory
• information about the academic department -  www2.lse.ac.uk/home.aspx  (from where you can navigate to all academic department pages)

If you are attending an interview in person, casual dress is acceptable.

When will I be told the outcome?

Decisions about whether or not you will be offered a place  is not  provided at the interview itself. The Graduate Admissions Office will notify you of the department's decision once the selection process has been completed; this may be some time after the interview.  

The interview is part of the selection process and therefore does not form any part of the 'contract' between the School and a student once they are registered.   

The department who interviewed you will keep a short record of the interview and its outcome. This will be kept in a secure and confidential place. The Department will make sure that only relevant people use this information for the relevant purposes, in accordance with obligations under the Data Protection Act.

Sample interview questions: general

This list provides a sample of interview questions and has been provided to all academic departments at the School. Whilst your interview may contain additional questions, the following should help you in preparing for it.

Motivation for doctoral study (at the LSE)

• Please tell me something about you, what you have been doing/studying/working on during the past year?
• What made you apply for this programme at this particular time? Why did you choose the LSE? What made you choose this department?
• Where do you anticipate/hope a PhD will lead in terms of your career development?
• What contribution do you think you will be making to your chosen field of research?

Readiness for doctoral study

• What academic skills do you possess?
• What is the relevance of your previous study to your proposed research?
• What potential areas of research have you identified?  How did you arrive at these? What interests you about them?
• Have you previously led seminars/taught undergraduates?
• How do you intend to fund your study?

Understanding of doctoral study

This is likely to be an area in which information is being exchanged between you and the interviewer(s). The interviewer(s) might provide information on:

• The programme/department/School
• What past doctoral students have gone on to after completing their PhD
• What opportunities there are to develop transferable skills, within the department/School 

You might be asked questions such as:

• Are you aware of the requirements of the programme (including taught courses)?
• What are you expecting by way of supervisory arrangements?
• How do you anticipate combining the demands of doctoral study/completing a PhD with other commitments you might have? What do you expect those demands to be?

Special consideration for part-time study

If you are applying to study on a part-time basis, you will be asked the same questions as for full-time applicants. However, it is likely that your interviewer(s) may wish to focus on particular aspects such as how you expect to balance your other commitments with doctoral study. You might be asked:

• What do you expect by way of arrangements as a part-time student i.e. what access to your supervisor(s), services and facilities are you expecting? 
• What do you expect your attendance at the School (for taught courses) to be?
• Have you considered a forward-plan of how commitments to employers will harmonise with the intensive requirements of doctoral study? 
• Have you reached a formal agreement with your employer?
• What time/travel demands do you think will be necessary to undertake fieldwork? How will this be managed with your employment?

How to apply Information on the application process, and our video guide

Available Programmes Check if your chosen programme is still available

Current processing times When should you expect an update on your application

Track your application Access the Graduate Applicant Portal

News and Events Updates from the Graduate Admissions Office

Contact us Our Knowledge base and getting in touch with our team by Zoom, email, and Live chat

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PhD Application Tips

You may think from the title of this article that it will concentrate on how to prepare PhD application documents, but if that were the case then you would miss out on some vital stages of the process of applying for a PhD. If you do move very quickly from “I want to do a PhD” to submitting a PhD application then this could affect the standard of your application and could also have effects on your subsequent PhD experience.

In another article, “ Why should you do a PhD? ” a number of academic colleagues stressed that PhD students need to have passion for their subject or research topic. This is true but does this “passion” also need to be managed especially during a PhD application phase? The dictionary definition of passion is “an intense desire or enthusiasm for something”. Sometimes being so focussed on the “something”, i.e. the PhD can mean neglecting some of the detailed preparation needed for an effective application or not considering enough about what a PhD will involve and demand of you. Therefore the rest of this article will offer tips that will utilise your passion but also offer some checks and balances that will control it and help to move you to make a well thought out and effective PhD application, as well as a commitment to three to four years of intensive work.

Tip 1- Start early

As with any career or personal decision the more time you can give yourself to explore options , find out about opportunities and explore your own motivations the better. Although it’s difficult to give an exact amount of time required for the research and exploration stages of applying for a PhD I would advise that thinking a year to 18 months ahead may be realistic.

Here are some suggestions of the type of actions you could take to get started:

Current students could start by talking to PhDs in their department about their experiences. They could also find out if there are relevant postgraduate study talks and events offered by the careers service or your school/department which may cover application processes, funding and opportunities.

For those who have graduated quite recently can you contact your final year or dissertation tutor and talk to them about what a PhD involves?

UK universities may also attend postgraduate study events in different countries which may be useful for anyone thinking of coming to the UK to undertake a research degree.

Tip 2 – Do your research

Research what you would like to research but also be prepared to adapt this to what is possible. This, as one of my academic colleagues stated, may be about achieving a balance between keeping an open mind, whilst listening to what potential supervisors or sponsors know about what is happening and retaining passion for, and knowledge about, the area you want to target. Keep checking the balance between the desire to apply for a PhD and applying for the right PhD.

Research who is working on the topics that interest you, read journal articles, blogs or other online resources, move beyond your current knowledge. Are there research seminars and public lectures that you could attend to enhance your knowledge and understanding of emerging areas? Maybe this will also give you the opportunity to meet and talk to potential supervisors? You will also be able to utilise this research or contacts when you are preparing a PhD application and at any subsequent PhD interviews.

Research funding – it is important to understand how PhDs are funded as well as know about funding sources and opportunities for PhDs. Good places to start are:

PhD Funding – A Checklist Of Possible Funding Sources

Post Graduate Doctoral Loan

In my experience, prospective students leave the question of funding until late in the decision-making process possibly because they fear it may be a block to their ambitions or because they think potential supervisors may doubt their motivation if they raise any financial questions. If you are being offered funding make sure you understand what it will cover, for example, fees only or fees and living costs.

Do some practical preparation – set out a monthly budget for accommodation, food and transport costs. If you are moving to a new country or area, use local websites and newspapers to find out about housing and transport costs. Your application may be affected if you are already concerned about financial issues.

Tip 3 – Explore the reality

When I ask PhD students at my university to talk to prospective PhDs they all stress how much they had to adjust to a different work environment and culture. This happens whether they have moved immediately on from a previous degree or have had employment experience. The common themes they want you to consider are adjusting to working intensely on a specific area, the frustrations of research such as obtaining disappointing results and that progress can be slow. Some also talk about isolation especially if they have just moved from another university course or a team at work. They also mention that it can be difficult to know whether or not you are doing well enough. It’s not all doom and gloom though as they will speak with passion and excitement about being involved in original work and how much they have developed personally through their PhD experience. Make sure you find out as much as possible about the working life of a PhD student in your academic discipline.

You should also explore the skills and behaviours PhDs need to have and develop. For example:

• Are you curious, dedicated, visionary or controversial?
• Do you accept criticism, get bored by easy work or have the ability to self-teach?

These are just a few of the skills and qualities highlighted by Peter J Bentley in his book “The PhD Application Handbook” (Open University Press 2006). There are more for you to consider in Chapter 1 “Before you start”. Which of them do you have experience of, or strengths in, and which will you need to work on? You will be able to use these reflections in your personal statement and at interviews where supervisors will want you to provide specific and realistic assessments of what you will bring to a PhD. They read and hear a lot of very general and overarching statements from candidates so you will need to be more specific and insightful if you are to convince them to take you on.

Tip 4 – Make contact

Academic colleagues stress how important it is to make contact with potential supervisors as early as possible. Colleagues from the arts and humanities, offered the following pieces of advice, “once you have a specific research area … be brave (and it does take a bit of courage) write to the academics concerned…”, “get in contact formal/informal … and write a research proposal as a collaborative process … try and get some sort of working relationship with them before you submit your application” or “the best thing is to pick up the phone ….personal contact is invaluable.”

For those in other academic disciplines, this advice also holds true as you should talk to tutors and potential supervisors about the areas that you are interested in. Even if the initial contact is with someone who is not directly working in that area they may be able to refer you to others who are. If you are contacting someone new make sure you know something about their work and use this to make a more specific approach to them, for example, referring to a paper you have read and using this to illustrate why you want to work in this area.

Try not to open any conversation, written or telephone, with “I’ve always wanted to work with you”, realistically this is probably not true. “I’ve recently become very interested in the work of your group as my final year project has been examining ….”, could be an example of a more realistic approach and will also allow you to begin to write as a potential PhD student. Supervisors will start to assess you as such from the first contact you make with them so take note of the points in Tip 5.

Tip 5 – Presenting yourself effectively on paper

Before you begin preparing your CV, personal statement or research proposal make sure you understand the PhD application system, don’t rush in. If you have any queries contact the postgraduate admissions team at the university you are applying to.

Your CV should concentrate on your academic record, highlight achievements such as a distinction in a Masters or other awards or prizes. Make sure you include details of projects at masters and/or undergraduate levels, as well as other relevant skills and experience, e.g. lab or programming skills. If you have been fortunate enough to publish your work in a journal or at a conference then this should be referenced in your CV.

A personal statement should be focussed and specific but also convey enthusiasm and conviction for your subject. Don’t use overspecialised vocabulary especially if you do not really understand its meaning! You could look very foolish if you are asked about it at the interview. In the words of a colleague, “Avoid excess detail, be concise and absolutely clear. Lucid presentation speaks volumes.” “Get someone rigorous to read and criticise your draft – don’t ask friends they tend to be too polite.”

If you are submitting a research proposal (not all applications require this) the advice is similar to that for personal statements in terms of style. In addition, academics would advise being realistic about the scope of your proposal, “a PhD dissertation needs to fulfil certain sensible criteria and so it isn’t an opportunity to change the world”. “It is not a good idea to pretend you know exactly where the research is going. If it really is research then the outcome can’t be known at the application stage …….yet the student needs to have a fair grasp of what is going on in the field and why the proposal matters.”

It is difficult to prepare these documents on your own and especially not the research proposal. Make sure you get feedback and comment from your tutors. University careers services will offer CV and personal statement reviews and may also run PhD application workshops. There are, of course, online resources such as those on jobs.ac.uk as well as books on applying for and getting a PhD. Factor in time for drafting and re-drafting all of these documents and then double it, they always take longer to do than you think. Make sure you allow for other factors such as assignment or work deadlines that may take priority. Above all do not rush your application it will be very obvious to the reader especially as you are likely to miss some of the obvious problems – typographical or grammatical errors – even one of these could lead to your application being rejected immediately.

Tip 6 – Interviews

Not all PhD candidates will have an interview but if you do whether this is a face to face interview or via the telephone or skype then as with all interviews you MUST prepare. For questions related to the research you are going to be involved in, can you demonstrate that you have already started to consider how the research will be conducted, can you state thoughtfully why this research matters, are you aware of existing work and why there is a gap that needs to be filled?

Remember that the interview will provide an indication of the way you need to work as a researcher, so, for instance, your interviewers may ask you to explain research methods you have used before or intend to use in the future. They may challenge some of your views or thinking or offer an alternative for you to consider. They may not be expecting a perfect answer but will be assessing your ability to listen, consider quickly and either adapt or defend your approach.

You may also be asked more general questions about the skills and behaviours you have that will make you a good PhD candidate and why you want to do a PhD? If you have worked through Tips 1 – 4 then you should be well prepared for these questions and able to answer confidently, enthusiastically but realistically.

Interviews are two-way conversations and are also an opportunity to assess your potential supervisor (s)! In fact, a colleague at Nottingham asks PhD candidates if they are happy to work with him, his team and in the department? You may not always get this direct approach but it is important that you consider these things during or immediately after an interview. You could also use the opportunity to ask questions of the interviewers to find out about their style of supervision and what their expectations of you will be, should you work with them?

Tip 7 – Make informed choices

All of the tips above relate to this final aspect of applying for a PhD, it is about making informed choices and using the research you do to make a realistic and well thought out application. So at the risk of being repetitive:

Give yourself TIME

Consider whether there is a step between undergraduate and PhD, masters or other career experience that would be beneficial for you in making an informed choice or a better application?

Think ahead either in terms of applying for the right PhD or considering what it may lead to – the life beyond a PhD

Make contact with potential supervisors and get help when you are preparing application documents or going for an interview.

Finally at all stages of applying for a PhD keep checking that your passion is being channelled effectively and is helping you towards preparing and presenting yourself as someone who is looking forward, with enthusiasm but also realism, to the challenges of undertaking original research.

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How to Prepare for a PhD Interview

So, you’ve been invited for a PhD interview. Congratulations! This means that the admission committee considers you appropriately qualified and academically capable of doing a PhD in their program. This next step will allow them to determine if you’re a good fit, and you have the motivation and drive to complete a PhD. The interview is your opportunity to show the committee who you are, what your interests are, why their program is the right place for you to explore them.

There are many different formats for a PhD interview and varying degrees of formality. You may have a one-on-one interview with your potential supervisor over Skype, a formal interview in front of a panel, be asked to give a presentation to the department, or an informal chat with your potential supervisor and their students over lunch. Regardless of the level of formality, you should still do your homework and prepare for the interview. You cannot predict the specifics of the questions that they will ask you, but certain topics are almost inevitable.

Here are some ways to prepare for your interview:

• Review your research proposal or statement of purpose. The interviewer will likely make reference to it during the interview. Go over the experiences that have prepared you for a PhD and be ready to give specific examples during the interview. Be able to explain the reasons why you applied to this program in particular.
• Be prepared to talk about your research interests in detail. You likely gave an overview in your proposal or statement of purpose, but the interview is your chance to show that you have put some thought into what you wrote. Show that you have the required background knowledge, including knowledge of the key people in your research area, methodologies you plan to use, or studies you want to reference.
• Think about your motivation for pursuing a PhD. The interviewers want to know you have put some thought into the decision to pursue a PhD. They also want to gauge your commitment to the project before they invest time and money in you. Think about how a PhD will help you achieve your career goals.
• Read your potential supervisor’s work. This shows you are serious about working with them. Demonstrate why you want to work with them in particular and how their expertise will be essential to your research. If you are interviewing for a small program, familiarize yourself with the work (or at least the fields of expertise) of the other faculty members.
• Familiarize yourself with current scholarship in the field. This is another way to demonstrate your engagement with field and that you can think critically about the current debates. You should know how your proposed research will fit into the current scholarship and what makes it unique.

Remember that this interview goes both ways. You are preparing to spend at least three years (likely more) of your life here. Think about what is important to you and what would make or break your decision to attend this university. Come to the interview prepared with some questions for the interviewer. Potential questions could include:

• What do they do to promote work/life balance?
• What can your potential mentor/supervisor do to advance your career?
• How does your potential supervisor mentor students?
• What is the program’s job placement record?
• What sort of resources does the university have? (Libraries, lab equipment etc.)
• What are their funding sources?
• What is the program’s average time to degree?
• Will I have the opportunity to teach/present/patent/publish?

If your interview is taking place on-campus or you are invited to visit the campus after being accepted, take the opportunity to talk to some of the current grad students. They will offer you a frank take on the program and the inside scoop on what it’s like to work with your potential supervisor. Also, consider the fact that you will be spending a considerable amount of time around these people for the next few years. Will you fit in with them as a friend and colleague? How social is the department? Do they do activities together outside of the university? Do they seem supportive of each other, or are they competitive? This information will help inform your decision.

A Note on the Skype Interview

Skype interviews are becoming increasingly common, especially for international students. There are a few practical tips to keep in mind when setting up for an online interview. Do your interview somewhere where you have a strong internet connection, usually at home or in a quiet office. If you have roommates, make sure they are aware of when your interview is and understand not to disturb you during the interview. Choose your location carefully. You want a well-lit area with a tidy, neutral background. If possible, face a natural light source. Place your computer on top of a pile of books so that the camera is almost at eye level (a more natural angle). Look at the camera when you speak to make “eye contact” with the interviewer.

The interview is your time to shine, and being prepared will allow you to do just that.

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She used her huge TV platform to launch her own sell-out cabaret performance across the US, and is bringing her new show of Marry F Kill for a UK tour next month – including a set at Mighty Hoopla in London .

Speaking to Metro.co.uk before she takes the stage, she teased that she has some very big projects in her sights when she finally gets back to the US, including a potential stint on the Traitors .

‘The Traitors is in my forecast, I think,’ she told us. ‘I would love to do that show, just to go to Scotland for a month and hang out with Alan Cumming – who I know and who I love! I have my eye on dating… Wouldn’t I be a great Golden Bachelorette?’

Gerry Turner famously made his debut as the very first senior citizen to front the dating show last year, at the age of 72, and attempted to find love with women between 60 and 75 years old.

However, Luann insisted that she would tweak these age requirements if she were to look for love on TV herself – as men in their 60s ‘have problems’ down below…

‘Not that age, oh no. Younger,’ she clarified. ‘I loved the show but 70s? No, no, no.

‘I have a theory that the 40-year-olds are into my stuff, the 50-year-olds are like, “S**t, I’m 50, I need a 20 year old”. And the 60-year-olds have a problem in the lower level, as Ramona [Singer, RHONY co-star] would call it. My pick would be 40s to 60 tops.

‘I pitched that show for Bravo ages ago, they didn’t do it. ABC ran away with the prize. They’re sorry they didn’t do that, but don’t worry, they’re going to make up for it. I’m heading in that direction. Not saying anything is confirmed!’

Luann has gone through countless lifetimes already , having trained as a nurse, written a book, enjoyed a modeling career and acted in films and TV shows.

She was one of the OG cast members of the Real Housewives of New York, which originally aired in 2008 – the first series focused on her marriage to Count Alexandre de Lesseps, who she shares children Noel and Victoria with.

The cameras captured the fallout from their divorce, in 2009, as well as her subsequent marriage to Tom D’Agostino Jr in 2016 – and their split the following year.

Reflecting on the 14 years she has spent on our screens, she reflected: ‘I’ve [gone through] blood, sweat and tears on the show. I’ve got divorced, married again, divorced again, raised children. I’ve lived my life on TV and I always was very honest about it, I think people can see that.

‘The camera doesn’t lie. Lots of people have skeletons in their closet. If you have them, then not a great place to be is on the Housewives because they will find them, so I’ve always really lived my true authentic self. I’ve grown so much – I started as the Countess, married to a French aristocrat, “Yes, I’m Mrs de Lesseps.”

‘We got paid nothing for the first season, nothing. We did not know what was going to happen. It was new, Queer Eye for the Straight Guy was really the most popular thing for Bravo, and along came Housewives. Jill Zarin, I met her at a party, said, “You’d be perfect for this show I’m doing.” That’s how I found the show, it found me, actually.

‘Regret things I said [and] done? Not really. You can’t take it back. I guess I’ve got a thicker skin through all the years … I only care about what my friends think about me, and my family. That’s it.

‘I earned my badges and boy, I’ve been through it. Just getting through Bethenny [Frankel] is a miracle. Nobody could confront her like me.’

Loyal RHONY viewers are well-versed in Luann’s cabaret efforts, as the Bravo cameras have followed her through rehearsals, shows, last minute changes and song choices.

What fans may not known is that she writes the entire thing herself, including the music, stories and jokes – taking a lot from her own life and time on the Housewives.

Her new Marry F Kill production will be touring the UK in just a few weeks, debuting at Mighty Hoopla on June 1 and June 2, before performances in Dublin, Brighton, Manchester and London – the performance at Mighty Hoopla will mark her biggest crowd to date.

Shedding light on what crowds can expect from her tour, she explained: ‘This show in particular is about who we’d marry, who we’d eff, and who we’d kill.

‘I talk about the men I have married, who I’ve effed notoriously on the show – we talk about the Pirate for a hot second – and the one I’d get rid of. It’s really about love, love lost and dating apps, all that fun stuff. Mixed in, of course, with Housewives and all my classics that my fans love.

‘I’ve never played the UK, so I’m so excited to bring the show, because people don’t know what to expect. I say they drive in in a Toyota and they drive out in a Rolls Royce.

‘It’s an experience that you’re immersed in. I’ve had fans come [and tell me], “I went to Beyonce, I had a better time at your show.” Beyonce is fantastic but you can’t really get close to her.’

‘I love it because the fans are connected through the Housewives, so they have something in common,’ she added. ‘I work really hard at cabaret. This is no joke, this is a great show and it’s a fun time.’

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