FAQ's
WHAT IT IS LIKE TO DO A PHD?
Past and present PhD students can fill you with tales of dread and delight. Scroll the menu above (right) to explore the PhD Study pages and take a look at the articles in our \’PhD Life’.
WHAT HAPPENS AT A PHD INTERVIEW?
Prep on reading
PhD interviews vary remarkably depending on the supervisor. It is likely that one will be asked about the third-year project or any other research experience. If you have been given details of any particular references, make sure to read them. If you’ve not been given this information, then use the web to find relevant papers (particularly those by your potential supervisor). You are not likely to be examined on these criteria, but, the supervisor would be observant to the effort done in prepping on the papers.
Why PHD
Another question you are likely to be asked is why you want to do a PhD in general, and the PhD in particular. You should think prepare t the answers to these questions before you go to the interview. Many people apply for a PhDs because they can’t think of anything else to do. A good supervisor will try to avoid these people.
Know your environment
Finally, remember to know more. Try to speak to PhD students working in your potential new lab/Department and garner details.. Don’t be afraid to ask the aspiring students about the quality of supervision. Three years is a long time to be stuck with a bad supervisor or to work in an unfriendly environment.
WHAT SHOULD I PUT IN MY APPLICATION?
You should write a project on the subject which interests you. It is generally considered better to study for a PhD in a different University from the one where you did your first degree, as it will expose you to a different set of academic influences. However, it is not uncommon for people to stay in the same place, either because of family commitments or because of the quality of projects on offer. To decide whether or not to accept a place you should look at a number of factors:
The Research Assessment Exercise (RAE)
The research rating of a department or school is known as its RAE rating. Most departments will publish their RAE score on their websites or you can see the results of the whole RAE on the RAE web site. The RAE is a long process and the latest RAE,for which results are published, is from 2008. The results can be hard to interpret and each university may choose to display them in a different light. Any department or school with 50% or more of their staff rated 4* or 3* is doing very well for itself. It does not however mean that every research group in that department is at the top of their game. Universities have a degree of flexibility in how they are assessed for the RAE. They sometimes group departments together, For instance, if they’ve got two outstanding Life Science departments and one which isn’t, then they may submit all three as one unit. They can, and do, choose not to submit some of their academics for inclusion in the assessment (sometimes because they are young and haven’t had time to build up a publication record or sometimes because they’re not good). The reason they go to so much effort is that a large amount of funding for the five years, following the RAE, is based on the result.
The Research Group
Some of the criteria upon which the RAE is graded include Research Publications, Industrial Collaborations, Grant Income, and numbers of research students. You can get an idea of this yourself by looking up the publications of your potential new supervisor. It is unlikely that you will know which journals are more prestigious, but, you can always ask around.
A pretty good measure of grant income is to count the number of students and postdocs in the group. Postdocs are an invaluable source of help and inspiration, particularly in larger groups where time with your supervisor may be limited.
Having said all this, working with a younger academic at the start of their career can have many advantages. The younger lot are likely to have much more time to give you and will be pleased to have you as grants are hard to gain.
The best source of information, on who to work for, will be from the course tutors. Academia is a small world and is highly collaborative; people know who the leaders and the straggler are in their own fields.
The Supervision
At most PhD interviews,will have the opportunity to see where you are going to be working and probably be given a tour by a current PhD apirant . Ask them about how the team works, how often they present group seminars, how often is the supervisor absent (does it make a difference when they are). It helps a lot during a PhD interview.
The Training
PhD students used to be left at the total mercy of their supervisor. These days most departments offer some degree of support. The supervisor the department should provide one or more advisors. These will be academics from the same department.Their job is to check that your project is on track and to listen to any inconveinence caused. Many departments also run seminar programs covering research methodologies, thesis writing, and other relevant subjects.
Taking these relatively new developments a step further, 4-year programs,such as, the New Route PhD or many similar schemes funded by the EPSRC, BBSRC, MRC, Welcome Trust and others, offer an even greater degree of formal training.
Most information on support and training for PhD students will be on the department’s website. If not, enquire on itat the interview.
IS MY QUALIFICATION EQUIVALENT TO A 2i DEGREE?
The wide variety of qualifications from each country, makes it difficult to find out if the qualification is considered to be equivalent to a 2 (i) degree. To give a rough idea, a British 2 (i) degree (referred to as an ‘Upper Second Class Honors’ Degree’ or a ‘Two-One’) is the second-highest mark available for British Honors’ Degree. Where the US/Canadian marking scheme is used, a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.3 is usually required.
The British Council, in your home country, will be able to help you. Before applying, you could try asking your former course tutors or alternatively can visit The National Academic Recognition Information Centre for the United Kingdom. They provideinformal advice,which is free of charge. An official ‘letter of comparability’, which will be accepted by employers, costs £30 (+VAT), but should not be necessary for most universities as they assess the aspirants themselves.
It is generally the case that international students are required to have a Master’s level qualification as well as a 2(i) equivalent qualification.
WHAT QUALIFICATION DO I NEED?
The normal pre-requisite for a UK research council PhD studentship is a 2(i) degree or a 2(ii) plus an appropriate Masters degree. A small number of studentships are funded by charitable trusts or by the host University, which can have less rigid qualification criteria. The other possibility is a job as a Graduate Research Assistant, where one can register for a part-time PhD (it may still only take three years). Keep checking back in the New Projects section of Find PhD for the latest opportunities. If you decide that a Masters’ degree would be a good first step, then you should be prepared not only to support yourself during the course, but also to pay full course fees.
A very small number of grants are available for Masters Degrees; you will need to check this on a course-by-course basis. In certain circumstances, your Local Education Authority may provide some support. Before accepting a place on a Masters course, make sure that it would qualify you for the types of PhD you’re looking for. Visit our sister site, FindAMasters.com, to see what Masters Courses are on offer.
Students whose first language is not English will need a recognized English language qualification. See our English Language Qualifications article for more information.
CAN I FUND MYSELF?
You can fund yourself and, if you are not a home student, you may need to do just that (at least partly). Whilst self-funding can make it easier to find a supervisor, you’ll still need to prove to them that you are competent in completing the PhD successfully. A new section on Self Funding will be added to Find PhD soon.
HOW MUCH WILL IT COST?
This depends on where you are from, where you want to study, and whether or not you qualify for funding. If you are a UK student, with appropriate qualifications (see below) then you should be capable to apply for one of the many funded projects on this site. Funding in the Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences are often more complex than in the Sciences and *Engineering,/ see our article on PhD Study in the Arts & Humanities for more information. If you are an international student, wishing to study in the UK or a UK student yearning to study abroad, then visit our Funding section to see whether you are eligible for any scholarships.
HOW LONG DOES A PhD TAKES?
In the UK, most PhD programs last for three years. Students are required to submit a thesis within 12 months of the end of the program (and preferably within the three-year period). There are an increasing number of programs, such as the New Route PhD scheme or the Welcome Trust 4-year Ph-D scheme, which includes a number of illustrated modules into the program which increases the length to four years.
CAN I APPLY FOR IELTS TEST WITHOUT TAKING IELTS COACHING?
Yes, you can apply without the help of any coaching institute.
WHICH BOOK IS MOST UDEFUL FOR IELTS PREPARATIONS?
Find valuable IELTS Prep Course at IELTS Correspondence Course.
HOW MANY HOURS DO I NEED TO STUDY TO GET A 6 BAND IN IELTS EXAMS?
It entirely depends on thestudents, but, 3 hours per day for 30 days is more than sufficient.
HOW MANY DAYS ARE ENOUGH FOR THE PREPARATION TO GET A 7 BAND IN ALL SECTIONS OF IELTS EXAMINATIONS?
It completely depends on an individual’s strength. I would suggest 4 hours per day for a month.
IF REGISTER WITH MY NAME, IS IT CUMPULSORY THAT THE NAME ON MY PASSPORT AND REGISTERED NAME SHOULD BE THE SAME, DO THEY ASK FOR PASSPORT WHILE REGISTERING?
Your name should be exactly same as passport, if you are the citizen of India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. There are no requirements of passport, while registering for TOEFL iBT date.
I AM THINKING TO GIVE TOEFL iBT IN THE END OF (check month ) --JANUARY AND I HAVENT REGISTERED YET,BECAUSE I WILL GET MY PASSPORT IN 1st WEEK OF JAN, SO CAN I REGISTER AND TAKE A DATE BEFORE GETTING A PASSPORT IN HAND, IS THAT POSSIBLE?
Yes, it is, one can book a date without passport.
HOW TO APPLY?
Get the ‘TOEFL iBT Information Bulletin’ available free with Sylvan Testing Services and USEFI. You can also request the bulletin from http://ipem.org/ets.htm and it will be delivered to your given address, free of cost. The Test Scheduling Form comes with the bulletin.
WHEN CAN I GIVE TOEFL iBT?
You can write TOEFL iBT on any working day of the year. Saturdays and Sundays are holidays.
HOW LONG IS MY TEST SCORE VALID?
The IELTS score is valid for 2 years. While obtaining admission to an educational institute, the latest IELTS score is considered.
WILL I GET MY TRF RESULTS EARLIER, IF I TAKE CB IELTS?
No. The TRF will be released on the 13th day of taking your IELTS test. This is a standard policy followed worldwide by all centers.
ARE ALL 4 MODULES TO BE COVERED ON THE SAME DAY?
The Listening, Reading, and Writing will be conducted on the same day. Regarding the Speaking test, it will be held on the same day, under normal circumstances. However, it is advisable to seek confirmation from the Test Centre, four days prior to the test date.
DOES TRF FOR CB IELTS LOOK DIFFERENT FROM THE PRESENT PAPER-BASED IELTS TRF?
No. The TRF will look exactly the same and there is no difference between the TRF of a CB IELTS and a Paper-based IELTS.
WHICH IS EASIER, CB IELTS OR PAPER BASED TEST?
There is no difference between the computer-based test and the paper-based test. Both tests are the same; it is just the difference in the test delivery.
HOW CAN I PREPARE FOR CB IELTS?
Please get in touch with the IDP: IELTS Australia Centre for a free orientation/demonstration. Apart from this, you can purchase practice material and also undergo a preparatory training program on IELTS, with specific emphasis on CB IELTS.
HOW MUCH DOES CB ILETS TEST COST?
The CB IELTS test costs the same as the paper-based test. The current fee (w. e. f. 1st January 2006) is Rs. 6,825/-, payable by Demand Draft drawn in favor of ‘IELTS India Project’, payable at ‘New Delhi’. You can also pay by credit card (Master / VISA) at the test center or even register and pay online on www.IELTSIndia.com.
HOW CAN I APPLY TO TAKE CB IELTS?
To apply you have to contact IDP: IELTS Australia Centre, or log on to www.IELTSIndia.com and go into the CB IELTS section. The application form for CB IELTS is the same as the one currently used.
WHERE CAN I TAKE THE CB IELTS TEST?
The CB IELTS is available currently at the New Delhi center of IDP: IELTS Australia in India. Other IDP centers will be added in due course.
CAN I TAKE BOTH TRAINING AND GENERAL MODULES ON CB IELTS?
No. Presently, only Academic Module is available on the CB IELTS.
HOW DO I TAKE SPEAKING TEST ON COMPUTER?
The Speaking tests will be conducted face-to-face, as is presently done.
WHAT IS COMPUTER-BASED, CB IELTS?
CB IELTS is a computer-based version of IELTS. It is the same test as the present Pen and Paper test. They are just delivered digitally. It consists of Listening, Reading, and Writing tests. The Listening and Reading test MUST be taken on the Computer. The Writing test can be taken either on Computer or on paper.
IS THERE A PREFERED AGE FOR EACH FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM?
Yes, there is a preferred age and/or age limit for each fellowship category.
WHAT IS THE DURATION OF GRANTS?
It can range from 2 to 36 months depending on the grant. See individual grant descriptions in the brochure or the website.
CAN I AVAIL A FULBRIGHT FELLOWSHIP FOR A PROJECT I WANT TO WORK IN INDIA?
No. These grants are offered for research/teaching to be done in the U.S.
WHICH EXAMS ARE REQUIRED FOR HIGHER EDUCATION IN THE USA?
The GRE (Graduate Record Examination) is required for Master’s and Doctoral Degree courses in all subjects other than Management (Engineering, Physics, Biology, Pharmacy, Computer Science, Psychology, etc.).
The GMAT (Graduate Management Aptitude Test) is required for all Management courses. It is also advisable to take the GMAT® if you are applying for an MS in related fields like Finance, Accounting, Marketing, and allied fields.
The SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) is required for all Undergraduate,i.e. bachelor’s level courses.
The TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) is required for all international students whose native language is not English and are seeking admission to the American Universities.
WHAT EXAMS ARE REQUIRED FOR COURSES IN MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SERVICES (MIS)?
Some universities require you to take the GRE, whereas, some require you to take the GMAT.
We recommend that you check the specific requirements of the Universities you are interested in.
WHAT ARE THE MINIMUM SCORES REQUIRED FOR GRE, GMAT, OR TOEFL TEST TO GET ADMISSION IN A GOOD UNIVERSITY IN THE USA?
Most universities do not have a ‘cut-off’, but to secure admission to a good American university, the score required in these examinations is:
The GRE test: 1100 out of 1600 for admission. For financial assistance, your score should be more than 1400. A student can get admission even if his score is 900, but not to a high ranking university.
The GMAT test: Good business schools require a GMAT score of 600 out of 800 for admission. Obtaining financial aid means getting a score of more than 730. Students can get admission even if scored 450, but not to a high ranked university.
The TOEFL test: Most Graduate/Undergraduate schools require a minimum score of 80 (out of a maximum of 120) for admission, but some good universities demand a score of 100.
HOW MANY TIMES CAN GRE, GMAT, OR TOEFL TEST CAN BE TAKEN AND WHICH SCORE IS CONSIDERED?
The tests can be taken more than once. Universities generally consider the best score, but, sometimes they may consider the average score. The decision is totally at the discretion of the University concerned.
WHEN SHOULD ONE TAKE THE TESTS IF ONE WANTS TO APPLY IN FALL/SPRING?
Students aspiring to join American Universities in the Fall Semester beginning in August/September should take the examinations latest by January of that year. Students planning to join in the Spring Semester beginning in January should take the examinations latest by July in the preceding year.
WHAT IS THE SUBJECT FOR GRE TEST? IS IT COMPULSORY?
For admission to master’s courses in Biological Sciences, Pure Sciences, and Computer Science, it is recommended that you take the subject GRE test. Moreover, the subject GRE test score may be an added advantage for getting financial aid.
IS 15-YEAR GRADUATION ENOUGH FOR A MASTER’S DEGREE?
Generally, American universities require completion of 16-years of education before enrolling for a Master’s degree. Therefore, students who have obtained a bachelor’s degree after 15 years of education are required to complete a master’s degree to qualify for admission to an American university. Students with an exceptional academic record can get admission inspite of 15 years of education, especially in Pure Sciences and Humanities.
ARE EXTERNAL DEGREES, AUTONOMOUS COURSES, PART-TIME DIPLOMAS ACCEPTED?
American universities generally do not accept Bachelors or Master’s degrees, obtained through correspondence courses.
IS WORK EXPERIENCE REQUIRED FOR AN MBA?
Yes, these days apart from a good GMAT score, many universities ask for work experience of at least 2 years
WHAT IS THE SCOPE OF MEDICAL STUDENTS IN THE US?
It is not possible for M.B.B.S. degree holders to obtain visas for further studies in medicine in the United States, unless they pass the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE). But, a M.B.B.S. degree holder can seek admission in MS or PhD programs in non-clinical subjects such as Immunology, Bacteriology, Anatomy, Genetics, Microbiology, Pharmacology, Toxicology, Pathology, Bio-medical Engineering, Public Health, Biotechnology, etc. For this, they will have to take the GRE test and the TOEFL test.
IS IT TRUE THAT ONLY ENGINEERING AND COMPUTER SCIENCE STUDENTS HAVE OPPORTUNITIES IN THE US?
No, The American education system and job market need students from various fields. In fact, non-engineering students stand a better chance of getting financial support from US universities. Every year, we send several students in the fields of Sociology, Psychology, Geography, Economics, Mathematics and Statistics, Literature and Languages, Environmental Sciences, Molecular, and Cellular Biology, Immunology, Physiology, Biomedical Sciences, Toxicology, etc. A majority of these students secured admission in the top ranking universities with financial aid.
WHAT ARE THE SOURCES/TYPES OF FINANCIAL AID AVAILABLE?
Most universities offer substantial financial assistance to their students. They can be divided into three types: – Fellowships/Scholarships, Teaching or Research Assistantships, Campus Jobs.
WHAT IS THE AVERAGE COST PER YEAR AT THE US UNIVERSITIES?
The cost of education in the United States ranges from $15,000 to over $40,000 per year. In addition to tuition fees, books, and food, you have to plan for the expenses towards housing, health insurance, and transportation.
CAN I WORK ALONG WITH MY STUDIES IN THE US?
US laws do not allow students on an F-1 visa to work off-campus. But on-campus job opportunities are available. It is possible to work for up to 20 hours per week and the pay can vary between $6-10 per hour, depending on the area and type of work. Jobs can vary from working in a computer lab to library work or dishwashing in the cafeteria.
WHICH SEMESTER IS IT MORE LIKELY TO GET FUNDING? WHICH SEMESTER IS PREFERABLE- SPRING OR FALL?
Generally, yes. But funds keep coming to professors throughout the year. What matters more is the fact that most universities do not have comparable courses for Spring and Fall. We recommend that you compare the difference in courses before taking a decision.
DOES WORK EXPERIENCE HELP TO GET FUNDING?
Generally yes, but relevant work experience is more likely to be considered, for e.g., if you are applying for Environmental Engineering, then you must have worked in the field for at least a year. You must send your work profile, duly authenticated by your employer, along with the application form.
CAN I CHANGE MY UNIVERSITY WHILE STUDYING IN THE US?
Yes. If you are not satisfied with your university, after you join it, you can apply to other universities and transfer your credits to the university you choose. You can do this at any time, but usually, most students transfer admissions are done after the 1st or the 2nd semester. You should be aware that the new University may not accept all your credits and may ask you to take some extra credits. You can also take transfer if another University is giving you financial aid.
IS IT POSSIBLE TO CHANGE THE FIELD OF STUDY?
Yes. The American system is very flexible. So you can change your field of study, while studying in a particular university, e.g., a student doing his M.S. in Engineering or the Physics department can shift to the computer science department. But it often happens that when you transfer your terms for some other subject, the new department may not accept all your earlier credits. They may treat you as a fresh admission and accept only those credits that are similar in both courses.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO APPLY TO THE US?
Anyone who has a consistently good academic record, firm financial support, and proficiency in English is eligible to apply to the US for higher education. Please check the details of the program and the university you wish to apply, since different programs have a different set of eligibility criterias. You may be required to take a few admission tests to be eligible.
WHEN CAN I START UNDERGRADUATE STUDIES IN THE US?
After you complete 12 years of school education, but, the planning should begin 12 -18 months in advance.
WHEN CAN I BEGIN GRADUATE (MASTER’S AND DOCTORAL) STUDIES IN THE US?
After you complete 16 years of education including four years of a college education but the planning should begin 12 -18 months in advance.
I HAVE A THREE-YEAR BACHELOR’S DEGREE FROM INDIA. AM I ELIGIBLE TO APPLY?
It is advisable for you to complete an additional year of studies to be a stronger applicant to a master’s degree in the US. However, some students with a good track record are able to secure admission after a three-year bachelor’s degree. Please check with the University you wish to apply for.
WHEN SHOULD I START THE APPLICATION PROCESS?
At least 18 months in advance of your intended date of enrollment at a US university. For example, if you wish to enroll in August/September 2010. You should start the process around April/May 2009. Be sure of the deadlines of the programs!
DOES THE APPLICATION PROCESS COST ME MONEY?
Yes, it does. Approximately, Rs.50, 000 for applying to an average of seven universities. This includes test fees, application fees, communication, and mailing expenses.
WILL I GET FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE?
Colleges and Universities offer scholarships, assistantships, and fellowships to outstanding students, largely based on merit. There is stiff competition for financial assistance and availability varies from university to university. Click here to find out more.
WHAT TESTS DO I NEED TO TAKE?
Visit the Admissions Test Section of the website.
WHAT TYPE OF VISA AM I ELIGIBLE FOR?
The most common student visa is F1. For further information on visas, visit the American Embassy website.
HOW AND WHEN DO WE GET INFORMATION ON AN UPCOMING GRANT?
Announcements inviting applications for Fulbright-Nehru and other Fulbright Fellowships appear in leading dailies in February every year. One can also approach USIEF offices in Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, and Mumbai for brochures and application forms OR download the form from our website.
DOES IT HELP TO ESTABLISH CONTACT WITH POTENTIAL U.S HOST INSTITUTIONS AT THE TIME OF APPLICATIONS? IS IT MANDATORY?
Though not mandatory, contact with host institutions can be very useful. It expedites the affiliation process.
HOW LONG DOES THE SELECTION PROCESS TAKE?
The process takes about a year from the time of application.
ARE FULBRIGHT GRANTS AVAILABLE FOR ATTENDING CONFERENCES, SEMINARS, AND PAPER PRESENTATIONS IN THE U.S AND OTHER COUNTRIES?
Director at Wisdom Mart
Pankaj Jain
DirectorAn MBA from the US with over 25 years of experience, I have been guiding students towards their dream universities. As the founder of Wisdom Mart, an AIRC-certified institution, I am committed to providing personalized counselling and strategic guidance. From university selection to visa assistance, our services are designed to optimize your chances of success. Let’s work together to make your global education journey a reality.
Aditya Jain
DirectorAs a founding member of Wisdom Mart, I am dedicated to guiding students in building strong profiles, securing opportunities, and achieving successful admissions and scholarships. With a Bachelor’s from the United States, and experience living and working there, I have had the privilege of helping students gain admission to top institutions such as Harvard, Berkeley, Cornell, Kellogg, and Stanford across various disciplines including science, business, law, and engineering.
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