Applying for post-graduate
studies
www.imperial.ac.uk/lifesciences/careers
Applying for post-graduate studies
Questions to ask yourself:
•Why am I thinking of applying for post-graduate study?
•What do I want to achieve?
PG study is:
- not for the faint hearted
- not a substitute for looking for a job
- hard work, full-time, rewarding
-a passport to a career either within or outside
science (keep an open mind –you may not stay until Professor)
Post-graduate study
Masters
Taught - MSc
Research - MRes
- one year full time
PhD
- 3 or 4 years full time
Masters Courses – MSc or MRes?
Masters courses last one full year (Oct - Sept)
In the UK these can be Taught or Research degrees.
At Imperial (and usually elsewhere)
Taught Masters lead to an MSc
MSc in Ecological Applications: 6 months lectures; 20 week research
project
MSc in Molecular Medicine: 5 months lectures/seminars; 7 months
research project
Research Masters lead to an MRes
MRes in Molecular and Cellular Biosciences: 3 x 13 week projects.
MRes in Ecology, Evolution and Conservation Research:
Lectures, seminars , 2 x 18 week projects.
Is Masters useful for you?
Note: some undergraduate degrees incorporate a Masters year (MSci) - don’t confuse this with a PG Masters
Why a Taught MSc?
- Good for changing fields
(e.g. from Biology/Biochemistry to Environmental Health)
- Good for in-depth study of your favourite subject
(e.g. Immunology or Virology)
- sometimes 2.2 degree sufficient, but more often 2.1 needed.
Do not always qualify as a “Masters” for a 4 year Masters/PhD course
Grants are not generally available from UK Local Education Authorities
Imperial College Fees (2014 - 2015):
LIFE SCIENCES
MSc Courses: £9,000 (home/EU); £18,400- £25,500 (o/s).
MRes Courses: £9,000 (home/EU); £25,500 (o/s).
MEDCINE
MSc £9,300 (home/EU); min.£28,000 (o/s)
MRes £12,000 (home/EU); min £28,00 (o/s)
Not all courses have same fees, even within a University- Medicine higher!
Why an MRes?
- more in depth introduction to scientific research
- Entry – usually minimum of a 2.1
They might constitute the Masters year in
a “1+3” 4 year Masters/PhD course (see later)
Grants are not generally available from UK Local Education Authorities
Fees are similar to MSc course fees (and are variable)
www.findamasters.com
Highly recommended web site – open days, deadlines etc
Applying for a PhD -1
In the UK, a PhD takes a minimum of 3 years
Funding - usually for 3 or 4 years
Entrance requirement - 2.1 or 1st class degree
“TRADITIONAL ROUTE”
BSc 3 (or 4) years
PhD 3 years
(3 years funding)
Applying for a PhD -2
NEW ROUTE 1 (4 year PhD Direct
Entry)
BSc 3 (or 4) years
NEW ROUTE 2 (1+ 3 PhD)
“1+3” degrees
“Graduate Programmes” or
“Doctoral Training Programmes”
BSc 3 (or 4) years
PhD 4 years funding
MRes year 1
PhD years 2 – 4
(4 years funding)
NEW ROUTE - 1 + 3 PhD DEGREES
Examples at Imperial College
• Wellcome Trust “Molecular & Cellular Basis of Infection” - 4 year
programme
•MRC PhD studentships - 4 year programme
•BBSRC– PhD project/supervisor selected at outset – 4 year programme
Funded by charities or research councils.
Grants are awarded to Universities (can be in association with a company)
Universities advertise, interview and offer places.
4 years funding for student (MRes and PhD) (including fees)
Highly competitive.
Adverts appear soon – November onwards: start researching and preparing
now!
Applying for a PhD -3
Where are adverts?
1. www.findaphd.com
2. University web sites
When to apply?
Some open soon- but new opportunities throughout the year.
How to apply?
Follow instructions - read carefully.
Arrange referees – inform them in advance of your intentions
Personal statement? – its about you, not the Institution you are applying to.
“I want to study at Imperial because it has really good facilities and is full of internationally
recognised researchers like Prof xxx who has published in Nature and Science and who has ….”
“During my BSc degree I learned of the amazing diversity in the strategies used by bacterial
pathogens to interact with the immune system. I would like to the opportunity to explore the
mechanisms used by bacteria to survive such interactions. Having both immunology and bacteriology
research groups within the same graduate school appeals to me, as it will allow me to….”
Choosing a PhD
1. Where to Study?
2. Which Project?
3. Which Supervisor/lab?
Funding a PhD
• Many PhD projects are advertised without funding being definitely available
findaphd.com states whether or not the project is funded and, if not, explicitly states
that only self-funded students need apply
• Find out if funding available.
Graduate programmes (e.g. BBSRC; MRC; EPRSC, Wellcome) are funded,
and the number of studentships is normally stated.
e.g.
MRC-Asthma UK Centre in Allergic Mechanisms of Asthma
5 x PhD studentships (4-year) to start in October 20xx
Often the numbers of projects available is far greater than the
number of funded students.
However you are not guaranteed to get your first choice.
Advice – do not apply unless several projects appeal to you.
Other PhD positions
(Traditional Route)
Supervisors are constantly looking for ways of funding studentships,
e.g. from charities, companies, Trusts etc
Always read the small print!
Occasionally adverts will appear from individuals with funding from specific
charities, etc. These are rare but worth following up.
Industrial CASE (collaborative awards in science and engineering,
supervisor applies)
studentships
- funded by a UK research council
- in collaboration with a (UK) company
- students spends some time at the company
How much do you get paid?
PhD students obtain a tax-free monthly stipend (salary) for a fixed duration
( 3 or 4 years).
Fees are paid by Funding body.
Examples of some 2013/14 rates (annual stipend; tax free)
BBSRC/ MRC/NERC- £16,000-£17,500 (London)
Wellcome Trust about £22,000 (London)
Masters and PhD students are exempt form UK Council Tax
Demonstrating
You might get an opportunity to demonstrate to,
or tutor, UG students for more money
– you might have to do this as part of your
contract
- good experience, but ensure your supervisor
does not take advantage of you!
NATIONALITY ISSUES
Nationality issues
Funding is often conditional on nationality.
Research this carefully, especially if you are not a UK national and are applying
for research council funded studentship.
EU
You have been resident in UK for 3 years continuously beforehand
i.e. during BSc – ELIGIBLE
NON-EU
•NOT ELIGIBLE for most schemes
•SOME, specific studentships (very few)
•Home government is best source
•Self funding?
Application process
NO UCAS equivalent to co-ordinate applications: so
Start early
Be persistent- look widely and apply for several studentships
Keep copies of your applications, CVs etc.
What if you get an offer?
Normally have a fixed period in which to decide: 24 h - week or two.
Make sure its what you want.
Consult - personal tutor/other academics .
Re-visit institution/ lab and meet key people again.
Once you accept an offer, you must tell other places you have
applied to that you are withdrawing your application
Advice
What / where should I study?
Personal tutor / Final year course convener
CV/ covering letter
Personal tutor
Careers Advisory Service
http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/careers
Drop-in Q and A sessions on postgraduate study.
November – TBA,
Good luck!
Questions?