The application process for PhDs depends on the country in which the institution is based. Here, we bring you advice from two department graduates (2017) one who applied to the UK (Penny) and the other who applied outside of the UK (Jacob). Also be sure to check out the enormous range of research being undertaken by our very own postgraduates here, as this is exciting research that you could get involved with if you apply to stay at the University of Oxford to do your PhD! For more information also check out the Geological Society of London's Postgraduate Study page.
Applying within the UK
By Penny Wieser, PhD Candidate in Volcanology at the University of Cambridge
Graduated from Worcester in 2017 These are my personal views from my experience of navigating the PhD process. They do not reflect the views of the Oxford Earth Science department as a whole. For any more questions, feel free to contact me on [email protected]. When did you start thinking about applying? I started looking through lists of PhD projects over the summer between 3rd and 4th year. However, I was fortunate enough to know from the start of my undergraduate that I wanted to do a PhD in volcanology, so if you don’t get started until later than this, this isn’t unusual. In volcanology, VMSG publishes a list of PhD projects each year that they have collated from various UK universities, so this is where I started to search for projects of interest (http://www.vmsg.org.uk/students/phd.php). It is worth asking lecturers in your field of interest if they know of something similar. Although the list of projects is generally a year out of date, it shows the sort of projects that different supervisors have to offer, and what sort of work is being done at each university. Additionally, many of the projects might not have been handed out last year, so may become available again. Between September and December, UK departments will release a list of up to date projects covering a range of research areas with funding already secured (normally through NERC). |
Useful LinksBelow is a list of just some of the many UK institutions and research councils through which our graduates have gone on to further study:
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I actually emailed some supervisors whose projects from previous years I thought were interesting before such lists were released. I read up a little on their research, and emailed to ask if they were still doing similar things. It probably doesn’t matter whether you reach out to people before/after the publication of such lists. Either way, supervisors who have put projects on the list (or even those who haven’t) are normally very keen to come up with a project that meets your shared interests. For Oxford, where the project you apply for is less defined that at other institutions, supervisors are particularly happy to come up with new projects (as the list is generally more limited).
Example email sent to a potential supervisor:
Example email sent to a potential supervisor:
Dear Professor x, I am a 4th year Earth Science student at Oxford University, looking into PhD’s starting in 2017. I have come across your work at various points, and I find it extremely interesting, particularly the work you do on magma fragmentation and controls on eruption style. I would be very interested in a volcanology project that incorporates the use of petrology, in particular the study of textures, possibly with some geochemistry (as this is what I have the most previous experience in). I also really enjoy the mapping of eruptive products, and the study of past eruptions, having done this for my undergraduate mapping project. I was wondering if you were thinking of offering any projects that incorporate some of my interests? I have attached my CV for your convenience, Thank you for your time, Penny Wieser |
How many did you apply to and why?
I choose to apply to Cambridge, Oxford and Bristol, as these are some of the most prestigious volcanology departments offering projects in my area of interest. Cambridge and Oxford both charge for applications (£50-70), although most other universities in the UK are free to submit too. Obviously the more you apply to, the more chance you have of getting a project. However, each application takes a surprising amount of time, so it’s a bit of a balance between submitting really strong applications, and submitting a lot of more hurried applications. Also, each institution generally invites you up for an entire day for interviews, and most NERC interviews are crammed into a few weeks, so if you apply to too many projects, you might well have interview clashes (and some universities seemed unkeen to move interview dates). Additionally, if you are doing a lab-based 4th year project, it becomes very difficult to keep ontop of work while preparing for interviews.
I choose to apply to Cambridge, Oxford and Bristol, as these are some of the most prestigious volcanology departments offering projects in my area of interest. Cambridge and Oxford both charge for applications (£50-70), although most other universities in the UK are free to submit too. Obviously the more you apply to, the more chance you have of getting a project. However, each application takes a surprising amount of time, so it’s a bit of a balance between submitting really strong applications, and submitting a lot of more hurried applications. Also, each institution generally invites you up for an entire day for interviews, and most NERC interviews are crammed into a few weeks, so if you apply to too many projects, you might well have interview clashes (and some universities seemed unkeen to move interview dates). Additionally, if you are doing a lab-based 4th year project, it becomes very difficult to keep ontop of work while preparing for interviews.
What do most applications require you to submit? All required a CV (2 pages), and 2-3 references. I choose my personal tutor and one of my fourth year project supervisors as my internal referees. Some institutions say that if you have a reference from another institution, it is also good to include this. For this reason, I also asked my internship supervisor at University of Cambridge. It is worth asking your referees well in advance if they are willing to write a reference. Almost all PhD applications are through an online system, and most take place over the new year. Referees often have less than 2 weeks to submit their reference online after you submit all your forms, and as the dates are during the holidays, check that they are around during this critical period (I was lucky that my tutor was willing to submit while on his holiday in South America, not all will be this organized!). Additionally, contacting them early will give them time to write a detailed reference for you, as well as upload it. |
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Most projects also required you to submit a research proposal. Very often, there is already a research proposal online for the project you are applying too. I tried my best to rewrite this in my own words, including any email/Skype discussions I had had with the PhD supervisor, and from the recommended reading.
Finally, most require some sort of written statement about your inspirations for the project, and previous research experience. I have included various examples of this below.
What prep should I do before an interview?
I made sure that I was able to explain my masters work briefly (from 5minutes-1minute), and had reminded myself of what I did during my internship in case I was quizzed on that. I also read all the recommended reading for the project/all emails with the potential supervisor, and read a few more papers on the side. Lastly, make sure you have a good reason for wanting to apply to that department.
What are the interviews like?
The interview day varied a bit between universities. At Oxford, given I knew the department, I had a short, 20 minute interview with a panel of 4-5 people. They asked me to describe my current masters work, the implications of this etc. Then, we moved onto discussing the project I had proposed. They mostly seemed to be testing whether I actually understood the proposed area of research, and that I could justify why this was important research worthy of funding.
Bristol involved semi-informal meetings with the main and co-supervisor for the project (I had already had an informal skype chat with the other co-supervisor based in New Zealand). I could ask any questions I wasn’t sure about before I entered the panel interview, and they also quizzed me a little on my masters project. I was then shown around the labs I would use during the project by a PhD student and then taken out for lunch with the other 2 candidates that had been shortlisted for the project I was applying for. This was a little stressful, but everyone was surprisingly friendly, despite the fact we were all fighting for the same project. Then, in turn, we each had our interview with the panel – which consisted of about 5-7 people all sitting around a round table (terrifying!). Four of the panel were experts in my project area, the others from other areas of expertise (as the same panel assess all earth sciences applications). I was told in advance to prepare a short 5 minute presentation about my masters work, and was then questioned on that. Then, as for Oxford, the discussion focused on importance/novelty of the project I had applied for.
At Cambridge, I met with the project supervisors, but also about 4 other people (as one supervisor was oversubscribed, so the others were proposing alternative, second choice projects). Again, the day finished with a panel interview (only 3 people this time!) quizzing me on my masters project, internship, and asking me to justify why the project I had proposed would be important, and novel research.
When did you hear back following interviews?
It varied a bit. I got a phone call from Bristol offering me the project the moment I got off the train (7pm ish), and I also got an email with an offer from Cambridge the evening after my interview. Oxford sent an email a few days later with the offer. From what I have gathered from others, rejections take a little longer, as they may well be considering whether to offer you a second choice/closely related project, or waiting for the first choice to speedily reject the project so they can pass it on. I wouldn’t read too much into the timings, it seems to vary a lot between institutions, and what day you were interviewed (I was the last day of interviews at Cambridge, which is probably why I found out so quickly).
What advice do you have once you are holding an offer?
Some institutions will try to hurry you to accept an offer before you have heard back from all the others. Assuming the project is a NERC project, they are not actually allowed to make you decide before all the other institutions have had a chance to make an offer. If an institution is putting pressure on you before the so called “universal acceptance date”, talk to either your tutor, or project supervisor. I had this problem, and the situation was resolved pretty quickly after I spoke to my project supervisors about it. I was really worried that if I didn’t accept by the earlier date I was given that I would lose the offer, however, if it is a NERC project, they really can’t do this, so don’t lose any sleep about it (like I did!).
Also, when thinking about what project to accept, consider how well you got on with the supervisors. You will be working with that person (+ their research group) for four years, so it is important that you think you will get on with them. If you have a chance, asking some of their current students what their thoughts are regarding how much time the supervisor spends with their students, how understanding they are when things go wrong is well worth it. I would also talk to some of the current students about the accommodation situation. Some universities do not help at all to organize graduate accommodation, and you are basically left to find a room on sites such as spareroom. Others will either offer accommodation, or at least send out a list of names of other new graduates so you can try to room with people of similar interests.
Where can I go for more information?
Most people will be very willing to help you out – be that college parents who applied for PhDs, friends in the year above, or PhD students who are also working with the supervisor you are applying to. Sometimes supervisors will give you the contact details of one of their students- I found this a helpful way to find out more about the department/work done in the research group etc. https://twitter.com/ThePhDiaries is another source of information on all things PhD related run by Oxford PhD student Lucy Kissick. It is well worth a look! Remember, most people are really happy to help you with any queries you have, so don’t be shy!
Examples of additional information required (in addition to CV+ references):
University of Bristol:
1 Page personal statement (gave some advice online regarding sections that should be included)
Finally, most require some sort of written statement about your inspirations for the project, and previous research experience. I have included various examples of this below.
What prep should I do before an interview?
I made sure that I was able to explain my masters work briefly (from 5minutes-1minute), and had reminded myself of what I did during my internship in case I was quizzed on that. I also read all the recommended reading for the project/all emails with the potential supervisor, and read a few more papers on the side. Lastly, make sure you have a good reason for wanting to apply to that department.
What are the interviews like?
The interview day varied a bit between universities. At Oxford, given I knew the department, I had a short, 20 minute interview with a panel of 4-5 people. They asked me to describe my current masters work, the implications of this etc. Then, we moved onto discussing the project I had proposed. They mostly seemed to be testing whether I actually understood the proposed area of research, and that I could justify why this was important research worthy of funding.
Bristol involved semi-informal meetings with the main and co-supervisor for the project (I had already had an informal skype chat with the other co-supervisor based in New Zealand). I could ask any questions I wasn’t sure about before I entered the panel interview, and they also quizzed me a little on my masters project. I was then shown around the labs I would use during the project by a PhD student and then taken out for lunch with the other 2 candidates that had been shortlisted for the project I was applying for. This was a little stressful, but everyone was surprisingly friendly, despite the fact we were all fighting for the same project. Then, in turn, we each had our interview with the panel – which consisted of about 5-7 people all sitting around a round table (terrifying!). Four of the panel were experts in my project area, the others from other areas of expertise (as the same panel assess all earth sciences applications). I was told in advance to prepare a short 5 minute presentation about my masters work, and was then questioned on that. Then, as for Oxford, the discussion focused on importance/novelty of the project I had applied for.
At Cambridge, I met with the project supervisors, but also about 4 other people (as one supervisor was oversubscribed, so the others were proposing alternative, second choice projects). Again, the day finished with a panel interview (only 3 people this time!) quizzing me on my masters project, internship, and asking me to justify why the project I had proposed would be important, and novel research.
When did you hear back following interviews?
It varied a bit. I got a phone call from Bristol offering me the project the moment I got off the train (7pm ish), and I also got an email with an offer from Cambridge the evening after my interview. Oxford sent an email a few days later with the offer. From what I have gathered from others, rejections take a little longer, as they may well be considering whether to offer you a second choice/closely related project, or waiting for the first choice to speedily reject the project so they can pass it on. I wouldn’t read too much into the timings, it seems to vary a lot between institutions, and what day you were interviewed (I was the last day of interviews at Cambridge, which is probably why I found out so quickly).
What advice do you have once you are holding an offer?
Some institutions will try to hurry you to accept an offer before you have heard back from all the others. Assuming the project is a NERC project, they are not actually allowed to make you decide before all the other institutions have had a chance to make an offer. If an institution is putting pressure on you before the so called “universal acceptance date”, talk to either your tutor, or project supervisor. I had this problem, and the situation was resolved pretty quickly after I spoke to my project supervisors about it. I was really worried that if I didn’t accept by the earlier date I was given that I would lose the offer, however, if it is a NERC project, they really can’t do this, so don’t lose any sleep about it (like I did!).
Also, when thinking about what project to accept, consider how well you got on with the supervisors. You will be working with that person (+ their research group) for four years, so it is important that you think you will get on with them. If you have a chance, asking some of their current students what their thoughts are regarding how much time the supervisor spends with their students, how understanding they are when things go wrong is well worth it. I would also talk to some of the current students about the accommodation situation. Some universities do not help at all to organize graduate accommodation, and you are basically left to find a room on sites such as spareroom. Others will either offer accommodation, or at least send out a list of names of other new graduates so you can try to room with people of similar interests.
Where can I go for more information?
Most people will be very willing to help you out – be that college parents who applied for PhDs, friends in the year above, or PhD students who are also working with the supervisor you are applying to. Sometimes supervisors will give you the contact details of one of their students- I found this a helpful way to find out more about the department/work done in the research group etc. https://twitter.com/ThePhDiaries is another source of information on all things PhD related run by Oxford PhD student Lucy Kissick. It is well worth a look! Remember, most people are really happy to help you with any queries you have, so don’t be shy!
Examples of additional information required (in addition to CV+ references):
University of Bristol:
1 Page personal statement (gave some advice online regarding sections that should be included)
Since an inspirational visit to Yellowstone in 2008, and Hawaiian Volcano Observatory in 2010, I have wanted to conduct research in volcanology. I am particularly interested in the investigation of magma storage conditions, eruption triggers and controls on eruption transitions at explosive volcanoes, hence I am applying to the project “Magmatic Processes and Eruption Variability at Mount Taranaki, New Zealand”. The project is appealing to me for several reasons. I look forward to the opportunity to use my experience in geochemistry and petrological modelling, and apply it to the field of magma rheology to give a holistic view of the causes of eruption transitions. I really enjoyed learning about rock and fluid material properties in a 1st year Physics, and 3rd year Rock Deformation classes. I also scored very highly in these exams (91% and 77% respectively). Furthermore, I have relied heavily on results from experimental petrology in my studies so far, e.g. high P partition coefficient for modelling mantle melting (internship and masters project), investigations of welding (mapping project), and the controls on eruptibility (extended essay). I am therefore very eager to learn more by researching within this area. The possibility of contributing work towards the NERC grant: “Quantifying disequilibrium processes in basaltic volcanism” is also extremely exciting, as not only would I get to perform some incredible experiments, but also be part of truly cutting edge, and extremely important research. Overall, the combination of experimental petrology, physical volcanology, and petrological observations that this project requires will allow me to develop a wide range of skills, and thus give me a strong foundation as a researcher.
Secondly, the strength of the Volcanology Department at Bristol, acknowledged by your receipt of the Queen’s Anniversary Prize, draws me to this project. Being part of such a strong department will allow me to have lots of stimulating discussions with people researching volcanoes from a variety of angles. The collaboration with GNS science is also very exciting as it will allow the project to benefit from insights from different researchers, and different institutions. As I wish to continue in academia after a PhD, the connections I will make and the skills I will learn during this project will be vital to take the next step into postdoctoral research. I am a suitable candidate for this program for several reasons. Firstly, I am extremely passionate about volcanology and igneous petrology, and will work extremely hard for this project. In my undergraduate degree, I have taken every opportunity to learn more about volcanic systems. For example, I undertook my 6 week undergraduate mapping project in Llyn Ogwen, Northern Snowdonia. This area has spectacular exposure of Ordovician ignimbrites, as well as a variety of intrusions, extrusions, folding and faulting. The Caradoc volcanism shows clear periods of quiescence, with normal marine sedimentation and minor water-settled ash flows. More active periods show extensive vent agglomerates and ignimbrite flows. This area introduced me to the study of eruptive transitions at a fine spatial and temporal scale, and also highlighted the importance of understanding magma rheology to make volcanological interpretations. This area was crucial to the understanding that welding can occur subaqueously. I now feel very confident in the sampling, and rapid field identification of volcaniclastic deposits, which will be extremely useful when collecting samples for this project. The predominantly bimodal nature of the volcanism in Llyn Ogwen inspired me to investigate “The Formation of the Daly Gap” for my Third Year Essay. I considered how geochemistry, textural studies and modelling (e.g. MELTS) can be used to provide information on magma generation, storage and transport. It was this that sparked my interest in andesitic magmas, both in terms of their generation, and properties. I was particularly interested by the theories suggesting that the low eruptibility of andesites, or preferential eruption of rhyolites due to second boiling, may result in a skewed distribution of rock types at surface outcrops. I look forward to investigating what determines whether magmas stall or erupt. I have a lot of experience in analytical geochemistry, which will be of use in this project in terms of determining volatile contents, and bulk compositions of eruptive products to link into experiments. My experience in identifying shallow and deep contributions to magma and crystal chemistry may be of use to understand processes happening during the ascent to the surface of these magmas. In the summer of 2016, I undertook an internship at Cambridge University, supervised by Dr. Sally Gibson, focused on their new LA-ICP-MS. The first few weeks were spent testing the machines sensitivity to changes in spot size, fluence, and the use of calibration standards. Following this, LA-ICPMS work was conducted on olivines from picritic and ferropicritic samples from Etendeka to see whether FRTE abundances could be used to determine varying mantle source contributions. This project taught me to critically analyse the results from such geochemical techniques, and to investigate ways to improve these. My fourth year masters project addresses the cause of extreme geochemical variability along the Chilean Southern Volcanic Zone, focusing on the geochemistry of arc-front and rear-arc samples at 34⁰S. Whole rock analysis points to the role of an enriched mantle under the northern region of the arc. Further work on olivine chemistry, and isotopic analysis will allow further insight. This has given me extensive experience of analytical work, and the use and adaptation of numerical models of mantle melting. I will present this work in January, 2017 at the VMSG conference in Liverpool. |
University of Cambridge:
University of Oxford:
Statement of Purpose
University of Oxford:
Statement of Purpose
Since inspirational visits to Yellowstone and Hawaii, I have wanted to conduct research in volcanology. I have proposed a project in the Dynamic Earth stream investigating the magnitude and tempo of eruptions at Campi Flegrei, as I am fascinated by the study of eruption histories at explosive volcanoes.
I am a suitable candidate for this program because I am extremely hardworking, and passionate about volcanology/igneous petrology. During my degree, I have taken every possible opportunity to learn more about volcanic systems. For example, I undertook my mapping project around Llyn Ogwen, Snowdonia; an area famous for its spectacular volcanic successions. This fieldwork, in addition to that undertaken on a fourth year fieldtrip to Santorini, means I am confident in the sampling, and rapid identification of volcanic products. This will allow me to make detailed observations of deposit character during study of proximal deposits at Campi Flegrei, and successfully correlate these across the caldera. Mapping stimulated my interest in two areas relevant to this PhD. Firstly, this area introduced me to the investigation of eruption transitions; there are episodes of explosive caldera-forming eruptions, separated by minor, water-settled ash flows and mafic lava flows. I wish to conduct further study on eruption transitions, for example at Campi Flegrei. Secondly, the volcanic deposits have strong bimodal character. This introduced me to the study of geochemistry to unravel magmatic processes, and inspired me to write my Third Year Essay on “The formation of the Daly Gap”. This convinced me that the area of volcanology I wish to pursue is that using geochemical data in addition to field observations. To further my passion for geochemistry, I undertook a 6 week internship at Cambridge University, supervised by Dr. Sally Gibson. This focused on their new LA-ICP-MS. Initial tests investigated the effect that spot size, fluence, and the use of calibration materials have on calculated element concentrations. LA-ICP-MS work was then conducted on olivines from picritic and ferropicritic samples from Etendeka. When compared to diagnostic mantle source ratios of Le Roux et al., (2011), olivines from ferropicrites and picrites showed that these lithologies formed from distinct mantle sources. Such experience with trace element chemistry, in particular the use of statistical methods to evaluate the accuracy and precision of the signal, will be a very useful skill when studying for a PhD. My fourth year masters project addresses the cause of extreme geochemical variability along the Chilean Southern Volcanic Zone. I will present this work as a poster at the VMSG Joint Assembly conference in January, 2017. This project has developed my skills in analytical chemistry and use of numerical models. The wide variety of approaches that the project I have proposed will require, alongside the highly regarded interdisciplinary training I will receive in the Oxford DTP programme, will give me the skills needed to produce high quality research, and pursue a successful career in academia post PhD. This project is particularly suitable to be investigated in the DTP framework due to the possibility of influencing research in topics as far reaching as Archaeology and Paleoclimate. |
Project Proposal
The Campi Flegrei caldera in Italy is one of the most active caldera volcanoes in the world, and the most hazardous volcano in Europe (De Natale et al., 2006). In the last 15kyrs, it has experienced more than 60 eruptions (Smith et al., 2011). Presently, over 350,000 people live within the active caldera, and > 2.5 million people in the surrounding area (Carlino et al., 2015). Therefore, it is of uttermost importance to understand the magnitude and tempo of eruptions, and the magmatic processes preceding the eruptions, to be able to predict future activity at this high-risk volcanic system.
There are numerus eruption deposits preserved prior to, and between the two large caldera-forming eruptions; the ~ 40 ka Campanian Ignimbrite (CI), and the ~ 15 ka Neopolitan Yellow Tuff (NYT). The eruption deposits between the CI and NYT are collectively mapped as the “Tufi Biancastri”. Little is known about these events; outcrops are limited and only preserved outside the caldera. It is vital to piece together the tempo and style of activity from this understudied period to maximise our understanding of the future hazards. There are indications that these deposits record a range of eruptive styles from effusive to subplinian. This period may be an analogue for the current state of this caldera. This project will examine the chemistry, stratigraphy, and chronology of these proximal deposits. Field observations will be compiled and samples will be collected for geochemical analysis. Glass and individual crystal phases will be analysed using an electron microprobe and LA-ICP-MS. Glass analysis and 40Ar/39Ar dates will allow proximal deposits to be correlated across the caldera, and to distal deposits (as in Smith et al., 2011). This will allow a precise stratigraphy to be developed. The detailed crystal chemistry of particular eruption deposits will give insight into the magmatic evolution of this system, including eruption triggering, and determination of pre-eruptive storage conditions (as in Stock et al., 2016). This holistic approach will allow the tempo and style of activity to be determined, and linked to the underlying melt composition. These tephra deposits from Campi Flegrei are also present in many paleoclimate and archaeological archives across Eastern and Central Europe. Improved characterization of proximal stratigraphy and chemistry will allow for more robust correlations with these distal deposits. This will permit investigation of the differential dispersal characteristics of various eruption styles. Previous work for the CI (e.g. Smith et al., 2016), suggests that distal dispersal is dominated by Co-PDC deposits. It would be interesting to investigate whether this holds true in this understudied period of eruptive history. Understanding ash dispersal from various eruption styles will be critical to predict the impact of various eruption styles. Improved distal correlations will not only be useful to identify volcanological and ash dispersal processes, it may greatly improve the chronologies of these archives. The potential for this research to have results applicable to a variety of fields, from archaeology to paleoclimate studies, makes it an ideal project to pursue in the Oxford DTP programme. References Carlino, S. et al., 2015. Tectonic stress and renewed uplift at Campi Flegrei caldera, southern Italy: New insights from caldera drilling. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 420, pp.23–29. De Natale, G. et al., 2006. The Campi Flegrei caldera: unrest mechanisms and hazards. Geol. Soc. London, Spec. Publ., 269(1), pp.25–45. Smith, V.C. et al., 2016. Tephra dispersal during the Campanian Ignimbrite (Italy) eruption: implications for ultra-distal ash transport during the large caldera-forming eruption. Bulletin of Volcanology, 78(6). pp. 66-77. Smith, V.C., et al., 2011. Tephrostratigraphy and glass compositions of post-15kyr Campi Flegrei eruptions: Implications for eruption history and chronostratigraphic markers. Quaternary Science Reviews, 30(25– 26), pp.3638–3660. Stock, M.J. et al., 2016. Late-stage volatile saturation as a potential trigger for explosive volcanic eruptions. Nature Geoscience, 9(February), pp.4–10. |
Applying outside of the UK
By Jacob Forshaw, PhD Candidate in Metamorphic Petrology at the University of Calgary, Canada
There are generally two types of people who move on to a PhD position after finishing their studies at Oxford.
For reference, I was in the second category, but this didn’t put me at a disadvantage, it just meant that I had to be more organised to get all my applications done on time. Whether you have started looking at PhD posts in 3rd year or Michaelmas of 4th year, the steps for application are similar.
Where to go?
Remember that a PhD can take four or more years outside of the UK and so you want to live somewhere you’ll be happy for that time. In the USA and Canada, you will most likely have to take courses during your first and perhaps even second year. This means it can take up to six years to gain your doctorate, considerably longer than in the UK.
Moreover, in North America it is common that instead of being funded on a research grant, you may be paid through a “Teaching Assistantship” (TA), as part of which you will demonstrate in labs and mark students’ work for one class each semester. This does mean you will have less time for your research and so the PhD will take you longer to complete. However, teaching is a valuable skill that lots of UK PhD students don’t gain until later in life. Alternatively, if your future supervisor has obtained a grant which covers the project you will be working on, you will be awarded a “Research Assistantship” (RA) instead, which means you will not have to teach during the semesters this grant covers you for. It is important to discuss this possibility with potential supervisors as well as the availability of summer funding, as TA offers outside the fall and spring semesters are rare.
I take classes but only for the first year. I think it is more common in the USA to do classes for more than one year. I'm on a TA and will be for all my time here. It takes up about one day a week of my time. However, metamorphic petrology isn't as well funded as some of the other fields in Earth Sciences and therefore there are fewer RA positions.
What to study?
After you’ve decided on the countries you may want to study in, having considered the different timescales and aspects of research, look up the academic institutions that have Earth Science departments (unless you are switching discipline). Browse through their research groups, read recent publications and see whether what they are doing interests you. It is useful to have decided on one or two fields that call to you the most so this narrows down your search. At this stage, it is also important to consider why it is you want to pursue a PhD in that field so that you can check that your interests align with those potential supervisors might have outlined on their personal websites.
If you want to complete a PhD in the same field as your 4th year project then set up a meeting with your supervisor. Alternatively, get in contact with other faculty members whose’s research aligns more with what you want to focus on in the future, as most would be more than happy to give you recommendations. If you don’t know where to begin your search, ask whether they have any colleagues they would recommend for you to work with - this can vastly reduce your search. If this is the case, ask for their permission to mention them when you contact the potential supervisor. This is often a great way to find a PhD because your new supervisor will hopefully have reassurance from your Oxford supervisor that you will be a good candidate. Once you have shortlisted a few professors, turn up to your meeting with this list and ask their opinion on them and their research. It is also a good idea to find out whether any staff members in the department have worked at that institution before as they can provide insiders knowledge on the supervisors you are considering.
Contacting Professors
After deciding on the professors you want to research with, send them an email to express interest in their research. Spend some time writing what you want to say and maybe even ask your supervisor to review it if necessary. A general format would include:
Once you have this general format for your first email you can re-use it when you contact your next potential supervisor, just changing out the relevant parts. I emailed approximately twenty professors from around the world of which fifteen got back to me. Many could offer positions, others didn’t have the funding but were able to put me in touch with even more academics that did.
I would recommend setting up a Skype conversation with the professor so you can discuss what the funding situation would be, how long they would expect the PhD to take and what the projects involve (bear in mind that in North American projects aren’t defined in the same manner as the UK and you are meant to start with a more general idea, specifying later on). This is also a great way for you to gauge whether you can see yourself working with them for the next few years of your life.
Applications
After speaking to the potential supervisor, you must then apply to the university directly. Applications can be quite expensive so make sure you have really narrowed down which institutions you would want to study at. However, don’t just apply to one or two because you still must get through the board of graduate admissions. Around five is probably a good number to be safe.
Different countries have different deadlines for applications. Some of the most prestigious institutions in the USA require applications by mid-December, but most other North American universities are sometime in January. It is important that you keep track of the deadlines and worth bearing in mind that many countries don’t just have September start dates and you could apply later to start in January having taken 6 months off.
Most applications will require you to enter personal details, details about your course, etc., as well as a “Statement of Purpose”. The universities usually provide information on what they expect from you in this statement and any word limits. It may help to ask the Careers Service staff to review it and give feedback. Unless you are applying for slightly different programs, you can use a very similar statement for all universities, making sure to personalise sections on why you want to be part of that institution and who you’d like to work with. Bear in mind that some universities (eg.e.g. UC Berkeley) ask for submission of an additional statement (the personal statement) which addresses slightly different questions.
USA (GRE information)
If you wish to study in the USA, you must take a Graduate Record Examination (GRE) to qualify for admission. This supposedly tests your mathematical aptitude, verbal reasoning and essay writing ability. The maths part is similar to any numerical reasoning tests taken for internship applications but the verbal was not like anything I had taken before. The emphasis is on how many words you know and using them correctly in a sentence. There are plenty of resources on free websites available as practice for the test. I had just under a month from deciding to apply to the USA and taking the test which meant my grade didn’t improve too much in that time. However, if you were in the first category above then I would recommend starting to practice over the summer. Additionally, if you are unhappy with your results and think it is worth the money to give it another go, you are allowed to resit after 21 days.
You can take the real test at a centre in London. It costs around $200 and spaces book up quickly so book one in advance and have all your preparation done. Do not wait until you feel ready to book a place, it is possible to reschedule if you feel you cannot do it closer to the date. Upon completing the test, you will have an option to send your scores to four institutions “for free” so make sure you know which ones you want (and which state they are in) before this day. You will have to pay for any additional ones or if you chose the wrong university.
Some universities have minimum scores that you must achieve, however, my experience was that these values are flexible as they understand European students are not used to taking this kind of test and nowhere do they really specify what minimum scores they expect. Often if you have a supervisor with funding lined up on the other side and you are the only student interested in their research, you will most likely be pulled through the process even with below average scores for that department.
Offers
If you’re lucky enough to receive an offer then some institutions will provide a stipend for you to visit them. This is the case for most US universities. I can’t recommend doing this enough. Even if the money doesn’t cover the whole cost of your trip, you can often get the universities in the same country to combine their stipends and if that isn’t enough, even apply for a travel grant in Oxford. If you are going to spend four or more years there then you want to make sure you like the city, the people, your research group and most importantly, the professor.
If you can’t go out then make sure you get in contact with students in the research group so you can get another opinion on what it’s like to live there and work with their supervisor.
Acceptance
Most universities will require acceptance by mid-April if you plan to start in September. Once you've decided on an institution all that is left is for you to finish your undergraduate degree and send on a final transcript to your new university.
There are generally two types of people who move on to a PhD position after finishing their studies at Oxford.
- Those who have known they’ve wanted to do a PhD throughout their undergraduate degree and are therefore ahead of the game.
- Those who start fourth year, really enjoy their research project and only then realise they might want to continue this in the future.
For reference, I was in the second category, but this didn’t put me at a disadvantage, it just meant that I had to be more organised to get all my applications done on time. Whether you have started looking at PhD posts in 3rd year or Michaelmas of 4th year, the steps for application are similar.
Where to go?
Remember that a PhD can take four or more years outside of the UK and so you want to live somewhere you’ll be happy for that time. In the USA and Canada, you will most likely have to take courses during your first and perhaps even second year. This means it can take up to six years to gain your doctorate, considerably longer than in the UK.
Moreover, in North America it is common that instead of being funded on a research grant, you may be paid through a “Teaching Assistantship” (TA), as part of which you will demonstrate in labs and mark students’ work for one class each semester. This does mean you will have less time for your research and so the PhD will take you longer to complete. However, teaching is a valuable skill that lots of UK PhD students don’t gain until later in life. Alternatively, if your future supervisor has obtained a grant which covers the project you will be working on, you will be awarded a “Research Assistantship” (RA) instead, which means you will not have to teach during the semesters this grant covers you for. It is important to discuss this possibility with potential supervisors as well as the availability of summer funding, as TA offers outside the fall and spring semesters are rare.
I take classes but only for the first year. I think it is more common in the USA to do classes for more than one year. I'm on a TA and will be for all my time here. It takes up about one day a week of my time. However, metamorphic petrology isn't as well funded as some of the other fields in Earth Sciences and therefore there are fewer RA positions.
What to study?
After you’ve decided on the countries you may want to study in, having considered the different timescales and aspects of research, look up the academic institutions that have Earth Science departments (unless you are switching discipline). Browse through their research groups, read recent publications and see whether what they are doing interests you. It is useful to have decided on one or two fields that call to you the most so this narrows down your search. At this stage, it is also important to consider why it is you want to pursue a PhD in that field so that you can check that your interests align with those potential supervisors might have outlined on their personal websites.
If you want to complete a PhD in the same field as your 4th year project then set up a meeting with your supervisor. Alternatively, get in contact with other faculty members whose’s research aligns more with what you want to focus on in the future, as most would be more than happy to give you recommendations. If you don’t know where to begin your search, ask whether they have any colleagues they would recommend for you to work with - this can vastly reduce your search. If this is the case, ask for their permission to mention them when you contact the potential supervisor. This is often a great way to find a PhD because your new supervisor will hopefully have reassurance from your Oxford supervisor that you will be a good candidate. Once you have shortlisted a few professors, turn up to your meeting with this list and ask their opinion on them and their research. It is also a good idea to find out whether any staff members in the department have worked at that institution before as they can provide insiders knowledge on the supervisors you are considering.
Contacting Professors
After deciding on the professors you want to research with, send them an email to express interest in their research. Spend some time writing what you want to say and maybe even ask your supervisor to review it if necessary. A general format would include:
- Who you are, what you want to do and why you are emailing: Whether they have funding for a PhD position.
- What your current research is: Description of your 4th year project.
- What your research interests are for the future
- Why you are interested in their research, questions you have about what they do.
- Attach a CV (Make sure you’ve updated your CV to be ‘academic style’, if you haven’t then look at the careers service website for guidance).
Once you have this general format for your first email you can re-use it when you contact your next potential supervisor, just changing out the relevant parts. I emailed approximately twenty professors from around the world of which fifteen got back to me. Many could offer positions, others didn’t have the funding but were able to put me in touch with even more academics that did.
I would recommend setting up a Skype conversation with the professor so you can discuss what the funding situation would be, how long they would expect the PhD to take and what the projects involve (bear in mind that in North American projects aren’t defined in the same manner as the UK and you are meant to start with a more general idea, specifying later on). This is also a great way for you to gauge whether you can see yourself working with them for the next few years of your life.
Applications
After speaking to the potential supervisor, you must then apply to the university directly. Applications can be quite expensive so make sure you have really narrowed down which institutions you would want to study at. However, don’t just apply to one or two because you still must get through the board of graduate admissions. Around five is probably a good number to be safe.
Different countries have different deadlines for applications. Some of the most prestigious institutions in the USA require applications by mid-December, but most other North American universities are sometime in January. It is important that you keep track of the deadlines and worth bearing in mind that many countries don’t just have September start dates and you could apply later to start in January having taken 6 months off.
Most applications will require you to enter personal details, details about your course, etc., as well as a “Statement of Purpose”. The universities usually provide information on what they expect from you in this statement and any word limits. It may help to ask the Careers Service staff to review it and give feedback. Unless you are applying for slightly different programs, you can use a very similar statement for all universities, making sure to personalise sections on why you want to be part of that institution and who you’d like to work with. Bear in mind that some universities (eg.e.g. UC Berkeley) ask for submission of an additional statement (the personal statement) which addresses slightly different questions.
USA (GRE information)
If you wish to study in the USA, you must take a Graduate Record Examination (GRE) to qualify for admission. This supposedly tests your mathematical aptitude, verbal reasoning and essay writing ability. The maths part is similar to any numerical reasoning tests taken for internship applications but the verbal was not like anything I had taken before. The emphasis is on how many words you know and using them correctly in a sentence. There are plenty of resources on free websites available as practice for the test. I had just under a month from deciding to apply to the USA and taking the test which meant my grade didn’t improve too much in that time. However, if you were in the first category above then I would recommend starting to practice over the summer. Additionally, if you are unhappy with your results and think it is worth the money to give it another go, you are allowed to resit after 21 days.
You can take the real test at a centre in London. It costs around $200 and spaces book up quickly so book one in advance and have all your preparation done. Do not wait until you feel ready to book a place, it is possible to reschedule if you feel you cannot do it closer to the date. Upon completing the test, you will have an option to send your scores to four institutions “for free” so make sure you know which ones you want (and which state they are in) before this day. You will have to pay for any additional ones or if you chose the wrong university.
Some universities have minimum scores that you must achieve, however, my experience was that these values are flexible as they understand European students are not used to taking this kind of test and nowhere do they really specify what minimum scores they expect. Often if you have a supervisor with funding lined up on the other side and you are the only student interested in their research, you will most likely be pulled through the process even with below average scores for that department.
Offers
If you’re lucky enough to receive an offer then some institutions will provide a stipend for you to visit them. This is the case for most US universities. I can’t recommend doing this enough. Even if the money doesn’t cover the whole cost of your trip, you can often get the universities in the same country to combine their stipends and if that isn’t enough, even apply for a travel grant in Oxford. If you are going to spend four or more years there then you want to make sure you like the city, the people, your research group and most importantly, the professor.
If you can’t go out then make sure you get in contact with students in the research group so you can get another opinion on what it’s like to live there and work with their supervisor.
Acceptance
Most universities will require acceptance by mid-April if you plan to start in September. Once you've decided on an institution all that is left is for you to finish your undergraduate degree and send on a final transcript to your new university.