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Applying for post-graduate studies

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?. If you can answer these questions with positive statements - you should proceed further!

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Applying for post-graduate studies

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  1. 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? • If you can answer these questions with positive statements- you should proceed further! • If not, think carefully about what exactly you want to get out of further study • PG study is: • - not for the faint hearted • not a substitute for looking for a job • hard work, full-time, rewarding • often a passport to a career either within or outside science

  2. Post-graduate study Masters taught MSc or research MRes - one year full time PhD -three years full time

  3. Post Graduate Masters Courses 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 e.g. MSc in Molecular Medicine 5 months lectures; 7 months research project Research Masters lead to an MRes e.g. MRes in Biochemical Research 3 x 13 week research projects; no lectures Note: some undergraduate degrees incorporate a Masters year (MSci) Don’t confuse this with a PG Masters

  4. Taught MSc courses • - suitable if you are changing fields • (e.g. from Biochemistry to Environmental Health) • good for an in-depth study in one aspect of your UG degree • (e.g. Immunology or Virology) • can be attractive to employers • sometimes have a lower entrance requirement than Research Masters • e.g. “2nd class” degree as opposed to a 2.1 • Do not normally qualify as a “Masters” for a 4 year Masters/PhD course • Grants are not generally available from UK Local Education Authorities Imperial College Fees (2010 - 2011): £3,366 (home); £27,100 (o/s) Molecular Medicine £4,800 (home); £19,800 (o/s) MRes courses in Life Sciences Not all courses have same fees, even within a University

  5. Research MRes courses • will introduce you to scientific research in a way MSc courses do not • can be attractive to employers • the better courses generally have a higher entrance requirement • than taught masters, e.g. minimum of a 2.1 • Sometimes 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

  6. Applying for a PhD -1 In the UK, a PhD takes a minimum of 3 years Funding is usually for 3 years (see later) Entrance requirement is usually a 2.1 or 1st class degree in a relevant subject NEW ROUTE “1+3” degrees “Graduate Programmes” or “Doctoral Training Programmes” BSc 3 (or 4) years MRes year 1 PhD years 2 – 4 (4 years funding) “TRADITIONAL ROUTE” BSc 3 (or 4) years PhD 3 years (3 years funding)

  7. NEW ROUTE 1 + 3 PhD DEGREES • Examples at Imperial College • Wellcome Trust “Molecular & Cellular Basis of Infection” - 4 year programme • BBSRC/MRC ‘Biochemical Research” - 4 year programme • Funded by charities or research councils. • 4 years funding for student (MRes and PhD) (including fees) • Grants are awarded to Universities (can be in association with a company) • Universities advertise, interview and offer places. • Highly competitive. • Adverts appear soon – November 2011 onwards

  8. Applying for a PhD -2 • Where are adverts? • www.findaphd.com • many but not all PhDs are advertised at this excellent site • also university web sites When to apply? From November 2011 – April 2012 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 bacteriologyresearch groups within the same graduate school appeals to me, as it will allow me to….”

  9. 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 • Read every advert carefully to establish whether or not there is 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 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.

  10. 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. • CASE (collaborative awards in science and engineering) studentships • funded by a UK research council • in collaboration with a (UK) company • students spends some time at the company 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. (Too many rules to summarise here)

  11. How much do you get paid? PhD students obtain a tax-free monthly stipend (salary) for a fixed duration ( 3 or 4 years) Examples of some 2010/11 rates (annual stipend; tax free) Wellcome Trust £xxxxx (London) BBSRC/ MRC £15,590(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!

  12. Application process If you are serious about a PhD you will need to start early Apply for several studentships Keep copies of your applications and CVs, covering letters etc. It is not like UCAS where all applications are co-ordinated. If you get an offer from an institution, you will normally have a week or two to decide. However for some competitive programmes this might be shorter. Make sure any offer is what you want and that it is indeed an offer. If in any doubt, see your personal tutor. Once you accept one offer, you must tell all other places you applied to thatyou are withdrawing your application

  13. Advice What / where should I study? Personal tutor / Final year course convenor cv / covering letter Personal tutor Careers Advisory Service http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/careers

  14. Good luck! Questions?

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