How to Be a Strong Applicant FAQs

Every opportunity will have its own deadline and application process. It's important that you read the application process for each opportunity to understand the various steps and how much time it will take you before submitting a completed application. Most funded PhD schemes open in the autumn term (Sept-Nov) to start in the following year.  

Generally, the autumn term is when most PhD funded schemes open, but there are likely to be others after March. The FindaPhd website is a great place to look for opportunities.

Where the application is part of the Imperial College application portal, you will be limited to two choices. If both choices are for PhD study then each choice will be directed to the relevant department for consideration at the same time. This is not the case for masters' programmes; the department for your first choice must make a decision before your second choice is directed to the relevant department for that programme.

Please note that for PhD funding applications where you are required to simply send in a CV and personal statement, there is no limit.

We recommend checking out the Careers Service guidance for advice on this. Additionally, if you are an Imperial student, you can book an appointment to have your CV checked by a Careers Consultant.

Ideally, a CV should be no longer than two pages. The Careers Service has lots of helpful tips for CVs on their website. 

It depends on the role you are applying for and what information they are asking for. It is always useful to book an appointment with a Careers Consultant at the Imperial Careers Service to have your CV checked. 

Usually, each opportunity specifies how long they want the personal statement to be. If not, please ensure to format your personal statement in a way to make it easy to read, e.g. sensible margins, include paragraph breaks, headings where useful etc. Also, check out the Careers Service advice on personal statements.

Some funded programmes are student-led and projects are decided after students have been awarded the studentship. You will need to check the details of each studentship/scholarship to establish this.

Yes, we recommend that you apply for as many as you can. 

The Additional information regarding funding, finance and support.pdf document has been put together to provide further information, including links to other resources which may be of use to students looking for funding opportunities.

Yes, if you are successful in gaining a student-led studentship, i.e., the award is made to you and you are not applying for a specific project, then you will sometimes be able to choose your supervisor and project as well. 

There is no right or wrong method. Perhaps make initial contact with someone in the lab and make enquiries. They will be able to put you in contact with the right person about vacancies. Sometimes it's helpful to speak to other PhD students, for example, to find out what it's like to work in that lab.

Your referees should be people that know you and that you have spoken with, therefore, rather than two referees from your MSc which you have perhaps only recently started, it's far better for at least one of these to be from someone who knows you from the BSc.

Not necessarily, it would be fine to use the same referees. It is accepted that candidates will apply to several different programmes, and that is fine.

We would recommend giving your referees as much advance warning as you can.

No, every year we welcome students from lots of different universities who have never studied at Imperial. 

A good place to start searching for research assistant jobs is on jobs.ac.uk. The traditional entry point to an academic job for PhD graduates is as a research assistant or research fellow. It may help you to read the guidance provided on the Prospects website.

No, all MultiSci MRC DTP studentship holders need to complete the MRes Biomedical Research as it includes MultiSci-specific cohort training and will give you an opportunity to try out different labs for your PhD.