NTNU Phd Student Interview Questions
& Process
Real candidates share what happened, how many rounds they had,
and how the experience turned out.
Based on 10 interview experiences · FREE TO READ
Candidate interview experiences
First-hand accounts from people who interviewed at NTNU.
NTNU
PhD Student
Entry Difficult Positive experience Accept offer 2 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Technical screen Panel Offer
Interview formats
Technical Behavioral Presentation
You submit your application, and then there's like 1 or 2 interviews. A committee decides who's the best fit. However, the main supervisor's opinion really matters the most. Depending on the supervisor, the employer might let you know about the admission really fast.
Confirmed questions3 questions
- Academic questions
- Tell me about your project experience
- What is your motivation for applying?
NTNU
PhD Student
Intern Average Negative experience No offer 3 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Technical screen Background check Offer
Interview formats
Behavioral Technical
I went through three interview processes for PhD positions and didn't get any offers. For the first PhD position, the interview was quite straightforward with no technical questions. They didn't hire anyone, even though 3-4 people were interviewed. For the second PhD position, I was considered a top candidate (if they check your references, it means you're in the top 1-2). The process took a very long time, and ultimately, I wasn't selected. It was a frustrating experience; they should have made the process faster. It took 2 months after the interview to find out if I was accepted. It was too bureaucratic. For the third PhD position, I was interviewed by a lot of people, about 4-5, and the questions were very superficial and easy. I wasn't selected, possibly due to my limited experience in one of the two subfields. Basically, if they don't contact your references, you're not in the top 1-2 candidates. I think they only select two candidates because if the first choice turns down the offer, the second choice can get it. This approach is quite selfish and not ideal, feeling more like an industry practice than a university hiring one.
Confirmed questions1 question
- How do you think you'll handle the local weather conditions?
NTNU
PhD Student
Entry Easy Positive experience No offer 2 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Technical screen Presentation
Interview formats
Behavioral Technical Presentation
There were two interview rounds. The first interview was general and straightforward. The second interview was more specific and involved two faculty members and one HR representative. They asked me to review a paper, which I did, and they provided feedback on it. They also asked for a research proposal, but they mentioned that interviews could still happen even without one if the profile was relevant.
Confirmed questions6 questions
- Could you explain your motivation for applying to this role?
- What programming languages and tools are you proficient in?
- What do you consider to be your biggest weaknesses?
NTNU Phd Student Interview Questions
Quoted word for word from NTNU interview reports.
“Why Norway?”
Read reports →“Why are you interested in NTNU?”
Read reports →“What makes you want to apply to NTNU?”
Read reports →“What are your plans after completing your PhD?”
Read reports →“How can you apply the skills learned during your Master's studies to your PhD?”
Read report →“Can you present your research proposal?”
Read report →“Are you able to do independent research?”
Read report →“How do you think you'll handle the local weather conditions?”
Read report →“Could you tell me about the topic of your master's thesis?”
Read report →Formats, difficulty and experience
Across all 10 NTNU interview reports.