University of Edinburgh Phd Student Interview Questions
& Process
Real candidates share what happened, how many rounds they had,
and how the experience turned out.
Based on 23 interview experiences · FREE TO READ
Candidate interview experiences
First-hand accounts from people who interviewed at University of Edinburgh.
University of Edinburgh
PhD Student
Intern Average Positive experience Accept offer 1 round
Interview process
Recruiter call
Interview formats
Behavioral
Just one call with the potential PI to talk about research interests and past experience. No tests or a second call. It's usually a chill conversation. You do need to get ready to learn about the PI's current research projects.
Confirmed questions1 question
- What motivates your interest in joining this team?
University of Edinburgh
PhD Student
Intern Difficult Neutral experience Accept offer 1 round
Interview process
Presentation Technical screen
Interview formats
Presentation Technical
I interviewed with over 10 principal investigators in one go, which I wasn't expecting, but they were friendly. It was an in-person interview before the pandemic. I had to present my past undergraduate work and answer questions about it, then field questions about the specific project I was applying for. The whole thing lasted about 30 minutes.
Confirmed questions6 questions
- Could you discuss a scientific paper from a different field that you've read recently?
- What's your motivation for pursuing a PhD?
- What are your career aspirations post-PhD?
University of Edinburgh
PhD Student
Entry Average Positive experience Accept offer 1 round
Interview process
Onsite Presentation
Interview formats
Technical Presentation
I had a face-to-face interview with 3 professors, one of whom would be my supervisor. The vibe was super chill and it went for about two hours. They covered my travel costs for the train since I was a master's student in the UK at the time. I also got to meet some current PhD students.
Confirmed questions2 questions
- Could you walk me through your master's thesis?
- We'd like to ask you some technical questions related to your PhD research area.
University of Edinburgh Phd Student Interview Questions
Quoted word for word from University of Edinburgh interview reports.
“Could you share a favorite theorem from the theory of PDEs?”
Read reports →“Can you describe the retrosynthesis of a molecule?”
Read reports →“Why do you want to pursue a PhD?”
Read reports →“What makes you want to study at Edinburgh?”
Read reports →“Which recent paper did you find particularly interesting or enjoyable?”
Read report →“Could you discuss a scientific paper from a different field that you've read recently?”
Read report →“What makes you want to pursue a PhD?”
Read report →“Can you discuss a research topic outside of your area of expertise?”
Read report →“How does that paper connect to the field you're interested in?”
Read report →Formats, difficulty and experience
Across all 23 University of Edinburgh interview reports.