University of Leeds Phd Student Interview Questions
& Process
Real candidates share what happened, how many rounds they had,
and how the experience turned out.
Based on 14 interview experiences · FREE TO READ
Candidate interview experiences
First-hand accounts from people who interviewed at University of Leeds.
University of Leeds
PhD Student
Entry Average Positive experience Accept offer 1 round
Interview process
Recruiter call Panel Background check
Interview formats
Behavioral Technical
It was a pretty standard process for getting a funded PhD position. I submitted my academic CV and cover letter through an online portal that asked for standard info. Then there was a single panel interview with friendly, standard questions. I waited about a month for the results, which felt a bit longer than I expected.
Confirmed questions2 questions
- What motivates your desire to pursue a PhD, and specifically why this program?
- What do you foresee as the main difficulties during a PhD, and how would you tackle them?
University of Leeds
PhD Student
Entry Average Neutral experience No offer 2 rounds
Interview process
Take home Presentation Onsite
Interview formats
Presentation Technical Behavioral
It started with a peer review exercise, then there was a face-to-face interview that included a presentation. I thought the interview questions were a bit strange compared to other PhD interviews I've done. They were really specific to the NHS, which I didn't expect given the project description. Even though I traveled a long way for the interview, the panel seemed cold from the start and even mixed me up with another candidate initially. So, yeah, it wasn't really what I expected.
Confirmed questions1 question
- What's a potential issue with conducting research in today's NHS environment?
University of Leeds
PhD Student
Entry Difficult Positive experience No offer 1 round
Interview process
Recruiter call Technical screen
Interview formats
Behavioral Technical
It's a one-on-one chat with a main professor from the University of Exeter Business School. It's about 20 minutes long on Zoom. First, they'll ask you to talk about your education – like degrees, where you studied, what you studied, and any cool academic things you've done. Then, they'll want to know why you're keen on this MRes + PhD and why Exeter. Basically, sell yourself on why you want to do research, how your past studies fit, and what you'll bring to the table. It's meant to be chill, not scary, to see if you've got the smarts and the drive for research. No tricky tech questions in the interview itself, but there's a psychometric thing you have to do before. It’s pretty straightforward, just to get a feel for who you are, why you're here, and if you're a good fit. Just be yourself, be honest, and show them you're excited.
Confirmed questions1 question
- Do you know any programming languages like R or Python?
University of Leeds Phd Student Interview Questions
Quoted word for word from University of Leeds interview reports.
“What's a potential issue with conducting research in today's NHS environment?”
Read reports →“Will you be seeking a scholarship from your home country or applying for our university's international research award?”
Read reports →“Why do you want to pursue a PhD?”
Read reports →“What is your plan for funding your PhD?”
Read reports →“What was your motivation for choosing Leeds?”
Read report →“What is your plan after your PhD program?”
Read report →“Could you discuss a paper you've read recently?”
Read report →“What motivates your desire to pursue a PhD, and specifically why this program?”
Read report →“Regarding your previous research, how did you determine that specific quantity?”
Read report →Formats, difficulty and experience
Across all 14 University of Leeds interview reports.