University of Oxford Phd Student Interview Questions
& Process
Real candidates share what happened, how many rounds they had,
and how the experience turned out.
Based on 38 interview experiences · FREE TO READ
Candidate interview experiences
First-hand accounts from people who interviewed at University of Oxford.
University of Oxford
PhD Student
Intern Average Positive experience Accept offer 1 round
Interview process
Presentation Background check Offer
Interview formats
Presentation Technical Behavioral
I had a 3-person interview panel, with the project director and two future supervisors. I gave a 15-minute presentation on my Masters' research. During the presentation, the interviewers frequently interrupted with questions or to dive deeper into technical aspects, which extended the session well past 30 minutes. The questions from my current supervisors were intense, reflecting their high academic standing. They also inquired about my future research plans and scholarship prospects. I received an offer right after.
Confirmed questions2 questions
- 99% of the questions were technical.
- Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
University of Oxford
PhD Student
Intern Difficult Positive experience Accept offer 1 round
Interview process
Technical screen
Interview formats
Technical Behavioral
The interview process can differ a lot between supervisors, so it's tough to give a general idea. For me, I was asked about my favorite chemical element. After I answered (I chose palladium, which might not have been the best pick), I had to go to the whiteboard and draw some mechanisms while being questioned. After that, it got more casual, and it was my turn to ask questions. The main takeaway is that if you answer something, be ready to defend your answer. I was really glad I knew my palladium mechanisms well. On the other hand, if you're stuck on something, they're looking for your ability to figure it out – meaning, don't give up, just work through it logically.
Confirmed questions4 questions
- What is your favorite chemical element?
- Could you draw and explain some chemical mechanisms?
- Are you able to justify your answers?
University of Oxford
PhD Student
Intern Average Negative experience No offer 1 round
Interview process
Presentation Technical screen
Interview formats
Presentation Technical
The interview was supposed to start at a specific time, but I received the wrong timing and missed the initial part. Then, I got an email asking if everything was okay since they were waiting on Zoom. This made me nervous because I had to join the call much earlier than I thought. To make things worse, I had a meeting with supervisors earlier that morning about an industry-collaborated project. They asked a lot of questions really fast, and I got progressively more nervous, my hiccups got worse, and by the end, I just admitted I didn't know the answers. It was pretty daunting.
Confirmed questions1 question
- When facing technical challenges in the lab, what attribute proves beneficial?
University of Oxford Phd Student Interview Questions
Quoted word for word from University of Oxford interview reports.
“If a photon only has spin 1, how can an atom absorb it and gain more angular momentum than hbar?”
Read reports →“Can you estimate the neutrino flux originating from the Sun?”
Read reports →“How would you classify which gene is affecting the disease if there were 50,000 genetic variations?”
Read reports →“What's the most impressive theorem you know in advanced probability?”
Read reports →“Could you explain density functional theory to someone with only basic physics knowledge?”
Read report →“Can you explain the distinction between a technical repeat and a biological repeat?”
Read report →“Can you explain the mechanism of the organic chemistry reaction?”
Read report →“Could you explain the workings of a Kalman filter?”
Read report →“Could you explain the biological plausibility of your cognitive modelling approach?”
Read report →Formats, difficulty and experience
Across all 38 University of Oxford interview reports.