University of Toronto Phd Student Interview Questions
& Process
Real candidates share what happened, how many rounds they had,
and how the experience turned out.
Based on 16 interview experiences · FREE TO READ
Candidate interview experiences
First-hand accounts from people who interviewed at University of Toronto.
University of Toronto
PhD Student
Entry Average Positive experience Accept offer 1 round
Interview process
Recruiter call Technical screen
Interview formats
Behavioral Technical
I talked with the professor, and it wasn't much. We had discussions about science and personal things. We talked about potential projects. They asked me about my strengths and weaknesses. I think the PI is much more important here, sadfasdf.
Confirmed questions1 question
- What qualities define a good scientist?
University of Toronto
PhD Student
Entry Average Positive experience Accept offer 1 round
Interview process
Presentation Technical screen
Interview formats
Presentation Technical Behavioral
The interview process, mainly conducted internationally via Skype, begins with an engineering-focused presentation of your master's thesis or project, lasting about 15-20 minutes. During this presentation, professors will ask questions. Your ability to comprehend and clearly answer these questions is a key part of the evaluation. It's crucial how you articulate technical concepts. Focus on showcasing your skills and familiar tools rather than getting bogged down in detailed design. Demonstrating prior research into the professor's work and having a couple of ideas related to it is always beneficial.
Confirmed questions2 questions
- Tell me about your master's thesis/project and related technical aspects.
- Why are you interested in pursuing a PhD and in this particular field?
University of Toronto
PhD Student
Intern Average Neutral experience Accept offer 2 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Take home Presentation
Interview formats
Behavioral Presentation Other
I reached out to individual principal investigators across departments and asked if they had an opening I could interview for. I recommend reading their papers before meeting them. I had a professor ask me to submit a written summary of some of their papers.
Confirmed questions2 questions
- Tell me about your previous research experience and its relevance.
- Could you submit a written summary of some of our papers?
University of Toronto Phd Student Interview Questions
Quoted word for word from University of Toronto interview reports.
“Can you explain the role of the dielectric constant in Maxwell's equations and state its unit?”
Read reports →“Have you looked into getting funding from your home country's government?”
Read reports →“What qualities define a good scientist?”
Read reports →“What about funding?”
Read reports →“Could you submit a written summary of some of our papers?”
Read report →“What is your motivation for pursuing a PhD?”
Read report →“What motivates your desire to undertake a PhD?”
Read report →“Share your thoughts on these technical issues.”
Read report →“Why are you interested in pursuing a PhD and in this particular field?”
Read report →Formats, difficulty and experience
Across all 16 University of Toronto interview reports.