Taking a Chance: Applying for a PhD
By Kirsty Le-Cheminant
As I was scrolling online one day, I noticed that the Psychology Department at Wrexham University were advertising a Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) post. As a former student of the university, I was instantly intrigued and clicked to read the job description. I found that, alongside the GTA role, applicants were expected to apply for a PhD. Reading the entry criteria for the PhD, I was unsure that my qualifications met the requirements, but I was encouraged to apply anyway, as you never know!
By this point, the deadline was creeping up. So, I got to work on completing my application and writing a research proposal. I’d been out of the game for a year by then, but it all came back once I started writing and it reminded me how much I actually enjoy studying. Of the three areas of interest provided to choose from for a PhD research proposal, I chose the topic I was most interested in and came up with an idea about how to investigate it. At this stage, the proposal was just an idea and although the topic area has remained the same, my project idea has changed somewhat. The word count was limited, so I aimed to write a concise proposal which included all relevant sections and important features of conducting a sound research project, using the guidance given alongside the application and of course the skills I had learned through my undergraduate degree, approaching the task as if it was an assignment.
I was then offered an interview. This is the stage where I started to get a bit worried. I have never been confident with interviews, so I started to prepare by firstly getting in touch with the member of the team named as the contact on the interview invitation, it was good to be back in touch with the team and have a bit of a chat about the role and what to expect from the interview. My next port of call was the University’s Careers Service. The Careers team offer an excellent service that I would recommend to any student or ex-student who needs support with applying for jobs or interviews. They gave me some excellent advice about the sort of questions to prepare for, particularly likely generic questions relating to the university. I also had to prepare a 10-minute presentation regarding widening participation at the university; I was pleased that I was well prepared as technology let me down on the day!
During the interview, I was asked about how I would manage my time between the GTA role and PhD studies. Whilst completing my undergraduate degree, I also worked two jobs and I am a mum of two. I was confident in explaining that my previous experience of work and study had been successful and I had managed to achieve a first-class degree alongside my other commitments. Meeting deadlines has always been a priority for me to keep up with various tasks. My formal PhD interview came later, and this was mainly focused on discussing my research proposal, for example explaining the rationale for the project, some of the theories my project would be based on, and the methodology involved.
I had never doubted that I wanted to continue with my studies so applying for a PhD was an exciting prospect. I had avoided rushing the next step after completing my undergraduate degree, which am I pleased about as it has meant I now have the opportunity to work as a GTA while completing my PhD, which I feel is a great opportunity for me. I have had the opportunity to be involved in various research projects throughout my time at the University and I am keen to continue to pursue my interest in research. Through the process of applying for a PhD I have learnt that although it is important to be organised and prepared, it is also ok to take each day as it comes, take chances, and explore opportunities as they arise.
Find out more about applying for a Research Degree