Although not all PhD programs require interviews, most do, and the faculty member who will supervise your research will most likely conduct the interview. Therefore, you will want to take full advantage of this opportunity by preparing effectively. 

In this post, we highlight some of the questions you might be asked in your PhD interview and then offer tips on how to prepare for them.

Table of Contents

• Question: What prompted you to apply to this program?
• Question: What are your research interests?
• Question: What is your research plan?
• Question: What strengths will you bring to this program?
• Question: What are your post-PhD goals?
• Question: What questions do you have?

Question: What prompted you to apply to this program?

How to prepare your answer:

• Review your notes on the PhD department.
• Familiarize yourself with the research agendas of the faculty members, especially the professors you want to work with.
• Make note of any unique opportunities you would have as a student in the department. For example, does the department provide funding for graduate students to attend and/or present at conferences? Or does it offer subsidized housing for graduate students?
• Read journal articles or books written by the professors you are most interested in.

Question: What are your research interests?

How to prepare your answer:

• Be ready to briefly discuss your past research and how it influenced what you want to research in the PhD program. 
• You might also be asked about your research methods. You’ll want to have an explanation ready as to why you elected to investigate your hypothesis the way you did. If you could start again, what would you do differently?

Question: What is your research plan?

How to prepare your answer:

• Present the specific topic you aim to research in the program, and then explain how you believe this research will contribute to the field. 
• Be ready to discuss important issues in the field.     

Question: What strengths will you bring to this program?

How to prepare your answer:

• Know what your standout skills, qualities, and experiences are – as well as any areas you might need to improve on. 
• If you have had any teaching experience, mention that you look forward to being a teaching assistant, if that type of position will be available to you.

Question: What are your post-PhD goals?

How to prepare your answer:

• Be clear about your objectives. For example, do you want to continue to research and teach in academia? Or do you want to conduct research in an industry setting? 
• You can also indicate that you are open to other opportunities that might present themselves while you’re in the PhD program.

Question: What questions do you have?

How to prepare your answer:

• It is important to think of a few questions in advance. We do not recommend trying to come up with compelling questions on the spot. 
• Some questions you can consider include “What do you think differentiates this department from other programs?,” “What advice do you have for me to excel in this program?,” and “How do the faculty support PhD students as they search for employment upon graduation?”
• If the topic you are researching crosses over into other departments, you can ask about interdepartmental collaboration opportunities.

Usually, your PhD program interviewer will have read your application materials and your resume/CV before your meeting. Therefore, make sure to review everything you submitted – especially if you uploaded your information several months ago. You don’t want to be caught off guard. 

However, this type of interview is also a conversation. Be confident! The faculty would not be taking the time to interview you if they weren’t serious about your candidacy. And remember to smile; it’s not an interrogation!

Related Resources

• Applying to PhD Programs: When, Where, How, and Why?
• How to Write About Your Research Interests
• Deciding Who Should Write Your PhD Letters of Recommendation