Facing an interview for postgraduate study is a daunting thought, so we’ve put together what we

think are the top ten interview questions and how best to answer them. The interview process
could decide whether you gain a place at your first choice university or not, so getting the
answers right is vital! Whether you’re facing an interview to study for a Master’s degree or PhD
funding, we think these are the ten most likely questions to crop up.

SEE ALSO: Quick and Easy Tips for Building an Impressive CV

1. Why this institution?

This is a popular question that universities ask you in entrance interviews. The key to answering it
successfully is to match your answer with your application. Express your interest in the university
based on your research. Explain how you’re impressed with the successes and achievements of
the department or a particular academic that will be involved on your course. Demonstrate your
enthusiasm to study at the university and most importantly, explain how you trust it to be the
best place to develop your experience and skills.

2. Why this course?

Second on the list of top interview questions, answering it involves similar skills to the previous
question. Think hard about your reasons for applying for a particular course, perhaps it’s a
continuation of your undergraduate course or a development of your current career. Consider
career aspirations and options at all times and ensure you give a clear idea of your reasons for
applying. Prepare your answer for this question carefully as you can expect it to come up at every
interview you attend.

3. Tell me about yourself?

This does not mean your personal life. The interviewers don’t want to know that you were born
in Sheffield but grew up with your cat in Scarborough. Tell them why you are passionate about
the field of study you want to study in then tell them of any professional experience you have.
Keep the answer relevant and concise; facts and figures are helpful for doing this. Extracurricular
and volunteering activities are great examples of how you can include your personal
achievements whilst staying relevant to this question.

4. What are your greatest strengths?

This is your time to shine! If you’re asked this question, it gives you permission to go all out with
listing your best skills, but be careful how many skills you list. Reeling off a list of skills with no
evidence won’t impress the panel. Instead, focus on three or four skills that make you a great
candidate and provide examples. You might be creative, a quick learner, flexible, hold great
people and teamwork skills; whatever you’re good at, let them know (with examples)!
5. What are your greatest weaknesses?

This is a tricky question to answer, nobody is perfect after all. Instead, state something which is
(or was) a weakness, but also explain the steps you have put in place to change this. You could
always just provide weaknesses the interviewer already knows such as lacking a Postgraduate
Qualification or state weaknesses that aren’t related to the course.

6. What are your career goals?

If asked this question, it’s important not to just state your career goals, you need to explain how
you intend to succeed. Broad statements like ‘wanting to become a specialist’ are unmeasurable,
instead you should state that you want to become a recognised leading expert in the field with
several published works. The goals should be attainable within the next five years, although you
may wish to elaborate further if appropriate.

7. What is your philosophy towards work?

There are many work philosophies that universities want to see. Motivation, focus, balancing,
creativity and resourcefulness are often top of their lists though. Pick out two or three work
ethics that you hold and give examples of when you’ve had to use them, for example, you may
have used time creatively in your undergraduate years, balancing work with university.

8. Are you applying for other courses?

Although it’s tempting to say, “No, of course not, this is the only University I’m interested in and I
want to spend my dying days in its libraries”, everyone knows this probably isn’t true and as such,
it won’t help you get on the course. Be honest, if you are looking at a few other courses, tell them,
but be sure to say why this course is the best of the bunch! It is of course advisable only to apply
for related courses; applying for an MA in Humanities as well as an MSc in Biosciences shows that
you may not be passionate about a particular field of study.

9. What Would Be Your Dream Job?

Don’t give a specific job title or position, you’re asking for trouble if you do! Tell the university
interview panel instead about a dream career, free from titles or companies. This makes it easier
for the interviewer to understand what you want to do, as it allows them to create the job you
want in their mind.

10. What skills do you have that will help you succeed on this course?

In order to answer this question correctly you need to make sure you know the course profile and
course content like the back of your hand. You need to know what is involved in the course, is it
predominantly research based or are you required to complete practical work? When you know
this you can match your skills to what is required. Don’t be shy in reminding the interview panel
what is required of students on the course and explain how your skills (which you’ve probably
mentioned already by this point) match those prerequisites perfectly.

These are what we think are the top 10 questions asked by university interview panels in the UK.
If you’ve attended a postgraduate interview, why not let others know what questions you were
asked and perhaps even give your opinions on the best way to answer them!
Grad School Interview Questions & Interview Tips
Graduate Schools Interview Questions

Your grad school interview can make or break your application. Show ‘em what a stellar
candidate you are by preparing your answers to some of the more commonly asked questions in
advance. Here are ten of our top picks for questions you might encounter during a graduate
school interview.

Why do you want to go here, instead of other schools?

This is your chance to show how much you know about this school, and how well you fit. A
detailed and thoughtful response demonstrates you cared enough to research the department of
your choice in advance. If you’re super stoked on the school, by all means, express it, but stop
short of sucking up. And if you’re not that stoked on the school, but it’s your only option for
financial or convenience reasons, you better think of a reason to get excited about it – fast.

Example:
“I like (School X) because of its 1:3 faculty to student ratio, which is important to me because it
suggests I’ll get a lot of mentorship. Also, Billy Bob Corndog’s research focus on venomous
animals and poisonous plants of the Rocky Mountains aligns very strongly with my interests. It
would be great to work closely with him. I’ve also heard great things about the student culture
and fieldwork opportunities from Elvira Discovampire, who is a recent alum.”
What are your research interests?
Now you get to wax eloquent about your passion. Don’t hold back: the interviewer needs to see
your excitement and enthusiasm. Be specific, and address how your research interests fit with
the school’s curriculum. Don’t forget to include past schoolwork, work experience, publications,
and other accomplishments.

Example:
“My work is in the area of venomous animals and poisonous plants of the Rocky Mountain
region. I first became interested in this topic when I got lost up near the Continental Divide and
ate raw elderberries for sustenance, which caused some gastrointestinal issues, but piqued my
interest. In college I majored in Biology, and took coursework in Spiders of the Southwest,
Rattlesnakes of the Rockies, and Berries You Shouldn’t Eat. I also had a research assistant position
with Professor Hiss and together we published our findings as an article called “Beware the
Brown Recluse”, which was published in 2005 in the American Journal of Things To Avoid.
How will you contribute to our program?
This is the time to toot your own horn by responding with a combination of personal and
professional qualities. Again, be specific, and cite examples of these qualities you purport to
possess. Remember: in this case, modesty will get you nowhere, but try to stop short of
arrogance.

Example:
“Well, I bring a unique research background. For example, I spent a summer in college doing
fieldwork that focused on identifying and tracking live nests of poisonous baby snakes. I’m really
excited about the advances in the field of poisonous baby snake tracking and love to experience
and employ the latest technology, such as heat-sensing devices and snake-tail spray painting.
There’s lots of opportunity for collaboration with other scientists and students I’ll meet in the
program. I also find my sense of humor comes in handy and can uplift others’ spirits during
stressful periods like finals, or getting accidentally injected with venom.”
What are your short-term and long-term career goals?
Your answer to this question provides the interviewer with a sense of your initiative, interests,
and ambition. A thorough and relevant response demonstrates you’ve spent some time reflecting
on the professional direction you’d like to take and how you see yourself getting there.

Example:
“I really admire Professor Hiss’s professional track – for about ten or fifteen years he focused on
snake and spider handling, research and publication on Australia’s deadliest creatures. Once he
had really established himself he stepped into an academic role. I see myself doing the same –
learning in the trenches in the short-term, and then teaching in the later part of my career. In
America, there’s a notable lack of university-based research centers on venomous animals, and I
have a dream of establishing a one. Ideally it would be located in the American Southwest so as
to have the best access to the most venomous animals.”
What do you see as the major trends in your field of study?
Here’s where the interviewer gets to assess how well you’ve kept up with current developments
in your field. It’s a time for you to note any recent journal articles you’ve read, conferences
you’ve attended, and the topics relevant blogs or websites in your field are covering. Adding your
opinion on the recent trends demonstrates you’ve spent time considering the pros and the cons.

Example:
“In the past year, there’s a trend in Europe and in parts of Asia that involves dying venomous
animals in pastel polka-dot shades. The rationale is that it will make these animals easier to spot,
and therefore avoid, but frankly, I disagree with their choice of color and pattern. Pastel
polka-dots can make the animals look harmless and cartoonish and there have been several
instances in the past year of people grabbing the animals excitedly and sustaining a toxic bite as a
result. I like the approach used in East Africa in the 1980s of implanting a tiny musical device
within these animals that plays the theme song from “Jaws”. But that proved too costly so the
program was discontinued.”
Tell me about how you achieved a significant accomplishment.
This is not the time to be modest. State your accomplishments with confidence. But here’s the
trick: you’ve got to fall short of outright cockiness. In order not to come across as arrogant, notice
your tone of voice – does it reek of “I’m so great?” It can also be helpful to point out the
difficulties you faced in achieving your goal, or a detail in which you explain, in hindsight, what
you could have done even better.

Example:
“During my junior year of college we went to Arizona to do fieldwork. One component involved
trapping the most venomous animals without being bitten. I won by catching nine scorpions and
three Gila monsters in one day. It was tough! I was up all night, hiding under pine needles and
behind cacti. But I was determined to take home the prize, which was a trip to Australia to hunt
box jellyfish, so I made it happen.”
List some of your strengths and weaknesses.
Listing strengths should be easy. Again, this is not the time to be modest. Be clear and specific
about your strengths, but the “listing weaknesses” part can be tricky. You want to be honest, but
you’ve got to be careful not to look like a potentially problematic student. One way around this is
to discuss how you’ve been proactively working to change your flaws. Examples illustrating both
strengths and weaknesses are crucial.

Example:
“My strengths include my passion for the subject – as I mentioned earlier, I’ll stay up all night to
catch Gila monsters and scorpions - and my attention to detail. I consistently get very positive
feedback on my detailed knowledge of animal behavior. One weakness is that I can get caught up
focusing too much on the details. For instance, I’ve been known to work for three hours on one
sketch of poison ivy. I’ve been addressing my tendency to obsess by allowing myself a set amount
of time to work. For instance, these days I set an alarm so that I allow myself to work for 45
minutes. When the alarm goes off, I have to stop or take a break. It’s been working well so far.”
Tell me about your hobbies and interests.
Admissions departments want to know you’ll be able to achieve work-life balance. Here’s your
opportunity to show your interviewer you’re more than a one-dimensional student. Your answer
to this question has the potential to be very memorable.

Example:
“I know in order to keep a balanced lifestyle I have to attend to my health. I’m a squash player –
I play 3-4 times per week and I notice your school has some great squash courts, which is a bonus
for me! I also love to cook, especially Thai food, and tend to have small dinner parties once or
twice a month to be sure I’m getting some socializing in.”
Where else have you applied?
This is similar to “why do you want to go here?” The interviewer wants to know how committed
you are to attending their school. If you have applied elsewhere, let your interviewer know what
particularly interests you about this school. If you haven’t applied elsewhere, explain why you are
solely committed to their program.

Example:
“ I’ve also applied to University of Arizona’s graduate program, because the fieldwork
opportunities would be so excellent. But frankly, the faculty here is stellar, and the curriculum
here aligns better with my interests than the curriculum at U of AZ. This is my top choice.”
What questions do you have for me?
The only wrong answer to this question is “no”. If you’re committed to being a student at this
school, there’s got to be something you’re curious about and want to explore further. Ask about a
particular faculty member or research opportunity, what careers recent alums have pursued,
recent dissertation topics, etc. What better way to show your interest than demonstrating
curiosity? You may want to construct some questions as part of your interview prep so you are
ready to respond to this question with inquires that are insightful and demonstrate a
sophisticated understanding of the program, the university, and your field of interest.

Example:
Example: “I recently read a study by Dr. Corndog, on new methods for trapping Gila monsters -
since I have unique experience in this practice, I was wondering if there is an assistantship
opportunity on his staff?
Taking some time to prepare yourself for common interview questions may also help you frame
answers to unexpected questions that can arise during your appointment. Good Luck! Stay Calm!
Remember, if you weren’t awesome you wouldn’t have gotten the interview in the first place,
this is your time to shine.