Starting a PhD can highlight how little of a subject is covered in most first degrees. Supervisors will not expect applicants to have a detailed knowledge of their research groups’ work. They will expect a level of basic background knowledge and a broad interest in the research project. Finding a couple of good review articles will help you do this (most research papers will be too detailed to allow you to put them into a proper context).

What they want to know is whether you can apply yourself to a research environment. Talk about how you did this in your final year research project and dissertation. You may want to explain why you didn't choose genetics or molecular biology options during your course. You should remember though, that if one of your modules had been in molecular genetics it probably would have amounted to 20 hours of lectures and a few practicals. For your PhD you'll be working at least 40 hours a week for 46 weeks a year. It shouldn't be long before you're up to speed.

Ask the university you are applying through what they require.

This can be a common problem. Most universities provide students with an advisor who the student can talk to in confidence about just such a problem. Before you do this try talking to other students in your research group to see how they deal with your supervisor.

Your situation is quite complicated. It is possible that if you are 21, have spent the last three years at university in the UK and your parents have a permanent UK address that nobody will ever ask whether you've been living abroad.


It depends on whether you've ever lived in the UK and on why you were in Switzerland (were you under 18 and living with your parents? or were you working?). You'll need to contact one of the research councils directly - you can find links to them on the links page of this site or at www.hero.ac.uk.

Such positions are advertised either on this site, in the press or on departmental web sites. You should not apply speculatively.

There should be no problem applying to two supervisors in the same institution, as long as you are not sending out generic applications. Supervisors know that students apply for more than one position. If you are offered interviews they will probably be able to arrange them for the same day. If you encounter a supervisor who is offended by this, they may not be the best person to work for anyway.

It can be a good idea, but you'll need to check that you will be able to register for a PhD. Competition for research assistant places is very high.

You need to talk directly with your PhD supervisor. Ideally you need to continue the same project at a different institution. There are all sorts of problems with funding that will need sorting out (even if you are funding yourself). Your current supervisor will need to help you find an appropriate replacement or supervisor in your new location.


You should also consider seriously whether you are happy with the research project you are doing. If not, changing location may be of no help. If you are not an EU citizen then the work restrictions you faced in the Netherlands will be similar in any other EU country (they will also be difficult in North America).


Finally there will be many other international students at your institution and many of them will have been through the same emotions as you and decided to stay put. If your university has an international students organisation get in touch with them so you can find out how other people dealt with your situation.

I imagine that most of the labs you find on this site would accept you for a PhD if your qualifications are good enough. The problem you will face is finding funding. Fees for overseas students are roughly double those for home (UK) students. Some grants are available to cover the difference between home and overseas fees, but this would still leave you owing at least £3000 per year plus living expenses (which are high in the UK).


If you find a project on FindAPhD which is of interest, but is not marked as available to international students then visit the web site of that university and search to see which funding schemes they may have available. Do not write direct to the supervisor as they receive so many requests from international students asking for projects with funding that they often don't bother replying.


The first place you should look for funding is through your home country’s Department of Education (even if they don’t fund overseas study, they may know what other schemes exist). For study in the UK you should also try the http://www.britishcouncil.org” target=_blank>British Council (in your home country, don’t write to the one in London). For study in the USA try the http://exchanges.state.gov/education/fulbright/commiss.htm” target=_blank>Fulbright Commission.

If you want to pursue a project in the sciences then unless you are funding yourself the research project will be defined for you. In a small number of cases a university department will ask for research proposals for funding which is not allocated to a specific project but this is not common. Projects are peer reviewed to check that they have a sound scientific basis and that they are achievable by a PhD student within three years. If you are asked for a proposal then send a short paragraph outlining broadly your area of interest and ask for guidance as to how much detail they require for the full proposal.

If you want to pursue laboratory or field research there may be other expenses beyond the usual course fees. If you choose a large research group the chances are there will be enough 'slush' funds to cover this for you. But make sure you know what you'll be expected to pay for before you start.

You should have very few problems in finding somebody to supervise you if your academic qualifications are up to scratch. Projects with research grants have been peer reviewed, based not only on their scientific/academic merit but also on whether or not they are acheivable by a PhD student within 3 years. If you're funding a project yourseslf then less scrutiny will have been applied (it could be that only you and your supervisor think it's a good idea). Canvas as much opinion on the research project you choose as you can before parting with your cash.

You are probably eligible for such a course. If you can't find what you're looking for here then try the web sites of university information science/computing departments.

EU membership may make it easier for Polish students to get at leatst partial funding for PhD studies in the UK, but this may not come into force for a few years. Some scholarships are available for international students to study in the UK, but these very rarely include living expences. Try the British Council in Poland or your own department of education to see what schemes may be available to you.

Your personal statement for the scholarship will probably go to a different person than the one you have already filled out. Briefly list your academic achievements and how they relate to the project you wish to pursue. As suggested below include stuff about your passionate interest in the subject etc.