Hi guys,

I am applying to two different PhD projects in the same department (maybe even the same lab) at KCL. I finished an application last night and sent it off, only to find another similar project looking into a different problem within the same topic. More awkward still, the same administrator will be reading my application. Do you think I should customise my original cover letter to acknowledge this other project more? I really want to work within this department but do not want to come across as lazy for using the same (or a very similar) letter twice.

Any advice would be appreciated!

If it is an administrator (rather than an academic) then they probably won't be reading your cover letter in any depth, as they won't be responsible for determining who to interview.

However, unless it's a brief 'please find enclosed my application' type cover letter, I would recommend that the cover letter should ALWAYS be different as it should reflect the post applied for. that applies whoever is reading it, and whatever institution you're applying to.