Thank you all so much for your feedback, I really appreciate it. I will forget the the review! Ideally I would like to show the PI when I do apply, that I have continued to follow research in my field during these 'gap' years, but I guess I can't evidence that. And Dunham thanks - you have reassured me about publications, I guess I don't need to worry so much about publications at this stage in my career. I have the rest of my life to wack them out! ;)

Wow, that's exactly what I'm afraid of - high competition amongst people that already have publications and haven't had a break from academia. The reason for my break is I relocated across the country and also fell pregnant with my son. I agree with your comments about the review and I thought that may be the case, if I want to get some publications do you have any suggestions how this may be possible other than writing a review? (I'm getting my name on a paper for the project I took part in for my Masters, but would like to have another publication under my belt if possible). Also, I appreciate reviews are written experts in their fields, although PhD students write a review in the first year?

Thank you, will take that on board. Does it matter that I might not be applying for the PhD until next year or maybe even the year after and that I graduated from my masters in 2013? I mean will that have been too long out of academia? That was the main reason for considering writing a review as I thought it would show in my PhD application that although I have had a 3/4 year break from academia, I have been working on a review in my chosen area of interest?

Thank you all for your feedback. Cognitive Neuroscience is my discipline and yes I would like to have a publication or two before my PhD (current circumstances mean I'm unable to start a PhD for a year or two). So using this time, before embarking on a PhD , to write a literature review and get it published seems like the right thing to do?

Hi, I'm new here and would really appreciate some advice - I have a Masters (2013) and I want to apply for a PhD in a couple of years; is it advisable to get a literature review or two under my belt before applying? And is it difficult to submit a review as a graduate? I think writing the review will help my PhD application, help formulate my PhD proposal and improve my academic writing - am I right? Or should I wait until embarking on the PhD? Any advice is greatly appreciated!