Why is it so difficult for some people to get a PhD, while others can seem to walk into one? I have a 2i in Biological Sciences and an MSc in Virology and Molecular Biology, yet I can't seem to get a PhD and have been looking for 2 years. And I need one for the career I wish to pursue. It is getting increasingly difficult for me to get one now. Yet there are some of my 'friends' who only just managed to scrape a 2i in their BSc yet have walked into one. What must I do??

tell me aboutit. I have a good degree and experience in industrial research. Everyone is very positive at interview telling me they will give me a place and then knock me back when I tell them I am interested. My suspicion is a lot of places are going to their final year project students regardless of ability. Probably pressure from the university to keep them there.

You must have internal strength to cope with all difficulties in obtaining PhD.

Anyone can get a 2:i, if they wanted to. And anyone without an adequate social life can get a 1st. If you have a 2:i or higher, does that mean you’re automatically eligible to do PhD? No, of course it doesn’t. Doing a PhD is nothing like doing a BSc. You have to demonstrate (at the interview, or in your written application) that you can think independently, not regurgitate what you were taught at BSc level. There’s a difference, and if you can’t see it, you shouldn’t get a PhD.

Sometimes suitable candidates don’t get the position they were offered because funding wasn’t secured by the supervisor, who was probably too lethargic to get it in the first place. The latter scenario is an unfortunate state of affairs, but those who find themselves in this kind of situation consider yourselves lucky: You could’ve spent 4 years struggling with that lethargic loser!

I know exactly what you mean. I know exactly what I want to do in a Phd, and have done everything people ask of me, get a masters they said, so I did, get some experience they said, so I have done for the past 3 years, but still nothing. 50 plus applications and not an interview

hello, im looking for a PhD position, I wonder if its a good idea to go with professor who has never published in good journals and most of his papers has impact factor below 5.......please help waiting a reaply