I actually have some positive news, I have been offered a 4 year PhD at University of London. Interview was at 2, and I was offered it by 3:30. I'm over the moon. Just keep trying and something will come up- don't lose heart! :-)

Hi, found out yestursday that I'd been declined. I got the same excuse as the others "This year was a highly competitive year, and i'm afraid we're unable to offer you a studentship on this occasion". But I'm an undergraduate with research, publishing and conference experience and my supervisor has said I should have a good chance, but i don't know I'll have to wait and see!

NIMR said they'd get back to us within a week, but i found out within a day of my panel interview. Cambridge took over a month to decide! Warwick told me the monday after I was interviewed (I interviewed on a wednesday so).

I'm going to keep applying, I know someone who graduated last year couldn't get a BMS job so applied for funded PhD positions in June and got one for Sept/Oct start!

I get the feeling that people who would have normally joined the graduate job market are applying for PhDs because they can't get the work! Wasn't science research spending saved from the cuts?

Keep us posted!

I've found that questions vary so much between institutes. My 4th interview, you could tell that the women on the panel was playing the bad cop whereas the chair was playing the good cop. She was evil! She put down everything I said such as my work experience outside of my research work. Know the background to your research work, try not to forget names (I'm terrible with names both of people and diseases). My 3rd interview asked me about the ethics of IVF, and my 2nd interview asked me neuroscience questions (which i haven't a clue about!). Ensure that your answers are prefect (so they can't pick you up on mistakes).

I'd say, don't get too nervous. I suffer with anxiety and it affects my speech when I'm really on the spot, which was the reason i was declined by the third place I interviewed at. And smile even if you think the interview is going down the plug hole!

I know that feeling all too well! I'm an undergraduate applying for PhD. I've had 4 interviews in the past 3 months, been declined by 3 waiting for the 4th declined email from my 4th interview.

It's very annoying, as I got through to day 2 of a 2-day interview and got so-close to getting it (2 people interviewing for each place). I was declined the day after. I emailed asking for feedback on my interview, the reply was basically "Good interview, but nerves got in the way of communication". Very annoying, aren't people meant to be nervous in panel interviews?

Nevermind, September is 8 months away so hopefully we'll sort something out. I know a guy who started applying for PhD in June 2010 and after 9 interviews got a PhD to start in September 2010.

Just keep smiling :)