How likely is it to be accepted for a phd on a topic area not studied during the previous degrees?

I'm a 3rd yr biological sciences student and hopefully taking immunology honors. i'm hoping to do a PhD in immunology but would like to take a year out to go travelling once i graduate. has anyone done this or is it better to go straight into a PhD or masters? as yet i have no research lab experience outside of my course (am trying to find some for the summer, but no luck so far). would it best for me to do a masters first to gain some more lab experience in a research environment?
thanks

I think you are absolutely correct. I have found it very difficult because I have taken a year away (not by choice, but because there was very few PhD's around when I applied).

I feel it's easier to obtain a phd position while still study, and this in the same department as we know the people; than when we're already finished our studies and try to apply to other universities; also there are more chances to get accepted if we say to be self funded, but will have touble later asking for financial support: open to discussion.

it seems molecular and cellular biology, genetics, biotechnology as well as medecine and pharmacology have taken over behavioural and ecological sciences.
Sorry, as for colours, they are mostly studied in physics and optics or arts.

i have been told that if i cant get a proposed project with scholarship, than i should discuss directly with a professor to design together a potential topic for a future phd, but how to carry out this approach ? cheers

Thats a good question, I found an interesting research team in the US but would like to carry on my studies in the UK; what is the procedure...

i know of a few people registered at an institution but carrying their work in another one elswhere, I guess it must be possible, depending on the supervision's flexibility and material's availability!

I am looking for a phd in conservational ecology, but did not study it specifically, does this matter and how difficult is it to get a place in cambridge, what does it depend on?

I finally found the person I wish to become my phd supervisor, but he is in a foreign university, shall i still contact him and ask whether he can give me a topic and a contact person in the country I wish to stduy? Is it possible that my primary supervisor will not be directly related to my work?

Yes, good question. I'm in the same situation. Some advice would be very welcome here.

I found some people in the area of study i wish to do a phd, but to ask them to become my supervisor, do i need an outline of my phd project; the problem is that i have no defined topic, does anyone have some idea on colours?

i took a year out (personnal reasons) after finishing my master and now i am looking for phds, by the time i obtain one, i amy have over two years out with no working experience, how can i explain this on my cv and during the interview?

I am intending to start my applications for phds but would you recommend i reconsider the research area, as the one i want to study now is more conservation (ecology + behaviour) biology whereas my previous degrees relate to botany, zoology and molecular bio!

Does anyone out there know how to prove to these people that research (PhD) is all I have ever wanted to do? I have applied for more than 60 PhDs in 2 years and have had interviews butall I get is I am not academically qualified. 2 degrees and a diploma??