Hey guys,
I'm taking a Msc in Biochemistry in Berlin (i'm german). I would like to pursue with a PhD in uk....I'm sure about it but I don't feel like I'm ready.

Obviously when your talking about science related project, I think a deep knowledge and experience about the topics your applying for is not automatic.
Take my example: I'm studying Biochem with good feedback (first grade at my bsc), but when I read research proposal it's like I don't really know anything about it. I had the same feeling when I started my research project, but day by day I learned (starting with reading articles, asking for explanations to my supervisor and then on my own)...but that was a research project at the end of my Bsc, not a PhD!!!

What are your opinions about it? and ur experiences?

If you're sure you want to do a PhD you must be ready to do it. My advice for you is to figure out if you're ready first and then consider a topic/research proposal

I made a mess with my iphone lol!


By the way, the point is not being ready, cause I am. The main issue is: Students have a general knowledge in their field,which is limited on what they've learned during their studies. When you're talking about science (biochem as example) this is pretty much obvious: in 4 years a biochemist gains the basics of biochemistry.
So, when I read PhD opportunities (coming with a specific project), I understand what is about, but of course I have never studied that field deeply.

Examples, I have read a phd scholarship for the synthesis of peptides and bla bla. Of course I have studied what a peptide is, their synthesis, properties and so on..... But when I see example of peptides synthesized in that group of research, I can only think: "wow, never seen a peptide like that! I don't even know where to start from!!!". I see reactions never studied, molecules never seen before.... and this is pretty much NORMAL.

But when it comes to the question "do you feel ready for that?". I can only answer: I am, cause i want to do a PhD so badly, but how if I only have the general skills my studies gave me?!


It is kinda hard to explain in english, so I hope you can catch the point

One of the big tasks involved in doing a PhD is the literature review, which is where you gain a lot of the specialised knowledge you're talking about. At the stage of applying, you would normally be expected to show that you have some knowledge of the topic and a lot of interest in it, and the skills to carry out the PhD, but you wouldn't be expected to know everything about the PhD topic itself at that stage.