I'm british (born and bred) and wanting to do a PhD, and have been applying for ages but dont seem to be getting any replies. ive been applying since october but it feels like as soon as Dr's and Prof's see my name on my CV and covering letter they just chuck my application aside!! Its a muslim name. I am even more worried now seeing as someone with a degree and masters less impressive than mine got an interview for the same PhD i applied for and she's english (with an english name). does anyone else feel discriminated against??

Hi M_asimuk, I'm very sorry to hear about your PhD hunting experiences so far. I could be, by some very remote chance, be wrong, but I don't think it's a question of race. In all my time as a student at university, a total of 9 years now, I have never encountered a single instance of racism. Lecturers and supervisors, are by and large, much too smart to ever be small minded and racist. I had a lot of trouble trying to get on a PhD course, like you, despite glowing references and two first class degrees. It really is that competitive and becoming more so. Perhaps the person who had lower results than you had done more relevant courses than you, or had some research experience. Maybe they just performed better in the interview. There a lots of maybes, but I do not think that racism is one of them. Have you asked for feedback from your rejections? Perhaps if you can get this feedback, you can find out areas where they thought you were possibly lacking (if any) and correct them.
I'm sorry you've had no luck so far, but whatever you do, don't give up. Like I did, keep on the lookout, network, ask around and you'll get there in the end.

agree with Wal, i've never come across racism in academia. However, I do interview for an MSc course and we do turn people away for their English ability - no matter what their skin colour. But as you are British born and bred it would suggest the other candidate, as Wal says, may have had better experience, had worked in the area before etc etc.

A little bit of a different situation but I'm from the UK (as are my parents, grandparents etc) and I have a very French name (both my first name and last name) but it's never caused me any problems.

A

I don't mean to make little of your concerns M-asimuk, but I would be inclined to agree with the others. Academia has many faults, but it tends to be very non-discriminatory regarding gender, race and pretty much anything that's not related to work. Profs are determined to get the brightest candidates because their success depends on it. Plus, research is such an international industry that everyone pretty much expects to be in a multi-cultural environment, certainly in science anyway. I'd agree with Wally that if you're struggling to get an interview, ring up the departments and ask for feedback. And don't feel too down-hearted, it is a tough time and competition is fierce, many good candidates are finding it tough just now.

hi! please dont worry, you are British with a muslim name; lots of people have muslim names.
You just haven't found it yet (your phd acceptance). I know what racial discrimination is like because I come from a country which boasts of racial harmony, happiness and tolerance but......(if I say more, and they find out, they will catch me and put me in jail...... :p ).

In my home country, you cannot even make a critical comment on the government. you will be promptly tucked away in a retention center. But where I come from, people are mostly nice because we have been taught (and conditioned from childhood) to be nice and believe that everything is the way it is because it is the way it should be. As a result, most people grow up to be politically ignorant (like me). There is no freedom of press and racial discrimination is definitely there. Sadly this is the truth. As I said...if I am found out speaking more, I will do phd from jail

love satchi

I think it is a very tough time to be applying for a PhD, so dont give up. Why not follow up your application with a phone call to the relevant profs (or lecturers etc). If they were put off by your name, maybe hearing your voice and realising that you are born and bred in the UK will help them see for what you are, rather than generate some abstract image of you (which could be subconsiously negative? who knows? I am not saying you are right or wrong about the racism bit..). Plus, it shows interest and tenacity and that you are really keen on the PhD. Good luck.

Is the area you're applying to very competitive? Your situation is not unheard of by people from all backgrounds and, like everyone else has said, discrimination is very rare in academia.

An application for a PhD isn't necessarily about having the best degree or the best masters. There could be a host of reasons why she got chosen for interview and you didn't. When you have lots of CVs from equally able candidates it can be very difficult to make the decision who to interview.

Speak to the department and see if you can get feedback. Have you had people with interviewing experience review your CV at all? They may be able to give advice if your CV isn't coming across well.

thanks guys! i'll bear that in mind, maybe it is just me ;-)
an by the way the other girl i was talking about has less experience than me, they invited her for interview but not me and we have the same masters and BSc degrees!

It may be (as in many academic positions) that the interviewer knew the other candidate and her work - in many cases it is who you know and positions are already sorted before the interviews take place (it has happened to me several times - once where I got the job despite the other candidates being further advanced with their research (not very proud of that but in my defence I was doing the job on a temporary part-time basis)and once where the job already had someone else's name on it).
Did you contact the people in advance - when I worked in industry for internal jobs there was an unwritten rule that if you hadn't phoned up in advance of the application you didn't get an interview at all.  It is worth making contact prior to the application - just phone up and ask for some more detail on some aspect that interests you - then they will remember you and hopefully it will have your name on it next time.