How To Apply

For a PhD: What is the process?

So you are interested ... what happens next?
There are two hurdles a) being accepted by the academic and b) making it through the university selection process

1. first you apply to the academic with a "CV package", details on what to include in your "CV package" are detailed below
2. if you make the first cut, the academic will contact your referees for a confidential reference
3. you will then be compared to the other candidates
4. the top candidates will be short-listed and be interviewed by the academic
5. the successful candidate writes a university PhD entrance application, which includes a project description (the academic will help with this)
6. on a successful university application you are offered a position and you accept both your place and the award
7. start your research on the agreed starting date

What you should send Prof Hunt as part of a "CV" package

• A good CV is incredibly important, I get a great many CVs that are not appropriate for a PhD application ... these go straight to a discard pile.


• A cover letter which will contain:
  1. a statement of no more than 1/2 page presenting why you want to study the topic advertised or if you are not answering a specific advert what topics or general areas interest you that we research in the group.
  2. no more than 1/2 page describing the specific relevant knowledge you have.
     If the PhD is fully computational this will include the quantum chemical knowledge and computational skills that you bring to the PhD.
     If the PhD is experimental and computational a broader range of skills should be described.
     Be specific, for example what courses in theoretical chemistry or quantum mechanics have you taken, what processes have you used in running calculations, what experience in unix, hpc do you have, what codes have you developed? If you have a github page include the link.
  3. when your current course finishes, when you would be available to start in NZ.
  
  
• Your CV, which should be no more than two A4 sides it should contain the following:
  1. personal details such as your address, phone-number, age
  2. A statement of your nationality/citizenships and visa status.
  3. a summary of your university academic profile, ie what degree you have, what areas you took non-core or elective papers in, your last years grades, and (if you have it) your degree class
  4. if you have completed any research projects or a MSc briefly describe your project, give the references for any papers you have published
  5. ANY prizes or awards you have (not just academic ones)
  6. key skills you have that will be useful for the project, ie unix or linux use, programing experience (identify the language), use of computational chemistry packages, etc
  7. do you hold any positions of responsibility in voluntary organisations? Have you any key achievements (academic, sporting or otherwise)?
  8. if English is not your first language a summary of your English qualifications, see below for more information
  9. The names and addresses of 2 referees who you have contacted already and who are expecting a request for a reference, one of these referees should be the person with whom you did your research project (PhD) or PhD supervisor (Post-Doc)
  10. a short summary of summer jobs or activities since you left school, in each case briefly describe your job and any key areas of responsibility
  11. a few lines on your non-academic activities
  
  
• Your academic record is an essential part of your overall CV. Your academic record is a list of the classes you have taken and the grades obtained
  1. it is a formal university document and so should be on university headed paper with a stamp or authorisation (a scaned document is fine)
  2. different universities have different grading systems, you should ensure there is an explanation of the grading system or include one. For example what is the GPA out of?

Minimum Qualifications in English are required:

• university requirements do vary by country, check for details link
• as a broad rule you will need one of the following:
  • TOEFL 90 points on the internet-based test with a minimum of 20 in writing
  • IELTS overall band of 6.5, no sub-score below 6
  • EAP: minimum final scores of 4,4,5,5 (a minimum of two ratings of 5 and two ratings of 4 in the Victoria University of Wellington English for Academic Purposes test)
  • C1 Advanced (Previously - Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE)) or C2 Proficiency (Previously – Cambridge English: Proficiency (CPE)) with a score of 176 or higher, with each skill score no less than 169.
  • Pearson Test of English, with a score of 58 (with a communicative score of not less than 50).

The PhD university application:

• important information can be found here: https://www.wgtn.ac.nz/fgr/apply/how
• the Faculty of Graduate Research is the initial contact point for all PhD student administrative matters
• if you are not a NZ or Australian citizen you will need a valid student visa to study in NZ, it is your responsibility to apply and pay for a student visa. The university international office can help you do this, do not ask individual academics about the process.