Interview tips for your master’s application

Freddie Parker on 8 April 2022
A closeup of a desk during an interview

Important interviews can be nerve-wracking. Check out our advice on how to prepare for an interview for a master’s degree.

Postgraduate study is a great opportunity to further your career by boosting your employability. In addition to writing a personal statement, the application process can sometimes involve being interviewed. This may seem daunting at first, but you should be successful if you keep a clear head and follow the right advice. With that said, here are our top tips for acing your interview:

What types of master's interview are there?

It’s always a good idea to understand what kind of interview you’ll be doing. Some might involve informal chats, while others will be more formal. You may be assigned a task to do, such as a presentation. It’s important to be prepared.

Make sure to ask any questions you have about the interview process in advance. If you know what’s coming, any anxiety you might have will be more manageable. In the interview, try and listen to what the interviewer is saying instead of overthinking your next response.

Some degrees may ask you to present your project proposal. Use this time to introduce the concept and outline how you plan to do it.

Some courses may involve practical tasks or exams in their application process. This can be either before the interview or during. This will most likely be for practical or vocational courses, where they want to check specific skills.

How should you dress at an interview? 

First impressions are vital. Ensuring you arrive at your interview dressed smartly will help you guarantee that yours is a good one. It doesn’t need to be a fitted suit hired from the most expensive designer; a smart shirt, dress, or blouse and smart shoes should be enough.

How should you prepare for an academic interview?

Get to know the route you’ll take to get there beforehand and give yourself plenty of time for unexpected delays. The last thing you want is to turn up late, as the interviewer will want to see that you’ll take your studies seriously. A clean appearance and punctuality will definitely help with this.

Take time to research the institution you’re applying to. Find out who your course tutors will be, then have a look at their particular fields of study. This will demonstrate your enthusiasm for the subject as well as the institution.

Speaking of research, it’s also a good idea to get a look into recent or ongoing research projects in your field. Interviewers will want to see that it’s an active interest of yours. This is especially vital for PhD interviews, so it’s good practice for those planning doctoral studies to get into the habit now.

Leave time to properly look over your CV and academic history. There will be opportunities to talk about previous jobs or areas of your last degree that you found interesting. Your interviewer will love it if you can relate any of this to your postgraduate research.

What do you do just before an interview?

At the start of your interview, you’ll have to introduce yourself, so start preparing a short, concise introduction. This should consist of a brief personal summary, of where you are now, and where you hope to be in the future. Don’t script anything, just rehearse the key points you want to mention.

If you have to submit a portfolio for the application, bring a hard copy with you for the interview. It’s likely they will want to look over your portfolio and discuss it with you, so it’s good to have things you can point to and elaborate on.

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Freddie Parker
Freddie Parker on 8 April 2022