The interviewer was biased and unfair?

[Anders12]

I just had an interview for a PhD position after being invited following the submission of my research proposal. I thought my proposal was clear, and it's a topic I'm genuinely passionate about – they must have seen potential in it to offer me an interview. However, one of the interviewers was extremely harsh, tearing my research apart. She claimed my work would only be incremental, and during the interview, she loudly insisted I should change my entire research focus. She dismissed the demographic group I want to study – a group often treated unfairly in society – as insignificant and not worth researching because they are "normal". She said it would take 10 years to complete this study. It would be very difficult to get answers from interviews, to which I said, I did similar research in the past and it was easy for me to get answers, she went mad at the word "easy".

Instead, she suggested I focus on culture or ethnic minorities, which she deemed more valuable, adding, "I am foreign.". For the record, I am also not originally from the UK, but I don't particularly want to explore this area of study. I defended my research as best I could, and she did acknowledge that I answered her questions well in the end. But she still questioned the relevance of my master's degree and why I pursued it in the first place.

The whole experience left me feeling quite upset – especially since they could have rejected my proposal from the outset if they didn't see value in the topic. I'm just relieved the ordeal is over and I won't have to deal with her again. But, I feel as though this was unfair and a waste of my time.

Sorry you've had this experience OP. Some academics are like this. They think they're right and that they can speak how they like to anyone they deem "wrong" and it really does feel like a vicious personal attack. People write it off as "that's academia" but I think these people need to learn better debating skills personally. I'll never forget thinking someone was a total arsehole after he (who was fairly well known in our field) destroyed an MSc student like this in front of an audience (who were watching the MSc student present) during a theoretical research conference.

Have previously worked in academia and encountered people like this who seem to think that the right way to do academic debate is harsh criticism. Had someone do it to an excellent student of mine. I think the same challenging questions could have been asked in a better way and see why you are annoyed and upset. Hope you find a better position elsewhere and try not to take it too personally

Thank you so much for your kind words and understanding. I'll try to stay focused on finding the right opportunity.

Thank you for sharing that. This was my first ever PhD interview, and the experience has made me quite reluctant to apply for more in case I face that level of hostility again. I completely agree – there’s no need for debate to be so brutal and what to me felt quite demeaning.

I wouldn’t rule out getting it. They’re probably like that with everyone and they can’t turn down everyone!

I see your point, but this interviewer teaches on some of the modules, so I'd definitely have to see her again. I've just read some student feedback about her that's available, and most say she's harsh, impolite, and difficult to speak with. It’s really put me off, tbh 😩

It sounds like one of my colleagues saying that sort of thing! Having a PhD interview is a two-way thing, and apologies if you already know this. It's more important that you feel you will be able to work with the supervisor and that they'll listen to your ideas and let you follow your own research ideas and interests. She's going to want you to do research that she deems worthy, and will be disparaging of anything else.
How do I know this? Because I ended up with a similar supervisor who was so awful I almost left my programme.
Run for the hills! If you are self-funding, another decent university and supervisor will snap you up.

I agree with PP that having good supervisors is absolutely key in not having a horrendous time on a PhD. That person doesn't sound like someone you could work with.

What is the actual point of doing a SS PhD?