Really excited to start my DPhil in Primary Health Care at the Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences - University of Oxford, studying Wearables and Wellness with John Powell Abi Eccles

Reflecting on the journey, I’ve learnt a lot about navigating doctoral/ PhD applications and the interview process. A big turning point was applying sociological concepts from my MSc—specifically Bourdieu’s field theory—to demystify the system. It gave me a structured lens to answer application questions like: What is this specific committee actually looking for? How do I frame my answers authentically while aligning with them? Because the "right" answer is never one-size-fits-all.

Bourdieu saw society as made up of different "fields", like academia, medicine or the arts. Each field has its own unwritten rules, and its own kinds of "capital" (knowledge, credentials, connections, reputation) that count for something there. To enter a field, you need to understand what it values and show that you can play by its rules. For applications, this shaped how I framed key parts of my application, even the wording I used, so that it spoke the language of that particular department and discipline.

Instead of asking "how do I sound impressive?", I started asking "what does this field value, and how do I show I belong here?"

Grateful to everyone who supported me along the way. Here's to the next chapter!

Feat. my beautiful lanyard from Reuben College, University of Oxford ! 🎓

#Oxford #admissions #PhDapplications #PhD #doctorate #applications #OxBridge #research #funding #scholarships #academia #psychology #mentalhealth #healthcare