Please don't advertise for "excellent students" to join PhD programmes.

Please advertise for "PhD students with potential".

"excellent students" often implies that the candidate must have had access to opportunity, which they may not have had because (in general) higher education is abelist, racist, homo- bi- phobic, trans phobic, and generally suited to those with access to wealth

Next you probably can't tell from their results whether they will be an "excellent" researcher.

As undergraduate exams do not reflect the skills that you are likely looking to develop during the PhD training journey you will share with the candidate.

So stop taking shortcuts and just recruiting the very narrow range of "excellent candidates" who have had luck and privilege to survive a higher education system, and recruit people who have potential to enjoy a scientific career that PhD training can enhance.

Oh and academia is also sexist, and stacked against less wealthy international students, and I suspect I have forgotten more barriers... https://twitter.com/BMatB/status/1332244594499739651?s=19

While I am on this hill (it's quite a nice one, you should join me) - stop RT-ing & forwarding emails from your mates that has this bullshit language.

Tell them you will be happy to share with your networks if they reword the advert.

Academia in 10 years time will thank you.