Postgraduate accommodation at Reading

Hi Sam, Currently a postgraduate in St George's, I went for the washbasin room, I recommend it - it's good value for money and the block is very quite. I am advertising my room for the summer if you wanted to get settled earlier. Just let me know if you're interested, or want further information.

Hi All,

Just received an unconditional offer for Food Science MSc at Reading looking at accommodation now, i'm a bit older (25) so not sure about moving into halls filled with 1st years again (don't get me wrong I loved it the first time around but not sure I could do it/afford it again).

In the University guide they say there is no specific postgraduate halls, but they try to group postgrads together. Are there any postgrads out there that have already applied and secured accommodation? Did you go private rental or university halls?

Congrats on getting a place! I haven't applied yet but I'm hoping to get a place on the MA Medieval Studies course.
It made me grin a bit when you described yourself as being "a bit older". I'll be 30 in September! I guess that rather begs the question of what I've been doing with myself since graduating, but it's a bit of a long story. I didn't become an undergraduate until I was 21 and I worked abroad for a bit after graduating.

Sorry for hijacking the post but just out of curiosity - what kind of resumé are you applying with if you don't mind me asking? I mainly mean research experience and GPA?

I assume that you are from the US? I'm not entirely sure how an international application is conducted, but in my case I presume I'll be applying (I haven't started yet by the way) mainly on the strength of my Bachelor of Arts in Classical Studies.

Oh sorry, I'm actually from another EU country - we don't use distinctions for the degree, just GPA (and I assume getting first in the UK is harder than getting a decent GPA in some other countries, for example). The reason why I'm asking is that I have exactly the same plan to apply to UoR for Medieval Studies and I'm in a very similar boat to you (graduated in 2011, almost 30), so was kind of exploring what background other applicants have

Wow. It appears that we are in fact pretty much in the SAME boat. I graduated in the same year as you too. Sorry for automatically assuming you were American, but your use of resumé at first suggested it, and then when I looked up GPA (I wasn't aware of that initialism) I noticed that it was an American abbreviation.

Anyway...it's great to find someone who is also planning on studying the same subject as me! What are your main interests in the period? Looking at the optional module list, I can see that I'm probably going to go more down the literature/linguistic root (Beowulf, The Canterbury Tales etc). Are you looking to do an MRes or MA? I'm 90% leaning towards MA.

In reference to your concerns regarding background, I'm not entirely sure what sort of hurdles you will face. If it helps in any way, I don't have a "traditional" academic background. I pretty much made a mess of my formal education (was lazy and disinterested) and had to make up for it with self study in order to get a place at university. I got a moderate 2:1, which is fairly good and demonstrable at least of potential to complete a post graduate degree.

Yes, it is nice indeed to see fellow (potential) applicants! I haven't really figured out what I want to do exactly, but I've entertained the idea of researching the Crusades. However, I don't exclude anything else yet either - for instance, I was quite taken with social history during my undergraduate studies. UoR does seem to offer plenty of opportunities for students who want to study literature in the context of Medieval Studies. I actually went to one of their open days and it was brilliant - even though there was only one more student besides me interested in Medieval Studies (and 5+ prospective students for English Literature in the same building), they emhpasised on the ability to conduct interdisciplinary research if needed (e.g getting help from the Archaeology or English Literature department). Have you checked out any of the potential supervisors whose interests align with yours?

Oh and I am leaning towards MRes, funnily enough, since when I first started to look into applying, I was almost certain I wanted to do the MA. The main reason I have changed my mind is because I intend to continue my research studies afterwards. Are you planning on pursuing a PhD perhaps?

Well, I have no idea what kind of admission rates they have at postgraduate level. All I know is that they require at least 2:1 and since I'm not from the UK, I also had to take an IELTS test (I actually don't have the results yet). I did quite well during my undergraduate studies with some hiccups here and there but overall my average weighted grade was ~4,5/5 - have to see how UoR is going to convert it. I didn't write a dissertation though because I chose to take an overall exam instead.
One thing which makes you a very strong candidate is the fact that your past work experience is somewhat connected to your potential studies (I "stalked" your posts, sorry:P). Sadly I can't say the same, since I've been working in completely unrelated fields. Hence the reason I'm applying - I'd really like to continue my studies in (Medieval) history. Or well, I haven't actually applied yet, since I'm stuck at writing my Statement of Purpose!

No, I haven't been to an open day or checked out potential supervisors as of yet. I have however researched the university as well as the course and optional modules available, and I'm already sure that I wan't to study at UoR more so than other universities. I was actually deliberating on whether or not to study at Reading as an undergraduate (I didn't in the end), so it would be nice to finally study there as a post grad.

I'm not 100% sure, although I am definitely considering it. Especially as from 2018 the government is supposed to be introducing loans for PhD study. In a way I feel the same as you - should I do an MRes? - but then looking at the credentials of many lecturers at the university, a lot of them have MA rather than MRes, so that shouldn't be a barrier to PhD study.

I'm sure you'll have little trouble where English language proficiency is concerned. Yes, I actually wrote to the faculty and they said much the same. I have a friend who went to study for his MA in Medieval Studies at a university in Budapest, and he was a standard History graduate. The good thing about Medieval Studies (at UoR and other institutions) is that it essentially has to be interdisciplinary, as the subject is not available as an undergraduate course. So as you say, it relies on a lot of input from other departments - the classics department, history, English language and literature etc. So I think they assume that people taking the MA in Medieval Studies will naturally come from a wide range of backgrounds.

We seem to have taken over this thread! We should probably start a new one related to Medieval Studies.
But getting back on topic...what are your opinions regarding the accommodation situation? In my undergraduate days I was used to having an ensuite bathroom, but now - in an effort to be more frugal - I'm leaning towards a basin only room. Other than that there is always the option of private rent. I just think that once you add up the cost of heating/electric/gas bills it might be worth just going for Halls...especially as it's only for one year.

Hi Sam, I am a postgraduate student in Biological Sciences.I know its a bit expensive but i accepted Mackinder Hall. Have u made a decision yet?

I have an offer for MSc Management and am awaiting on news of scholarship funding. Am trying to work out accommodation costs. St George's Washbasin is by far the cheapest but I had a terrible experience year one at my own university. We had two showers between the fifteen of us, and one freezer and only two fridges. Do you know what the ratio is in St George's?

Thanks

Hi All,

Just received an unconditional offer for Food Science MSc at Reading looking at accommodation now, i'm a bit older (25) so not sure about moving into halls filled with 1st years again (don't get me wrong I loved it the first time around but not sure I could do it/afford it again).

In the University guide they say there is no specific postgraduate halls, but they try to group postgrads together. Are there any postgrads out there that have already applied and secured accommodation? Did you go private rental or university halls?