From Aberystwyth to...

I am starting in September too. I seriously considered the exact same thought as you. However, perhaps I have different ambitions.

I am particularly interested in strategy (War Studies KCL), and therefore, contemplated with the idea of transferring to KCL for my 2nd/3rd year. I even questioned whether to take an extra year if necessary. However, in terms of International Politics/Relations, Aberystwyth University is renowned and offers one of the best departments in the world. Depending on what you plan to do after you graduate, it is difficult for me to say without knowing your ambitions.

However, assuming you want to take IR/IP further after graduation, I would take most of the universities stated out of your list. I feel, LSE, KCL, St Andrews should be the only universities which you should consider if considering a transfer. Otherwise, I think you’d be demoting yourself.

I plan to take a Masters in War Studies at KCL, and having an IP background will only help me much more than without a single Strategic Studies degree.

The general reputation of Aberystwyth University is not that high. However, the International Politics department is renowned, and assuming you want to continue with IR/IP after you graduate, I do not believe there is any real reason why you should be so concerned on wanting to transfer. Furthermore, if you plan to take IP/IR further after graduation, it is probably recommended you take a masters in a subject related to IP/IR anyway.

I hope that helped.

Reply 2

I would like to take a master in terrorism stuff and to work in that field (secret service/counter terrorism). I don't know if having Aberystwyth in my resume will help me more than having UCL/St. Andrews/LSE/King's and so on. Obviously it wouldn't be smart to transfer to a less prestigious university.

Any other ideas on whether it would be worth transfering or not?

Reply 3

username396452

Aberystwyth as a university may not rank at the top compared to LSE, UCL, etc. But as an IR Department, you will not have a problem gaining name recognition from top-tier US Schools provided you put in the effort to graduate with a first and impress the right references. It would be helpful to see what sort of international guest speakers they are able to attract. Seeing as most speakers have a fairly limited amount of time, and if the guest speakers are academic they are usually there because they know the quality of the department or a direct personal link to a group of lecturers (academia is a small world! consider that when asking for references). LSE/UCL/Oxford etc do attract more high-profile policy related public speakers and public intellectuals. Location and convenience may be a factor. Aberystwyth's department has had academic giants in the field like Waltz, Jervis, Putnam, Lebow, etc. And they're American political scientists that come for the department.

No matter where you choose as a UK site, top-tier US programs (as ranked by US News and World Report) will be hesitant to consider a non-US applicant unless... 1) reach a certain pass scale on the GRE if it's asked and 2) you get a First Class degree result at a UK university. or alternately 3) you are about top 5-10% in your graduating class. This information was gleaned from various academia.edu verified blind-items in academic listserves.

Remember, the name of that university and the degree only takes up one line on that application form. Whoever is reading it will look beyond that one line!

Considering reputations being roughly the same, and it is generally untransparent how marking criteria for courses such as these are, I would stick to the place where I feel I can acheive the greatest result in academic terms. In other words, look at the modules! See which ones motivate you, that interests you, that you'd WANT to put all the work to get those high marks for and not because you feel "forced" to tick the classification boxes. Consider what level of competition you're comfortable with, do you want your peers to breathe down your neck or a more laid back attitude.....actually the scenery of urban vs. rural can determine the speed of academic life; and those universites are in such different locations.

(edited 12 years ago)

Reply 4

Tankx WaltzvWendt, that helped :smile:

Reply 5

Does anybody else have different opinions?

Reply 6

mrt23498

Aber is a beautiful place, you will not be wanting to leave it.

Reply 7

Ultimately it will be the grade that determines whether you will be accepted to do a Masters in USA. The IR at Aberystwyth will serve you well; on the basis you achieve good grades.

Reply 8

Thanks to all! In the end Aberystwyth is the university that has the better combinations of IR courses (with Strategic Studies, Intelligence, Third world, military history) and I guess this is rather cool. I was just scared about the reputation as a whole, but if you tell me that it's not a problem, I will stick with it (pleasantly, as I liked the department so much when I visited it).

As far as you guys know... what is the percentage of first class degree in the InterPol department at Aber? It is like you won't sleep at night in order to obtain it or something (I ask you because surely the English style of university/study is different from Italy)!

Reply 9

Original post by IWantToJoinFBI

It is very difficult to achieve a first. Well, it is difficult if you do not do the work. In order to be quite confident of achieving a first, you need to be treating your degree like a full time job.

Stick around with people like me and avoid those who go to university for part education and part experience, and you should be okay haha.

But seriously, a first is easy to achieve if you put in the effort. All it requires is knowledge, which comes through studying. Put a strategy in place; in other words a study schedule and treat your degree like a job and you should be hopeful of getting a first. I am paraphrasing what other students/lecturers have said who achieved a first. But I believe them and do not feel what they claim can be disputed.

Reply 10

Struggle... did you attend any visiting day? I may have seen you around!!!

Reply 11

Original post by IWantToJoinFBI

Struggle... did you attend any visiting day? I may have seen you around!!!

Well, I attended last year. I was actually supposed to start in 2010, but I went to Colombia/Venezuela for political interests. I was then later given an unconditional and decided to start in 2011.

I cannot wait though. If you use Facebook or anything, feel free to hit me up over PM.

Reply 12

Original post by IWantToJoinFBI

If you want to persue a masters in any area related to IR, trust me, they will know about Aber. As has been pointed out above its your degree classification, individual module results and referees that will matter most.

As for getting a first, the part most people seem to stumble over is the dissertation. Seriously start planning this at least part way through second year. Do not leave it until your final. Drags a lot of peoples grade average down.
Aber is an awsome uni and the academic staff are realy helpful if you make the time to contact them.

Reply 13

Lokifreya, do you attend Aberystwyth university? If so, can you tell me about your experience?

Reply 14

I did. Had to drop begginning of my third year for medical reasons. I love the course and department. But Aber itself felt very 'small'.

The academic staff are really great and you will find that quite a few of them are very well known in this feild of study. It is a very large department with a lot of staff (all with differant areas of focus). So theres a more diverse range of modules.

The way the first year runs you are likely to take most if not all the core modules, so IR theory, strategy and intel, third world, european pol and so on. And then in the second and third year you focus more on modules that particularly interest you. A nice way of doing things sice it gives you a broad understanding of IR and related issues before specialising

The crisis simulation was a lot of fun too

Reply 15

I see... I regret the fact that you dropped out! How are you now?

Excuse me if I take advantage of your experience... how easy is it to spend a year abroad in the second year? I ask because I am planning to apply for the year abroad maybe to go to Franz. And what about the study of a language? Is there a languages center?

Reply 16

I'm pretty good now and heading back to uni in sept to finish my degree, tho not at Aber. Its fairly easy to spend time abroad studying. A semester if your doing straight interpol or a year if its a joint with a language. The department will provide info on this part way through your first year. but it is conditional on you doing well on your early module as they wont send someone who they think will struggle with the work load.
Languages are a not so easy. There is a language centre and plenty of options to pick language module as part of your degree scheme. But if you want to pick up a language in addition to your degree it gets a bit more complicated.

Reply 17

What do you mean when you say "complicated"? I will be doing Interpol and Intelligence Studies, so none language is actually part of my degree whatsoever but I still wish to take a language course. I hope it won't be a problem to take a normal course in addition to my normal degree!

Reply 18