Vague Masters Application Concern

This doesn't tend to be the norm!

I do remember one of the universities I applied to last year gave me an offer on the back of my personal details (name, address, etc.) and one reference (assuming that had even reached them at that point). It was bizarre. One of my lecturers, however, knows the guy who runs that course and apparently they give out offers to the first 20 people who apply as long as they are predicted a 2.1 just to justify running the course...whether this is actually true, I don't know, but there you go

If you get an offer, then yay! If you don't, you can always bring up the fact that you felt that they were unfair because they had nothing but your transcripts to go on.

Wow. The Masters are cash cows for the department aren't they? : /

Off-topic, but may I ask why you didn't apply to Durham for your MA? What did you think of their Politics department?

Hello!

I've got a good 2:1 from Durham in Politics.

I've applied to the MA Democracy and Elections course at Manchester, where the entry requirement is a 2:1.

I emailed admissions to find out which documents I would need to apply with. They replied explicitly saying only transcripts were needed, and not to bother sending a reference or a statement.

So that's exactly what I've done, just now.

Did you JUST apply based on the email they or did you also read the information on their website/prospectus on the application process? Any university of good standing has info on their website on how to apply and what documents you need to submit. And if you do it electronically, there'll be even more instructions bundled in to help you with the submission.

What I would do is check available online information on the application process for this course. If the written documentation says 'just submit transcripts and nothing else', then you are 100% safe. Because that's all the info any other applicant would get. If the official documents say something different to the email, then I would get concerned. As it is, I wouldn't go with just the emails, which are informal.

Hello!

I've got a good 2:1 from Durham in Politics.

I've applied to the MA Democracy and Elections course at Manchester, where the entry requirement is a 2:1.

I emailed admissions to find out which documents I would need to apply with. They replied explicitly saying only transcripts were needed, and not to bother sending a reference or a statement.

So that's exactly what I've done, just now. I easily meet the requirements, but I feel like there is no information about me in this application. They literally just have my contact details and grades.

What I'm asking is, am I likely to be rejected or accepted? This isn't at all like undergrad and I'm very confused - if I'm not accepted, why? I really don't know what more I could have done.

Why would I be rejected? I know for a fact there are places avaliable on the course still, and I get the impression there is no cap on places - how can they choose with just grades? I suppose just take the strongest?

If you've got the grades, is getting into a non-Oxbridge university quite easy? I hadn't expected it to be!

Any one else had a similar experience? I remember applying to university as a much more complicated process than this first time round!

Anyway, it seems that Manchester was definitely more relaxed about PS & references than my other choices (LSE & Leeds).

Bear in mind though that that doesn't mean the program is any better...

From my experience, Manchester require more information such as a PS and references if you want funding but your degree classification and basic info will suffice if not.

Hello!

I've got a good 2:1 from Durham in Politics.

I've applied to the MA Democracy and Elections course at Manchester, where the entry requirement is a 2:1.

I emailed admissions to find out which documents I would need to apply with. They replied explicitly saying only transcripts were needed, and not to bother sending a reference or a statement.

So that's exactly what I've done, just now. I easily meet the requirements, but I feel like there is no information about me in this application. They literally just have my contact details and grades.

What I'm asking is, am I likely to be rejected or accepted? This isn't at all like undergrad and I'm very confused - if I'm not accepted, why? I really don't know what more I could have done.

Why would I be rejected? I know for a fact there are places avaliable on the course still, and I get the impression there is no cap on places - how can they choose with just grades? I suppose just take the strongest?

If you've got the grades, is getting into a non-Oxbridge university quite easy? I hadn't expected it to be!

Any one else had a similar experience? I remember applying to university as a much more complicated process than this first time round!