Durham University

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Does the history department's infamous 6A* policy apply to history/politics also?

Hi, im thinking of applying to history and maybe politics at durham and have 6A*s but two of them were "short course" GCSEs so im unsure whether the admissions tutors would count these as one or two GCSEs, so does the 6A* thing apply to history/politics as well or is it only for straight history?
Also is hist/pol any easier to get into than history on its own?

thanks in advance for any answers

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Reply 1

goldenbarnes

I have two friends who do history, one never got any A*s and I'm not sure on the other one but I'd be willing to bet all my student loan for next year that he didn't get 6 or more.

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Reply 2

Itchynscratchy

the ''infamous 6A* policy'' is a load of b*****s. It doesn't apply to either

Reply 3

preparationH

thats quite a relief, still is hist/pol any eaiser to get into than straight history?

Reply 4

kathryn16

Hi

Well I dont sctually go to durham but I was talking to one of the history professors and he told me that history and politics was the most popular joint honours course so Im guessing from that that its going to be harder to get a place. Could be wrong though!

Reply 5

loggins

I heard about this "6A* policy*. Supposedly it was implemented this year because the competition for history was so high. A friend of mine was advised not to apply to Durham for history because he had only 5A*, and he got rejected...

Reply 6

danfel

If you really want it, go for it. Even if you don't fit the supposed 'criteria', you can still really show how much you want it. And the first step towards that is applying :smile:

Reply 7

arkbar

And not listening to rejected people, we all know people here who do history, I know a few who don't have those grades by any stretch.

Reply 8

Itchynscratchy

loggins

Yeah but it has been 'supposedly implemented this year' for a few years now. Obviously it is better if you have 6A* than not, but it is not an auto-rejection if you don't

Reply 9

TKR

6A* policy - seriously the hysteria that university application engenders borders on the farcical

Reply 10

paddy

I heard about this, but instead it was for Modern Languages. Methinks it's not true...

Reply 11

dobbs

paddylad

I heard about this, but instead it was for Modern Languages. Methinks it's not true...

Youthinks correctly :smile:

Reply 12

Hashshashin

I know there's no definite answer for this, but what GCSE and A level results should you have to make it realistically worthwhile to apply to Durham, especially for Modern Languages? :smile:

Reply 13

dobbs

Hashshashin

I know there's no definite answer for this, but what GCSE and A level results should you have to make it realistically worthwhile to apply to Durham, especially for Modern Languages? :smile:

Not massive on the GCSEs to be honest - I guess as long as you've got them all above B grade (the odd C won't be bad, but any below C will look bad)....a couple of A*s would be handy I guess, it's common sense really but as I say GCSEs aren't looked into massively.

What they DO look at is your personal statement - don't just rush it off because Durham is REALLY big on personal statements (as most top universities are these days since so many people are getting really good grades).

A-levels, well whatever the prospectus says you need, some subjects say you need AAA whilst you could get in with like BBB/BBC for others. Check the prospectus or UCAS Online. :smile:

Reply 14

Hashshashin

OK, thanks. I'm hoping for a fairly balanced spread of A*s, A's and B's at GCSE this year.

I'll just have to see how my A-levels go. :smile:

Reply 15

socialist cook

dobbs

What they DO look at is your personal statement - don't just rush it off because Durham is REALLY big on personal statements (as most top universities are these days since so many people are getting really good grades).

Well said Kev!

It annoys me when stupid rumours of having to get set results at GCSE will make your application succeed or fail. AS and A Level are far more important than GCSEs anyway, and to quote the Prisoner "I am not a number, I am a free man!"

:biggrin:

Reply 16

dobbs

socialist cook

Well I don't know which prisoner said that, but it sounds good! It's so true though, and don't make your personal statement all academic!! No-one wants to see you're predicted 5 A's at A-level and then you write "I work really hard at my subjects and I think I will get the 5 A's that I have predicted"....it's stupid!!

Write it "smart-casually" to bring in a fashion phrase lol, and write about all your extra curricular stuff (which hopefully you should have a decent amount). That's what the admissions people will look for (in geog anyway, I'd guess the same with other depts but don't want to say!)

Reply 17

TKR

god its so funny

i actually dont know how i got into durham

i dont do extra curricular

Reply 18

Hashshashin

TKR

god its so funny

i actually dont know how i got into durham

Why not?

Reply 19

dobbs

TKR

god its so funny

i actually dont know how i got into durham

i dont do extra curricular

That's not the point - it's not about DOING extra curricular, it's about writing a personal statement which is good enough to make it look like you DO do stuff.

Mine included the fact that I had joined the Young Liberal Democrats to make me look politically active. I paid £4 to join them just so that I could say that on my PS lol....also got some fun stickers :smile: