Postgraduate applicants for 2015 entry

Thanks! We'll get the first set of results in about December; do you think it's more beneficial to wait for them or apply asap in October?

I suppose there's no straight answer! It's very easy to start fretting about these things ;]

It honestly won't make any difference to your application, as long as you get it in before any deadlines. The best strategy is to apply at a time when you aren't super busy, and have the time to fill out the pointlessly long forms, write a kick-ass PS and badger your referees to submit. This will obviously depend a lot on your uni schedule, project/assignment deadlines etc.

The reason it doesn't make a difference is that whether you apply with your December results or not, your referees will have commented on what they think you will achieve in any case. And it's unlikely that a single extra set of results will make a huge difference unless you're a very borderline case (e.g. you're currently averaging a 58 but the December results will bring you up to a 60). So look at you schedule and try to find a week or two where you won't have much on. I advise doing your applications then. (N.B. Out of all the applications I filled in, Cambridge was by far the longest, most complex, most irritating and generally time-consuming of all the applications. So if you're aiming for Cam, leave a lot of time.)

Thanks! We'll get the first set of results in about December; do you think it's more beneficial to wait for them or apply asap in October?

I suppose there's no straight answer! It's very easy to start fretting about these things ;]

Depends on how pleased you are with your second year results and how much you think your third year ones will benefit! If you have good grades that might drop with third year exams, I'd just apply ASAP. Otherwise, if you have meh grades that might increase with third year exams, I'd wait. Talk to your tutor though

Thanks, that makes it a bit clearer. I think I'll try applying asap, but I'll drop my tutor an email just in case.

Good luck with your applications!

Had a very motivating chat with a potential supervisor in Cambridge, and I've been encouraged to apply for PhDs! So I might do so, with master's elsewhere.

That's awesome! What is your research area?

If it helps at all, I have a friend who did Latin ab initio at undergrad and he's just finished a masters in Latin in Oxford. I'm not sure exactly which course it was, but it was something to do with Latin poetry, so it's a good chance you'll be fine. E-mail the Classics graduate office though, I'm sure they'll clarify it too.



As long as your e-mail is super enthusiastic, coherent and tone-appropriate, they won't be offended and they definitely won't reject you other than for some super logical reason (e.g. they will be on sabbatical when you're writing your dissertation). My current supervisor is a gigantic cheese, and I was terrified the first time I e-mailed him, but he was lovely and friendly, more than happy to answer all my questions and then I felt even better because the giant cheese said how interesting my ideas were! This cheese metaphor has outlived its gouda-ness (), but as long as you follow the advice above ^^^ and don't send a generic "Dear Prof. Bigname, I am very interested in learning more about Latin literature on a masters course at Oxford. Would you be my supervisor?" e-mail, you'll be fine.

Thanks so much for this! would you mind me asking where your friend did his undergrad?

Does anyone know where I can find rankings for universities in terms of postgraduate education please.

Any advice from anyone on how long application generally takes for each uni would be good.
Best of luck to everyone!

You mean how long it takes to make the application or hear back?

Thanks, you too!

I meant to make the application, I know that we should expect to hear back January - March time? Cambridge postgraduate courses are open now, so will start that application as soon as.

What are you applying for? Sorry if you've stated this above :P edit: Yep you did :P computational neuroscience sounds incredibly interesting! What kind of research would you do? Modelling neurone interactions in a simulation? (Sorry if that sounds silly I have no idea about the area but it sounds fascinating!)
Cheers

I meant to make the application, I know that we should expect to hear back January - March time? Cambridge postgraduate courses are open now, so will start that application as soon as.

What are you applying for? Sorry if you've stated this above :P edit: Yep you did :P computational neuroscience sounds incredibly interesting! What kind of research would you do? Modelling neurone interactions in a simulation? (Sorry if that sounds silly I have no idea about the area but it sounds fascinating!)
Cheers