University of Oxford
Oxford
Getting into Oxbridge for Postgraduate Study
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tony_ron
Cool, thanks xD , I sure hope they think that's a plus.
I notice you're in Oriel and from Wales - oen of my neighbours is going into second year PPE there and he's also from Wales (Usk, Newport).
On second thoughts that's probably only a rather tentative link to Pontypridd lol.
I notice you're in Oriel and from Wales - oen of my neighbours is going into second year PPE there and he's also from Wales (Usk, Newport).
On second thoughts that's probably only a rather tentative link to Pontypridd lol.
I left last year I'm afraid! I'm now doing a PhD at Swansea.
University of Oxford
Oxford
I don't know that I'd be as absolute as Alba says. My first year marks were by far my best ones and my average exam results in my second year (no extenuating circumstances involved) were pointed out in at least one of my references. I also got a very average 2.1 overall (my transcript is very difficult to read but I'm pretty sure I didn't get a 67 average, either in my third year or overall). However, I still got an offer for the Oxford MSt in Linguistics, and passed the course (I graduate on Friday in fact 
), nearly achieving a distinction in my dissertation. It definitely depends both on the individual applying and on the department concerned as to how your undergrad results relate to your success at postgrad level, and on what basis the department accepts you.
), nearly achieving a distinction in my dissertation. It definitely depends both on the individual applying and on the department concerned as to how your undergrad results relate to your success at postgrad level, and on what basis the department accepts you.
tony_ron
Crikey, I'm not sure I could ever get up to 70 
My average was 65% for first year, which consisted of 14 marks graded as 1 2.ii, 10 2.i's and 3 Firsts (though 2 of these happened to be the same essay given in 2 different papers - they didn't cross check to make sure the questions were different). With such a heavy weighting away from the first I'm not sure I could get it up that high. Pants. I'll keep trying but I think 67/68 might end up being my upper threshold, although I realise it's difficult to tell in first year. I would truly love to go there though, some of the Colleges are so beautiful and the courses look so engaging.
My average was 65% for first year, which consisted of 14 marks graded as 1 2.ii, 10 2.i's and 3 Firsts (though 2 of these happened to be the same essay given in 2 different papers - they didn't cross check to make sure the questions were different). With such a heavy weighting away from the first I'm not sure I could get it up that high. Pants. I'll keep trying but I think 67/68 might end up being my upper threshold, although I realise it's difficult to tell in first year. I would truly love to go there though, some of the Colleges are so beautiful and the courses look so engaging.
Don't sell yourself short so early - I went from 63 in my first year, to 66 in my second, to 73 in my final so it's completely possible. In fact, people's marks are normally expected to improve as they continue at uni - as I said in another recent thread which talks about this, when you get to final year, you're normally doing stuff that you really want to do (as in more freedom of module choice, dissertation topics etc) so it makes sense that your marks will be better as it's coming more 'naturally' due to you finally doing the things that are tailored to your own interests.
Thanks . So far I've already had complete freedom of choice to choose every module and question I want to do though, but hopefully it will still be OK. Only thing I'm not looking forward to so much in third year is the emphasis on primary sources. It goes up from 16% emphasis in Part I to a 40% emphasis in Part II lol which scares the living crap out of me.
. So far I've already had complete freedom of choice to choose every module and question I want to do though, but hopefully it will still be OK. Only thing I'm not looking forward to so much in third year is the emphasis on primary sources. It goes up from 16% emphasis in Part I to a 40% emphasis in Part II lol which scares the living crap out of me.great thread
tony_ron
I am interested in doing the MSc in Social and Economic History at Oxford after graduating.
Does anyone know whether you need a 2.1 for this? or is it a First? If it does happen to be a first, is a 2.1 any good even if it's from Cambridge? And if they only ask for a 2.1, what percentage is the offer they normally give - I'd heard about 67%?
Does anyone know whether you need a 2.1 for this? or is it a First? If it does happen to be a first, is a 2.1 any good even if it's from Cambridge? And if they only ask for a 2.1, what percentage is the offer they normally give - I'd heard about 67%?
A mate of mine (well actually I can't stand him, but anyway) is doing the MSc. In his Part I he got 62, Oxford asked him for 60 in his finals and he got I think 65. So obviously it is possible to get in with lower marks.
p.s. we're from cam in case that wasn't clear.
Socrates
Follow up question (sorry for all these q's!): do they have to be directly relevant to my research proposal, or will any good essay be sufficient?
Well, preferably they should at least vaguely relate to the area you want to study (i.e. if I were applying to do something on late 20th-century postcolonialist women writers, essays on Chaucer and Langland might not be the best choice), but as far as I know they don't have to be related to it.
Two questions: the Oxford online application form (I'm not applying just yet, but I had a look) asks me to upload two pieces of work even though I have already selected a course which, according to another document on their website, only requires one item to be submitted. Does it always allow you to upload two even where only one is required or is the form supposed to be dynamic? I'm just worried that the webpage saying you only need one piece of work might be wrong, in which case I may need to write another!
Secondly, the form explicitly states they will take into account the academic standing of my referees. But without exception, the only academics in my department who have supervised me enough times to actually know my name/face enough to write a reference are all young and quite unproven in academia. They're also from economic geography/development geography whereas I am applying for the science/nature/policy crossover. Is it better to get supervisors that genuinely know you, or random famous academics in your department? And is it better to get someone from science/nature/policy who doesn't know me, or someone from development geography who does?
Secondly, the form explicitly states they will take into account the academic standing of my referees. But without exception, the only academics in my department who have supervised me enough times to actually know my name/face enough to write a reference are all young and quite unproven in academia. They're also from economic geography/development geography whereas I am applying for the science/nature/policy crossover. Is it better to get supervisors that genuinely know you, or random famous academics in your department? And is it better to get someone from science/nature/policy who doesn't know me, or someone from development geography who does?
crafty bison
The online form is a default form which as far as I know doesn't change if you apply for course X rather than course Y, so this probably doesn't mean anything. If you're worried your information may be wrong, you can check with the department to make sure, though, obviously.
So I realise that I've only just started a degree this year, but doing an MA/MPhil at Oxford has always greatly interested me. I'm kind of torn [obv I don't need to decide now lol~] whether to do something i'm genuinely passionate about [Tibetan w/ Himalayan Studies] or something i'm quite interested in, but believe it would better compliment my degree now, plus probably give me grater job prospects [Politics] though I have some questions.
1| What is the competitive-ness [insert an actual word here ~] of both subjects I named
2| Would I be able to get on either course, with a 1st/2.1 in my degree now, or would I have to have done a course more related to these in my BA?
1| What is the competitive-ness [insert an actual word here ~] of both subjects I named
2| Would I be able to get on either course, with a 1st/2.1 in my degree now, or would I have to have done a course more related to these in my BA?
Hikari
So I realise that I've only just started a degree this year, but doing an MA/MPhil at Oxford has always greatly interested me. I'm kind of torn [obv I don't need to decide now lol~] whether to do something i'm genuinely passionate about [Tibetan w/ Himalayan Studies] or something i'm quite interested in, but believe it would better compliment my degree now, plus probably give me grater job prospects [Politics] though I have some questions.
1| What is the competitive-ness [insert an actual word here ~] of both subjects I named
2| Would I be able to get on either course, with a 1st/2.1 in my degree now, or would I have to have done a course more related to these in my BA?
1| What is the competitive-ness [insert an actual word here ~] of both subjects I named
2| Would I be able to get on either course, with a 1st/2.1 in my degree now, or would I have to have done a course more related to these in my BA?
1. No idea on the Tibetan/Himalayan MPhil - probably not very many places on that course, since it sounds quite specialised. It can't imagine that particular course being a hugely popular choice (precisely because it's specialised), but at a guess those people who do apply will probably be quite well qualified to do it. And for what it's worth, there are around 200 applicants for 70 places on taught courses in the Oriental Studies department overall.
For politics-related MSts/MPhils it's around 450 applications for 70 places (which again includes several different taught courses, though).
2. Well, what is your current degree in? If it isn't somehow politics- or IR-related, you may have trouble applying for some of the Politics courses, but Oriental Studies might work, provided you can prove you have the necessary language skills etc (which I assume you'll have or you wouldn't be interested in the course).
I'm sure I've pissed off everyone with PhD puppyness, but one last question (if anyone knows):
I'm going to be applying for a DPhil in Oriental Studies, but my proposal (and eventual thesis) has a strong politics bias. To this end, I've identified someone at Oxford who might be good as supervisor, but they're in the Politics/IR dept, as opposed to the Oriental Institute. The problem is - should I just change it to a DPhil in Politics (even though the DPhil Politics page itself does not mention that I can write my thesis with a South Asia bias). I can imagine this has come out quite convoluted, and probably sounded better in my head, but any advice would be gladly received.
I'm going to be applying for a DPhil in Oriental Studies, but my proposal (and eventual thesis) has a strong politics bias. To this end, I've identified someone at Oxford who might be good as supervisor, but they're in the Politics/IR dept, as opposed to the Oriental Institute. The problem is - should I just change it to a DPhil in Politics (even though the DPhil Politics page itself does not mention that I can write my thesis with a South Asia bias). I can imagine this has come out quite convoluted, and probably sounded better in my head, but any advice would be gladly received.
Socrates
I'm sure I've pissed off everyone with PhD puppyness, but one last question (if anyone knows):
I'm going to be applying for a DPhil in Oriental Studies, but my proposal (and eventual thesis) has a strong politics bias. To this end, I've identified someone at Oxford who might be good as supervisor, but they're in the Politics/IR dept, as opposed to the Oriental Institute. The problem is - should I just change it to a DPhil in Politics (even though the DPhil Politics page itself does not mention that I can write my thesis with a South Asia bias). I can imagine this has come out quite convoluted, and probably sounded better in my head, but any advice would be gladly received.
I'm going to be applying for a DPhil in Oriental Studies, but my proposal (and eventual thesis) has a strong politics bias. To this end, I've identified someone at Oxford who might be good as supervisor, but they're in the Politics/IR dept, as opposed to the Oriental Institute. The problem is - should I just change it to a DPhil in Politics (even though the DPhil Politics page itself does not mention that I can write my thesis with a South Asia bias). I can imagine this has come out quite convoluted, and probably sounded better in my head, but any advice would be gladly received.
Have you got in touch with your potential supervisor yet? If so, he/she would probably be the best person to ask this question.
hobnob
Have you got in touch with your potential supervisor yet? If so, he/she would probably be the best person to ask this question.
yes, absolutely this. the actual paperwork that goes to grad admissions isn't particularly important at dphil level as long as the people who matter (your supervisor, any particular department) know what you're up to and want you to come.
i know a fair number of people who've changed to supervisors in different departments but haven't changed department themselves, or have changed the name of the course they're on before arriving without sending in another application form, etc, etc.
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