The Student Room Group
Uni students - Complete our survey >>
Uni students - Complete our survey >>
Uni students - Complete our survey >>

This discussion is now closed.

Check out other Related discussions

BSc and MSc, or MSci?

Scroll to see replies

ChemistBoy
It is very difficult to get funding for an MSc


Well, FWIW, I know someone that got PAID £100 to do a MSc in oncology at Nottingham. I got the impression that there were quite a few doing the course as well.
MadNatSci
But this difference is pretty massive, in terms of funding if nothing else.


I think the main difference is that you have to apply and be accepted to do a MSc, and generally you concentrate full time on the research project for 6 months. Also, a lot of people go to a different university to do a MSc and their MSc tends to be in a complementary and specialist field. For these reasons, if I am correct, a BSc + MSc is considered more highly than a MSci alone.

An MSci is just an extended bachelors i.e. in exactly the same area and arose because certain disciplines require a better qualified student to study at doctorate level e.g. physics, chemistry, neuroscience.

Cheers,

Roz.
Reply 22
Avatar for Sooz
Sooz
1
I was wondering about this too recently. Currently I will be starting an Mmath (like an MSci but for Mathematics) course next Oct. However I don't have to decide whether I want to change that to a BSc till the end of the second year. At the moment I am very interested in Meteorology as a career so I could do the BSc and then do a MSc in meteorology or some related subject.

So... would it be much easier just to do the Mmath, with regards to funding i.e. will it be cheaper? Would employers like the specialised MSc better? Would the workload be different or the style that the course is given?

Of course I don't have to make my mind up for another two and a half years but thought I'd ask around anyway!

Thanx
Sooz
At the moment I am very interested in Meteorology as a career so I could do the BSc and then do a MSc in meteorology or some related subject.


Well, so a bit of research, send a few emails and see whether an MSc in meteorology is often funded.

You will have to weigh up the extra student loan you will need to four 4 year undergraduate degree against the costs to do a BSc then MSc.

My main advice would be to try not be too meteorologically focussed and be open-minded to becoming interested in different areas during your degree.

Roz.
Reply 24
Avatar for Sooz
Sooz
1
Yep, I'm definitely keeping open-minded. I don't know how much I'll end up liking university Maths (my secret dream is to become a maths academic/professor type person but I really don't think I'm good enough for that).

Also money may sway me into finance/investment/actuary style things
Sooz
Also money may sway me into finance/investment/actuary style things


Yes, easily done. A friend got a First in Physics at Snottingham and went onto to train to be an accountant - hated it and has applied to do a PhD now.

I think its probably better to stay in academia for as long as you're interested in science, and then when your interest starts to wane, get greedy ;-)

Roz.
Don't know whether this helps.
I'm doing a Chemistry degree this Sept, so this is what i know:
For 3 years (In England) you get a BSc - A Bachelor of Science
For 4 years you can get an MChem - A Master of Chemistry (which is the same as an MSci - A Master of Science (in this case, chemistru).
These are undergrad degrees.

The MSc is a post grad and can be taught or otherwise (don't know much about them).

Then there is the PhD, which is 3/4 years of reasearch and what have you.

Generally speaking, I have heard that a BSc is good if you are not going directly into a chemistry based career - eg Science journalism, or teaching.
The MChem/MSci is best for further Chemistry research, or working in the chemical industry, par example.

Hope this helps...probably not though!
J.
:smile:
Reply 27
Avatar for Eye
Eye
So would it be easier to apply for an MSci and drop to Bsc if necessary rather than try and switch from Bsc to Msci half way
Blobga
So would it be easier to apply for an MSci and drop to Bsc if necessary rather than try and switch from Bsc to Msci half way


Yep. For my course, the entry requirements for the BSc and the MSci were the same. However, transferring from the BSc to the MSci requires you to inform your LEA, who have been known to kick up a fuss in the past.

I think there were about 50 peeps on my course (half MSci and half BSc) and now, in my 4th year, there are only ten of us left!!

Almost all of us are either going on to do a PhD or staying in science,

Roz.
Reply 29
Avatar for shiny
shiny
12
Blobga
So would it be easier to apply for an MSci and drop to Bsc if necessary rather than try and switch from Bsc to Msci half way

You're not guaranteed to do the MSci anyways :smile: You usually have to get a 2.2 or whatever in your 1st or 2nd year exams first.
black_dragon_9
Well, FWIW, I know someone that got PAID £100 to do a MSc in oncology at Nottingham. I got the impression that there were quite a few doing the course as well.


£100? Is that all? I presume that is on top of fees. Are they working as well? I get paid £12,000 a year for m PhD
black_dragon_9
PAID £100 to do a MSc in oncology


Whoops! That should say £100 PER WEEK.
Doh!

Roz.
shiny
You're not guaranteed to do the MSci anyways :smile: You usually have to get a 2.2 or whatever in your 1st or 2nd year exams first.


True. I had forgotten about that ;-) I think most people decided to drop down to the BSc however.

Roz.
black_dragon_9
Whoops! That should say £100 PER WEEK.
Doh!

Roz.


That makes a bit more sense! :biggrin:
ChemistBoy
That makes a bit more sense! :biggrin:


Lol :p:

Hope you don't mind me being nosey, but who's group (at Snottingham) are you in?

Cheers,

Roz.
Reply 35
Avatar for shiny
shiny
12
black_dragon_9
Lol :p:

Hope you don't mind me being nosey, but who's group (at Snottingham) are you in?

Cheers,

Roz.

Next you'll be asking if he has a girlfriend? :p: :wink:
shiny
Next you'll be asking if he has a girlfriend? :p: :wink:


Lol, are you the resident matchmaker then Shiny?

Roz.
Reply 37
Avatar for shiny
shiny
12
black_dragon_9
Lol, are you the resident matchmaker then Shiny?

Roz.

Only if you promise to invite me to the wedding :wink:
shiny
Only if you promise to invite me to the wedding :wink:


Lol :p:

Only if you promise to be the pride's maid and wear a pretty pink dress!

Roz.
Reply 39
Avatar for shiny
shiny
12
black_dragon_9
Lol :p:

Only if you promise to be the pride's maid and wear a pretty pink dress!

Roz.

I don;t think my pink cape goes with a pink dress :p:

Related discussions

Latest

Trending

Trending

Articles for you