Do masters trump

I’m confused because I’ve seen people claim masters trump undergrad, and doing a masters in an unrelated subject (English to history, for instance) qualifies you as much as an undergrad…. I’m confused as to whether a masters makes you more qualified in the field of an undergrad, even if you lack the relevant undergrad?

So I’m doing philosophy and theology, but find political theory fascinating;

Let’s say I did a masters in political theory, and one in international relations:
Would I hee more or less qualified than someone with a politics and IR degree?

Original post by Herhehebvehgeh

I’m confused because I’ve seen people claim masters trump undergrad, and doing a masters in an unrelated subject (English to history, for instance) qualifies you as much as an undergrad…. I’m confused as to whether a masters makes you more qualified in the field of an undergrad, even if you lack the relevant undergrad?

So I’m doing philosophy and theology, but find political theory fascinating;

Let’s say I did a masters in political theory, and one in international relations:
Would I hee more or less qualified than someone with a politics and IR degree?

It depends why you are doing the PG and what your profile looks like. So a few scenarios

Did an English degree, got a 2.2. Manage to get on a History related PG - which you will almost only manage at a very weak university - probably won't improve your career prospects at all and doesn't negate the undergrad. Although if you have a bunch of relevant work experience or volunteering then the Heritage sector would be open.

Did a Maths degree, got a 2.2. Did a conversion PG course in CS, AND did very well in it - might well have improved your career prospects.

Did a theology degree, got a 2.2. Did an IR degree at a middle ranking university - will likely have improved your career prospects IF you want a career that involves IR, though probably won't be walking into the UN, FCO etc ie highly competitive roles, from the start.

You should be aware that IR is often very competitive because, by it's nature, it is open to international competition, and there are a lot of useful feeder careers/experience. Uk straight through UG/PG is pretty low on the competitive ranking, without some decent work experience or volunteering.

There's no slam dunk 'trumping' in any of this, it's about building a credible profile with the best academic and practical mix you can achieve, and being realistic about the steps it will take to achieve the career you want.

Reply 2

Scienceisgood

21

Yes and no.

I can’t speak for anything outside of my own subject (Biomedical Science I.e I work in a hospital lab) but truth be told where I stand, your degree classification only exists in helping you obtain your first job. After that, experience is what matters (I graduated 5 years ago).

My history was I graduated in 2018 (with a 2.2 in an IBMS accredited degree) and went onto a teaching course, hated teaching and left vowing to never return after my first year.
After this, I got a job in one of the mass testing COVID labs as a Medical Lab Assistant and after 3 months, got promoted to an Associate Practitioner.

Stayed in that position for a year before Boris Johnson decided to close them down and 2 months later, the lab opens up again, just on a much smaller scale with 10% of its original capacity (had a capacity of 400 initially and was reduced to around 40), luckily I was one of those 40.

So overall after leaving in August 2023 to obtain my MSc in Biomedical Science (specialising in Clinical Biochemistry), I had accumulated around 3 years of in lab experience and have currently completed 2/3 of my IBMS portfolio (needed for Health and Professions Council Accreditation). I am also allowed back in the lab despite me not being employed there to continue to have pieces signed off.

Tl;dr - A masters can help nullify a 2.2 classification but after so long in industry, experience is king as someone with a first but fresh out of uni will be less desirable than someone with a 2.2 but with 3+ years experience.

(edited 5 months ago)

Reply 3

Herhehebvehgeh

OP

4

Original post by threeportdrift

It depends why you are doing the PG and what your profile looks like. So a few scenarios

Did an English degree, got a 2.2. Manage to get on a History related PG - which you will almost only manage at a very weak university - probably won't improve your career prospects at all and doesn't negate the undergrad. Although if you have a bunch of relevant work experience or volunteering then the Heritage sector would be open.

Did a Maths degree, got a 2.2. Did a conversion PG course in CS, AND did very well in it - might well have improved your career prospects.

Did a theology degree, got a 2.2. Did an IR degree at a middle ranking university - will likely have improved your career prospects IF you want a career that involves IR, though probably won't be walking into the UN, FCO etc ie highly competitive roles, from the start.

You should be aware that IR is often very competitive because, by it's nature, it is open to international competition, and there are a lot of useful feeder careers/experience. Uk straight through UG/PG is pretty low on the competitive ranking, without some decent work experience or volunteering.

There's no slam dunk 'trumping' in any of this, it's about building a credible profile with the best academic and practical mix you can achieve, and being realistic about the steps it will take to achieve the career you want.

but for instance: (I’m at Durham), I could do a poli/theory masters at LSE, then IR relations at like Oxford…
You mention you can do the masters and not end up working in fco/un but most people at undergrad won’t do that.

Original post by Herhehebvehgeh

but for instance: (I’m at Durham), I could do a poli/theory masters at LSE, then IR relations at like Oxford…
You mention you can do the masters and not end up working in fco/un but most people at undergrad won’t do that.

There's little to no point doing both degree, unless you are made of money. Collecting Masters degrees, without experience, just makes you look wealthy and indecisive. Those two courses aren't going to make you massively more employable, one over the other, ie graduates from both courses will be applying for largely over-lapping roles.

If you have a 2.1 in Theol/Phil, and put together a compelling reason for making the switch to IR, you might get in to either of those, though I suspect Durham, Aber, St Andrews, Kings might be more likely.

You have to apply and see what offers you get, and make decisions when you have choices.

Reply 5

TiBFS

12

Original post by Herhehebvehgeh

I’m confused because I’ve seen people claim masters trump undergrad, and doing a masters in an unrelated subject (English to history, for instance) qualifies you as much as an undergrad…. I’m confused as to whether a masters makes you more qualified in the field of an undergrad, even if you lack the relevant undergrad?

So I’m doing philosophy and theology, but find political theory fascinating;

Let’s say I did a masters in political theory, and one in international relations:
Would I hee more or less qualified than someone with a politics and IR degree?

More or less qualified for what?

Reply 6

Herhehebvehgeh

OP

4

Original post by TiBFS

More or less qualified for what?

In those fields
Is someone with a politics masters and an unrelated masters more qualified than someone with a politics undergrad??

Reply 7

TiBFS

12

Original post by Herhehebvehgeh

In those fields
Is someone with a politics masters and an unrelated masters more qualified than someone with a politics undergrad??

Quite obviously they've got less breadth but more depth.

But like asking if someone who is certified to fly Boeing 737, Boeing 777, Airbus A320-NEO and Airbus A380 is more or less qualified at flying than someone who is certified to fly a Eurofighter Typhoon....

Do masters trump

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