What are my chances at Ivy/Oxbridge?

I would also like to study IR at Master level, and I'm not doing a degree in social sciences either, which is apparently a requirement for Oxbridge. If you have the chance to take some Politics modules and to get involved in some Politics-related societies, then I'd advise you to go for it, and ideally getting some relevant job experience would only strengthen your application. However, bear in mind that most applicants for this kind of Master and especially at Oxbridge will have first in the relevant fields of studies (Politics and IR), so not only do you need to be outstanding, but also to be impressive on the paper, because as far as I know, Maths doesn't have much to do with IR/Politics . Don't hesitate to email the unis you might be interested in to see if there is any chance they would take your degree into consideration when applying. Anyway, good look with your current degree

I always found this shocking, Durham is a good university for maths but giving out that many firsts is just plain ridiculous. I wonder why external assesors are not doing anything about it.

Thank you. Yes, both Oxford and Cambridge suggest pretty strongly that you should have a degree in the social sciences which concerns me. I don't want to put all my efforts and hopes into applying for a course when I already start out as an unlikely candidate. Do you think that having a maths degree instead of a social sciences degree will be a disadvantage or would they see it as a positive thing to have a different background. What kind of work experience should I try to get? It seems very difficult to get work experience in politics unless you have connections.

Is that really true? It seems astounding, given that Cambridge, Oxford, Warwick, Imperial and Bristol offer harder maths degrees and yet give out approximately half the number of firsts.

No way. Do you have a source for this?

I agree that it really sounds impossible to get some work experience. I was thinking of applying for internships at the EU and the UN and getting involved in my uni MUN, that's unfortunately all I can think of… I recommend you check these websites: European Youth Portal and Youth and the United Nations, you may find an internship looking for the skills you are gaining with a Maths degree.

I honestly don't think it's a very good thing, since students doing Pol/IR will get a broader cultural and academical background as you (and I) will have, since they studies stuff like the main trends, political theories and so much more we won't study. However, don't give up hope. If you can indeed get a strong application and a subject of research that will interest them, then I'd say you stand a chance, as everyone else does.

It was a blip one year, normally it's more like 30%. Any particular reason you say those universities offer harder courses? Would be interested to know if you had any proof.

Thanks for that ever so helpful reply but I would like people's opinions and I'm not sure that having a comprehensive knowledge of the postgraduate systems of two different countries is quite the same as being smart.

Thanks for those links! Yeah...unfortunately I share your opinion subject-wise! I'll do my best though and good luck to you. If you want to keep in touch, then we can recommend political journals/work experience/reading to each other - that'd be great!

Wow. I'm still astonished that they didn't moderate the results more. 30% sounds about right to me.

It's generally accepted within the mathematical community that Cambridge, Oxford, Warwick and Imperial offer the best maths degress in the country followed by Bristol and I'm guessing that a lot of Durham maths academics would agree. Durham's degree is still fantastic, of course, and I'm sure you could construct an argument in favour of them but that's just what most academics believe. If you google maths degrees you can quite easily find some of these opinions. I wouldn't go as far to call it proof!

As a fellow Warwick mathematician finalist, I don't think it is really wise to assume you will get a first just because you got a first in your 1st year (loads of people get firsts that year). Statistically you do down 10% in your 2nd compared to the 1st year, and I personally know someone who went down by 20% without any abnormal circumstances.

Back on topic, I think you have a good chance. Back up your personal statement with a lot of relevant info, explaining in logical steps how your interests moved from maths to management. Talk to your tutor and other members of staff who are likely to write references for your postgrad apps about your interests.

LOL you have to be kidding.

And also visit www.conferencealerts.com, put in your interests, and wait for news of relevant conferences and exhibitions to start rolling into your inbox. This would also give you the chance to network for the future with academics at universities you might be interested in.