My partner is currently contemplating a possibility of applying to Wolfson college for BA in Theology and Religious Studies. He has been out of education for a total of nine years and is 29 years old.
Due to the 1999 war in his country, he finished his secondary school later then usual, via external study, and, as a result, only gained satisfactory grades. He has not studied since, as he immigrated to UK and was in employment for the last ten years, mainly in senior management positions, in hospitality industry.
He has a strong interest in theology and gained extensive knowledge of it through reading and etc. Therefore, he is thinking of applying to Cambridge University to read it at degree level and had a few questions which he wanted me to ask.
First of all, would an Open University Diploma in Religious Studies be acceptable as a prove of recent study? He is thinking of starting it this year and applying on the basis of this course.
Secondly, with Cambridge Tripos System, would he be able to take up History and, possibly, Politics during his degree?
Thirdly, could anyone give a concise account of Wolfson and how it perceived amongst Cambridge students? Being a mature student, it only makes sense for him to apply to the likes of Wolfson, Hughes Hall and etc.
Finally, is there anyone on here studying Theology? If so, could you reccomend any reading that he should do prior to applying? Also, is Theology very competetive to get into?
I heard that Cambridge interview a large majority of its applicants. Is that true?
The majority of people on here will have applied through their college, and not as a mature applicant.
You haven't said anything about your partner's grades (you didn't say which country, so we don't know what qualifications), and mature applicants are not assessed in the same way either.
Obviously, his qualifications are quite out-dated really, so you really do need to e-mail the college directly to find out how they deal with people in this situation.
Yes, Cambridge interview the majority, but I'm sure that just about all mature applicants are interviewed.
First of all, would an Open University Diploma in Religious Studies be acceptable as a prove of recent study? He is thinking of starting it this year and applying on the basis of this course.
Yes it would be evidence of recent learning, it may not be evidence of sufficient academic potential. That would probably be judged at interview.
Originally Posted by eve_22
Secondly, with Cambridge Tripos System, would he be able to take up History and, possibly, Politics during his degree?
No. The tripos system allows you to change tripos, the exact timing depending on the detail of Part 1 and Part 2 split on each course. He could do one (or two) year of Theology and possibly then be allowed to change to History or Politics for the next 2 years. He wouldn't know until he got there and performed in year 1. He can't do them jointly - although if he made the time, he can attend any lectures he wants to as a Cambridge student.
Originally Posted by eve_22
Thirdly, could anyone give a concise account of Wolfson and how it perceived amongst Cambridge students? Being a mature student, it only makes sense for him to apply to the likes of Wolfson, Hughes Hall and etc.
Who cares how Wolfson is perceived - in what context? There is no reason why, as a mature student, he should only apply to mature student colleges. I was a mature student and loved my time in a non grad college.
Originally Posted by eve_22
I heard that Cambridge interview a large majority of its applicants. Is that true?
Yes, about 90%. Basically anyone who looks as though they will get the A*AA entry grades. The rules on interviewing people with non-traditional educational backgrounds are generally generous.
AnonyMatt, my partner is originally from Kosovo, but has been living here as a british national for the last 9 years. He has a secondary school diploma with average grades.
threeportdrift, I appreciate your point that OU course might not be sufficient, but, as long as he is interviewed, I trust he would be able to hold his own and show his knowledge of theology, which he gained outside of any studies.
In terms of him not having to apply to mature student college, I agree there isn't a need as such for mature students to apply to mature student colleges, , however, I also think that they are essentially better equipped and used to dealing with people in his situation.
Finally, when I asked how the college was perceived, I meant people's general experiences and impressions of the college - nothing to do with its prestige or something along those lines.
Also, just to clarify, depending on his first year results, he could then make a choice of whether to stay with theology or take up politics or history instead? Out of interest, as I am not familiar with this system at all, what degree would he graduate with then?
I wouldn't bet on a mature student college being better equipped. I had a close friend who was pretty much abandoned by her grad college when troubles struck, whereas I was wholeheartedly supported by my college when I ran into some 'grown up' problems.
I'm not 100% on top of undergrad degrees, but I'm pretty sure that the degree certificate gives neither a classification nor a subject, but the convention is to use your Part 2 subject and final year grade.
I also understand that is is pretty much up to the receiving Director of Studies if you can change tripos, so it is far from a reliable 'plan', but I guess that varies from college to college, DoS to DoS, subject to subject and student to student.
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Wolfson, Theology and a few other questions
