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MPhil Politics - Cambridge

Does anyone know about the research component for this program? I keep on reading and hearing that Cambridge's Mphil are regular taught degrees, but I read the program's handbook or prospectus or whatever you want to call it, and it seems to have an emphasis on research? There’s even a mandatory course on research methodology for the study of politics.

I already completed a masters in the US with no research component whatsoever, so even the fact that you have to write a dissertation lures me, that’s why my second option is Comparative Politics at LSE. Cambridge is my first option precisely because I think the research component is greater, I’m more of a practitioner so a phd is most likely out of the question, but I want to strengthen my political science skills.

Any feedback?

Reply 1

joshlyman

Well the dissertation accounts for half your final grade, so I would say the course has a rather considerable emphasis on research, yes. However, I don't think they would look favourably upon practitioners, as the MPhil clearly leads to further doctoral studies. But again, I'm only an applicant, so I can't know for sure.

You will do lectures for the first two terms, have exams at the end of the second term, just before Easter, and then through the Easter break, Easter term and up to the deadline, effectively half the course, you do your dissertation. The course is new, so I think you will receive a positive response if you ask the department for clarification. I would slightly disagree with JoshLyman's point, I think the department are very welcoming of practitioners. The problem is that for the UK funding system, Masters degrees have to have a specific research element in order to be sufficient to provide qualification for a government funded PhD. The department has been very badly bitten by this in recent years and I think they are just trying to clarify that the course does contain a research element. Again (and for anyone else reading this) if you are looking to do this MPhil as a precursor to a UK funded PhD I think you can bother the department to get a clear line on this.

Reply 3

joshlyman

Is there a way to tell how competitive this course is? I realize this is a somewhat hollow question, but can't really help wondering :smile:

.

Also, does the department look at grades (considering that foreign grades can't mean much and the translations are often questionable, to say the least) or rankings (which I hope they do :biggrin:

)?

I think last year ie 08/09 was the first year the MPhil Politics ran, so yes the questions is hollow, but there is also no real historical data to rattle around with. I dare say it's application profile is similar to the MPhil IR in which case it depends where you measure from, there are an enormous number of people that enquire but fewer submit applications. However, it's not the number that apply that makes it competitive, it's the quality - and you'd have to see the individual applications in order to judge that.

The university and the department will have quite a body of knowledge about international grades and international departments. Yes, they will take notice of where you have studied. However, a first with very strong references from somewhere very obscure will be looked at positively, and their assessment of where is 'good' is far more nuanced than 'Oooh, its Oxbridge/HYP!".

Reply 5

joshlyman

I meant class rather than uni rankings, but I see your point. I do not like this "having a first" part though :smile:

. I think 2 or 3 students out of 600 on my course got one.

Reply 6

lortz10583

OP

Thanks to both for the feedback...

Joshlyman... are you applying for 2010? what other programs are you considering?

Reply 7

joshlyman

I'm applying to (in order of preference): Cambridge, Sciences Po, LSE, Oxford (it's not up there with Cam because it is a two-year programme) and Warwick as my back-up. Visiting students at Warwick are basically guaranteed a place for postgrad (except for Econ and Business) as long as they average over 60.

But Cambridge is by far my best bet, the course is brilliant and the city looks lovely.

Where else are you applying? Best of luck to you (as long as I get in as well :biggrin:

).

joshlyman

I meant class rather than uni rankings, but I see your point. I do not like this "having a first" part though :smile:

. I think 2 or 3 students out of 600 on my course got one.

Something I always advise overseas students to put in their CV s as well. When you mention your grades in your application, always make a point of giving a relative figure as well. GPA 3.7 means nothing by itself, GPA 3.7 (top 2% of student) makes it clear where you stand versus someone who has GPA 3.7 (top 10% of students).

I appreciate that often you can't source a % from an authority, but do a bit of research from your university/course results and work it out for yourself, you only have to be prepared to defend your calculation at interview (in the extremely unlikely event you are asked)

Reply 9

joshlyman

threeportdrift

Something I always advise overseas students to put in their CV s as well. When you mention your grades in your application, always make a point of giving a relative figure as well. GPA 3.7 means nothing by itself, GPA 3.7 (top 2% of student) makes it clear where you stand versus someone who has GPA 3.7 (top 10% of students).

I appreciate that often you can't source a % from an authority, but do a bit of research from your university/course results and work it out for yourself, you only have to be prepared to defend your calculation at interview (in the extremely unlikely event you are asked)

... MPhil applicants aren't generally interviewed, are they? In any case, I can defend my calculation because my class ranking is stated at the end of my transcript.

Additionally I can get my uni's international office to write me a letter to state my credentials (ranking, how many people graduated/matriculated at the beginning of the course). About 500 graduated in June but 1200 matriculated three years ago, for example. Besides, my second referee may mention this matters as well.

Ah, sorry, I was interviewed, but I joined under a slightly different scheme, so no, maybe there aren't interviews in the general run of events. If you have relative data to hand then you should be defended again those who have doubled starred firsts summa cum laude for handing everything in on time :wink:

Reply 11

joshlyman

cough*Ivies*cough. I'm pretty sure I will not be interviewed though. I handed in the paperwork/supporting documents to my second referee after a seminar, in which she told a student giving a presentation to basically drop out and the next one to "just stop".

... she did smile at me a bit, more like a nod of acknowledgement for being able to define what a technocracy is though, so I feel confident :biggrin:

.

Reply 12

lortz10583

OP

joshlyman

Where else are you applying? Best of luck to you (as long as I get in as well :biggrin:

).

I'm actually just looking for info to apply for 2011-2012, so at the moment I've only looked at LSE, Cambridge and Oxford (which I don't think I'll apply to because it is two years). I've seen a lot of people here talk about Warwick so I'll check out what they offer. I'll also take a look at programs in France and Geneve.

In any case, so far I really like what I've seen at Cambridge and LSE and I'd like to study/live in the UK for a year or so...

Reply 13

joshlyman

Documentation sent! I think those who manage to battle through the Cambridge application system should automatically be given an offer. :smile:

Reply 14

lortz10583

OP

Cool, congratulations, yeah just thinking about the process of applying (referees, essays, official transcripts) is giving me a headache... specially because I currently live in Africa and I am somehow disconecceted from the world... and will have to coordinate stuff in like 4 different countries!...

I hope you get in and give me inside information!

joshlyman

Documentation sent! I think those who manage to battle through the Cambridge application system should automatically be given an offer. :smile:

MPhil Politics - Cambridge

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