This discussion is now closed.

Check out other Related discussions

Economics Masters at Cambridge

hello1988

I'm currently about to go into my third year in the economics undergraduate course at cambridge.

I was about top 40% in my 1st year, top 30% in my 2nd year.. both years were 2.i.

If I apply for the Msc or the Mphil in economic at cambridge next year what do you think the chances are of me being accepted? I am currently on the opinion that I would definitely get an offer, I'm not sure how accurate this is though. And do you think the chances are different for each course?

Surely being one of their own students raises my chances massively?

Can only people with some actual knowledge about cambridge economics reply please. thank youuuuuu

Reply 1

Tarutaru

2

top 40% top 30% O_o

Impossible...

The typical offer made by Cambridge this year is 67%, meaning a high 2:1 or 10% of your class...

For not so respected university, you may need a first.

Reply 2

prospectivEEconomist

16

is there any point in me applying with 68% in both first and second year from Nottingham Uni tarutaru?

Reply 3

jjarvis

14

Tarutaru

top 40% top 30% O_o

Impossible...

The typical offer made by Cambridge this year is 67%, meaning a high 2:1 or 10% of your class...

For not so respected university, you may need a first.

He earned a 2:i in first and second year at Cambridge.

Reply 4

jjarvis

14

http://www.econ.cam.ac.uk/prospect/newmphil/Economics/entry.html

I'm not sure having done your first degree at Cambridge would help, but it certainly wouldn't hurt.

Reply 5

pangel

I'm not from Cambridge myself, but I applied and received an offer from them for MPhil Econs. Requirement was 67% in 3rd year, with overall 2.1

The exact requirements would probably depend on your modules. I did more quantitative modules and my referees stressed on this. Another friend had an offer that required first-class honours.

Of course, it will be even more stringent if you are going for the research track.

Reply 6

c2uk

14

hello1988

Can only people with some actual knowledge about cambridge economics apply please. thank youuuuuu

apply? surely you mean reply.

I don't have actual knowledge of cambridge economics, so disregard my advice if you want.

Considering you're looking for people with actual knowledge about Cambridge MPhil Econs and you're currently in Cambridge, why not ask current Master students or your tutors? Send your tutors an email and ask them for advice or a person they know that might by happy to answer a few of your questions.

Personally, I woulnd't ever do a master where I've done my undergraduate degree (and I actually didn't do it and enjoyed it). I'd welcome and take the opportunity to experience another city and university, to pick the brains of other knowledgable people in the field and extend my network of people I know in the field.

Reply 7

Tarutaru

2

Over the past two years, the entry requirement for the MPhil Economics has dropped from a compulsory first to a good 2:1, namely moderately good 2:1 (65+) for the first and second year and a very good 2:1 (67+) in the third year. In other words, the entry requirement for Cambridge is now more like that for UCL and less stringent than Oxford and LSE.

If you have reasonably good 2:1 in your first and second year and a 67+ in your third year, then you definitely have a good chance. However, from my point of view, 30% - 40% of the class certainly not good enough...

Reply 8

Tarutaru

2

prospectivEEconomist

is there any point in me applying with 68% in both first and second year from Nottingham Uni tarutaru?

Of course you have if you take loads of quantitative modules and maintain your grades.

Reply 9

Tarutaru

2

Forgot to mention, if you are an international student, you should know that the fees for Cambridge MPhil Economics is about 19k... a price which is as ridiculous as the LSE price yet you can probably get better postgraduate training elsewhere at a lower price...

For example, UCL only asks for 14600 but UCL's Economics Department is considerably better...

Reply 10

prospectivEEconomist

16

Tarutaru

Of course you have if you take loads of quantitative modules and maintain your grades.

Not sure. Done 4 quantities modules over the first two years and will be doing an economic disseration and a numerical methods module in my third year. would that suffice?

Reply 11

Tarutaru

2

prospectivEEconomist

Not sure. Done 4 quantities modules over the first two years and will be doing an economic disseration and a numerical methods module in my third year. would that suffice?

Then you certainly have a good chance if you have at least good 2:1s for those quant modules. Cambridge now just requires a good 2:1 from a high quality uni.

Reply 12

roginho

10

Tarutaru

Then you certainly have a good chance if you have at least good 2:1s for those quant modules. Cambridge now just requires a good 2:1 from a high quality uni.

Not true at all.

Reply 13

Tarutaru

2

roginho

Not true at all.

I personally have an offer of overall 2:1 and above 67% for my third year. And if you search this forum, you will find that this is a typical offer...

Evidence

1. Myself
2. Pangel in this thread
3. http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?p=24429437&highlight=cambridge+Mphil+economics+67%25#post24429437

It is even stated in the Cambridge MPhil Economics official site that they only require a good 2:1.

http://www.econ.cam.ac.uk/prospect/newmphil/Economics/entry.html

Reply 14

roginho

10

Tarutaru

I personally have an offer of overall 2:1 and above 67% for my third year. And if you search this forum, you will find that this is a typical offer...

3rd year 67% year is a harder offer than an overall first in most cases. If you have got 67% in your final year, the odds are, you have comfortably scored a first overall. e.g. At LSE undergrad, you can basically guarantee yourself an overall first after just 2 years. So setting a condition of 67% in the 3rd year is much harder than asking an overall first (which you can get by just passing 3 and failing 1 modules in your final year).

If you are not an applicant for the MPhil Economics then please refrain from giving rubbish...

I was an applicant and I know how the system works. I know people on the course and everyone knows you'll almost certainly need a first overall.

Reply 15

Tarutaru

2

roginho

3rd year 67% year is a harder offer than an overall first in most cases. If you have got 67% in your final year, the odds are, you have comfortably scored a first overall. e.g. At LSE undergrad, you can basically guarantee yourself an overall first after just 2 years. So setting a condition of 67% in the 3rd year is much harder than asking an overall first (which you can get by just passing 3 and failing 1 modules in your final year).

I was an applicant and I know how the system works. I know people all the course and everyone knows you'll almost certainly need a first overall.

In some sense you are correct getting overall 67% is sometimes more difficult than getting an overall first. Yet, you missed the point that universities may have different grading systems. E.g. at the colleges of the University of London (e.g. SOAS, UCL, LSE etc), the typical system is like two firsts in a given year indicate a first overall.

However, many other universities use average system. That is, a first is an average of 70%, a 2.1 is an average 60% etc.

The point is that I think Cambridge as well as all other universities will take into account the differences in grading when they make offers. And what they want is a good 2:1, or using your words, almost need a first overall to be admitted.

Reply 16

roginho

10

Tarutaru

In some sense you are correct getting overall 67% is sometimes more difficult than getting an overall first. Yet, you missed the point that universities may have different grading systems. E.g. at the colleges of the University of London (e.g. SOAS, UCL, LSE etc), the typical system is like two firsts in a given year indicate a first overall.

However, many other universities use average system. That is, a first is an average of 70%, a 2.1 is an average 60% etc.

The point is that I think Cambridge as well as all other universities will take into the differences in grading when they make offers. And what they want is a good 2:1, or using your words, almost need a first overall to be admitted.

Fair enough, but I still think, even with different weighted methods for degree classification, 67% in the final year is harder to achieve than an overall first. The chances are anyone who is keen on studying economics at a higher level would have demolished the first 2 years of the course, leaving them an easier average (or target) than 67%.

But you're right that all universities would take into account the differences in other universities' grading.

Reply 17

Tarutaru

2

prospectivEEconomist

is there any point in me applying with 68% in both first and second year from Nottingham Uni tarutaru?

From the information given by prospectiveeconomist here or in other posts, the University of Nottingham is one example of using the average grading system.

In his case, average 68% for the first as well as the second year are just counted as high 2:1 for his first and second year.

For cases like the UOL, a 50% 50%, 70% 70% in a given year is classified as first even though the average may just be 60%...

But to be honest, I am a bit confused of how admission compares a first class honor graduate at LSE or UCL with average like 64% to a high 2:1 graduate in places like Nottingham with average like 67+ :frown:

Reply 18

pangel

I was talking to my tutor while asking for a reference back in December, when I was applying for Cambridge, and he told me that he was quite certain they would ask for 67% in 3rd year and 2.1 overall.

His reason was that I was fairly close to achieving a 1 already. So the 67% was to prevent slacking off - a friend who was closer to a 2.1 was asked for a straightforward 1.

Of course, I did not hear this from Cambridge directly, so don't take it as gospel. It seems a fairly reasonable assumption to work on though.

Reply 19

Tarutaru

2

pangel

I was talking to my tutor while asking for a reference back in December, when I was applying for Cambridge, and he told me that he was quite certain they would ask for 67% in 3rd year and 2.1 overall.

His reason was that I was fairly close to achieving a 1 already. So the 67% was to prevent slacking off - a friend who was closer to a 2.1 was asked for a straightforward 1.

Of course, I did not hear this from Cambridge directly, so don't take it as gospel. It seems a fairly reasonable assumption to work on though.

Yes, of course. People do need to demonstrate first class potential to study Economics at the highest level.

BSc with significant quantitative components + at least near first class honor are the necessarily conditions for a highly technical MSc Economics.

Economics Masters at Cambridge

Related discussions

Articles for you

How The Student Room is moderated