Oxbridge English postgrad study...

Hi, Just wondering if anyone knew what Oxbridge's opinions are likely to be of my ugrad degrees (in sig). I know that, as a standard, all applicants should hold a 2,i or 1st from a UK uni, but there must be some preference...

Also the Film elements (50% of the degree at Warwick and roughly 25% at King's) might put them off.

Reply 1

symun

I thought they specified that in most cases it must be a First in English Lit or English Lit and English language, but having said that, it does say on the website that other degrees might be considered if an explanation can be given for not studying pure English.

Ditto for Cambridge

Reply 2

etherised

well, I know that a good 2:1 from Cambridge will generally be enough to get you into their MPhil programme applicants from other universities.

I don't know about the film elements. Its not unusual for people to shift disciplines at postgrad level. If you had a good research proposal, then I can't see that the film element would necessarily damage you. After all, it would certainly be reasonable to talk about film within a straight English undergrad essay, so you could almost certainly make a case for its being a positive thing. I guess, though, that it might be more important to get the first.

But, I wouldn't pick your undergraduate degree on the basis of speculation about postgrad. Pick the place/course which most appeals - after all, you have a better chance of doing well if you're doing what you want to be doing. You can't know now what you'll want in three years' time. (And, if your heart is set on film, and you decided you wanted to take that further, then maybe Oxbridge wouldn't be the best place for you - not because you're not going to be good enough for them, but because, with rather limited fellows in the 'cultural studies' end of things, they might not have the right people for you to study with.)