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MSc Russian Studies at Oxford

aureliotiziano

Got an offer for MSc Russian Studies at Oxford.

Anyone also received an offer ? Opinions on the course ?

Reply 1

aureliotiziano

OP

...

Reply 2

shady lane

16

I was going to wait for someone else to respond first.

I don't know about this particular course, but I was a visiting undergrad at Oxford. I considered applying for MSc African Studies, but my tutor said it was just a way to make money and not a respectable course. Most of the traditional postgrad degrees at Oxford are MPhils; I think that's the reason he disliked it.

I've heard some not-so-great things about Oxford's 1 year courses (MSc and MSt). Try to find out as much as possible about it, that's my recommendation.

Reply 3

aureliotiziano

OP

Thanks,

anyone else ?

Reply 4

The Boosh

17

i would help but i had no idea oxford offered such a subject. is this to help you obtain a job, and if so, do you know how this will affect your job chances?

Reply 5

aureliotiziano

OP

Maybe for a job, definitely because it's nice to have an Oxford degree.
I speak Russian and want to work there, Russian studies though is more similar to non-practical subjects such as philosophy and history rather than business-oriented ones.

Reply 6

The Boosh

17

i see what you are saying.

though, for me, history and philosophy are practical in the sense that once you have studied the subjects, your everyday thinking processes would have changed dramatically and so you bring these thinking skills to your entire life - your analytical, conceptual, critical abilities would have been reshaped and so would your perception of the world. i could be wrong, but thinking in russian as opposed to thinking in english could bring with it particular approaches that are absent to non-russian speakers. language defines as well as constricts and defines our thinking. access to other languages (technical terminology, philosophical discourses, or theoretically russian) can widen our thinking skills further.

do you agree?

Reply 7

aureliotiziano

OP

You know, the course deals more with the historical and political aspects of the country rather than its language and culture. I do think that these "softer" subjects help in developing a holistic and macroscopic mindset. Personally I'm a bit confused as to what road to undertake in a professional sense, but I know my interestes lie in research and generating macroscopic scenarios for the development of global politics and economics.
Oxford to tell you the truth sounds very good...the fact is if I got accepted for this course at another uni I probably would not consider it. What's your take ?

Reply 8

The Boosh

17

i love oxford, but i'm generally weary of the notion that a course is good because its at a brand name university. my instincts have been confirmed somewhat, having heard lots of oxbridge postgrads moan about the quality of their courses. where was your undergrad degree from?

Reply 9

aureliotiziano

OP

I went to Bocconi University in Milan, Italy. Then I've worked for a swiss based hedge fund for a bit more than a year, now I'm leaving because the strategy is not really good. Thought I would take 9 months to further my education at a top institution, even if the degree is not strictly related to the kind of professional experience I have accumulated.

Reply 10

ChemistBoy

16

aureliotiziano

I went to Bocconi University in Milan, Italy. Then I've worked for a swiss based hedge fund for a bit more than a year, now I'm leaving because the strategy is not really good. Thought I would take 9 months to further my education at a top institution, even if the degree is not strictly related to the kind of professional experience I have accumulated.

To be honest it already sounds like you have an excellent educational record and professional experience to boot, I'm not entirely sure what could be gained from doing a course that has dubious merits in improving your CV.

Reply 11

aureliotiziano

OP

Thanks ChemistBoy, I actually have to agree with you. This however is a decision of the heart and not only of the mind. Learning is what motivates me, and I was thinking of going back to uni and subsequently work for a research job in a think-tank/NGO/Government or embark in a career in academia. I think my professional choices would be widened by an Oxford Masters, as I don't want to stick to finance although my experience is definitely looked well-upon by almost all employers.

Reply 12

ChemistBoy

16

aureliotiziano

Thanks ChemistBoy, I actually have to agree with you. This however is a decision of the heart and not only of the mind. Learning is what motivates me, and I was thinking of going back to uni and subsequently work for a research job in a think-tank/NGO/Government or embark in a career in academia. I think my professional choices would be widened by an Oxford Masters, as I don't want to stick to finance although my experience is definitely looked well-upon by almost all employers.

Have you considered other areas? What about MPhils or a PhD?

Reply 13

aureliotiziano

OP

The MSc can become a 2 year MPhil after an appropriate language assessment, with which I shouldn't have any problem. Other areas I would be interested in are international relations and international business, but the CIS is the area of the world that interests me in particular.

Reply 14

shady lane

16

SSEES at UCL is much more established in this field and I think you should seriously consider a late application to one of their courses if they'll consider you.

http://www.ssees.ucl.ac.uk/prospect/ma_rus.htm
http://www.ssees.ucl.ac.uk/prospect/ma_pol.htm

Reply 15

ChemistBoy

16

aureliotiziano

The MSc can become a 2 year MPhil after an appropriate language assessment, with which I shouldn't have any problem. Other areas I would be interested in are international relations and international business, but the CIS is the area of the world that interests me in particular.

IR would, in my opinion (a lay opinion so take it as you will) be a better choice for a master's and that could easily lead to a PhD studing the former-soviet bloc.

Reply 16

aureliotiziano

OP

I thought about UCL, but I don't like London very much.

BTW, how is extra-curricular life in Oxford ?

Reply 17

aureliotiziano

OP

hey just coming back to see if any one else had some new comments on this course.

Reply 18

Schott

11

I know this thread is old, but I just wondered if anyone has ever applied for or completed this MSc, and what your thoughts and impressions were?

Reply 19

evantej

18

tony_ron

I know this thread is old, but I just wondered if anyone has ever applied for or completed this MSc, and what your thoughts and impressions were?

Ironically, I read one of your old threads earlier this afternoon; any developments? I am semi-tempted to make one or two European applications, and seeing what happens when I hear about funding in March or thereabouts. I am semi-interested in this thread too!

MSc Russian Studies at Oxford

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