Getting into Oxbridge for Postgraduate Study

I'm hoping to apply for an MPhil/MSt in Classical Archaeology at Oxford and my 2nd year results came to an average of 63% (currently in my final year). I keep seeing 67% as the lowest figure Oxford will accept, will they refuse anyone with less than 67% or is that just a guideline? I should have a lot of practical experience relating to the degree by the time I graduate as well, so assuming I did graduate with a 2:1, but a lower 2:1, would relevant practical experience and strong references greatly improve my chances?
I understand this might be the kind of thing that's hard to answer, so if there's anyone out there applying to the same course, is currently studying it or has studied it, I'd love some more information on the application process and course itself if possible =)

one of my friends is doing the MSt this year. Tbh, 63% is pretty low, so unless you have something extraordinary, I don't think you have many chances, but it doesn't hurt to try. My friend had a lot of experience (basically 3-4 summers in excavations etc) and a ridiculously high mark. She was short listed for a scholarship. Practical experience is important, but the course itself is heavily research based (she has had to do one essay of 3000 words per week) so unless you can show them excellent pieces of written work, the practical experience on itself won't matter.
Also, I have noticed that a lot of the bibliography in classical archaeology (especially if you want to do Greek) requires Modern Greek and she also says she comes across French a lot. If you have a reading competence in these languages (and/or German) this would be a plus. But again, they say that the languages help you get the degree, not the offer.
If you have any specific questions let me know and I will ask her.

Thank you very much. I know it is, and I'm really frustrated, I seem to be one of those people who spends months studying for exams and doesn't do great, whereas my housemate literally revises the night before and gets a first =/ I'll have 3 summers of excavations after graduating I hope, with 1 as a placement and 1 as a trainee (the first was part of a module during first year). I can read German, but maybe I should start brushing up on it more Thanks again, looks like I really need to try even harder this year, and I'll come to you if I can think of any questions! =)

I'm hoping to apply for an MPhil/MSt in Classical Archaeology at Oxford and my 2nd year results came to an average of 63% (currently in my final year). I keep seeing 67% as the lowest figure Oxford will accept, will they refuse anyone with less than 67% or is that just a guideline? I should have a lot of practical experience relating to the degree by the time I graduate as well, so assuming I did graduate with a 2:1, but a lower 2:1, would relevant practical experience and strong references greatly improve my chances?
I understand this might be the kind of thing that's hard to answer, so if there's anyone out there applying to the same course, is currently studying it or has studied it, I'd love some more information on the application process and course itself if possible =)

I'm applying for a similar course with currently a 64% average (hoping to get it up to 65-70 this year of course).

I know how you feel about exams - the difference in my marks is ridiculous. Last year I got 48% in an exam while I got 74% in the matching essay (averaging out to 61% for the module...). I was smart in picking my modules for this year: 4/6 are essay-based, so no more exams to ruin my average. (One of the 2 exams I have left is a language exam and the other only counts 70%.) Unless I do badly in my essays of course, but then I'll just declare myself an idiot and I'll go do something else.

I'd say that your advantage is that your course is not as popular. I suspect that a large number of people apply for Archaeology (I've actually met more Archaeologists than Classicists), whereas your subject is more obscure.

Does anyone know anything about the MPhil in Political Thought and Intellectual History at Cambridge? Is it an oversubscribed course? What is the likely offer to be? I'd be applying with 67% in my second year, and I think I could get a couple % higher in my final year, from University of Warwick, studying Politics. Is it worth applying?

Does anyone have any experience with the Diploma in Economics course at Cambridge? Is it hard to get in? I have an undergrad in engineering from a Dutch university which I finished with a high 2.1 and am finishing my masters now (same subject heading for distinction/cum laude). Still need to take GRE (Im an international student). Is it worth applying?

Thanks for your reply! Well I have no formal education in economics, though my quantitative skills are very good and I will have research experience from my current two year MSc... But I think my chances for the MPhil over the Diploma would be close to zero? Heh.

Hi, I've scanned through the thread and all but I've still got a really stupid question. I'm applying to the M.St in Global and Imperial History at Oxford for the January deadline - is it two or three references that I need? I was convinced it was two and a third was extra but trying to look through the site again I don't know where I got that idea. Any help?

(I'm sure I could find this somewhere else but my very slow internet is trying to send me round the bend)

Morning team :-) random question I know, but are all offers from Oxford to do masters for Firsts? How likely is it that they give an offer that ISN'T a first?

It depends on how popular the course is, really.