Getting into Oxbridge for Postgraduate Study

Hi guys,

I'm a recent history graduate from Berkeley with a 3.6 overall GPA looking into a few graduate programs at Oxford, Cambridge, and LSE.

As you already probably know, Both Oxford and Cambridge generally require a 3.7 GPA or higher to admit U.S. students. I'm just curious - how strict do they follow this rule?

I'm looking into the politics, international relations and economic history programs. Will they automatically rule me out for my GPA? I'd imagine that if I had strong recommendation letters, writing sample, prospectus and personal statement I could still get in, but again, I'm not quite sure how strict things are over in the UK.

Any advice, knowledge, etc would be appreciated - do any of you know someone who has gotten into these programs (or similar ones) with less than 3.7 GPA?

Thanks!

Hi guys,

I'm a recent history graduate from Berkeley with a 3.6 overall GPA looking into a few graduate programs at Oxford, Cambridge, and LSE.

As you already probably know, Both Oxford and Cambridge generally require a 3.7 GPA or higher to admit U.S. students. I'm just curious - how strict do they follow this rule?

I'm looking into the politics, international relations and economic history programs. Will they automatically rule me out for my GPA? I'd imagine that if I had strong recommendation letters, writing sample, prospectus and personal statement I could still get in, but again, I'm not quite sure how strict things are over in the UK.

Any advice, knowledge, etc would be appreciated - do any of you know someone who has gotten into these programs (or similar ones) with less than 3.7 GPA?

Thanks!

hi guys,


I want to do an MPhil in IR at Oxford this upcoming year. I graduated last year with a 1st from SOAS and a high first (78) in my dissertation. However, I studied Social Anthropology & Study of Religions, and I don't have much relevant work exp, exp for a summer at the Ministry of Foreign Relations. My references should be pretty good- esp from my dissertation supervisor. I just wanted to get an opinion on how you would see my chances? I'm worried because I didn't study anything specifically related to international relations, and my reference is a professor in the study of religions dept., and because in second year I had one 2.2 which will obviously show up on my transcript (though I did get a first in the end).

Thanks for the help, I really need a second opinion.

I wouldn't worry too much about the 2.2 on your transcript, obviously it will be seen but in the context of your results I would have thought it shouldn't matter too much, especially with such a high mark for your dissertation.

I think it would definitely be worth you applying but given how competitive in the Oxford IR course is you may have to accept that there's a chance you might not get a place this time round. You should also make sure that you are able to express in your statement why you now want to study IR in particular.

(Another SOAS grad here) - have you looked at the MA International Studies and Diplomacy course in the CISD centre at SOAS? Really easy to get into as a SOAS graduate of any subject but very very well regarded if you want to go into anything related to IR..

Hi all,

Just looking for some advice on the DPhil English (to 1550) at Oxford, and the PhD Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic at Cambridge, and specifically what is expected from candidates applying.

I have a first-class undergrad. degree in English Literature from a good, old redbrick Russell Group university (not Oxbridge), and hope to get a distinction-level MA English and American Studies from the same institution. My BA isn't a high first, with my Year 3 average clocking in at 73. However, I was awarded a prize as the department's best student of medieval literature (which is the area I'd like to do the PhD in). Also, my C.V. includes: three journal publications; two conference papers; one conference co-organisation; one editorial position (with a postgrad journal); a number of professional affiliations; and academic duties I've undertaken as an undergrad. and postgrad. I also think my research proposal is good, and my current supervisor has "signed-off" on it, so to speak.

I've applied for both the DPhil English and PhD ASNC at Oxford and Cam., respectively. The question I'm asking (mainly to anyone currently at either institution as a research student) is: do you think my undergrad. degree will hinder an application? Apparently, I was in the top 15% of students in my year for my BA course, and I have heard that this might not be good enough to get into Oxbridge. Yet I've seen C.V.s and LinkedIn profiles of current research students at both Oxford and Cambridge who have a 2:1 undergrad. degree, which has puzzled me.

If anyone has any advice, I'd much appreciate it. Now I've submitted both applications I can't help feeling slightly excited, though I don't want to build my hopes up unnecessarily!

I think that the most important thing in gaining a PhD place is that there is a good 'fit' between you, your proposed topic, and the prospective supervisor at Oxford & Cam. Did you have specific people in mind as potential supervisors when you applied? If your topic is one that a supervisor at either institution would be happy to supervise, then you have a very good chance; your grades and so on are very good so I see no worries on that front. I do know of people in my own faculty (history) who are doing PhDs with 2.1s, but quite a few of them are Cambridge alumni, so that reflects a bit of internal bias. But the standard offer for both my Masters and PhD here was a 67, so it is possible to be here as a doctoral candidate with a 2.1.

The trickiest part, more than likely, will be getting funding. Even having a first+distinction is no guarantee of getting money, things are so tight now. So be prepared for the possibility of being accepted but not getting funding; of course if that isn't an issue for you then great, but for most applicants it would be a dealbreaker. At least with Oxbridge there are the colleges to turn to for funding possibilities, rather than just the university, so there are more potential sources of money than elsewhere.

Hello!

I'm a student at an American uni very interested in Oxbridge for a Master's, planning to pursue a PhD back in the US after Oxbridge or instead of Oxbridge if I'm not fortunate enough to get a place. I applied to Cambridge, Christ's specifically, for undergrad, but I was pooled and then fished by a college I didn't find as attractive. Being American, I'm probably much more confused than the average British applicant.

Are the 2.1s and 2.2s and such on this thread out of 4? I saw on the Oxford site that a first class degree was comparable to an American GPA of 3.8/4 so I'm not really sure how the scales compare. My GPA at current is a 3.6, and I fully expect a 3.7 by application time. I calculated out once that I would have a 3.8 at graduation, though I may have wrecked that by getting one B more than expected this semester. The honors cum laude, magna cum laude and summa cum laude are often used in the US for the best students, by my university doesn't have these.
I go to a top US school (see my sig, one of these), so I'd like it very much if that was worth something , especially as grades here tend to be a bit lower due to the difficulty of classes.
The whole time I've been in college I've mainly thought about how important my research is, since that's what matters most for my end goal of a PhD and Master's degrees are not very common in my subject.

The undergrad grading system in the UK is as follows (highest to lowest)
First/1:1
Upper second 2:1
Lower second 2:2
Third

Oxford usually requires either a 2:1 or a first. On the Oxford and Cambridge websites, the course that you've applied for should tell you what the gpa requirement is. There are lots of US applicants, and both unis will know what they are looking for.

Just to add, the percentages for degree classifications in the UK are:

First: 70+%
Upper-Second: 60-69%
Lower-Second: 50-59%
Third: 40-49%

2:1/2:2 aren't out of 4, but rather correspond to the above percentages.

Hey, many thanks for your reply. Yeah, i decided to also apply for history at oxford as a kind of a safety- should be easier to get into. I haven't considered that course- I really don't want to stay in London or SOAS, I want to have a more wholesome smalltown uni experience if you see what I mean. Thanks for bringing it up though!

Depends on a programme.
You have to look at individual requirements.

A GPA of 3.7 or above would be expected from students who have studied at a university that uses the US grading system