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MA in History with a 2.2 BA?

Do I definitely need a 2.1 or higher to get to do an MA in History? Is it possible to get on a masters course with a 2.2?

Reply 1

Phoenix Wright

8

Depends on the school. Generally a 2.1 is required, but there are some schools that do not have such a rigorous admissions policy.

Reply 2

The Boosh

17

yeeeeeeeeeeeah you will definately find a place, and at a traditional uni (though certainly doors will be closed at some places). very cynical of me, but masters degrees are often seen as a "2.2 top-up" (e.g. in the eyes of some research councils that fund phds etc).

Reply 3

Tamurlane

With a decent personal statement and good essays you could well get in somewhere decent. Especially if you just missed out on a 2.1. You (almost certainly) won't get funding though.

The Boosh

very cynical of me, but masters degrees are often seen as a "2.2 top-up" (e.g. in the eyes of some research councils that fund phds etc).

Weeeellll. Not really. If you look at the figures for the 2004-05 AHRC competition (available on their website) then 1) for a Master's research preparation degree in History they got just 5 applications from people with 2:2's and funded a big fat none;
and 2) for doctoral research in History they had 10 applications from people with 2:2's in their first degree and funded 1. So not much topping-up going on there. Sciences may be different.

http://www.ahrb.ac.uk/about/ke/evaluation/vitalstats/postgraduate/application_award_statistics.asp

Reply 4

Tomber

13

Yeah you can get a place on a course, getting funding for it is a whole different matter though. You will most likely have to fund it yourself.

Which department are you graduating from and what is your specialism?

Reply 5

graemematt

12

Tamurlane

With a decent personal statement and good essays you could well get in somewhere decent. Especially if you just missed out on a 2.1. You (almost certainly) won't get funding though.

Weeeellll. Not really. If you look at the figures for the 2004-05 AHRC competition (available on their website) then 1) for a Master's research preparation degree in History they got just 5 applications from people with 2:2's and funded a big fat none;
and 2) for doctoral research in History they had 10 applications from people with 2:2's in their first degree and funded 1. So not much topping-up going on there. Sciences may be different.

http://www.ahrb.ac.uk/about/ke/evaluation/vitalstats/postgraduate/application_award_statistics.asp

So are you saying that in the vast majority of cases, only those with a 2.1 or 1st are most likely to get the funding for a PhD, despite someone with a 2.2 gaining a Masters??

Reply 6

Tamurlane

Applicants to the AHRC doctoral schemes almost always [edit: usually, I should say] have a Master's. I'm talking about the applicants to the doctoral scheme who have a 2.2 in their first degree, as well as (probably) a Master's.

Like I said, in 2004-05 the AHRC funded 1 person for doctoral research in history who had a 2.2. That's out of roughly 105 scholarships offered overall.

Reply 7

The Boosh

17

i don't doubt that a 2.2. is a barrier, but you can apply with a 2.2 plus masters. i remember coming across this when applying to the esrc. what are the arhc figures for rejection of candidates with a 2.1 or above?

Reply 8

hobnob

14

The Boosh

i don't doubt that a 2.2. is a barrier, but you can apply with a 2.2 plus masters. i remember coming across this when applying to the esrc. what are the arhc figures for rejection of candidates with a 2.1 or above?

Depressing, that's what they are. :frown:

Reply 9

lone_rider2007

The Boosh

i don't doubt that a 2.2. is a barrier, but you can apply with a 2.2 plus masters. i remember coming across this when applying to the esrc. what are the arhc figures for rejection of candidates with a 2.1 or above?

Ive come across many students who got Firsts but failed to get funding and 2.2 who did. Grades may make you stand out but there are other factors, such as the how strength of your application, how clear and detailed is your research proposal, the area your intrested in researching-is it feasible/does it need futher research i.e do you have something new to offer, your references from your supervisor will also help a lot.

Reply 10

ChemistBoy

16

Tamurlane

Sciences may be different.

The are, for the most part. Most universities are also quite strict about having a 2.1 for external applications for science PhDs (the departments seem to be able to use a bit more discretion for internal applicants).

Reply 11

Tamurlane

lone_rider2007

I've come across many students who got Firsts but failed to get funding and 2.2 who did.

Well, if your subject is history, you won't have come across that many if they are only funding 1 student with a 2.2 per year...

The Boosh

what are the arhc figures for rejection of candidates with a 2.1 or above?

It depends which set of figures you want and for which programme. Slightly out of date figures are all on the link I posted if you dig around.

For 2004-05 in the DOCTORAL COMPETITION for HISTORY students, it seems that they had somewhere in the region of 375 applications overall and accepted about 105. Amongst students who had Firsts, the success rate is surprisingly high - about 170 applicants, around 90 accepted (they give the results as bar graphs without a precise scale, so these figures are approximate). Note that this means that the other 15 places were divided between people with all other degree classes (2.1 and down).

Interestingly, English seems to be by a long chalk (statistically) the most difficult subject to get money out of the AHRC for, based on 2004-05.

Reply 12

The Boosh

17

cool.

Reply 13

lone_rider2007

Tamurlane

Well, if your subject is history, you won't have come across that many if they are only funding 1 student with a 2.2 per year...
.

I meant on another forum for phd students I visit. I guess its not there most accurate measure.

Not sure what you mean?

Reply 14

Tamurlane

Hmmm well I don't doubt that there are scores of people in internet chatrooms claiming to have AHRC funding with a 2.2.

If you go on Second Life there are also scores of people pretending to be gorgeous women, when their real name is in fact Kevin, and they are sitting wearing dirty kecks in a darkened bedroom in the cellar of their parents' house.

Reply 15

the_alba

12

I'm very surprised the AHRC funded someone with a 2:2. Whoever it was surely must have had real extenuating circumstances. I was always told (and it has always borne out) that applying with a 2:1 is pretty much a waste of time. At Oxford they told us that even if we got a Distiction in the Master's, we'd only have a 30% chance of funding, and that is assuming we all had strong Firsts at BA.

Of course, this is for English, which as Tamulane said is the most competitive subject for AHRC funding.

Reply 16

apotoftea

19

tbain

Do I definitely need a 2.1 or higher to get to do an MA in History? Is it possible to get on a masters course with a 2.2?

All depends on where you apply and the demand for the course

Reply 17

Eubacterium

13

Well in science most masters ask for a 2:2 but I don't know about history. The best thing is to search online to find courses which interest you and see what they ask for. Oxbridge definitely wants at least a 2:1.

MA in History with a 2.2 BA?

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