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International Relations Masters - Cambridge or Warwick?

I have applied for the MA International Relations at Warwick, and MPhil International Relations at Cambridge.

I am undecided which would be the best option to take. The course descriptions are equally appealing to me. Warwick has a far larger department, with more well-known academics, and has a higher RAE score (5, Cambridge is 4). I understand that politics and IR are not the traditional specialities of Cambridge, but the university name would help my career prospects.

Any thoughts would be appreciated

Reply 1

TimeLady

11

Wait until you hear if you've got in, and then worry about it?

Reply 2

Bismarck

13

studentadvice21

I have applied for the MA International Relations at Warwick, and MPhil International Relations at Cambridge.

I am undecided which would be the best option to take. The course descriptions are equally appealing to me. Warwick has a far larger department, with more well-known academics, and has a higher RAE score (5, Cambridge is 4). I understand that politics and IR are not the traditional specialities of Cambridge, but the university name would help my career prospects.

Any thoughts would be appreciated

Do you want to have a job that's relevant to IR after this or are you just doing it because you're interested in the topic?

Reply 3

studentadvice21

OP

I am ambitious and looking to pursue a career related to IR - primarlily in the British Foreign Office, perhaps the UN a few years down the line.

Reply 4

Kitty Pimms

17

The Warwick IR department is really good, in my experience. Which strain of the Cambridge MPhil would you be planning to take, the one-year course? In terms of specialisms and University name, you have to remember that the Cambridge RAE score is for politics (their IR MPhil is run by the International Studies department which isn't affiliated with their politics department - that would be a problem for me, but might not be for you) so that score is not strictly relevant.

Having a scan through the department lists I would slightly favour the Warwick department, but then again if you are looking to get access to the Foreign Office the Cambridge old boys network might come in useful to you.

There are tonnes of other factors too of course - entry requirements for one (Cambridge want a first), living, fees, etc etc.

Have you got offers incidentally or are you still waiting?

Reply 5

threeportdrift

Careers Forum Helper

20

IlexAquifolium

their [Cambridge] IR MPhil is run by the International Studies department which isn't affiliated with their politics department - that would be a problem for me, but might not be for you

Really not relevant, the staff mix and match as required and you'd have to check up on their respective websites to find who worked in which Department. I think they are looking at joining up on the technical/administrative level in the future. However, day to day, Supervisors, lectures, seminars etc are more or less shared.

IlexAquifolium

but then again if you are looking to get access to the Foreign Office the Cambridge old boys network might come in useful to you.

I very much doubt it. I think we only have two members of staff with FCO experience and both from at least 30 years ago. It is not, currently, what I would consider a 'traditional' or 'establishment' rooted department. No network that I have found :frown:

IlexAquifolium

Cambridge want a first

If you've got nothing else exceptional to offer. Produce some stunningly relevant work experience or a really stellar research proposal and a 2.1 will cut it.

Reply 6

Kitty Pimms

17

threeportdrift

Really not relevant, the staff mix and match as required and you'd have to check up on their respective websites to find who worked in which Department. I think they are looking at joining up on the technical/administrative level in the future. However, day to day, Supervisors, lectures, seminars etc are more or less shared.

I made that comment with respect to the RAE score, which (horribly out of date though it is) AFAIK applies only to the 'politics' department - therefore Cambridge certainly shouldn't be discounted for only getting a 4. Sorry if that didn't come across in my first post. I think it would be an excellent idea for them to merge as the seperation put me off applying...

threeportdrift

I very much doubt it. I think we only have two members of staff with FCO experience and both from at least 30 years ago. It is not, currently, what I would consider a 'traditional' or 'establishment' rooted department. No network that I have found :frown:

Fair enough! Perhaps I let the mythology of the place get to me :wink:

I did though mean more in terms of social networking throughout the uni rather than specifically the department itself - I've been told there are more opportunities for useful mingling in Cambridge than Warwick.

threeportdrift

If you've got nothing else exceptional to offer. Produce some stunningly relevant work experience or a really stellar research proposal and a 2.1 will cut it.

Cool. The people who I know who've got onto the course got offered a first, so I was just going on that. :smile:

If the OP can score a lower offer, then fab!

Reply 7

unknown demon

15

threeportdrift

Really not relevant, the staff mix and match as required and you'd have to check up on their respective websites to find who worked in which Department. I think they are looking at joining up on the technical/administrative level in the future. However, day to day, Supervisors, lectures, seminars etc are more or less shared.

I very much doubt it. I think we only have two members of staff with FCO experience and both from at least 30 years ago. It is not, currently, what I would consider a 'traditional' or 'establishment' rooted department. No network that I have found :frown:

If you've got nothing else exceptional to offer. Produce some stunningly relevant work experience or a really stellar research proposal and a 2.1 will cut it.

Exeptional in what sense (excluding grades)

Reply 8

studentadvice21

OP

TimeLady

Wait until you hear if you've got in, and then worry about it?

I probably should, but I'm a worrier and will worry about it regardless!

Thanks for everyone's advice and comments, it is very helpful. In response to a previous question, I have been accepted for:

MA International Relations - Warwick
MA International Relations - King's College (War Studies Dept)
MSc International Politics - SOAS
But I'm still waiting to hear back from Cambridge- MPhil International Relations

I have ruled out King's College because of the course, and its focus on strategy and conflict management rather than international politics.

Reply 9

threeportdrift

Careers Forum Helper

20

unknown demon

Exeptional in what sense (excluding grades)

Exceptional in the sense of some stunningly relevant work experience or a really stellar research proposal :smile:

Reply 10

Paulwhy

13

studentadvice21

I probably should, but I'm a worrier and will worry about it regardless!

Thanks for everyone's advice and comments, it is very helpful. In response to a previous question, I have been accepted for:

MA International Relations - Warwick
MA International Relations - King's College (War Studies Dept)
MSc International Politics - SOAS
But I'm still waiting to hear back from Cambridge- MPhil International Relations

I have ruled out King's College because of the course, and its focus on strategy and conflict management rather than international politics.

Well as Cambridge requires a 1st, you should certainly accept the Warwick offer (I assume Warwick only requires a 2:1) . If you prefer Cambridge and they make an offer then you should accept there as well.

Reply 11

hermaphrodite

15

studentadvice21

I have applied for the MA International Relations at Warwick, and MPhil International Relations at Cambridge.

I am undecided which would be the best option to take. The course descriptions are equally appealing to me. Warwick has a far larger department, with more well-known academics, and has a higher RAE score (5, Cambridge is 4). I understand that politics and IR are not the traditional specialities of Cambridge, but the university name would help my career prospects.

Any thoughts would be appreciated

rather ironic that you should be asking, given your username

Reply 12

studentadvice21

OP

Does anyone have any thoughts on how the reputations of Warwick and King's College compare? The Universities, the international relations courses/depts (PAIS, War Studies), and in terms of career prospects in the civil service.

Thanks

Reply 13

Chengora

I can't speak to the civil service opportunities, but personally I would go for either King's or SOAS over the other two. They aren't as well known as, say, LSE or Oxford, but at least in terms of reputation, they are definitely more well known than Warwick.

SOAS particularly is well regarded in the development field. King's is a great program for security studies, but I think you mentioned that the course didn't appeal to you. I would recommend taking another look, as I'm sure it'll get into international politics even though it's focused on one particular aspect of it.

For Cambridge, while it's got the gleam of an Oxbridge name, I've got serious questions about how good a program it actually is. This is simply in terms of number of faculty, support, etc. A bigger issue to me is that I've only ever known one person to go to that program. She was certainly very nice and intelligent, and the program is small, but I feel like I should have come across more either while in school or at work. Admittedly, though, this may not be the best measure to use.

But ultimately, I think it'll come down to the program and how much it allows you to pursue your own initiatives. If you like the course composition and opportunities at Warwick more, then you should go there.

Reply 14

ILIGAN

9

I'd go for Warwick for your specific case.

International Relations Masters - Cambridge or Warwick?

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