Official Cambridge 2020 Postgraduate Applicants Thread

It might be different in the UK but my experience is that these things don’t matter at all. I graduated in December while having finished all my courses a year before that and having submitted my thesis in October. Someone forgot to grade my thesis and then all the slots for a defense were already taken so I had to wait a bit. In the end it didn’t matter at all! My current supervisor didn’t even comment on it haha so I don’t think you have much to worry about. Hope this is somewhat reassuring!

I'm not sure how this is different to any other Masters application, unless someone takes a gap year, applications are usually made before degree grades are known. Besides which, if you applied in say Dec 20 or Jan 21 for Oct 21, chances are you might not get a conditional offer until March to May time anyway. You are effectively just doing a 2 year Masters.

Thanks, these are reassuring answers
I guess one other thing I want to ask is - by submitting my assignments in Autumn and graduating 2021 (turns out it would more like March, not January), I will be for all administrative purposes, repeating my final year of undergraduate study as an external student.
Will that make my Masters application less competitive? I've heard that Oxbridge generally treat A level students who resit an extra year unfavourably vs people who complete their A levels in 2 years. Would the same rule apply for people who repeat a year of their bachelors?

Hey
I was adviced by the GAO to arrange for an assessment at the Language Centre of Cambridge. For this, I have emailed adtis@... one week ago but haven't got a response yet. Could you please tell me, how long you had to wait until you could finally take the test (if you also took it)? And also, what further actions were needed after the assessment and how long did the whole process take until the condition was completed? Thanks

I'm afraid,generally, yes. It depends on the details of the circumstances, but broadly taking longer to get the requisite grades does not augur well. You will have to explain to Cam in your application, what your extenuating circumstances were and they will take a judgement on whether that still makes you competitive.

I'm afraid,generally, yes. It depends on the details of the circumstances, but broadly taking longer to get the requisite grades does not augur well. You will have to explain to Cam in your application, what your extenuating circumstances were and they will take a judgement on whether that still makes you competitive.

Thanks for the answer.
This is a tough decision for me: if hypothetically, rushing all my assignments out now were to result in subpar work that would get me a middling 2.1, but taking the external student route would significantly improve my chances of getting a 1st, do you think it would be better or worse to take the external year?

I'm a TAL student!

Sorry for the late reply
Haha I guess I'll have to find out! Can I ask, what is the structure in terms of hours in MMLL? I.e. how many hours a week is it for lectures, seminars, supervisions on average?

For the condition for finance, can anyone clarify that it is only the financial undertaking form that’s required to be uploaded to complete the condition?

I ask because, though I uploaded this on the 9th, it still says ‘outstanding’, whereas the condition for the photo, which I uploaded yesterday, automatically changed to ‘completed’ straight away. There is a section in the finance condition where it shows your financial liability and it says you need to upload evidence so your balance changes from zero. But I can’t see anywhere to upload this? Could this be why my condition hasn’t been met? My college says they’ll guarantee me accom if I get my conditions completed in time so I’m particularly anxious that it’s right ASAP!

Thank you!

For the condition for finance, can anyone clarify that it is only the financial undertaking form that’s required to be uploaded to complete the condition?

I ask because, though I uploaded this on the 9th, it still says ‘outstanding’, whereas the condition for the photo, which I uploaded yesterday, automatically changed to ‘completed’ straight away. There is a section in the finance condition where it shows your financial liability and it says you need to upload evidence so your balance changes from zero. But I can’t see anywhere to upload this? Could this be why my condition hasn’t been met? My college says they’ll guarantee me accom if I get my conditions completed in time so I’m particularly anxious that it’s right ASAP!

Thank you!

An offer holders group for cambridge postgrads was just created on Facebook! (search: Cambridge 2020 Postgraduate Offer Holders)

Apologies if this has already been answered, but what if we've very recently uploaded all of our remaining supporting documents, but they won't be reviewed in time for the deadline? So e.g. my only outstanding condition is 'finance' and I uploaded the financial undertaking form yesterday, but right now they're still reviewing documents uploaded on 30/07. Do I have to apply for a deadline extension? Or do I just wait since I've done everything on my part and I'm just waiting for them to review my documents now, and they won't withdraw my offer if it gets past 21st August and they haven't reviewed it by then?

Based on the information you've given, which may not be the whole story, taking an extra year might well be terminal, making a strong application with a middling 2.1 stands a chance.

The issue is the reason you are in this position - does taking longer put you in the same position as you would have been without the problems you've had, or does it confer an advantage?