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Question about postgrad applications @ Oxford Social Sciences MSc

I am looking to apply to an MSc in either Refugee and Forced Migration Studies, Global Governance and Diplomacy or an MPhil in Global and Area Studies. I am graduating this coming year with a dual undergrad (BA) from Sciences Po Paris and the University of British Columbia. I'm having trouble deciding which one would be the best fit for me, and am also getting quite spooked looking at the admission rates for these programs, so am concerned about my stats.

I am extremely interested in Transitional Justice and have spent the past couple of years working in Human Rights Advocacy with an NGO. I'm also interested in the intersection between data/mapping and human rights (my second minor is in Informatics) and have spent the past summer working as a Data Analyst for an International Development org. There seems to not be a specific course on Transitional Justice, but I was thinking there may be some aspects of it in the options I have chosen. Though I would prefer doing an MSc instead of a MPhil, after reading the course pages, it seems like the Global and Area Studies MPhil would make the most sense for work in Transitional Justice?

For postgrad, does Oxford place more emphasis on grades or extracurricular involvement? My average right now is in the high 80s, (4.0 converted to US) and at Sciences Po, it is right on the first-class minimum. Beyond work, I am the editor-in-chief of an academic journal and am the past editor-in-chief of the Sciences Po Paris student newspaper. I also have significant legal experience (2 years), working in access to justice and legal aid, specializing in immigration and refugee law. What experience does an average student in these courses have? What do they feel like they come away with once they graduate?

Finally, I have been thinking about continuing with a PhD following my Master's and was wondering what the pathway for that was like at Oxford, and whether any of my course choices would limit that choice?

Thank you!

Reply 1

SS378

It seems that you could write about transitional justice in your thesis in any of these programs. However, the MSc in Refugee and Forced Migration Studies seems to be most closely aligned to your background and strengths. If you did area/global studies, is there a specific region you would want to focus on or would you want to write your dissertation about global transitional justice? At the doctoral level, though, you could and probably should pursue your specific research interests under a specific department, such as political science or history. This will be even more important if you eventually go on the academic job market with hopes of becoming a professor.

Reply 2

SS378

What are your undergrad degrees in? If you want to pursue a PhD, you could also apply directly to PhD programs in Canada or the US. There are also some good regional studies/global development/policy (and political science) masters programs in the US that could also lead in a similar direction as the Oxford programs.

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