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Postgrad opportunities

I will be studying at the uni of Nottingham this year and am planning on doing a masters and a PhD elsewhere, does anyone know what my chances are of getting into Cambridge for a masters or PhD considering I won’t be at a prestigious uni? Thanks!!

Reply 1

Original post
by peachapple34
I will be studying at the uni of Nottingham this year and am planning on doing a masters and a PhD elsewhere, does anyone know what my chances are of getting into Cambridge for a masters or PhD considering I won’t be at a prestigious uni? Thanks!!

Don't count yourself short like that at all!

I went to Loughborough myself (so I won't hold it against you that you'll be at Nottingham 😉 ) and am currently at Oxford for my MSc after spending 5 truly amazing years at Loughborough. I also applied to Cambridge for an MPhil and got in there too, I just decided the course at Oxford was better suited to me.
However, all this is to say I got experience in applying to both Oxbridge uni's coming from a university similar to yours.

Oxbridge does not at all care about which university you attended previously, and how prestigious it was.
I went to Loughborough for 5 years, did multiple extra-curriculars like volunteering, fundraising and two university sports and then spent a year on placement working as one of the Student Union Sabbatical Officers. I then also got a first (72%) in my degree.
Ultimately, Oxbridge is looking for passion for your subject above else. Yes, it is important to get good grades, but even if you get a (high) 2:1, you could still secure an interview and place if you show them how passionate you are and that you have done extra-curriculars which helped shape you into a well-rounded student.

At the end of the day, Oxbridge doesn't want students who just study endlessly and are good at getting high grades but nothing else. Therefore, going to a 'prestigious university' (or whatever that means) really doesn't mean much to them at all. I guess all of this is to say: be focussed but also enjoy yourself, have fun and do the things that make you happy.
I loved my 5 years at Loughborough, and I truly believe that had I not gone to Loughborough, I would not have made it into either Cambridge or Oxford as it truly shaped me into the student and person I am today. Without Loughborough, I would not have come across all the opportunities that I did and would not be able to pass an interview at Oxbridge.

Good luck with your applications later!

Reply 2

Original post
by lot.burgstra
Don't count yourself short like that at all!
I went to Loughborough myself (so I won't hold it against you that you'll be at Nottingham 😉 ) and am currently at Oxford for my MSc after spending 5 truly amazing years at Loughborough. I also applied to Cambridge for an MPhil and got in there too, I just decided the course at Oxford was better suited to me.
However, all this is to say I got experience in applying to both Oxbridge uni's coming from a university similar to yours.
Oxbridge does not at all care about which university you attended previously, and how prestigious it was.
I went to Loughborough for 5 years, did multiple extra-curriculars like volunteering, fundraising and two university sports and then spent a year on placement working as one of the Student Union Sabbatical Officers. I then also got a first (72%) in my degree.
Ultimately, Oxbridge is looking for passion for your subject above else. Yes, it is important to get good grades, but even if you get a (high) 2:1, you could still secure an interview and place if you show them how passionate you are and that you have done extra-curriculars which helped shape you into a well-rounded student.
At the end of the day, Oxbridge doesn't want students who just study endlessly and are good at getting high grades but nothing else. Therefore, going to a 'prestigious university' (or whatever that means) really doesn't mean much to them at all. I guess all of this is to say: be focussed but also enjoy yourself, have fun and do the things that make you happy.
I loved my 5 years at Loughborough, and I truly believe that had I not gone to Loughborough, I would not have made it into either Cambridge or Oxford as it truly shaped me into the student and person I am today. Without Loughborough, I would not have come across all the opportunities that I did and would not be able to pass an interview at Oxbridge.
Good luck with your applications later!


That’s amazing thank you!! I didn’t know you could apply to both for a masters that’s so good and congratulations! I have an offer holder day at Loughborough soon actually but I’m not super keen on the modules, and it’s a slightly longer drive for me than Nottingham will be everyday🤣but thanks so much for your advice that’s really reassuring. If you don’t mind me asking what degree did you do and what are you studying at Oxford now?

Reply 3

No worries at all.

I studied Chemistry at undergrad and am now doing my MSc in Theoretical and Computational Chemistry at Oxford.
I also got in for the MPhil in Scientific Computing at Cambridge, but decided that course wasn't as right for me as the one at Oxford.

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