Chaning discipline in between degrees - possible?

Naffa · 12 Nov 2011 at 23:12

I was just wondering if it's feasible or possible to change discipline, after completing my political science BA to a natural science? And if so, what is the best way to go about doing so?

From what I can gather, for obvious reasons, universities only accept postgraduate students onto masters programs, if they have a decent degree in a relevant subject. Is there any real way that I could achieve the above, given this reality? By that I mean, I mean gaining enough knowledge to be able to cope with the studying (luckily, studying is something I love to do), and making myself into a candidate a decent university would be prepared to accept onto their program.

Thanks for any advice offered.

RomanNose · 12 Nov 2011 at 23:15

I guess you learnt the hard way about the disadvantages of doing a social science

.

Naffa · 12 Nov 2011 at 23:16

RomanNose said:
I guess you learnt the hard way about the disadvantages of doing a social science .

I really enjoy it, and am incredibly passionate, but I can't help but feel most of what I'm learning isn't particularly valuable knowledge. To me, at any rate.

So, I think the answer you're looking for is a 'yes'.

Castiel · 12 Nov 2011 at 23:18

You can (albeit rarely) jump (or even skip undergrad alltogether) disciplines at postgrad level if you can adequately demonstrate sufficent knowledge of the subject. Usually from a body of work or verifiable and demonstable ability in the chosen discipline. You would need to be pretty exceptional and/or convincing.....

In my experience anyway.

Naffa · 12 Nov 2011 at 23:30

That would be great, but (much to my regret) I would have to concede that I am not exceptional.

Producing a body of work likely to impress a university enough to let me onto a postgraduate course without any relevant qualification would probably be beyond me.

Castiel · 12 Nov 2011 at 23:41

Naffa said:
That would be great, but (much to my regret) I would have to concede that I am not exceptional. Producing a body of work likely to impress a university enough to let me onto a postgraduate course without any relevant qualification would probably be beyond me.

I would have a chat with the faculty of the course you wish to cross-over to and see what options you have, you would not be the first person to want to do this.

Naffa · 13 Nov 2011 at 00:10

That's a good idea, thank you.

Castiel · 13 Nov 2011 at 00:27

Let us (or me at least) know how you get on and good luck.

semi-pro waster · 13 Nov 2011 at 08:37

Have you finished your original degree yet? If not then as Castiel suggests speak to the faculty and see if you can potentially either get guidance on what you would need to do for the topic you want to study or if they'll allow you to use their facilities/sit in on classes to ease the transition.

It is possible in some fields but for some I'd imagine you're really going to struggle to show that you've got adequate knowledge to be a realistic candidate for post-graduate study e.g. if you did business studies as a degree then post-grad bio-chemistry might be rather difficult to manage.