Masters course - does time after BSc matter?

Lord_Kokain · 8 Apr 2008 at 18:33

Hi,

Tried to search for thread of this kind but did not get to find one.

I am final year with BSc in Economics and got a good grade but I am not intending to go for masters straight away from September(mostly financial reasons). Usually I get told that this should not matter for the application process(for unis where competition for places would be higher) but is it the case in practice? For instance, if I am to apply in 3 years, would my application be considered in the same manner as the one from someone with similar degree and final grade that applies from his/her last year? Does age also matter in such case for the unis in terms of whether I would be 23,25,30+?

Just want to hear your brief opinion on the issue.

[TW]Fox · 8 Apr 2008 at 18:35

I dont think it will matter however one big consideration for you, and the reason why I've pretty much decided to do an MSc right after my degree and not wait, is that once you get used to the real world and earning real money you'll find it very hard to go back and get into student mode again.

Danger Phoenix · 8 Apr 2008 at 18:43

It should not be an issue, but I would contact the universities you plan to apply to and ask them what they think. Also your own universities admissions department should be able to offer you some advice on what they would do in this situation.

For the same reason Fox mentioned, I am doing an MSc at the moment, straight after my BSc.

SideWinder · 8 Apr 2008 at 18:48

On the topic of Masters - Do people recommend staying at the same University they studied their degree or move to a different University?

[TW]Fox · 8 Apr 2008 at 18:52

You get a discount if you stay. 10% off 5k or so can be lots

Lord_Kokain · 8 Apr 2008 at 19:09

[TW]Fox;11459373 said:
I dont think it will matter however one big consideration for you, and the reason why I've pretty much decided to do an MSc right after my degree and not wait, is that once you get used to the real world and earning real money you'll find it very hard to go back and get into student mode again.

That sounds about right but then the dilemma I suppose would be more about whether masters is needed at all.

On the topic of Masters - Do people recommend staying at the same University they studied their degree or move to a different University?

Thats a good question! I thought of asking it as well but I know I rather feel like changing the environment.

Danger Phoenix · 8 Apr 2008 at 19:11

Lord_Kokain said:
That sounds about right but then the dilemma I suppose would be more about whether masters is needed at all.

What aided my decision was the fact that I only got a 2:2 for my BSc and since a lot of students nowadays come out with 1sts and 2:1s it would look better to an employee if I had a MSc to back up my credentials...

w11tho · 8 Apr 2008 at 19:25

One thing I would add is this: it's unlikely, after you have a few years experience in your chosen career, that the extra qualification would make a lot of difference. The years experience you have on the job will likely count for more.

Danger Phoenix said:
What aided my decision was the fact that I only got a 2:2 for my BSc and since a lot of students nowadays come out with 1sts and 2:1s it would look better to an employee if I had a MSc to back up my credentials...

Employers aren't daft though. They'll see your undergrad result. If you get onto an MSc course with a 2:2, it doesn't say a lot for its standards. Also, MSc's are nice little money earners for many Universities and so aren't as academically demanding as they should be. Sorry to sound harsh, but it's the reality of the situation.

ironman · 8 Apr 2008 at 19:34

[TW]Fox;11459530 said:
You get a discount if you stay. 10% off 5k or so can be lots

£5k for a masters? Are you being serious?!

Lord_Kokain · 8 Apr 2008 at 19:36

Danger Phoenix said:
What aided my decision was the fact that I only got a 2:2 for my BSc and since a lot of students nowadays come out with 1sts and 2:1s it would look better to an employee if I had a MSc to back up my credentials...

You are in Warwick with a 2:2?

Bomag · 8 Apr 2008 at 19:37

w11tho said:
If you get onto an MSc course with a 2:2, it doesn't say a lot for its standards. Also, MSc's are nice little money earners for many Universities and so aren't as academically demanding as they should be. Sorry to sound harsh, but it's the reality of the situation.

What's wrong with a Desmond? In a time before they gave degrees out with your cornflakes a 2:1 was for those who were mildly intelligent, 2:2s were for those who were intelligent enough for first but couldn't be bothered to work.

In they old days before engineering M.Scs became 'top ups' to get C.Eng instead of I.Eng also long as you were prepared to put in the required effort (and you weren't doing it for a skive) any second class degree would do.

iraiguana · 8 Apr 2008 at 19:37

masters costs for 1 year are in the region of £12k.

I was looking into going to bristol and those are the suggested costs per annum.

R.O.S.S.I · 8 Apr 2008 at 19:37

gurdas said:
£5k for a masters? Are you being serious?!

Deadly serious, cost a lot of moolah.

I'm looking into a masters, with the prospect of me not getting a 2:1 for my degree a 2:2 just isnt going to cut it at all, so i'm thinking of any postgraduate qualifications I could do.
Failing that, i'd just like to get on a trainee psychologist role ASAP as this would benefit me leaps and bounds over any degree when it comes to getting a job.

ArmyofHarmony · 8 Apr 2008 at 19:39

I'm a 2:2 from Warwick, most Masters there need a 2.1 but a few don't... I was tempted fo rthe same reasons as DAnger

ArmyofHarmony · 8 Apr 2008 at 19:40

Btw i'm looking at doing a part time masters at Birbeck College... or maybe just an Open University one - just to supplement my qualifcations (which are already fine for the industry I work in )

Alex_L · 8 Apr 2008 at 19:40

CDj-Rossi said:
Deadly serious, cost a lot of moolah.

I'm looking into a masters, with the prospect of me not getting a 2:1 for my degree a 2:2 just isnt going to cut it at all, so i'm thinking of any postgraduate qualifications I could do.
Failing that, i'd just like to get on a trainee psychologist role ASAP as this would benefit me leaps and bounds over any degree when it comes to getting a job.

think he meant 5k is cheap.........the masters i'm looking at in finance is ~25k, and all the other masters i've looked at in London are seriously expensive.

ironman · 8 Apr 2008 at 19:42

CDj-Rossi said:
Deadly serious, cost a lot of moolah.

Lol....I wish my masters cost £5k.

w11tho · 8 Apr 2008 at 19:43

Bomag said:
What's wrong with a Desmond? In a time before they gave degrees out with your cornflakes a 2:1 was for those who were mildly intelligent, 2:2s were for those who were intelligent enough for first but couldn't be bothered to work.

You have the Desmond shoulda-woulda-coulda syndrome! Anyhoo, sadly these days they do give degrees away with cereal packets so a Desmond isn't really going to cut the mustard (even if you insist that you only got one because you're well rounded, so didn't spend all your time working and could have got a first if you'd bothered to put the effort in... etc)

Una · 8 Apr 2008 at 19:46

iraiguana said:
masters costs for 1 year are in the region of £12k.

I was looking into going to bristol and those are the suggested costs per annum.

It varies depending on the course and where in the country.. I could have done one at Newcastle Uni for 5k at UCL it would have cost around 10k~.

Nitefly · 8 Apr 2008 at 20:03

I know someone who is going to the London school of economics. The fees are £17,000pa for a masters IIRC!