I finished my undergrad at Oxford last year in geography and got a 2i classification. I wanted to take some time out before starting a PhD and have found one I really like at UEA. Two problems - firstly, I dont know if my lack of masters will hinder my chances, and second, my dissertation is not remotely related to the PhD although some of the options I took link in. Is there any chance I might get this?

Well firstly not having a masters shouldn't hinder you.. I don't have one and it didn't cause any problems for me..

Secondly I don't think that your final year disertaion is much of an issue.. Mine wasn't really linked to what I am doing now and again that wasn't an issue.

If you are interested in the PhD then go for it Oh and the UEA is not a bad uni either, Norwich is a nice city

Why do people that did their undergrad degree at Oxford or Cambridge always feel the need to point this out at every possible opportunity? No one cares.

well, I think the scholarship selectors do care which uni you did your undergrad. I know most of the ESRC/AHRC award winners graduated from Oxbridge.

Yes, but it wasn't exactly necessary to put it in this post. Are we all expected to bow down in worship or something?

By the way claireg, you could just apply and see. I went straight from a bachelors to a PhD and so did most of my friends.

Haha, I think claired didn't mean to mention this specifically. But probably claireg you don't need a masters as postgrad qualification from Oxford are awarded as Mphils, so undergrad should be seen as postgrad? I'm bantering....

Message Removed.

I seem to have opened a can of worms! The Oxford bit was certainly not intended to come across as me being a pompous arse, more just as an aside, as I wondered to what extent tutors took into account where you did your undergrad.

Thanks for the responses all - the opinion seems to be that a masters is not a necessity, and that cases are judged on individual merit.

Sorry claireg, yesterday was a bad day. Didn't mean to be, well, mean!

I think that potential supervisors must look at where you did your undergrad degree as some institutions are better than others.

Now you may bow down in worship by way of an apology!

I hope the day got better...

Lol claireg, you're not so bad after all

" finished my undergrad at Oxford "

Maybe Claireg only finished her undergrad at Oxford Brookes University, as nothing else is specified.


....waiting for the scream:"No, UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD"

Robber - high praise, thank you!

And there will be no scream - it doesn't have any relevence to the question I was originally asking anyway.