I've always assumed I'll be accepted onto my masters. However now that I've applied I'm very worried I'll be rejected! I'd be absolutely gutted if I was rejected I don't know what I'd do it's all I've daydreamed about - returning to education after 4 years in the working world. Does anybody out there know roughly how many people as a proportion are rejected onto a master's degree?

Due to finding it very difficult to obtain the funds for a full-time masters I'm now considering undertaking a masters part time. I am however worried that studying a masters part time may put me at a disadvantage. Does anybody out there know how they work with regards to lectures, seminars etc? I would be very grateful for any feedback from people who have studied a masters part-time. My ultimate aim is to obtain PhD funding after the masters. Will I be at a disadvantage only studying part time?

I studied Economics for my undergraduate degree and plan to undertake masters in Social Policy and Administration. I'm very keen on pursuing a career in research but fear that once I begin a PhD I may trapped in the one discipline, I know that lots of modern research is interdisciplinary but how do you stop yourself being straightjacketed? For example I'm very interested in gang culture, do people think that a masters in social policy could lead to research in this area?

Hi,

Reading your post you're in a very similar situation as myself and I'm also considering a career in Social research. I graduated in 2005 from a top 10 university with a 2.2 in Economics (like you I was capable of a lot more). After training to be a secondary school teacher, leaving for a career in finance, I've finally concluded that I should pursue my dream of having my best shot at obtaining a PhD. Like you I'm very interested in Social Policy.

My advice is similar to everybody else's and that is to save the funds to begin an MA or Msc. I'm currently in the process of applying for a taught masters in social policy at Nottingham. Despite Nottingham being a top 10 university they only ask for a 2.2 for social policy and as it is a taught masters I think they will take people from other degree subjects. ( I know a person who holds a degree in Chemistry that was told they would be considered for a masters in Politics). You would perhaps need to do another research masters after the taught one but may get this funded as part of a 1+3 funding programme for a PhD.

I've researched a lot and from what I gather a good grade at masters level will compensate for a lowish undergraduate grade. It wont be easy, obtaining funding is extremely difficult even if you have very high grades, but if you work hard and make contacts whilst studying you will have a good chance at securing funding for a PhD.

Hello guys. I would really like to study towards a PhD and I understand that if I could gain some research experience this would greatly help me in achieving a studentship to study for the PhD

I was hoping for some advice on how to gain some research experience. I plan to study a masters in social policy in September and my undergraduate degree was in economics. I would really like to do a phd in social policy of some kind. Is there anybody out there that managed to achieve some research experience in this area. Apart from science related research I really cant think how to go about gaining some experience. I hope you guys out there can help.

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. I would really like to know if I perform very well at masters level will the door open for a studentship from a funding body such as the ESRC? Any stories from people who managed to obtain the funding would be really useful both in your approach and also as a motivator for myself. Thankyou.

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I graduated in 2005 with a 2.2 in Economics from the University of Sheffield . Despite this I've decided I want to self fund a masters and eventually pursue a PHD in Social Policy, I sincerely believe I'm capable and I'm confident I could perform well at masters level. I'm currently having a dilemma in deciding which institution to apply to. I'm torn between choosing a masters which is highly relevant for a research degree, the Msc Research Methods (Social Policy) at ******** which has 1 + 3 ESRC recognition. This would count as the first year of a Phd or choosing a masters at a 'higher ranked' university such as Sheffield or Nottingham. If I chose to do the masters in social policy on offer at either of these institutions I would only have a qualification that didn't have ESRC 1 + 3 recognition. I wouldn't mind studying a further year provided I could get funding.

What would leave me in a better position to apply for ESRC funding after finishing the masters? (Bearing in mind I have a 2.2 at undergraduate level). Should I choose a course at a more traditional university or choose the relevant course. Does anybody know if the ESRC prefers to hand out +3 studentship over 1 + 3? Any input in helping me solve this dilemma would be much appreciated.