HI Everyone, Im just finishing my MA from UCL but think I will only get a pass rather than a distinction. Due to mitigating circumstances I only got a 2.2 in my BSc too. I really want to do a PhD but Im not sure if there are any available for those with a 2.2. Can anyone help at all?

Thanks x

Hi Alina. Dont be put off by your mark as I no of people who got a simple pass in their masters and went on to get a PhD place. But the one problem I think you might find is finding a funded PhD. Are you planning on paying for the PhD fees yourself?

good luck either way it is possible!

I got a 2.2 last year, doing an MSc now, and have a PhD lined up for next year, a very competitive studentship with enhanced funding. I've been trying hard all year but I only need to pass the MSc to meet the offer so keep your head up.

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Hey Alina! It will definitely be hard to get funding at the moment- even people with first class degrees and distinctions at masters level are finding it hard, so it will probably be a struggle. But it is certainly possible- I have two friends with 2.2s and a pass at MSc level who are on fully funded PhDs. Probably your best bet is to dodge the competition for advertised PhDs and try to get a research assistant post or something first. When you've got your foot in the door and can prove to your supervisor that you will manage a PhD fine (and there's no reason to think you wouldn't!) then you might be able to apply for funding for a project with that sup. None of my friends with 2.2s managed to get onto a funded PhD straight away but the two who did manage it eventually both did things that way round- they joined a team as a research assistant and then a year or two later their supervisors encouraged them to apply for funding. It does depend a bit on your subject etc as well- obviously some disciplines are more competitive than others. some subjects don't even require a masters at all, especially pure sciences, whereas for others a good masters is essential. But there are def other people on the forum who got funding with a 2.2 so hopefully they'll chip in and give you some reassurance and advice! Good luck! KB

Hey everyone, thank you so much for your replies, they've definitely given me some hope! I'm looking at funded PhDs and in the medical sciences field. I've looked at research assistant posts briefly but even then many require a 2.1 so I guess I should just keep searching! Any particular unis / subject areas in which you got your Phd with 2.2?

Thanks guys!

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I'm in the exact same situation as you, and although it's frustrating as hell, I'm still hopeful.

I've went for the option of mostly applying for things I have a lot of experience with, either with the lab techniques or the topic of the research projects. I was turned down for a place (funded) I was sure I would get because of my background knowledge because my grades weren't as good as other applicant's, which was massively disheartening, but having a 2:2 and a pass means you meet the minimum requirements (2:2 + masters = 2:1 equivalent as far as most of the big research councils are concerned), so hopefully it's possible to eventually get ahead of the competition in some way.

I have started considering ways to self-fund, but that's just me getting anxious after months of failure. Most supervisors know lab experience matter a lot more than grades.

The key definitely is talking to supervisors and letting them know how capable you are, and consider other funding options as I was foolish enough to assume I'd be able to get a studentship easily.

I'm PhD after 2:2 plus Masters. I needed a break after Masters and 5 years works experience also gave me a little extra to add weight to my PhD application.

From my blog:

http://www.wearthesis.talktalk.net/

6) So what qualifications do you need to be able to do a Ph.D.?

This varies from country to country, however, a normal level of qualification required is (assuming a scale where you need 3 points):

A first class or second class (first division) degree (1 or 2(i)) - for example, a B.Sc., B.A. or B.Eng. - this can be viewed as 4 points (for a first class degree) or 3 points (for a second class - first division degree) on the scale.

A second class, second division degree (2(ii)) may be acceptable, but funding may be difficult to obtain - this can be viewed as 2 points on the scale. A masters (M.Sc., M.A. or M.Eng.) will help by lifting you from 2(ii) to 2(i) equivalent level, moving you up from 2 to 3 points. A 2(ii) plus masters was my route.

A third class degree (3) is not normally enough (only 1 point) - a masters is definitely needed and a masters is extremely difficult to get onto with a third class degree.

But all is not lost. Relevant industrial experience can also give you a leg-up, with two years experience giving you 1 extra point and five years experience giving you 2 extra points. This allows for a rarer route via H.N.D. plus 5 years relevant industrial experience (which you'll need to get onto a Masters without a degree) + Masters (M.Phil. or M.Sc.), giving you 3 points without the need for a B.Sc. (Hons.) or equivalent.

Hope that makes things clearer. Note this is the British model.

Ian (Mackem_Beefy)

For the sake of giving anyone in this situation a little more hope, I was offered a fully funded (and funded better than the minimum btw) studentship to study at one of the best uni's in the country this week.

I didn't need to get work experiance and the subject isn't super-relevant to what I've done before, so never lose hope! Just apply for as much as you can (so long as it interests you!) and you'll get there!