is anyone out there a holder of a masters with distinction? what is a strong pass (60%, 65% or 69%) and does it prejudice your chances of getting funding? does a distinction guarantee funding? which of the degrees did you find easier? bachelor's, masters or PhD. i recently heard an oxbridge friend say that apparently the masters degree is the easiest of them all. is that true? it's driving me crazy.

sweetchic, you would be a Bachelor of Art/Science if you graduated from a college. after that, you can apply for Master if your study at college is OK or Doctor of Art/Science ( if ur study at college is Good and PhD course is for excellent ones (usu researchers having been working)

really? So, in theory you can become a PhD in the UK when you have only done BSc?
In the Netherlands the grade-system is totally different and I am still not sure if I can become a PhD (in the UK) being a BSc with 4 years of research technician experience...

When are you EXCELLENT?

just to make myself clearer? what does it take to get a distinction effort wise & what is a good pass? any UK students with an opinion?

for small black flower - in the UK most people move directly from BSc to PhD, I think only at Oxford & Cambridge you have to do a masters. And sweetchic - I didn't know masters were even graded like that? I thought a masters was a masters...

okay, a post in the postgrad life section says a distinction is "above 70% in half the assessments and also in the dissertion"

I am doing a Masters -assuming it would help get me PhD funding, but i hadnt even started the dissertation when i got offered a PhD funding - I think there are so many other more important issues when getting PhD funding (eg enthusiasm, passion, a good proposal etc)

to be more direct :) how many working hours does it take to get a distinction. for my field- social science- we do need a masters.

This is totally obsessive and pathetic. A masters is a failed PhD - if you want an academic career then only a doctorate degree matters, regardless of your masters grading.

Sweetchic - my boyfriend is doing a masters in social science and he is on for a distinction. He works about 9 hours a day, 7 days a week. A distinction doesnt guarntee funding for a phD, but it helps.
Matt - in social science a masters is necessary to do a phD and is not a failed phD. Maybe you should get your facts straight next time.

A few things to clear up here

To Matt: In rare cases people who are not considered good enough to receive a PhD are awarded an MPhil. This is the only occasion where your statement comes close to the truth. Most Masters courses have nothing to do with doing a PhD. A PhD is a training for being a researcher. In many subject areas where competition for places is high an MA or equivalent is required for entry as a PhD student.

To Sue: As sweetchic points out, outside of the sciences it is less common to start a PhD without a masters degree. Applications from overseas students to study a PhD in the UK usually require a masters degree.

To Amanda: Congratulations on the PhD offer. The fact that you are currently doing a Masters degree and references from your tutors will have helped get you the post as well as the examples you cite.

To Sweetchic: Pass or Distinction is usually all people will ever read. A distinction is usually 70% or above, a pass is usually 50-69%. You need to do consistently well to get a distinction (most scores over 65%). A distinction (or the prediction of one if you apply before you finish) will help you get accepted for a place and will probably help your funding application. It all depends on supply and demand - this varies from subject to subject. You should talk to your tutors about what you need to achieve to move on to a PhD in your area of interest. Good references are also important - performing well in your dissertation is usually the most important thing for these.

just to reiterate the point if you are a social scientist- a masters is imperative to start a PhD. even with a first class bachelors degree most universities will be reluctant to admit you. this is primary because with social sciences your supervisor assists you with your project, not like in sciences where you assist them. as a social scientist, you are in charge of the direction your thesis takes.

Matt, make sure you don't drop that ignorant line when you are speaking to a potential supervisor. A masters is a postgraduate degree in its own right. why do you think unis have them? to admit failures? basic common sense. you have a lot of work to do on your understanding of academic careers.

thanks Teresa. hope he makes it. am doing roughly the same hours. as for Amanda, congratulations, the rest of us have to sweat for it, more so if you are looking for funding for a social science PhD. am surprised that Matt is part of the FindaPhD team. wonder how he got there :). are there no interviews?

oh! am happy to learn that Matt isn't part of the FindaPhD team. what a relief!