I am studying biochemistry, I am an undergraduate in bristol uni. I did very well in my first yr but it seems I did very bad at 2nd yr. I got 4 majoy exams and 3 of them are 59, 1 of them is 66. It seems I got 2:2 for exam result, and I dont know whether my tutor will predict me a 2:1 for final yr. If I got 2:2 finally, does that mean I have to find a master to do? then doing a PhD? If I use this exam result to apply PhD directly, it seems difficult and impossible to get funding right? I am an international student and I wish to hv funding for postgrad studies. It seems difficult, I hope u can give me suggestions. BTW, I will do a placement at GSK next yr. Thx

If you are talking about some kind of UK based studentship, then I would suggest [based on my readings on here] that yes it would be difficult/impossible with a 2.2. I would think you would need a 1st [you would in my field].

thx yes, as i said i am studying in bristol university, but is it hard to get funding for master degree? or is it possible to transfer to a PhD? thx for answering

I'm not experienced in your field but I imagine getting funding for masters study is equally hard [if not harder]. Universities see foreign students as revenue stream re these courses, as opposed to case for funding. To be honest, you are really going to struggle with that poor degree grade. Realistically, you should look to funding from your own country.

Yeh, dizue, even for international students with a first class, we seem to only get an ORS fee-waiver. Funding for overseas students is extremely hard in the UK. Better to do it in the US with a brilliant master's degree in your case although it is not necessary at all for the US PhD application. Also talk to potential supervisors and see what they suggest.

hi sourapple, thanks for ur opinions. I am preparing for GRE test, hopefully my tutor will predict me a 2.1 degree.
I cried for 2 days, coz it was the biggest disaster in my life, I got 81 in my first yr and an industry placement. It seems all the universities and companies care about the exam results, plus personal abilities and references. I doubt my abilities now becuase of my poor writing skills. I hope I can improve it and minimize the bad outcome asap. My tutor suggested me to do PhD in UK, coz he said 3 yrs' system in UK is better than US. But actually for longer benefit and esp for international students, funding is the most important part.
I m just wondering if any of u could suggest me some reasonable US universities for biochemistry and molecular biology.

Cheers

hi dizue, I am thinking of taking a GRE test as well coz I think the UK academic world simply does not favour overseas students, unless you are rich enough to pay the full fee. Any ideas on how to enroll for the exam? Maybe we can swap GRE test materials as well.

hi sourapple, r u in UK? I am actually a Chinese student and I bought some GRE materials in China[they r mixture of Chinese and English], I m afraid they r useful to u.

and for the exam, i m just gathering materials. I soooo upset these days, so perhaps next steps will be taken when I go back to bristol. Perhaps we can talk on MSN. my email jody_ye@hotmail.com

Hey Dizue, I don't think I can solve your problems for you but you can't let this get you down. Bristol is a very highly ranked UK University so therefore any degree is worth having from them. You cannot start doubting your abilities just yet - There are plenty of opportunities out there. If you want to do a Masters degree then go for it - but it is expensive and funding is pretty doubtful. You could do it part-time and work alongside it which is what I have done (and I'm a UK student struggling to afford tuition fees!).

Stay positive and stay motivated. If you can get exceptional results like 81 - you are obviously very capable!

hi, EH304, thank you very much for your suggestion. I dont know yet whether I will do a master, but I contacted my personal tutor before. He suggested me to do (have to do)very well in my industry placement and to be appreciated by my supervisor there. However, since I realised that 1st yr was actually very easy, more and more problems appear in the following yrs, I hv to make improvement a lot. esp my English writing skill. No matter what result I will get at last, I will try my best.
Nothing will let me get down forward, I hope I can achieve my destiny. Thank you again!