Hi, thanks for your response. I should probably mention that I would be applying for scholarships, as I can't afford to self-fund out of the pocket.

What factors were most important to you when you assessed students for entry to a PhD?

I'm considering applying to Oxford and/or Cambridge for my master's, and I was wondering if anyone knows the types of averages successful UK applicants to master's degrees tend to have? I have been told that the most important part of a master's application is grades, so I'm wondering how well I need to do in my degree in order to stand a good chance. I'm aware that most accepted applicants have firsts, but presumably a considerable number of applicants with firsts don't get in. So I'm wondering if successful applicants tend to have mid or high firsts.

I'm specifically interested in the sorts of marks applicants with undergraduate degrees in Sociology have, as Sociology is the degree I'm doing and it appears to be more common to get grades for example in the 80s in subjects such as Mathematics. I'm interested in applying to study a master's in Sociology or a similar subject.

Thanks in advance.