I just finished my Master degree in the UK with average grades/pass/2.2. Also, on the diploma it says I have permission to further study a doctorate degree? I am not originally from the UK. I have always wanted to do a PHD. I was thinking about going to Germany because it is cheaper and I wanted to continue learning German ( I took German to fullfill requirements in the USA/BA of Arts). Is it possible of getting admitted to a PHD program in Germany with a 2.2 result? My bachelors degree is from the USA and a 3.0 . My course of study is in social science.

However, if I cannot get admitted into a German University, have other UK students with a 2.2 result got accepted to other universities in Europe?

Minus my average grades, I was very active in my univerisity (USA) and in the social science department. I also have a close relationship with professors at my univeristy (USA).

I got onto an EPSRC funded PhD with 2(ii) and Masters (actually, two Masters) in the UK.

I would not worry too much about your degree grade if you are accepted. I'd say a practical aptitude and the knack of being able to spot detail that stand out in the data or physical specimens is more important, as is the ability to write in a succinct style that means any new findings stand out and are shown to be properly scrutinised with respect to existing knowledge in your field.

I had a tendency to freeze up in exams that did not help me during my first degree, however, good practical skills and ability to handle experimental work meant PhD was within my abilities, sucesfully concluded what seems quite a while ago.

Translated, if you really want to do a PhD go for it. An enthusiastic 2(ii) who is willing to give it a go is probably more likely to succeed than an unmotivated 1st at PhD.

Ian (Mackem_Beefy)

All the German doctoral programmes I know of, require you to have completed a Masters with the equivalent of a merit or 2:1 (ECTS grade B / German grade 2.0) to be considered for entry, so it might be difficult. I'm sure you will find somewhere in Europe that has open entry, but then there will probably be no funding. And honestly is this going to help at all with a future career? A PhD in the social sciences is not something that is particularly valued by non-academic employers, and academic employers look for impeccable academic track records for subject areas like the social sciences, which turn out way more PhDs than there are jobs.