Hi, I'm going to graduate this summer and think I'll miss out a 1st by a fraction (B++ average on the modules that wil be used to class my degree). I've applied and been interviewed for 1+3 ESRC places in psychology/sociology departments and have been told by each one that my interview was excellent, my proposal really interesting but they prefered to give the place to a candidate with a 1st already in the bag - which makes me furious as if they'd decided that criterion in advance then why even invite me, get my hopes up, waste my money etc..

Consequently, I'm thinking about doing an MRes or similar ESRC approved masters and applying for +3 places. Will it be though that the lack of a 1st will doom me, however well I do on the masters? At 40 years old with a family, I both need funding and need to think long and hard before I blow another tranche of savings on possibly worthless education...

Any advice/opinion welcome.

Thank you, this is useful. A supplementary question, especially for camper6 is this. Suppose I take that MRes (I have an offer of a place) but still can't get onto a PhD - is an MRes any use for anything else employment wise? - or were all the people on yours intending to take a PhD? Right now, I'm applying for jobs as well - can't get onto a graduate training scheme as I'm too old/have a family and can't get much else as I'm 'overqualified' (OK< I have managed to secure a call centre job but that I imagine it'll kill me after 6 months).


Thanks again, Charlie

The difference between an MRes and an MSc in Dept of Computing at Lancaster is ONE module [about 12 taught hours] out of 6.

Thanks folks - I'm leaning more to the Mres then even if I get a 2:1