MSc Courses

MoneySavingUser

I have seen an MSc course that I am interested in

It is only offered in a few universities as it is a specialised course

I went to a Russell Group uni for undergrad - would it look bad to go to a lower ranked Uni for my MSc? or is it the subject matter and grade that is more important (especially as higher ranked uni's do a more general course)

Voyager2002

Depends what you want to do afterwards. If you have researched an employment field and know that the course you have chosen is highly regarded by employers and provides specific knowledge that they value highly, then go for it! If you simply want to make your CV stand out on applications for a range of different types of jobs, then look for an institution with greater "snob appeal" (although an MA / MSc rarely adds much value to a CV that lacks focus).

On the whole, course that aim to give you the practical skills that employers value are more likely to be provided by the former Polytechnics (non-traditional universities), while courses that aim to give you an academically rigorous grounding in a body of knowledge are best taken at institutions with a stronger academic tradition.

MoneySavingUser

Thanks - I think 'course that aim to give you the practical skills that employers value are more likely to be provided by the former Polytechnics' probably applies here

Char_pdc

I think the choice of uni should also depend on whether you wish to continue working in the same field that you get your msc in. If you do, then perhaps it would be better to look at unis that are known and well respected for this subject. This is not necessarily always the russel group unis.

However if you are just doing it for job prospects then as already mentioned look at the course content and what possible employers want.