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Developing Qualifications after degree.

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Comments

  • Karnam
    Karnam Posts: 1,177 Forumite
    Maybe new universities can be brilliant but the gap between ex- poly and redbrick when you go to redbrick seems huge.

    i think you need to think more carefully about this. i go to a russell group university and city's journalism MA is looked at in awe by everyone.

    although for some expolys MA's exist for people who have inferior degrees and barely pass thier BAs, there are some which are considered the top in thier field.
    :A Boots Tart :A
  • studentphil
    studentphil Posts: 37,640 Forumite
    Karnam wrote:
    i think you need to think more carefully about this. i go to a russell group university and city's journalism MA is looked at in awe by everyone.

    although for some expolys MA's exist for people who have inferior degrees and barely pass thier BAs, there are some which are considered the top in thier field.

    I am not a barely pass sort. Plus my first degree maps very nicely onto what I want to do at MA level even though it is not the same.

    But more vocational diplomas/ PG Dip from the OU might do me more good at first
    :beer:
  • Karnam
    Karnam Posts: 1,177 Forumite
    im not questioning PG OU courses, but i do think that expoly's can shine at PG level where they can specialise and research and actually stand out from the 'traditional redbrick'
    :A Boots Tart :A
  • studentphil
    studentphil Posts: 37,640 Forumite
    Karnam wrote:
    im not questioning PG OU courses, but i do think that expoly's can shine at PG level where they can specialise and research and actually stand out from the 'traditional redbrick'

    There is certainly advantages in going to do Education, computing, Business at some Ex polys compared to redbricks as they have done them for years longer.
    :beer:
  • bandraoi
    bandraoi Posts: 1,261 Forumite
    studentphil, speaking as someone who has done a degree, worked for two years, gone back to do a masters and started work again since, the following comments stand out:

    1) You're vastly over-estimating the importance of a 1:1 degree, all a 1:1 degree will get you is a guaranteed interview for your first job, and maybe your second. THAT'S it. You will still get that interview if you have anything else interesting on your CV - eg heavy involvement/leadership role in a college club, an interesting highly relevant project/essay you've done.
    Once you're applying for your second job, what you've done in your first job, matters ten times more than any qualification. Once you actually get the interview it's all to play for, and a company will hire a 2:1 with a nice personality over a 1:1 who doesn't open their mouth every time.

    2) If it's academia you want to pursue then a 1:1 is slightly more of an advantage BUT it can easily be compensated for.
    For starters if you want to pursue an academic career, you should change university for your masters. It will help you build up contacts, and will open you up to ideas from other departments. Ideally, it should actually be abroad unless it's something like ancient English Literature.
    Secondly if you do want to pursue academia and a 1:1 is out of your reach, you can still pursue grants etc. but you've just got to make yourself stand out some other way. There are academic prizes on offer in all fields for final year work. Start applying for them, talk to your professors, really get to know them, see do they have any work you can do, build up a relationship. It's their friends and colleagues who are going to have research grants to give out, and it's their recommendation that will swing it.

    Don't focus on what you can't achieve, focus on what's out there to play for and you're a hell of alot more likely to win.
  • studentphil
    studentphil Posts: 37,640 Forumite
    I am not really certain as yet. A job at a university or in the private sector I am easy. I know I have a dream of a masters and someway I am going to get one regardless of what I get in my degree.
    :beer:
  • Just a note.. the only reason I got onto my 2:1 min-requirements MSc course (yes, at a Russel group uni) is because I went to see the Prof. who ran the course and explained my situation to him, I also got a letter written by my honours projected supervisor recommending me towards doing the masters.

    If you are in doubt of getting onto a course - do some digging, find out who runs it and talk to them personally
  • 3plus1
    3plus1 Posts: 821 Forumite
    If you're going into a specific field, and your university is known for its outstanding specific degree course tailored to putting students into that field, the right employers will recognise that, and hold you in a favourable light, even if your university is a former poly.

    If you apply for a graduate job where employers are looking for any degree at a 2:1 or above, then the name of the university matters more than the course itself, I think. Because they don't know or care about how well or badly your course was taught.
  • nearlyrich
    nearlyrich Posts: 13,698 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker Hung up my suit!
    Yes you do a job, but you might still want to learn and improve.

    I won't take offence at your implication that once you start work you cease to learn and improve,:p I have learned a lot from on the job training over the years and I am still learning and hopefully improving;)

    My progressive company allocate a generous training budget to each member of staff every year and it doesn't have to be directly related to the role that is held.

    People do get excellent jobs earning above the average wage without degrees let alone post grad study and another advantage is they don't have massive student loans to repay. ;)
    Free impartial debt advice from: National Debtline or Stepchange[/CENTER]
  • studentphil
    studentphil Posts: 37,640 Forumite
    I am not in a bad position as the OU do have a Masters that is roughly what I want, sadly it is not ideal, but I think that is probably the route I will go.
    :beer:
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