GPA of students in master's programs in the UK?

[boosa23]

Hello there all,

I am an undergraduate student from the USA and have a cumulative GPA of 3.27 (3.35 if I get A's in these last two courses I'm taking this semester) at a decent university. I want to move to London for my graduate studies but I have not even gotten close to choosing universities to apply to. My question is, will my GPA suffice in getting into a good graduate program in London? If any of you are studying in London, I'd like to know what your GPAs are so I can get a good figure. Also, do you recommend applying to many universities or just a few? My fear is that the universities I do apply to won't accept me and I'll be stuck with nothing, so I was leaning toward applying to many. By the way, I want to do my master's in international relations so I would appreciate any knowledge in regards to getting in to different IR programs at universities you all are familiar with and the average GPA's they accept (not what they put on their website but what the students have actually gotten accepted with.)

 

Thanks and much appreciated!

[istanbulnotconstantinople]

Hi,

I don't specialise in international relations at all, but I am British and did my MA in London. Generally speaking acceptance rates are pretty high as MA degrees are considered to be cash-cows for the universities (especially international students). That said places like Kings do specify the minimum GPA of 3.3 (so since you are very close I hope you swung the A's you needed to get over it). In the UK GPA's really are a minimum requirement and beyond that they tend to be more bothered about the reputation of the institution you did you undergraduate degree at and you academic ability.

In comparison to the US it seems that UK universities really want a focus on academia not on personal qualities and because undergraduates in the UK study only one specialism you probably need to really use your personal statement to explain why the variety of courses in your undergraduate is pertinent to the study of international relations (and possibly even puts you ahead of many other applicants from the UK who may have only done a degree in history or politics when you have - perhaps - studied both). So really, as long as you write a clear personal statement showing that you have the previous knowledge and desire to study the subject and have some decent references, you will stand a good chance of getting in. That said I would advise you to apply to a couple of universities to give yourself the best chance and give yourself some choice if you get into more than one.