LivKa

Hi! I didn't accept my offer until last week and still got funding so I don't think it will affect your chances! Plus, they know people might accept but then not complete all their conditions because they don't get funding so accepting doesn't mean much at this point!

Has anyone heard anything for international Gates regarding social sciences?

Not specifically related to Gates, but has anyone been accepted to Gonville & Caius? Got my acceptance friday (first choice, took about a month after my first offer came) and curious to see if others might be heading there!

I am no expert as I am also in the process of applying to postgrad courses related to politics/democratization/social movement but I studied for undergrad in the US and looking to Oxbridge for Masters so I feel like I can give some perspective. In general, I agree with the poster above: getting a high GRE score is important, especially because if you are below a certain score/cut off, your application might not even be fully looked at. In terms of doing a masters beforehand, if you could get into Oxford or Cambridge it might help with getting further research experience/publications and maybe get connected by Oxbridge professors to potential PhD supervisors. I really do think that who you know will really help with admissions (especially if you have a prof that will really vouch for you. I had a professor at a US program basically offer me a place after I met them while doing research abroad and discussed my research with them! Also, in terms of going to a lower ranked school, it depends on what your aspirations are. If it's research, then it might not be a good idea. But if you would be ok with teaching at a liberal arts college in the US or less research intensive schools, it might not matter as much. Again, if you have a good supervisor that can help you with connecting with unis when you enter the job market, that could compensate with going to a lower ranked school. I am no expert so take this with a grain of salt! My experience is just talking to my professors at a well-ranked liberal arts college in the US. Best of luck!

Congrats on submitting the app: I feel like PhD apps are a lot more laborious than MPhils! I got my offer after about 6 weeks? It might vary from department to department though. The Centre of Development studies says it tries to make a decision or let you know that they deferred your app until after the final deadline within 8 weeks. I know other departments just look at applications after their final deadline has closed Good luck! I hope you get in and get funding!

I am also an international applicant (we're neighbours, I'm from northern Italy)! Got my offer for the MPhil in Development Studies last week Good luck with everything!

Hi I have an offer for the MPhil in Development Studies at Cambridge (UK), but still waiting to hear about financial aid! Also applied to African Studies at Cambridge and Oxford, and will probably apply for health and development at LSE.

Hi I am not an expert but as someone who successfully went through the process at a different school (Cambridge) I can tell you that it is a rather complicated one, at least at Cam, and maybe it is the same at King's. At Cam, applications have to be approved first by your departement, then by the degree committee and then be confirmed by the Graduate Admission Office so basically, it has to jump through three hoops before you get a response, which might be a reason why it's taking longer. Also, 4 weeks is not much... many people wait 8-10 so it's still pretty early! If they take a while it might be because they are unsure but it might also mean that they wait until the deadline to look at applications rather than do rolling. If you want to be sure of what stage your app is in, I would recommend you email the department to check with them when you might hear!

Hi! I recently got admitted to the Mphil in African Studies at Cam which is also a 9-month program and is affiliated with POLIS. A lot of masters are 9 months/1 year in Europe and are usually pretty academic aka for people hoping to pursue a PhD. I did my undergrad in the US but I am from Europe and the way it works at home is that you cannot get into a PhD straight from undergrad so you apply for a MA/Mphil and then to a 3 year PhD afterwards. Cambridge is an incredible school and is very competitive, especially if you are trying to get any sort of funding, just because along with Oxford it is considered one of the top unis in Europe (and the world!) Also, Cambridge terms are very short (around 8 weeks) and very intensive so you get a lot of information in a very short amount of time and are expected to work a lot independently (for some Mphils, you will only have 4/5 hours of contact hours per week, especially for social sciences). So in short, Oxbridge it's what you make of it! The professors are incredible and some of the best minds in the world will be there, but it is also very stressful and competitive from what I hear from current students, so just consider whether that is the type of environment you thrive in or not! Hope that helps!

Hi y'all I am a senior in college currently trying to decide where to apply for Masters in IR (development focus) and one of my professors recommended Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey. I have not heard much about it and I think part of the reason is because I go to school in the south east and Middlebury is on the West Coast. Does anyone have any insights about general reputation of the school/program, jobs opportunities after graduation etc. I'd like to work for an INGO or a think thank after graduation. I have experience in research and development work in Sub-Saharan Africa so that's what I am gravitating towards. Thank you!!

Hi everyone! I'm a rising senior and I am hoping to pursue a PhD in Political Science Fall 2020. I'm having a hard time trying to figure out where to apply so I was hoping some people here had wisdom to share! I'm interested in development as well as democracy/citizenship with a focus on Sub-Saharan Africa. How much are letters and experience worth over say, the GRE? Does anyone have any schools in mind? College: Top 50 liberal arts college GPA: 3.95 Class rank: top 4% (hoping for Phi Beta Kappa) Major GPA (Political Science): 4.03 // Minor in history and certificate in International Development GRE: Haven't taken it yet LOR: 3 Tenured professors (including advisor who I co-authored with) Awards: Phi Sigma Alpha, award for junior politics major, Omicron Delta Kappa, Newman Fellow (National civic engagement fellowship), Biehl Fellow (grant to conduct research abroad in the summer); Candidate for honors (my school is weird we have to do our thesis and get distinction in the comps for honors) Experience: co-authoring publication with tenured faculty on mental health policy in Africa (Co-Presented at ISA in Toronto); RA for 1 year (2 by the time I graduate) (NVivo and SPSS work for another publication); currently doing independent research in Ghana (interviewing civil society groups and Members of Parliament on gender-related bill) Internships: USAID program in Ghana; Johns Hopkins/Makerere University HIV/AIDS program in Kampala, Uganda; Philanthropy intern Languages: Italian (native), English (Fluent), French (working on it); Twi/Akan (very basic but I am working on this too..) Thank you so so much! PS: Have taken research methods (A) and statistics (B) but I have to admit maths is not my strength (although I'm not awful at it either!) SO any programs with a more qualitative methods focus would be great!