Questions about Oxford MSc, and funded grad school deferral.. please help!

[PetitJacques]

I just found out that I've been accepted to the MSc program for Evidence Based Social Intervention for next year and I'm thrilled! However I'm an American with spotty knowledge of the Oxford or UK system. I have some questions that I can and will ask the department but in an effort to not seem quite so ignorant I thought maybe some of you here could help me too!

 

-  How long approximately does it take to hear from a college?

 

-  The program is listed at 12 months, but the 3 terms together (Michaelmas, Hilary, Trinity) go from October to June and add to 9 months. Is the extra 3 months for the thesis component? Will I be in Oxford from October to October? I need to know because of the next question...

 

My third question's a little separate - I've also been accepted to MPA programs at Cornell, Brown, Tufts, and UMass Amherst. I am considering going to Oxford (for the year long program) and then coming back to do a program here. The Oxford program will be a great education, a great name, and give me some real EBSI research skills, but since I know that I want to work in New England, probably at a non-profit or state government level, the non-profit management classes and local network that an American masters offers would also be really important. UMass Amherst offered me full tuition and a stipend. I'd like to defer them for a year, go to Oxford, and then attend UMass Amherst (so that I don't go further into debt by pursuing two degrees). How likely is such a deferral? Is it in my best interest to explain about Oxford to UMass?

 

Thanks!!!

[kabelo]

Hi there, I'm currently doing a MSc at Oxford. Moreover, a good friend of mine, from the US, currently attends the EBSI program.

 

- When exactly you will hear from the college depends on a few factors, including (1) to which of the multiple deadlines you applied, (2) whether you have been admitted to your college of preference, or whether they had to shuffle you around (which is the case for the majority of postgrads), and (3) the college that eventually admits you, as they all have different timetables. For example, I applied to the (last) deadline in March and first heard from my college in mid-April. Above-mentioned friend applied to an earlier deadline and already knew her college by late March.

 

- There are two kinds of Master's programs at Oxford: 9-month and 12-month programs. As you pointed out correctly, EBSI is designed for 12 months, but this does not mean you will do work until the end. The final months are reserved for writing and wrapping up your degree, unless you are in a 9-month program. For example, my own program officially terminates on Sep 31, but I can leave Oxford as soon as I submitted my dissertation. Thus, if you decide to come here, most probably there won't be any incompatibilities with your subsequent plans.

 

- I can't comment on the possibility to defer admission with UMass or the other programs, but one of my American classmates did defer a PhD offer at a US school to come here. As for the benefits of doing a MSc at Oxford, you are certainly right about the brand name of the university. I have to warn you, however, to not get too excited about an intensive and stimulating education awaiting you. My experience is that many, many postgraduate students (myself included) come to Oxford to be mildly to severely disappointed. This is partly based on unfairly high expectations due to said brand name, partly on actual shortcomings on part of the university. Examples include disorganized classes, undergraduate courses as part of the core curriculum, lack of supervision, and too few opportunities for specialization. To be sure, all this differs across programs, but I have heard such complaints from friends in a wide range of programs, including EBSI. NB: I refer to Master's programs; the majority of D.Phil. students seems quite happy.

 

That being said, I never regretted my decision to come here. The education you get is solid, I met many inspiring people, and Oxford is a really charming, lively city.

Edited March 17, 2013 by kabelo

[oopalfrootz]

Congratulations so much! I love kabelo's last sentence in their post. Oxford is a fantastic city to work in, full of opportunities - particularly if you are here for a short time. 

 

Remember, we are a little crazy here, so don't confuse the Oxford system with the system in the rest of the UK. Chances are, they are different. Email an admissions tutor if you have questions - they will be happy to help, I promise!