To think they should do something

[Singyourheartout]

I am a student doing a masters.
It’s the first year for this master and it is not going well. Lectures going AWOL. Not given proper information or adequate notes or help. Lecture expecting us to be psychic in there expectation. Ect.
Now while a masters is hard and is significantly more work and we need to go above and beyond.
We have recently got some our work yet an no one got more that 58 which is a pass. This is quite low especially when most people where in the region of 70s/80s in undergrad. Oblivious i don’t expect to get those sort of marks at masters level but it is ridiculous.
We had a massive meeting with lectures and got a telling off for not doing well and not meeting expectation of master students.
We have tried to complain and are met with defensive comments and very intimated lectures.
Obviously there is something wrong with the course of no one is getting above a pass. But they seem to be laying the fault squarely ar our door. Most people want to drop out and put there money left towards another degree. But for me and a few other people I can’t. Without the loan I get from student finance I couldn’t pay the contract accommodation payment even if I got a job.
I was hoping to do a doctorate but it looks without a masters I cannot do that and the whole experience is making me not want to do it at all.
I am so stuck and wondering why the uni won’t do anything.
Is there anything the wise mum of mumsnet can suggest ?

The use of English in your post shows why you probably aren't getting the grades that you hoped for. Study at Masters level is advanced - if you don't have a good grasp of English then you aren't going to achieve higher grades.

Flounce what you say is very true. It's not right but I've came across students whose grasp of English is horrendous - they will indeed let anyone in as it's a numbers game.

Genever you are so right. I'm an academic and it's getting worse all the time. The changes I've seen between getting my PhD in 2012 and now have been unbelievable. I'm all for supporting students and helping them to learn ( and I have all the time in the world for students who really want to learn) but the spoon feeding is getting to the point where degrees are becoming completely devalued.

Point is they are clients now.
Spending huge amounts of money.

People spending 30k to do a masters as an international student will expect a fucking lot.

I feel sorry for academics in one way, but then I think they've had a bit of a cushty ride over the last 50 years. Many academics I know ended up teaching, mainly so that they could continue their own research and that dealing with students is a bit of a chore for them.

With the onset of consumerism you have very high expectations of the teachers and courses.

Perhaps beside the point - but here's an email from a final year student I've just received -

Hey,
So the feedback four the first assignment submitted on 23/12 isn't here yet. My peers are concerned this doesn't give enough time to prepare for the exam in feb. Can you let me know what's Happening
Cheers
Sent from my iphone

We have a 3 week feedback policy and that excludes the Christmas closure by the way. Banging head on my desk.

@ontheedge99 How the hell did that person get a place?

This is a reputed, Research-led, University at that. Selective - excellent grades etc. I cannot believe how they address emails this way.

The point is
When you pay casts amount of money, you have a sense of entitlement

Like going into Tesco and having a go at some shop floor worker because they don't have the brand of beans you like. Total sense of entitlement.

Vast!!!
Clearly I wouldn't get on the course!

...their expectation

etc

genever

Op says in another thread that she wants to do a PhD in English literature specifically.

Her use of the English language is nowhere near the level that would be needed for a decent first degree in English, let alone a Master's or PhD.

It's not about sloppy typing - we all do that online - but many, many wrongly used words and a lack of clarity. 'very intimated lectures'? 'there' for 'their'?

I don't see anything in any of her threads to suggest that English isn't her first language; she certainly uses a lot of idioms that I wouldn't expect from a non-native speaker, such as 'above and beyond', 'lay the blame squarely', 'going AWOL', etc. I've helped foreign students to rewrite their dissertations (generally in science subjects where the use of language is less crucial) and I wouldn't expect to see that kind of easy use of idiom.

I agree. I hope this is not what it seems or proper standards have clearly been abandoned.

Student doing English MA has poor command of written word, student gets slightly shit grade, student writes about it on Mumsnet - in barely passable English.

Do you see why we’ve got slightly raised eyebrows about this OP?

Erm...

I despair! It's usually regarded as pedantic when people comment on the literacy skills of posters, but surely someone undertaking a Masters degree should have a grasp of the basic English language, particularly if the proposed degree is in English Literature.

There is little value in a degree, if this is the standard and apparent effort put into the course. Is it really now about who has the money to pay and little to do with ability, effort and attainment.

OP I’m sorry, but it’s really not the university who are at fault for your low English marks - you seem to have poor use of the English language and will struggle if you don’t have the grounding needed to communicate fluently in your chosen subject.

@ontheedge99 I more than sympathise!

OP - does your university have a study skills/writing department (often found within the library or ask at student services) who could perhaps help you with English skills?