Doing a masters with a 2:2 at undergraduate level

[jumpingjack5555]

Hi just looking for a bit of advice

DS 21 has just completed his third year on his undergraduate course, he has not got his degree classification yet but it looks very likely he will get a 2:2. He has applied for a masters which has a requirement of a 2:2 to be able to go on to the course. DS has been wondering whether a masters is the right thing to be doing with a 2:2 degree, he has said that he always would have thought you needed a 2:1 to get on to a masters but the requirement for his masters that he is applying for is definitely a 2:2. However DS also feels that if they accept him on to the course then surely they must think he is capable of taking on the degree otherwise they wouldn't accept him if they thought he would fail.

Does anyone have any insight and know if there DC's have gone on to do a masters with a 2:2 in their undergraduate degree and how it turned out?

Above posters make a good point about figuring out it's definitely what he wants to do before putting all his eggs in one basket.

My parents were very supportive of my degrees, and although I loved the subject, I'd already figured out by the end of my masters that it wasn't something I could or would want to make a career in. I'd have been much better off getting some real world experience for a couple of years. Speaking to other friends from uni, a lot of us are in the same boat and retrained after graduating. 21 is still so young to figure out what you want to do for the rest of your life, especially if you haven't got much work experience. I'm assuming from the course he'd like to go into teaching? Could he have a look at TA positions (or even volunteering) to see if he's sure it's what he wants to do before taking the leap?

Incidentally I'm now doing an apprenticeship in a subject nothing to do with my degrees, and although at 30 I'm finally on the right path I'm kicking myself for choosing the wrong subject before!

@jumpingjack5555

To be honest I think DS is a bit scared of doing a PGCE, he’s been doing some research and found people online were saying their PGCE was the most stressful year of their life and and there were moments when they were crying all the time. But obviously people will have different experiences and of course I’d imagine a PGCE is not easy but some people may have a better experience than others.

This doesn’t bode well. A master’s is extremely intense and is an absolute waste of money unless you’re planning to work really hard and get a strong grade.

His grades from previous years were not particularly promising either—in terms of being 2:1s and 2:2s across the board—is an academic route definitely for him? I’m not sure a policy or research role is right for him, if he isi writing essays to a low 2:1 standard then that’s not going to cut it.

If he has a 2:2 then he needs to be looking at his future plans in terms of how to compensate for that. Unless he plans on getting a really strong grade and has some extenuating circumstances he’ll find standard grad jobs, policy roles, etc. to be really hard to get into.

Which uni did he go to and where is looking at a master’s? Many universities will let virtually anyone onto a master’s with little interest in whether they’ll make it or not. Many of those types of master’s are virtually worthless.

DS went to Sheffield Hallam Uni and his masters would be at the same Uni

@Smurfsarethefuture

I don’t agree *@Babbly*

people bring a portfolio of experience, personality, background and qualifications to a role - many senior staff have no degrees/lower grades - it was a very different climate in the past.

I have no idea what part you're disagreeing with because you've then gone on to agree with me entirely..... I explicitly said "nowadays" - clearly it was a different climate in the past and senior staff graduated in a different time. I explicitly said I was talking about NOW, which is the time that OP's son is graduating in. I also explicitly said "unless you could demonstrate something seriously special elsewhere in your application". So, that "something special" would be that experience, personality, background and qualifications you mentioned...

I have a Master's degree from a Russell Group and have worked at a different one as an academic, my 2p:

• A 2.2 is not necessarily an issue, but I'd say it depends on why he's on track for getting a 2.2 and why he wants to do a Master. Some students have very specific interests but find it difficult to enthusise themselves for anything not directly related to their interests. A Masters degree can be a great choice for these students. If on the other hand, there's no clear reason for his 2.2 except that his analytical & writing skills are just not that strong, then it's much more questionable whether a Masters degree is the right choice.

• If he just wants another bit of paper to his name/something to do/something that might help him get a job, then a Masters degree can be a suitable option, but is it worth the money? Ideally I'd advise students to work for a year or several years and then do a Masters. The problem is of course finding a relevant/interesting job during this period.

• My DH has a PhD in education, but not a PGCE. He finds that there are quite a few jobs that are not open to him because he's not a qualified teacher. Your DS risks running into the same problem if he wants to stay in the education field - even if not as a teacher.

As a side note it does make me that education policy can be made up of people that are too afraid of training to be a teacher as it’s too much like hard work ....

I haven’t read all the response but will say this.

I was at uni in the 90’s and at that time told that I would be one of the last groups to do just an undergrad and as time progresses masters would be more common. I laughed.

I got a 2:2 in my undergrad.

I went on to do 2 post grad diplomas and a masters!!! Most people in my profession will joe do a masters to get professional membership.

I did way better in my masters (part time as a mature student, paid for by work) than I did in my undergrad (vodka had a lot to answer for!).

My masters is in a specialist field that is about to get in much higher demand because of changes the government are making. You couldn’t do this specialism as an undergrad.

So it very much depends on what long term ambitions are and whether a masters is required

I'd say as long as he is accepted to do the masters, and studies, better to try and see how it goes, rather than not try at all.

It sounds like he’s clinging to education research and to the environment he is familiar with as a way to avoid actually teaching. In this climate I’d be looking into a master’s or diploma in online learning design. This will be an area of huge growth, unlike educational research. I’d also try to go abroad or at least change unis to broaden his experience.

I am not intending to insult anyone - we all find our level in life

I think you did intend to insult actually. Either way, you did.

Based on your update, this seems like a "I don't know what to do so I'll do this" approach - which was exactly what I was going to do after my undergrad - parents totally had my number and said they weren't going to pay for the masters so I got a grad scheme job instead and actually it was a good thing as I was just deferring real life. Still didn't know what I wanted to do but at least I was getting paid to have existential dread. I see the value of a masters as either deepening knowledge of an existing field that you're committed to, or setting a slightly different course/ jumping the tracks once you've had some experience.

Would he consider something like the JET scheme as a possibly gentler introduction to the classroom? Possibly not the best time with covid but...

it's very common - not necessarily worthwhile. If they'll accept you with a 2:2 then I'd doubt it's very reputable. Largely just a money making scheme that won't benefit him in the long run.

It very much depends on the Masters! I run a Masters degree in an education related subject with professional accreditation and we will accept people with relevant experience and no degree ( although a degree is preferred) - we have 100% graduate employability.

I have a 2.2 and a distinction in my MA in a related field. My BA was a hard, unhappy time, whereas my MA was an absolute joy. I think it's a perfectly sensible thing for him to do, though he is an adult and presumably he will be accumulating the debt, so it's really a choice he should be making for himself.

My DS’s friend did - he coped perfectly well at Masters level as he seemed to mature during the year.

Depends what the masters is in. My undergraduate degree was chemistry and I was truly shit at it, didn’t even get the honours, just a pass degree. Then I did a masters in computing and absolutely aced it, top marks on everything.

I got onto a masters course with a predicted 2:2 (although did in the end manage to scrape a 2:1). As pp. are saying it really depends on his reasons for getting the 2:2 and wanting to do the masters. I had a really tough time personally in 2nd year and just about passed but in 3rd year I got a mixture of 1st and high 2:1 scores so my tutor wrote a letter to the MA admissions tutor with a copy of my transcript explaining the predicted grade the computer had calculated was not reflective of my ability and they agreed to take me if I ended up with a 2:2 provided my dissertation was given a 1st.
But why is he doing it? does he want to specialize in a specific area? if so great let him go for it. Does he want to study an broader masters to figure out exactly what he wants to do? Sure its more debt but its what I did and it was invaluable in terms of growing up and focusing on a career path. Does he just want to waste time and live the student lifestyle an extra year? if so he'd be better of with a part time job

Have done masters with a 2:2 in my bachelors. No problems. My enthusiasm and killer wit got me through with no issues

Thanks for all your replies

DS is not someone who would want a party lifestyle, he has lived at home throughout his whole undergrad degree, he doesn't drink and never has drank and in fact has never been in a nightclub before. He would go to the pub or the student bar after lectures with mates on his course but that was as far as socialising he did at uni.

Do you think he wants to do a master's because it's less scary than getting a job? He wouldn't be the first, it can actually work out well and it boosts confidence in those who need it, but only if he picks the right course.

If he wants to study for another year AND he doesn't want to be a teacher despite having a first degree in education, is he sure education is still the right path for him? It would be a good opportunity to look for a master's that's more of a "conversion course" to another specialism. Maybe one with a skills shortage or a big growth area such as data science.

Hi OP. I’m currently studying education studies (at an aforementioned worthless university that, nevertheless, is top 5 in the country for education degrees but I digress). I wouldn’t advise a master with a 2:2. I’m on track for a 1st, but I could get a 2:1 without much effort at all. If he struggled so much at undergrad a masters would be really difficult, particularly an education one, unless he’s looking at Ed Phil? Even then I’d be cautious. The most sensible thing to do would be to seize the PGCE with both hands and be grateful for a guaranteed career tbh.

I do think people should take time out between doing an undergrad and perhaps doing a Master's.

I'm glad I did. I worked for years prior to my MSc which helped me decide what I wanted to domand continued to work full time throughout my degree. It also allowed me to reference my work experience in my personal statement when applying to the university, thus strengthening my application. I was much more interested in my MSc subject, coupled with my work experience to draw on and thankfully more examined assignments which I excel at, got a higher degree classification at MSc level than I did for my Undergrad.

@jumpingjack5555

Thanks for all your replies

DS is not someone who would want a party lifestyle, he has lived at home throughout his whole undergrad degree, he doesn't drink and never has drank and in fact has never been in a nightclub before. He would go to the pub or the student bar after lectures with mates on his course but that was as far as socialising he did at uni.

He sounds like a sweetheart. Does he have any additional needs OP? It sounds like the quiet life of a stable job where he gets to spend time with colleagues is ideal for him, teaching seems great? Has he ever done any TA shadowing?

@Flowers500 He has dyspraxia which he was diagnosed with when he was very young but he forgets he has it most of the time and has never disclosed to uni he has it.