To ask about applying for niche Cambridge Masters

[Falalala3]

I’m seriously considering studying for a Masters at Cambridge.

My reasons for wanting to apply are:

• There is a topic I really want to explore for it that I’ve had in mind for a long time and which I find really interesting (although I never thought about studying for a Masters in it until a few days ago). Quite a niche area that’s potentially under-researched, and links with my degree subjects (languages)
• I also have a particular supervisor in mind who might be able to supervise my Masters (if I successfully applied, of course!) This supervisor supervised me for my final year dissertation during my languages degree at Cambridge, and throughout the dissertation, I felt very supported and got lots of confidence.

There are some things though that make me think I’d be silly to apply for a Masters:

• I don’t think my degree grade is high enough (I did a languages degree at Cambridge and graduated around 10 years ago, with an average grade of 65 - but the admissions criteria for the Cambridge course I’m interested in is a high 2.1. They will see a copy of my transcript, and the closest comparable module I did to this Masters was a final year dissertation in a vaguely similar topic, in which I got 67.
• I’m in my mid-thirties, work full-time and want to progress with that and also want to have a family soon; I feel like I’d be crazy to spend a year just doing a Masters
• I don’t live in Cambridge - and wonder if I’d have to move there for the Masters? Or if I could live in London (where I live currently) whilst doing the Masters?
• I would most likely have to fund myself for the Masters if successful, as I don’t think my grades are good enough to get funding
• i know it’ll be a pressured environment (although perhaps less pressured in some ways than undergrad?)
• Unsure if it makes more sense to apply for a part-time or full time Masters? I’m thinking I could support myself on a PT Masters by tutoring (which I already do) and perhaps by getting funding and a loan. My work may allow me to take 9 months’ sabbatical but unsure - it’s the Civil Service and they allow people to take sabbaticals of a few months but unsure if they’d grant this.

My current tentative plan is to spend the next couple of months working out my research proposal and what I would need to do in order to apply and perhaps emailing the supervisor I had in mind to see if they would consider supervising my thesis (but not sure if it’s too early to do that?)

And perhaps to canvas a few opinions from people who’ve done a Masters in that area at Cambridge to ask if it’s worth me applying (although I don’t know anyone in that position yet haha).

If all goes well, I’m considering applying this time next year (autumn 2026).

The whole thing of doing a Masters for no reason other than enjoyment feels quite self-indulgent to me, but it also really enthuses me. I could technically wait until I’m much older/retired, but a big draw is seeing if my dissertation supervisor could supervise me (potentially), and I doubt they’ll still be working in a few years’ time.

Is it worth a punt??

Try posting in university staff common room, someone on there will know.

Not sure about the logistics for you but wanted to say that I did a part-time MA about 10 years ago and it was one of the best things I’ve ever done. I did mine through DL rather than living nearby. I had young children at home at the time and (thanks to a wonderful, supportive DH) got to go and do weekend/weeklong residentials and totally immerse myself in workshops, the library etc.
I have a related PhD planned now and a supervisor who is keen to take me on but just can’t afford it.
Re. your degree result - remember that there has been enormous inflation of grades over the past 20 years with a much higher proportion of students getting Firsts and high 2.1s - this will probably be taken into account.
Go for it if you can!

@Falalala3 you may not be aware that MN has a whole dedicated Mature Study and Retraining board set up for just this sort of discussion?

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/mature_students

FWIW I did my first degree at Cambridge, proceeded to professional qualifications and career and then, decades later, studied for an MA in an entirely unrelated subject at a specialist institution in London that is notoriously hard to get into.

My MA was taught, so I wasn’t required to apply with a research proposal - just a common or garden personal statement, and a portfolio of relevant work in the subject.

Presumably you are looking at using a Government Postgraduate Loan if you have to pay for it yourself?

What’s the exact course you’re looking at - an MRes or MPhil presumably rather than an MA? The former MAY be eligible for a Masters loan, the latter are normally part of a PhD - is that the plan? London to Cambridge is commutable a couple of days a week which might be enough…

Yep, it’s an MPhil. And thanks all! I’ll repost in the other sections. I feel quite naive about grade inflation tbh - I honestly didn’t really think that happened so much at Oxford and Cambridge.