Will being a young mum affect my application for postgraduate study at Oxford?

[mummynoo]

I am 26 and my daughter is 4.

Since having had my daughter I have been studying with the Open University full time for a BSc in Mathematics and Statistics. I am now in my third year and the predicted grade of my degree is a 1st. I also have various Microsoft qualifications (In the field of computer programming) and CIMA Accounting qualifications. (All of which I have completed during the last four years)

I would like to apply to study the Postgraduate Diploma in Mathematical Finance at Oxford.

However, I am afraid that the following factors will have a negative effect on my application:I have no A-Levels, I am long-term unemployed and from an ethnic minority background also, I am a single mum. (Not your average Oxford candidate)

I feel that I ought to negate to mention some of the above factors although I won't be able to hide my lack of A-Levels.

I was wondering if anyone had any experience of the postgraduate admissions process and whether my situation will affect my application?

(My daughter is in school full time and I have an extremely supportive family so childcare provision is not an issue)

Thanks in advance for any feedback

I would pick your college carefully. Many will welcome you with open arms, others might be more traditional. Is it possible to go and meet some of the tutors and get a feel for how welcoming they will be? IME Oxford tutors can be very open minded and supportive of unusual situations, but often people are put off applying because they think they won't be.

Well done on your predicted first and all of your hard work!

I agree with Saintly that you should research and select your college very carefully (presumably it would be one of the grad colleges?) There are a few colleges which are postgrad only.

However, none of things you describe should be a barrier to further study. If you are keen, can demonstrate that you know what you are getting into (financially, academically, as a parent etc) then you will certainly be considered as a candidate. You should look at your situation as having the motivation to gain higher education qualifications on top of the responsibilities of being a single mum (no mean feat - and much harder than undergrads like myself who drift along through the school system and then go to uni at 18).

Be open and honest. You are clearly very motivated and smart and you deserve the opportunity to apply. Believe in yourself!

Definitely pick your college carefully. They differ immensely!

I agree with others and certainly suggest you pick your college wisely. Wolfson College would be defnitley on my list in your position. It has its own nursery although other people in the university can use it.

I can't see any of the things you mention being a barrier to be honest on the contrary I think the colleges will be very impressed with what you have achieved so far. To me the biggest issue will be finance, post graduate courses are expensive and you need to find out what help they can offer you. I agree that wolfson would be a good place to start.
good luck

Mummynoo, the criteria for selection are focused solely on your academic achievement and potential. Your child and your ethnic background won't matter a jot.

So the A-levels may be an issue, but the OU qualification should more than compensate for them, I would guess. Lots of postgrads (and some undergrads too) come non-conventional routes to Oxford, it's very far from being all people who have done A-levels, done an undergraduate degree and gone on to further study.

I guess it may be of interest to people what you did when you were 'long-term unemployed' - because it might tell them something about your drive, self-motivation, etc. (I can certainly imagine asking someone applying for an undergraduate place what they had been doing if they had taken a few years off.) If you were studying, or raising your daughter, I think that that would be considered a very beneficial way to have spent your time!

There are grad-only colleges, but the colleges which accept undergraduates also take grads. But for post-grad study you usually apply in the first instance to the relevant Faculty I think - check on the website for your particular course (I am in a very different subject so I don't know the details). You would probably be best off thinking about choice of college once you have been accepted for the course - then, things like accommodation might come into play in your decision.

Thank you all so much for your advice; I shall certainly apply to the course that I am interested in first, and then see what happens.

P.S- During the period that I described myself as being "Long-term unemployed" I have been raising my daughter and studying.

Also; I have considered applying for a career development loan as a means of funding my postgraduate study, if I am offered a place.

Does it have to be Oxford? Lucy Cavendish College at Cambridge was set up for people just like you.

I agree choose college carefully. Also, if you can, go to an Open Day and talk to people there. They can probably point you in the direction of some very targeted advice, and there will be many many people who will want to help you get you the information you need.

None of the things you mention should be a problem at all provided you have the academic ability and enthusiasm for the subject. On a practical point though enerally for postgrad courses at oxford they expect you to have the funding in place before they offer you a place (when my dh was involved in approving applications he would usually insist on bank statements proving the money was there, some colleges are less particular but will generally need you to show you have funding in place). The costs are pretty high as there are usually college fees as well as course fees and unless you live in oxford already (so will know!) living costs are very high and unless you get a dispensation you have to live within a certain distance of the centre of the city (it's 5miles for undergrads can't remember for postgrads)

I don't mean to put you off, oxford is a fantastic place to study Also you won't be unusual in not having had a job, many postgrads there have only ever studied! Though for that particular course you are more likely to get people who are taking a career break to do it.

In terms of colleges definitely look at some of the postgrad only ones and also the colleges that used to be women only (e.g. LMH, St Annes, St Hughs) can sometimes be more friendly/welcoming than some of the more "traditional colleges" (e.g. Oriel, Merton etc)

Postgrad residency limit is something like 25 miles.

To balance lindsell, I would say that Merton has a very large postgrad population (unusual among colleges in this regard). I was at Merton and they did actually work hard to try to help students with a non-traditional background.

The older colleges have a lot more money than the newer and former women's colleges, so they can sometimes be more practical help e.g. with housing.

If you are good (and you sound to be) then someone will want the challenge of making it work for you.

In response to exexpat: I would consider Cambridge, but my family live relatively close to Oxford, and so are more able to help me with childcare arrangements during out-of-school hours.

Thanks Lindsell: I shall definitely find a reliable means of funding before I apply. (I might try and get an office job for the next year or so and save as I earn).

The postgraduate residency limit is also something that I was unaware of and which needs consideration.

lots to think about