‘Emergency masters’ at Cambridge is a thing…

[Emergencymasters]

DS is now final year of humanities degree at Cambridge. Doing well - high 2.1 and possibly a 1st. He has just announced that he wants to do an ‘emergency masters’. I had no clue what this is - apparently ‘emergency masters’ is commonplace slang at Camb for students staying on for an extra year coz they don’t want to leave (not coz they love their subject!)! All very well but we will have to fund. Happy to do this - will be a financial stretch though - as DS is living his best life at Camb but just wanted thoughts from wise MNs

If there’s any possibility that he might want to do a PhD later then getting a good masters now will make finding funding for that much more accessible (assuming similar subject). If he’s doing it for social life and hockey though… can you lend him the money or some of it rather than give it, to get him thinking about what comes next?

I thought that was the case. A couple of DD's friends have done masters at non RG universities. They were both full on, full time with no long holidays, for 12 months.

DD definitely wants to do a post grad masters, but wanted a break in full time education. Her work in a pharmacy is very relevant experience for what she wants to do (healthcare) and she is learning the hard way just how aggressive and horrible so many patients can be. The experience means that she very definitely knows what she doesn't want to do.

ContessKathleen you mentioned your matriculation year which was some while before Brexit, so I threw it in. Didn't realise you were an academic apologies. AHRC are rare as you say but the scholarships awarded internally are incredibly few and far between for a one year masters. Unless you're slam dunk for an impressive First you will probably have to self fund these days.

*Countess.

Could anyone tell me how to edit a post with the new edit function wherever it is? Thank you!

I think it’s crazy to do a masters for the hell of it.

And what would really annoy me is he’s not even thinking hard about it because he knows you’ll fund it for him.

He sounds very entitled, which is not a good trait.

If he doesn’t know what to do then I’d suggest he takes a year out and then goes back once he’s thought about it.

I have suggested to my DD to take a year out between college and uni because I think it’s important to have a break from education.

If your DS has been in education since school then this is perhaps the perfect time to have a break and decide what career he wants to pursue.

Masters are a lot of work and I think doing it because you can’t be arsed to get a job is going to make the course much more difficult than if he’s doing it because he really wants to.

I am not on the app.
I click on the 3 dots on the top right hand corner of my post and at the bottom it says edit post.

Yours may be different if you’re on the app though.

I have never heard of it being termed “an emergency masters” OP. But I was at Cambridge 20-odd years ago.

I guess the concept kind of makes sense but I think it would only be a good idea if you actually enjoy your subject and have a bit of a plan for afterwards!

Thanks Sunshinenrain!

I never use the app because it doesn't have the same functionality as using the browser on my phone.

God, MN has a lot to answer for in terms of usage of the the word "entitled".

DS would do a stand-alone MPhil btw. No option of a 4th year integrated Masters. And I am not stealth boasting FGS (what is the point of that on an anonymous forum!) - just giving context. Some people need to remove chips from shoulders!

Anyway, thanks for feedback and I am now aware that ‘emergency Masters’ are very widespread!

The people I know who got jobs wearing sports ties were not high performers eg they had a lower grade degree so it was unfair as it wasn’t relevant to their ability to do the job and meant many better qualified candidates (eg women) were overlooked. Not suggesting OP’s child is not a good candidate but sports and social connections have often been misused in my view. If it’s an extra thing showing leadership etc and you are otherwise well qualified for the job fair enough. But I’ve worked with a lot of people in law who got jobs through connections not on ability. But that said if you can get a Cambridge blue you probably should as there will be people impressed by that.

I doubt very much that DD would want to work anywhere that used the old boys method to gain employment.

I think getting a Blue is a big draw. On that alone I'd say go for it , you only have one life. Well done him. ( Your son sounds high achieving. )

As long as it can be paid for somehow ( not a given obviously ) Are there any scholarships that can be dug out associated with the Hockey Club?

Ah yes, doing a Masters to delay adulting is a v. common thing.

My husband did a Masters immediately after graduating from uni (it was pointless, I’m sure he’d admit now!). A friend of mine did TWO Masters degrees followed by a PhD, which was overkill 😅

I did a PhD because I couldn't get a job. It opened up doors that's for sure, but I'm not sure a masters does quite the same

OP DS3 did a stand alone MPhil at Cambridge after Oxford - he started in 2020 though so an unusual year. Seriously good teaching and he says he really enjoyed it despite Cambridge being incredibly quiet. He quite liked the lack of tourists I think, after his previous Oxford years where they were thick on the ground. Most people on his course seemed to have a First or equivalent (History).

I can't see how a conversation about participation in sport equates to recruiting by 'old boys method'. DS2's final interview at his Magic Circle firm certainly included a conversation about his old Oxford college and his sport and yes he got a place but then tbf to him he also had a First and is extremely good at interacting with people (which I think is what they were testing). So old boys method or selection on merit?

One can never be over-educated. Let him do it if you can afford it. Otherwise, tell him he can do it if he can finance it himself. Or suggest a Masters either part-time or by distance-learning (many reputable universities offer this)

I also interviewed at a Magic Circle firm (and got a place) way back in the 80's. But lacking anything old boyish to talk about at the final interview they opted for a chat about cockroaches and jazz. It makes absolute sense to have a general chat rather than fire questions at applicants which can easily be pre-rehearsed (eg why commercial law/ where do you see yourself in five years time - all that dull stuff).

DH did a PhD because it paid more than the job he was offered.
It definitely opened doors for him.

Again, back in the 80s (a prime old boy network decade), I remember very clearly that the barrister on the other side in a High Court hearing was wearing his old school tie, knowing the judge had attended the same school and house (our QC leant over to me and pointed it out and said look at that, what a load of bollocks - grammar school boy with a towering intellect and no need for old school ties). The judge came in, the opposing barrister and judge nodded to each other and the judge subsequently found in our favour :) The old boy thing didn't always work even back then if there was nothing meritorious with the old boy seeking preferential treatment and it certainly doesn't these days. if anything it needs to be handled with care. No need to get hung up on it.

I did this back in 1991, not a new thing. My grandparents funded me, bless them.
the masters didn’t really help with my career, I got married and was a SAH mum for a few years after university.

I would offer to give them upfront the amount of cash of the additional funding. Without strings. So effectively, they are spending their own money on their studies rather than your money. They may choose to spend THEIR money differently.

The danger here isn't 'over-educating' but you only get one shot at the postgraduate loan. Doing it now, solely to 'stay on' with no inkling of your future path wastes the money. Unless you have the means to fund further degrees independently.

I'm a software developer and interview/hire many career changers. A fair few have multiple Master's, the first one done just to delay getting a job and the second, to actually get a job (conversion MSc) Quite some regret there.