Graduate school abroad.

[PhoenixAzul]

Has anyone gone to postgrad school outside the US/Canada? I've just put in applications to a few universities in the UK. Since coming back from Belfast, I've found myself desperately missing the UK, and feeling like I don't really belong in the states anymore. Sooo...applying for graduate school and a marshall scholarship and seeing what happens. Interestingly enough, the cost is about the same as going to an American grad school, weird. Any advice?

[tunatartare]

What are you going to grad school for? I would first check to see that your degree and license will transfer over to the U.S. It is possible that a British degree or license in a certain profession won't count for anything in America and you would have to retake certain tests/classes to get certified. Of course, if you're planning on moving there for good after grad school, then that wouldn't matter.

[PhoenixAzul]

I'm applying for an MLitt in History of Art: Collecting and Collections (curation, basically) and for an MSc in History of Art: History, Theory and Display (again, curation basically) at 2 different universities in Scotland. I've applied independently, but I've also applied through the Marshall Scholarship (just for the craic basically, because it's super hard to get one!). The ultimate plan is to earn British citizenship. I don't particularly want to surrender my US passport, simply because I may need to come home to settle estates or worse, bury my relatives. I've got to do some reading on the standards for double citizenship.

[ShyViolet]

Indeed - I did my MLitt in Scotland, and stayed on to do my PhD. I'm hoping to find a job in the UK after I graduate, primarily because the collections of art in the UK (in my field) are of a far higher calibre than those in the US/Canada, and I just prefer living in the UK.

KLPDaisy makes a good point, depending on the type of postgraduate study you want to do there may be difficulties in converting back to the US system or deciding which degree you do here. Though most of the time it's straightforward, my MLitt is similar to an MA (because MAs in Scotland are undergrad degrees), for example and an MPhil is between an MLitt and PhD. A PhD is a PhD wherever you go. There are many more types of Masters degrees here (MSt, MA, MLitt, MPhil, etc). If you're doing something more specialised though, like law or medicine (both of which you start as an undergrad), you should check out what the conversion process entails - it's not impossible, I know a few people who have been trained here with the expectation to work here for awhile and then go back.

It's cheaper for me to do my PhD here than in the states because they expect you to finish in three years (rather than five or seven), and often a masters degree takes 1 year (with the exception of the MPhil). None of this coursework rubbish at PhD level, you must have that before you start. I prefer the system here, it's much more self-directed (at every level - undergrad, postgrad masters and doctoral) and they will assume you've got the requisite knowledge, coursework and languages (though sometimes you can get additional tuition for this) to complete your degree. As far as what to expect from coursework/marking, it's dependent on the university. But I will say generally it's more in-depth (rather than the broad approach north american unis take) and to get high marks or distinction you're expected to contribute original, or thought-provoking research.

Another rather general advantage to doing postgraduate work in the UK is the access to resources. Even if you're in Belfast or Glasgow or Aberystwyth, London really isn't that far away, and for that matter neither is the continent.

Where did you apply? And for what degree? If you have any questions about the application process (even you you mentioned you already sent a couple in), interviews, funding, the structure of various degrees, etc., just ask. More than happy to help!

Best of luck,
Laura

ps - Belfast is lovely! I was there this April for the Oireachtas Rince na Cruinne (World Irish Dancing Championships) at the Waterfront Hall, hehe thousands of dancers invading Belfast, good times.

[VandalSquirrel]

My best friend/college roommate did her graduate degree in the UK and is now teaching undergraduate classes for a public school. She went to school is Wales though, and that particular University has a lot of foreign students so I think it is pretty common and a well accepted degree outside of Wales.

[speedsters]

i'm actually looking at going back to University College Cork, in Cork,Ireland. i studied there for a semester last fall and there is nowhere else i would rather be. i love their new masters program for history - the history of the irish diaspora and settlement. so i would be getting my MA in history in the topic i love, so much better that what i'm looking at here, and also more than half the cost (11,000 euros for a year's tutition) compared to some of the schools i've looked at here which are at least 30,000 for 2 years plus living in new york city or boston.

i'm working now on my undergraduate thesis on the impact of domestic service on irish women from 1870-1930 and how it lead to their assimilation into american society... so with this masters program i can continue to work on irish domestics. and even though i'm american history with an emphasis on irish america and women's history this works perfectly because the masters program on the irish diaspora. i started doing a mitchell for ireland, but i just dont have enough time to get it all in with a strong enough proposal to think i would get one.

but yay for grad school abroad

[PhoenixAzul]

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUUUGH! I just got an email saying my support letters were received and now I just have to send my in progress transcript and they'll make a conditional offer!! AAAAAAAAUGH. I could know within like 3 weeks. I think I'm going to develop an ulcer until that time. I'm super super freaked out. I could really use some positive vibes. I really think I've got a shot at this...they want a 2:1 honours degree (a US 3.0 equivalent) and I've got a 3.888. I'm hoping and praying that my application is enough. i hate waiting.

[ShyViolet]

Yay! Though the waiting is the worst bit. Seriously don't stress too much, you've done what you can and now it's up to them. Your marks seem to be well above what they need to be, and if you get a conditional offer, usually it's just a formality. I remember the waiting as well, checking the postbox obsessively several times a day, freaking out if it was a "small envelope" (which doesn't necessarily = a rejection), etc. And my advice is just to relax and wait, the hardest part (sorting out the application, getting everything in on time, etc.) is over.

Best of luck!! And if you have any other questions, feel free to ask/PM! Sending you happy vibes from viciously-windy-Scotland.

[speedsters]

yay! soo exciting!

i've finished my research proposal and application, and i'm waiting to hear back from the college because i had a few more questions about the application process and once i get back to school get my recommendations from professors. my application should be in the mail by february 1st! just hoping to be back in ireland next fall.

sending good luck your way!

[PhoenixAzul]

Originally Posted by speedsters

yay! soo exciting!

i've finished my research proposal and application, and i'm waiting to hear back from the college because i had a few more questions about the application process and once i get back to school get my recommendations from professors. my application should be in the mail by february 1st! just hoping to be back in ireland next fall.

sending good luck your way!

I'd be interested to read your undergrad thesis when you get done with it. Mine is a comparison of subculture identity and formation between Belfast and Pittsburgh...but yours sounds really neat .

I'm going back in march and it will be a great release to see the country I love again .

Good luck to you too!

[PhoenixAzul]

Ack!

Just sent my transcript!!! My uni processed it ridiculously fast so I went to the post office and had it sent Global Priority...should get there on Tuesday or Wednesday.
And now, the waiting begins.

[PhoenixAzul]

Got an email today that my transcript has been received and forwarded to the department so that they can make a ruling on my application. Yikes!

[PhoenixAzul]

I GOT IN!!!!!

University of Glasgow here I come!

I.
Got.
In.

Holy. Crap.

now i've got to get a visa!

[ShyViolet]

CONGRATS!!! Well done! Now that you're in, getting the visa is the easy part, just loads of paperwork. Again congrats on the good news!! And yay for Scotland!

Cheers,
ShyViolet

[OrigamiTulip]

Congratulations!