Cambridge master's degrees question

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the differences between Master's degree options at Cambridge, specifically the MASt and MPhil programs in physics and mathematics. Participants seek clarity on which program may be more beneficial for pursuing a PhD and the general admissions process for these programs.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses confusion about the differences between the MASt and MPhil programs and seeks advice on which is better for a science career.
  • Another participant explains that the MASt is part of the undergraduate master's program (Part III) and that the MPhil is a research-based degree.
  • It is noted that Part III is considered difficult and is typically a prerequisite for the PhD program, although some participants question the ease of admission to CASM.
  • Concerns are raised about the admissions criteria, with some suggesting that a high average degree mark may be required for Part III, while others mention that a first-class honors degree could suffice.
  • One participant asks for clarification on the benefits of the MPhil compared to the MASt, particularly regarding their implications for PhD applications.
  • Another participant states that the MASt is purely theoretical, suggesting that the choice may depend on the specific area of PhD research interest.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the admissions process for CASM or the relative merits of the MASt versus MPhil programs. Multiple competing views remain regarding the difficulty of admission and the benefits of each degree type.

Contextual Notes

Participants express uncertainty about the admissions criteria and the specific advantages of each Master's program, indicating a lack of comprehensive information available on the subject.

batboio
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Hello all! I am going to begin the last year of my Bachelor's course in physics in about a month and it's about time to start searching for some Master's degree opportunities. I decided I might just as well try my luck at Cambridge but the problem (one of the many problems actually :P) is that the British education system seems really complicated :) I've been looking for a Master's course in physics or mathematics but there are different Master's programs and I don't know which one is the best for me if I want ot pursue a science career.

So can someone please enlighten me to what is the difference between MASt and MPhil as these seem to be the options. Also any other advice will be greatly appreciated :)
 
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CASM or part III is the 4th year of a Cambridge undergrad masters. An MPhil is masters degree done by research.
 
Part III is known to be notoriously hard and it is a prerequisite for application (?) to the Cambridge PhD program. But yes, anything else that you need to know, can be found on the website of the Maths department or some other relevant page. You shouldn't be confused, now that Matt has cleared this up.
 
It's typically a pre-req for the PhD program and most people who apply are from Part III. You can still get in without it, but it's much harder (I think) since taking Part III is the norm. Also, only a small percentage from Part III actually go on to the PhD program so it really narrows itself down.

I'm not really sure what the difficulty in getting into CASM is though. Someone on this forum said it's really quite easy if you're at least first-class honors (or equivalent) and can deal with the funding. However, I'm a bit skeptical of this and beyond that one source, I have no idea what the admissions is like.
 
Anonymous217 said:
I'm not really sure what the difficulty in getting into CASM is though. Someone on this forum said it's really quite easy if you're at least first-class honors (or equivalent) and can deal with the funding. However, I'm a bit skeptical of this and beyond that one source, I have no idea what the admissions is like.

I haven't been able to find a lot of information on this either, but would certainly like some.
 
ahsanxr said:
I haven't been able to find a lot of information on this either, but would certainly like some.

I've heard a few people say that their offer for a place on part III was dependent on them getting an average degree mark of 80%. Although i have spoken to someone who's done part III and he said that a 1.1 should see you in.
 
Thank you for the replies. You've pretty much told me only about the MASt in mathematics. How about physics? And I know that MPhil is done by research but could you clarify what will be the benefits from a MPhil compared to a MASt (or a MASt compared to a MPhil)? I've read that MPhil is considered to be a bit higher degree. And most importantly which one is better if I want to continue with a PhD afterwards?
 
Last edited:
batboio said:
Thank you for the replies. You've pretty much told me only about the MASt in mathematics. How about physics? And I know that MPhil is done by research but could you clarify what will be the benefits from a MPhil compared to a MASt (or a MASt compared to a MPhil)? I've read that MPhil is considered to be a bit higher degree. And most importantly which one is better if I want to continue with a PhD afterwards?

Depends what area you want to do your PhD in. MASt is purely theoretical.
 
matt91a said:
Depends what area you want to do your PhD in. MASt is purely theoretical.

Thank you I think MASt is the thing for me then :)
 

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