GPA requirements for a UK Master's...

Graduate School
1

<p>Not sure if this has already been asked on this forum, but I'll go ahead and ask it here.</p>

<p>I am interested in applying to a few programs in London (UCL in particular as I did a summer abroad program there and would like to return.) I know many top schools there explicitly say on their websites that they would like their prospective students to have at least an upper second class degree. I understand this to mean a Bachelor's degree with at least a 3.3 GPA.</p>

<p>My question is how strict are UK schools with it comes to GPAs? I know schools in the States also expect their prospective students to be in a certain GPA range, but may also consider students who are not in that range but have great extracurriculars/interesting work experience or internships. Are UK schools also like that? Would they consider students with GPAs below 3.3? I would assume they look at students as a "total package" and understand that students are not just their GPA, but I'm not really familiar with their admissions process so I really haven't a clue. </p>

<p>For the record, I am interested in UCL's taught master's program in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics of Health. I graduated from a top 20 US school with a degree in economics and a 3.1 GPA along with what I believe are good extracurriculars and good early work experience/internships. I would like to know if I should consider another program before I set my sights on a school that's out of my league. </p>

<p>Thanks in advance to those who may be able to offer any insight.</p>

2

<p>I think it depends on whom you ask. I’ve seen some non-US/UK schools listing the American equivalent of 2:1 honours as a 3.5 (e.g., Sciences Po Paris) and others as far down as a 3.0. I’d be willing to bet a 3.3 would fit right within the 2:1 range, but the surest bet, although it might seem intimidating/oh-God-what-if-they-think-I’m-asking-because-I’m-not-good-enough is probably to email whoever is listed as handling graduate admissions for your program of study (if anyone is listed) or the international relations office, asking them what their “numbers” are for something like that. (Are you sure UCL doesn’t have an international admissions page/doesn’t give any hints about what’s expected from non-UK applicants? That seems bizarre to me.)</p>

<p>As far as “total package” consideration, it seems to me that Anglo-Saxon schools (North America, British Isles) might be more into that than continental ones, which are used to evaluating people based on marks and entrance-exam results. I wouldn’t rule it out as a possibility…but I’ve never applied to a UK grad program, so take that with a grain of salt.</p>