Zaitsev

History and Politics is also rather fb. And to answer your original question, you'll stand out more than other applicants for positions with an MA, or at the very least be as well qualified as others who have one.

Santa, look at my pert arse!

Not sure about history but in engineering most post-grads get funding from the university or from some agency.

Zaitsev

What would you consider to be better than teaching, in terms of "potential"?

Zaitsev

I'm turning every second thread into a teaching one recently.

Lubricated Crisp Packet

I guess it's a good way to go if you're still undecided about your career come your 3rd year and you like academia. You don't seem to be the type that wants to stay in academia for long though so if I were you I'd research into careers you'd like to do and then see if an MA would be of much use to those careers in particular. It's certainly quite a good idea to vary your MA and branch out a bit since you have the option of doing so and adding a bit more to your CV.

tim1000000

What would you consider to be better than teaching, in terms of "potential"? </BLOCKQUOTE>

by "potential" i'm speaking purely in terms of salary, rather than job quality. in terms of satisfaction teaching seems a much better route and something i've thought about for a few years now, and something i think i'd be good at. but well, i'm helping in local schools this term and next so i guess i'll see if it's something i really want.

bennyboygersh

I do an MA in Modern British History (basically 1750-present) but I'm doing some politics modules.

Applied to late for funding but worked non-stop over the summer to pay for it (at many unis if you stay on for an MA you get a 'loyalty bonus' - mine was 25% off fees here).

Far less work than 3rd year at this stage, probably until November.

I know that if you got AHRC or ESRC funding, you have to tell them what your MA thesis is going to be on and stick to it, otherwise you lose the funding. So you have to decide before you start; I can decide by early February.

To get funding you really need to be heading for a 1st, or a borderline 1st/2.1.

And I'm doing it as my plans for this year fell through, but I sort of wanted to have another year of uni anyway.

Dave Vessey

Building on the previous post, the AHRC have a very small amount of funding to give out. Not only will you not be considered in practise if you don't get a first, but the AHRC also likes you to commit to a subsequent PhD after your MA.

Bristol will probably offer specific MA bursaries so that's probably your best bet. Check your dept. webpages or ask someone (postgrad. secretary? We have one, not sure its universal).

bennyboygersh

Yes that's right, and I know the ESRC only gave funding to those on the Economic and Social History MA option if they were certain of phD afterwards.

Some departments at some institutions also have money to give (mainly in sciences sadly), but many don't.

Matt Cavanagh

what do you want to teach, tim one million?