UK Universities Second-year entry after a BSc ?
Hey guys,
I wanna know if you have insight on second-year entries in BSc programs in Targets/Semi-targets. I'm a 3rd Bachelor student in Intl Business (non-UK, Europe), and would like to have a fresh restart in Finances.
I am not sure wether it's best to apply to a MSc (reduced chances) or try to join an BSc, I am not in a hurry, I just want to learn what interests me and get good job opportunities (IB). My situation feels busted right now, so any advice/experience sharing would be appreciated.
Thanks y'all.
Do the MSc. In terms of second undergraduate degrees, I have only really heard of people doing accelerated LLBs (Bachelors of Law); it does exist for other courses but it's pretty rare. Rhodes Scholars used to sometimes do it at Oxford as the American system is less specialised, but I think that practice has faded out and most do masters now.
Oxford and Cambridge are your best bets by far as it's actually something that they openly do. Still, very competitive and outside of law I don't know anyone who has done it in recent times (but have come across American Rhodes who did it a few decades ago). See here for Oxford, and here for Cambridge. Note that with the exception of some Cambridge colleges, the deadline is the 15th October. LSE also appear to consider it, but I don't believe it's nearly as common as Oxbridge.
Imperial, UCL, and Warwick all appear to have options for advanced standing (second-year entry) that are approved on an exceptional basis. No specific mention of second undergraduate degrees, however.
Anecdotally, pretty much every person I know who have dropped out of UK targets after first year has had to start first year again (even if dropping down significantly - think target university to lower Russel Group). Even at the same university, if you switch courses you'll generally have to start over (but moreso the case for Oxford, Imperial, LSE, and Warwick than it is for Cambridge and UCL where it is occasionally possible). Not sure if that means anything for you, but it is very, very rare to see anyone older than 20 (except for military service) starting UK undergraduate degrees at top universities. Non Russel Group might take you, but you'll also have no chance coming from there with a second undergraduate degree. Really, you need Oxford-Cambridge-Imperial-LSE-UCL-Warwick, and given it would be a second degree, I would be hesitant about considering Durham, Edinburgh, Bristol etc.
Very helpful answer.
I will apply for MSc at Russel Groups, and try the Bachelor at Oxbridge/LSE, lots of application work but worth trying.
Thank you for your advice!
I think that's your best bet. Would limit your MSc search to those targets and maybe Bristol, Durham, Edinburgh and a few others (assuming you're doing a STEM/quant-heavy/finance-related subject, if not then I would really just stick to the targets).
See if UCL and Warwick are open to the idea of second undergrad degrees too. If an applicant has the grades (generally minimum of AAA equivalent at A-level, depending on the course) all but the most competitive courses (e.g. Warwick Maths, which will often be taken over Oxford Maths) will accept them at any university except Oxbridge, LSE and Imperial. Granted that's for first undergraduate degrees, but they're actually not too difficult to get in for good RG universities *IF* you have excellent academics and nothing else. Quite different to the U.S. in that respect. LSE is more about the personal statement, and Imperial, Cambridge, and Oxford all interview - grades alone won't get you into any of those four, though they're more important for LSE/Imperial than they are for Oxbridge where it's effectively just a cut-off and then the final decision comes down to the interview and subject tests.
I also wonder whether Business and Finance are too similar courses for them to allow you in. If you did, say, chemistry as your first degree and now want to do finance, that would be an easier sell. A target MSc is almost certainly the best bet for you - if you're top 20% of your cohort or so at a not entirely terrible university, I'd be very surprised if you didn't get into UCL and Warwick and you'll be competitive for the other four. In general, postgraduate admissions are often easier than undergraduate - certainly the case for most courses at Oxbridge, Imperial and UCL, maybe less so the case for LSE.
No one takes Warwick Maths over Oxford Maths "often"...
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