Application Process for University of Manchester
Good evening,
I'm currently applying to two programs for postgrad in the UK - an MA in Social Anthropology at the University of Manchester and an MA in Culture and Difference at Durham University. I have an academic advisor through this program called Across the Pond for my Durham application, so I don't really need any help there, but I'm having a bit of trouble with my UoM application. I will try to outline them in bullet form:
1. There is no place that specifies I need a personal statement for the program at UoM. I contacted the department and they said no PS is needed unless I'm contacted and asked for one. However, I can't imagine applying without one. I feel like it can only enhance my application. There is a place on the form that asks for 'more details' and also, I think I can add this as a supporting document. Should I?
2. This is the part that troubles me the most. UoM requires 2 references. The same 2 professors are doing my references for Durham and for UoM. For Durham, I will send the professors a stamped & addressed envelope for my advisor with Across the Pond. But for UoM, there is a reference page that I need to fill out the top part of and they need to complete the bottom. I am planning to print this, fill it out, then send to them along with a stamped & addressed envelope. But the online application says everything should be 'scanned and ready to upload'. How am I supposed to upload my references, which I'm not supposed to see? This doesn't seem right to me? Should I post them to the department (Social Anth) or admissions office? Same for my official transcript. Upload or have my university send it directly?
3. How specific do I need to be about funding? I'm most likely going to need to take out federal government loans, but I haven't applied for the loans yet.
4. Is there any chance I could defer entry to either master's program for a year if I enter? I know this is course-specific but on the off chance anyone knows...
5. I was an exchange student at the University of Sussex for one semester. The applications ask for educational background. I only list my BA from my undergrad because I didn't receive a degree or anything as an exchange student.
6. Finally... just an opinion. Is mid-March really too late to be turning these applications in? I work full-time well over 40/hrs week and it doesn't leave me a lot of free time to work on applications, so I'm a little late getting all my stuff together.
That's a ton of questions, but thank you in advance for any help!
I'm currently applying to two programs for postgrad in the UK - an MA in Social Anthropology at the University of Manchester and an MA in Culture and Difference at Durham University. I have an academic advisor through this program called Across the Pond for my Durham application, so I don't really need any help there, but I'm having a bit of trouble with my UoM application. I will try to outline them in bullet form:
1. There is no place that specifies I need a personal statement for the program at UoM. I contacted the department and they said no PS is needed unless I'm contacted and asked for one. However, I can't imagine applying without one. I feel like it can only enhance my application. There is a place on the form that asks for 'more details' and also, I think I can add this as a supporting document. Should I?
2. This is the part that troubles me the most. UoM requires 2 references. The same 2 professors are doing my references for Durham and for UoM. For Durham, I will send the professors a stamped & addressed envelope for my advisor with Across the Pond. But for UoM, there is a reference page that I need to fill out the top part of and they need to complete the bottom. I am planning to print this, fill it out, then send to them along with a stamped & addressed envelope. But the online application says everything should be 'scanned and ready to upload'. How am I supposed to upload my references, which I'm not supposed to see? This doesn't seem right to me? Should I post them to the department (Social Anth) or admissions office? Same for my official transcript. Upload or have my university send it directly?
3. How specific do I need to be about funding? I'm most likely going to need to take out federal government loans, but I haven't applied for the loans yet.
4. Is there any chance I could defer entry to either master's program for a year if I enter? I know this is course-specific but on the off chance anyone knows...
5. I was an exchange student at the University of Sussex for one semester. The applications ask for educational background. I only list my BA from my undergrad because I didn't receive a degree or anything as an exchange student.
6. Finally... just an opinion. Is mid-March really too late to be turning these applications in? I work full-time well over 40/hrs week and it doesn't leave me a lot of free time to work on applications, so I'm a little late getting all my stuff together.
That's a ton of questions, but thank you in advance for any help!