24Fall UK master's applications have entered a white-hot stage, with the first rounds at some universities essentially concluded.
While many prospective students are already happily holding offers, many others still have nothing to show for their efforts.
Looking back at the constantly escalating application difficulty for UK schools during the 24Fall cycle, it's enough to drive anyone crazy.
Leeds University has raised its admission average by 5-10 points; KCL's engineering, computing, and other faculties have announced they will no longer accept students from non-211/985 universities; Edinburgh Law School's application requirements have jumped directly from Band C to Band A…
But even in this environment, a few UK schools have quietly lowered their application requirements!
Students still struggling with 24Fall UK master's applications should definitely not miss this. Let's take a look at which dream schools these are!
Durham University
Durham University may not be among the G5, but it is known as the "gathering place for Oxbridge rejects," the best choice in the UK outside of Oxford and Cambridge.
Statistics show that among UK Supreme Court judges, Durham graduates are the most numerous after Oxbridge, testifying to its strength.
Although Durham has been rising in the QS rankings this year, its application requirements have actually decreased!
In previous years, Durham's list would not include any non-211/985 universities, but this year, the School List for Chinese institutions has not only added over a hundred schools, but also includes many second-tier universities.
Moreover, for 24Fall applicants, Durham has also lowered its grade requirements, with average score requirements generally dropping by 2-3 points, including for the Business School. Education programs like Education and TESOL have seen their average score requirements drop from 82 to 80.
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow, located in Scotland, is one of the oldest seats of learning in the English-speaking world. The lowering of application thresholds this year inevitably means even fiercer competition.
Glasgow's School List for Chinese institutions has been updated again, adding 60 schools, mostly non-211/985. Except for Qingdao Agricultural University, which falls into Band C, all other newly added schools are classified as Band D and can apply to programs outside the Business School with an average score requirement of 85+.
In terms of program categorization, the original 4 categories have been simplified to 2. The Business School and the two programs Media Management and Creative Industry and Culture Policy fall into one category; all other programs fall into the other.
For average score requirements, the 6-tier classification for mainland Chinese institutions remains unchanged: A1, A2, B, C, D, TNE.
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A1 tier universities: average score requirement 75+; A2 tier: 80+
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B tier universities applying to the Business School or the two aforementioned programs: average score requirement 85+; for non-Business School programs: 80+
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C tier: average score requirement 80+; D tier: 85+. C and D tier universities can generally only apply to programs outside the Business School.
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TNE tier includes 7 Sino-foreign cooperative universities, as well as International Colleges and The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen. GPA requirements for these schools vary.
Furthermore, the Adam Smith Business School has also lowered its admission list for Chinese undergraduates, now opening applications to Band C institutions with a GPA requirement of 85+.
For students previously rejected because their undergraduate institution was classified as Band C, the University of Glasgow has stated officially that they will reconsider applications before January 15, 2024. In other words, even if you received a rejection letter, you might be re-evaluated after the New Year.
University of Sheffield
As a founding member of the Russell Group, the University of Sheffield is renowned globally for its excellent teaching quality and research standards. Its Library and Information Management program ranks first in the world, and its science and engineering programs are on par with Imperial College and Cambridge, ranking among the top three in the UK—a force to be reckoned with.
Previously, Sheffield was very strict with institutions on its list. In contrast, this year's changes feel like a "great loosening."
Take the Management School, for example. Previously it only accepted schools ranked in the top 100 of the Shanghai Ranking, but this year it has doubled that to include the top 200.
Moreover, this year Sheffield's School List has relaxed the requirements for the fourth tier all the way to Top 590, whereas in previous years only schools in the top 301 were accepted.
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Shanghai Ranking 1-100: 985/211 — weighted average 75%+
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Shanghai Ranking 101-200: weighted average 80%+
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Shanghai Ranking 201-300: weighted average 80%+
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Shanghai Ranking 301-500: weighted average 85%+
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Shanghai Ranking 201-590: weighted average 88%+
By comparison, this year's requirements can be considered quite lenient.
How UK Applicants Can Turn the Tables
Although the above three schools have relaxed their application requirements, the overall application environment remains fiercely competitive, with difficulty only increasing.
Facing such a situation, what strategies should students intending to study in the UK adopt to achieve a satisfactory application outcome?
Apply to Multiple Countries
As the saying goes, there are plenty of fish in the sea; don't put all your eggs in one basket. While things are crazy in the UK, you can choose to apply to multiple countries. Overall, the advantages of multi-country applications are significant:
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Combine applications to increase your offer hit rate
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Mitigate policy risks and always have a fallback
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Prevent delays caused by slim chances and turn backup plans into pathways
Multi-country applications not only broaden your choices but also provide more possibilities. Most importantly, understand the characteristics of each region, plan rationally, and don't apply blindly.
You can refer to the comparison table of UK, US, Canada, Hong Kong, and Singapore study abroad programs compiled by CheersYou（清柚教育） to understand the similarities and differences of applications in these popular destinations.
Choose Schools and Programs Wisely
Next is the selection of schools and programs. Sometimes, choosing is truly more important than working hard. School selection is definitely a technical task that requires comprehensive consideration of various factors to pick the most suitable institutions and programs.
Based on the following four aspects, you can efficiently match and filter schools and programs, ensuring a targeted selection that fits your profile and needs.
Plan Your Timeline Well
For students planning to study abroad for a master's, whether you start early or late, you should have a graduate application plan checklist. Effective planning will double your application efficiency.
For those intending to apply for UK master's programs, save this 25Fall application timeline to keep your application season organized and achieve twice the results with half the effort!
Finally, we wish everyone can apply to the program best suited to them, receive their offers smoothly, and fulfill their dream of attending a top university!
