Getting a Masters Degree Abroad

[Burly Brute]

Being the product of a giant American-ized bubble, you guys are my only real link to a world outside my own. My question is concerning studying abroad for a post-graduate degree. Here are some of my considerations:

I have been checking out Trinity Uni. in Dublin. I really like their history majors, religious studies, and their Irish language degree.

I guess I am looking for advice on international colleges (UK or Ireland) that offer Master degrees in History, language, or religious studies. That are affordable and can maybe provide a perspective student with scholarships based on acadamia, etc.


HELP!

Cheers,

Zach

[Woot22]

Both the University of Dundee and Glasgow Caledonia University offer Masters degrees in Scottish history through a distance learning program. Might be something to consider as you would save some money by being able to live here in the US. Here are the links
http://www.dundee.ac.uk/history/dist.../postgraduate/
http://www.gcu.ac.uk/study/postgradu...290.php?loc=uk

[Burly Brute]

Both the University of Dundee and Glasgow Caledonia University offer Masters degrees in Scottish history through a distance learning program. Might be something to consider as you would save some money by being able to live here in the US. Here are the links
http://www.dundee.ac.uk/history/dist.../postgraduate/
http://www.gcu.ac.uk/study/postgradu...290.php?loc=uk

Definitely something I will consider! However, part of the experience is getting out of this bubble I call home!

[Seanmadra]

Might try York Univeristy in North Yorkshire UK. Catholic University in DC may still have their Masters program for Irish studies and one or two semesters are spent in either Galway or Dublin.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Trinity is fabulous, although you may find yourself handicapped if you study Irish -- most of the students will have had 12 years of Irish in School before entering Trinity.

[Burly Brute]

Trinity is fabulous, although you may find yourself handicapped if you study Irish -- most of the students will have had 12 years of Irish in School before entering Trinity.

Haha oh boy, definitely something to consider. I am only 23 and I already feel like I have wasted too many years!!!

[kilted scholar]

First, you need to be a little clearer on what you want to study. I assume you are interested in a taught masters degree rather than a research degree like an MPhil. One factor that causes some adjustment for American students is that university education in Britain and Europe is much more specialised than in the USA; this is particuarly true at first degree level but you have to remember that the indigenous students will have had some years of focus on one area already.
Fees for international students have risen sharply in recent years (international in this context being outside the EU) but they are still very competitive compared to North America.
Much depends too on where you received your first degree; some institutions are recognized as providing an equivalent education at Bachelors level while others are not. Allied to this - and assuming all is well on this count - you should consult The Grants Register 2011: The Complete Guide to Postgraduate Funding Worldwide, published by Palgrave MacMillan. This is about the most exhaustive and detailed compendium of grants and awards for all nationalities. Most major Universities offer some form of postgraduate funding, while many from the USA take out loans.
All the best in your search.
I trust this hasn't got too far off track.

[CDNSushi]

Just to quickly chime in, another factor you may seriously want to consider is whether your degree will be recongnized and accepted in the United States. The U.S. has a "thing" for accreditation -- something that doesn't really exist in other countries.

When I was applying to get into an American college for my Master's degree, they refused to consider my University of Alberta diploma and transcripts (a world-renowned research institution and reputable, public university) until I paid an American company a bunch of money to "translate" everything into "Americanese". No joke! Only then would they deal with me, but until then I may as well have gotten my degree from the Al's Gas Station School of Floor Sweeping.

[Woot22]

Just to quickly chime in, another factor you may seriously want to consider is whether your degree will be recongnized and accepted in the United States. The U.S. has a "thing" for accreditation -- something that doesn't really exist in other countries.

When I was applying to get into an American college for my Master's degree, they refused to consider my University of Alberta diploma and transcripts (a world-renowned research institution and reputable, public university) until I paid an American company a bunch of money to "translate" everything into "Americanese". No joke! Only then would they deal with me, but until then I may as well have gotten my degree from the Al's Gas Station School of Floor Sweeping.

The fact is he is looking for a Masters program so unless the OP is planning on getting PhD I wouldn't worry too much about any accreditation. You just need to find the school and just as importantly the program you are interested in and go for it.

[CDNSushi]

The fact is he is looking for a Masters program so unless the OP is planning on getting PhD I wouldn't worry too much about any accreditation. You just need to find the school and just as importantly the program you are interested in and go for it.

?? That didn't make any sense. ANY degree (regardless of level) is only as good as how employers or other academic institutions accept it. It comes down to asking yourself why you are pursuing it. If it's for personal advancement, it doesn't much matter where you go. But if it's with the interest of furthering a career, or changing into a new one, I would probably want to make sure that my degree will be recognized and accepted before I spent tens of thousands of dollars only to find out that it's not being treated "at par" with a locally obtained degree.