[danieltillett]

Masters programs are run as a cash cows for many universities to be filled will anyone who can fog a mirror. As a former academic I can tell you that there are literally different marking criteria for overseas masters students than local undergraduates.

[DavidHm]

That is fascinating.

Anecdotally, in European universities, bachelors are the "get in as many people as we can for the tuition fees", while masters are the "let's be as selective as we can get away with".

[palunon]

Sometimes it's even worse... For example, in France, a university is required by law not to be selective for it's first year programs, as long as the candidate graduated high school.

[DavidHm]

So...what is that, first come first served basis?

I assume there's an upper limit on the number of students an university can take in for the first year, determined by staff and classroom availability.

[shostack]

Is that knowledge transparently available to students? How does it impact the curve?

I imagine quite many would be upset if they found out they were not being held to equal standards, and would probably point to foreign students paying more as the reason.

[danieltillett]

>Is that knowledge transparently available to students? How does it impact the curve?

Of course not. You find out when the head of school tells you that it is your fault that all the masters students failed the subject and that you need to fix the situation. If you are dumb enough to ignore the hint the head of school gets someone else to re-mark the exams - either way the cash keeps flowing.

[daemin]

Yep, that's how I remember it in Australia. The honours students had more respect and were more skilled than the masters students.