What is the difference between a BA and a MA in Eng - Scot

[doverdave]

I want to study History at Uni next September and most of the UK universitys do a 3 year BA. However Galsgow and Edinburgh only do a 4 year MA, but it appears to be the equilivent of the engish MA.

anyone clarify for totally confused please

[ugly_bob]

BA is Batchelor of Arts
MA is Master of Arts - a higher qualification.

To obtain a Masters degree you usually have to complete a detailed study thesis and, as you say, study for longer.

[pingping]

the 4 year MA's are basically a 3 year BA course followed immediately by a 1 year MA. Whereas the 3 year BA courses are just that, and you would have to apply for a Masters separately upon successful completion of the BA.

[doverdave]

That was my understanding, however bothe Edinburgh and Glasgow state that their MA is equivilient to a BA at Leeds

[ugly_bob]

Not sure then.

I did a 4 year MEng at Nottingham which was the 3 year BEng followed by 1 year for the MEng

[pingping]

i'd have to go for the 3 year BA at leeds then. why spend 4 years in scotland achieving the same degree status as you would in 3 years in leeds!

[ugly_bob]

http://www.gla.ac.uk:443/newsdesk/newsletter/2 15/html/opinion1.html

Explains it a bit. Not a lot though.

but the letter M in front rather than B will convey to any prospective employer in the future that it is a higher level qualification.
I think people were trying to change it becasue it was an entirely undergraduate course, rather than being a 3 year completed Batchelors followed by a separate Masters course.

Mine was the same - I didn't graduate and recieve a Batchelors after 3 years then do a separate Masters course. I had the option after 3 years of graduating with a BEng or continuing for a further year to gain a Masters.

[jaaay89]

Basically an MA is by an ancient Uni like Glasgow. And a BA is from a modern uni. An MA is NOT a masters, and it doesnt take an extra year in Scotland because of that. It's an extra year in Scotland because the English say that a-levels are the equivalent to Scottish 1st year university, therefore why do it again?

[ScotsDaddyUSA]

The Ancient Scottish Universities MA degree is a 'Magistrum Artium', but not a post-graduate degree. It has a history of almost 600 years behind it. It being styled MA rather than BA has nothing to do with A-levels versus Highers, and everything to do with a long venerable tradition and custom going back to the medieval and renaissance foundation of the Universities of St. Andrews (1411), Glasgow (1451), Aberdeen (1495), and Edinburgh (1582). The University of Dundee (1967) also offers it because it was formally an internal part of St. Andrews University.

It is also qualitatively different from the English 3 year Honours BA/ Newer Scottish Universities 4 year BA's because the Honours component is over two years, not one.