Master of Arts (Scotland).html



A Master of Arts in Scotland is an academic degree in humanities and social sciences awarded by the ancient universities of Scotland – St Andrews University, the University of Glasgow, the University of Aberdeen and Edinburgh University. Heriot-Watt University also offers this degree, and the University of Dundee awards this degree as a result of its link with St Andrews. The degree course usually lasts four years, although it is possible to finish a course after three years and be awarded an "ordinary degree".

Subjects awarded

The MA applies only to fine art, humanities, social sciences and theology within these universities. The Honours degree of Bachelor of Science (BSc) is awarded for four years of study in the field of science and the honours Bachelor of Laws (LLB) is the four year legal degree (again with an ordinary available after three years).

There are a few subjects which can award either an MA or BSc. For instance, students studying management at St Andrews University may be awarded either an MA or a BSc depending on whether they are a member of the faculty of arts or the faculty of sciences (respectively).

The Universities of Glasgow, Aberdeen and Edinburgh also offer the degree of Bachelor of Divinity (BD) as a four-year course (Bachelor of Divinity is offered at the University of St Andrews, however is a postgraduate degree for a student who has already completed a Master of Arts. The undergraduate degree in divinity/theology is designated Master of Theology (MTheol)). Newer undergraduate degrees are either undergraduate Bachelors or undergraduate Masters in the advanced undergraduate degree scheme as above.

Status

Scottish/Oxbridge M.A.s are seen by some as being within the cohort of advanced undergraduate degrees such as M.Math. or M.Sci., mostly as a combination of the title of "Master of Arts" (as opposed to the title of Bachelor) and also by virtue of being granted by a leading research university with a long history.

Honours

As opposed to the Oxbridge MA (which has no honours as there are no separate exams for the award of MA), the Scottish MA is awarded with the same system of honours as other British undergraduate degrees, for example "MA (Hons) Upper Second Class".

References