[fuzzybear]

Edinburgh awards many of its degrees as MA (master of arts), rather than BSc or BA like most other unis. At first I thought they did this for all of their courses as tradition like Oxbridge, but then I realised this wasn't the case, they award LLB (for law) and BSc (for physics, chemistry), biological science) as well. But why is it that courses such as maths, maths and economics, physcology are awarded as MA?

Wouldn't it be more appropriate to award them as BSc? Apparently theres a BSc version of maths as well as physcology as well, whats up with this?

Also, aware me on how MA in general works, is it equivalent to someone doing a 3 year undergraduate degree from somewhere else and then with an additional postgraduate 'masters' year?

[daeonica]

(Original post by fuzzybear)
Also, aware me on how MA in general works, is it equivalent to someone doing a 3 year undergraduate degree from somewhere else and then with an additional postgraduate 'masters' year?

In Scotland, and undergrad degree takes 4 years. That's what an MA is from Edinburgh - the undergraduate degree. It's the equivalent of a 3 year undergrad at one of the english universities where that is the norm for them.

[fuzzybear]

(Original post by daeonica)
In Scotland, and undergrad degree takes 4 years. That's what an MA is from Edinburgh - the undergraduate degree. It's the equivalent of a 3 year undergrad at one of the english universities where that is the norm for them.

If theres nothing 'postgraduate' inserted in this 4 year degree, why do they call it a 'Masters of Arts'?

and also, if you go on to do a postgraduate Masters year at one of the English unis, wouldn't it be a bit strange as you're going to be awarded another MA in the same subject.

[NeoNerd]

(Original post by fuzzybear)
If theres nothing 'postgraduate' inserted in this 4 year degree, why do they call it a 'Masters of Arts'?

and also, if you go on to do a postgraduate Masters year at one of the English unis, wouldn't it be a bit strange as you're going to be awarded another MA in the same subject.

Tradition - only the ancient universities in Scotland do it. The newer universities award BAs. There's a similar idea in Oxbridge and Durham - you can be admitted as a MA without taking further study.

It's well understood that a Scottish undergraduate MA is the same thing as a BA. I know people who did a MA after their undergraduate MA.

[BKS]

Though there is the nice benefit of sometimes people don't know (I've found this to be quite a lot of people who didn't go to ancient Scottish uni) think you have a proper MA

[dothestrand]

(Original post by BKS)
Though there is the nice benefit of sometimes people don't know (I've found this to be quite a lot of people who didn't go to ancient Scottish uni) think you have a proper MA

I get annoyed the amount of times I have to explain it. One of my friends thinks it's unfair I get an MA for the same degree as he's doing...no, I don't I'VE TOLD YOU THIS 900 TIMES.
Although you're right, it does sound good

[nearlyheadlessian]

(Original post by fuzzybear)
If theres nothing 'postgraduate' inserted in this 4 year degree, why do they call it a 'Masters of Arts'?

Why is anything called anything? You can't start unpicking the fabric of reality. Anyway, I'm going to lock this thread because your question has been answered and it could have been answered in our sticky thread where the answer is in the FAQ OP.