The Student Room Group
Student at University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh

Why do 4 year MA vs 3 year BA? I'm still confused

Is my degree, which lasts for four years, absolutely of the same value with a three year BA? Does it not make any difference when applying for postgrad? Could it not help me get into PhD w/o Masters?
Original post by TrotskyiteRebel
Is my degree, which lasts for four years, absolutely of the same value with a three year BA? Does it not make any difference when applying for postgrad? Could it not help me get into PhD w/o Masters?


are you applying to a scottish university ? if so yes the 4 year course is generally the same as a 3 year course in England wouldn't make any difference apart from being a year older when you apply for your phd
(edited 7 years ago)
Student at University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
Original post by Ultracrepidarian
are you applying to a scottish university ?


I have two more yrs to go but I don't mind so long as it is a good uni. I'm doing international relations btw
Original post by Ultracrepidarian
are you applying to a scottish university ? if so yes the 4 year course is generally the same as a 3 year course in England wouldn't make any difference apart from being a year older when you apply for your phd


What if I was applying to an English university? Or anywhere else in the UK
Original post by TrotskyiteRebel
I have two more yrs to go but I don't mind so long as it is a good uni. I'm doing international relations btw


i have applied for a ma and ba theyre in my case the same thing
Original post by TrotskyiteRebel
What if I was applying to an English university? Or anywhere else in the UK


Basically theres no advantage doing a 4 year course youre just taking an extra year compared to a student in england doing the same course to complete it
Original post by Ultracrepidarian
i have applied for a ma and ba theyre in my case the same thing


that sucks man. I hope someone made that clear to me before I applied. You see I'm an international student and it's a **** load of money each year. That apart, I will have to apply for MA, apple for a one year visa, then apply for Phd and get another visa. My family doesn't know, they think I'm doing masters :-( What should I do? Should I tell them the truth or just **** PhD?
Original post by TrotskyiteRebel
that sucks man. I hope someone made that clear to me before I applied. You see I'm an international student and it's a **** load of money each year. That apart, I will have to apply for MA, apple for a one year visa, then apply for Phd and get another visa. My family doesn't know, they think I'm doing masters :-( What should I do? Should I tell them the truth or just **** PhD?


whats your course title and at what university so i can double check
Original post by Ultracrepidarian
whats your course title and at what university so i can double check


International Relations, University of Edinburgh
Original post by TrotskyiteRebel
International Relations, University of Edinburgh


http://www.ed.ac.uk/studying/undergraduate/degrees/index.php?action=view&code=L250

this course ?
Original post by TrotskyiteRebel
yes


its just a 4 year undergraduate course
Original post by Ultracrepidarian
its just a 4 year undergraduate course


yea. Thanks for your help anyways. My parents will get mad :frown: But I have heard that PhD w/o Ma is possible, am I wrong? I mean I've you can do PhD after even a BA
Original post by TrotskyiteRebel
yea. Thanks for your help anyways. My parents will get mad :frown: But I have heard that PhD w/o Ma is possible, am I wrong? I mean I've you can do PhD after even a BA


from what i know yeah it is possible
Original post by Ultracrepidarian
from what i know yeah it is possible


yea thanks anyways. I think I will have a discussion with ppl in my own uni next year probably they can let me know more. It also depends on the subject whether you can skip MA or not.

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