Degree classification

Not an expert... but I think you can say you have a BA (Hons) 2.i , plus MSci (2.ii if asked to declare the class ) The MSci entitles you to apply for jobs that requires a MSc.

But I'm sure others will be along to confirm/deny soon...

Hi all, so I did the four year Natural Sciences degree(BA+Msci), and got 2.i in my part ii tripos which i guess is the overall class of my BA(part 1a was a 2, and part 1B was a first)? I got 2.ii in my part iii tripos which is the class of my Msci? I am just wondering when it comes to job application, can i put on my cv that my undergraduate classification is 2.i and my postgraudate master's degree is 2.ii?

The issue is that the classfication is not on the degree certificate as most of you know and on the transcript it just says part 1a, 1b, 2, 3 without stating the difference between my BA and Msci which is really confusing to read, also the MSci is classified as undergraduate for student loan purposes which doesn't really help.... Another alternative is get a letter from the college which explains the result.

The reason I am asking is that the job application favours applicant with a master's degree which is what I have...So what do you guys think?

You can't say that your postgraduate masters was anything, because the natsci masters is an undergraduate masters (you didn't graduate at the end of 3 years). You can say BA 2.i MSci 2.ii if you want, and the transcript will show them that you were getting a 2.i up until your final year.

If you're not asked to declare the class then don't, and you can always have a breakdown on your CV that shows your BA was a 2.i.

So if you have an integrated Masters (MMath, MEng, MSci, etc) you can't apply for a job asking for a MSc? Are you sure?

Yes you can, just it isn't a postgraduate masters qualification. It's effectively the same thing, just you don't graduate between the BA and the MSci (unless you're an external maths part III, but that's another story).

I know that - but you are telling OP they can't say they have a Masters which they basically do have. If an employer is setting a MSc requirement then surely they wouldn't want to exclude MSci candidates.

I know that - but you are telling OP they can't say they have a Masters which they basically do have. If an employer is setting a MSc requirement then surely they wouldn't want to exclude MSci candidates.

Cambridge's degree system is a bit strange. Integral master is not quite a proper master's degree, unlike MPhil (which is not quite same as other uni's MPhil....)
I think it's depend on an employer whether they'd accept Cambridge graduate with Msci/Meng/etc for the position they require a master's degree.
My niece declares her undergraduate degree as BA/MEng because that's what she graduated with as an undergraduate and her master's degree is MPhil Engineering.

It's not just Cambridge. An MEng is a very common integrated masters across all UK unis.

Ok. Still it not a master's degree.

Edit: just checked her website. She only has 'MEng' as her undergraduate degree, no BA now.

Can you actually say you have both a BA and an MSci? You didn't graduate, were you admitted to a BA?

It is. It's a Master of Engineering. It's equivalent to BSc + MSc. The fact of it being taken as an undergraduate is, ahem, academic. e.g. you can proceed to a PhD from an MEng without needing to do an MSc.

Can you actually say you have both a BA and an MSci? You didn't graduate, were you admitted to a BA?

I think it's the same for MSci, but certainly for a Cambridge MEng you get the BA awarded for the 3rd year. (And the MA later too...). Three degrees for the price of one!

I think it's the same for MSci, but certainly for a Cambridge MEng you get the BA awarded for the 3rd year. (And the MA later too...). Three degrees for the price of one!

OK. But that'd still be two, not three. The BA gets converted into an MA. Not two degrees.

And if you then do another degree at Oxford or Trinity College Dublin, you technically get another BA/MA when you incorporate.

But regardless, that's just dishonest.

Do you have to hand in your BA certificate to swap it for the MA?