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Scotland's MA vs. England's BA?
Does anyone know if there is a differnce between the UK's BA or MA in either England or Scotland? My daughter was under the impression that an MA was similar to the US MA and obviously with another year of studies should be. Otherwise, if a BA in England is shorter for same degree and can add on another year for MA, why bother an extra year then? Lisa will be home in a week and will be talking to all of you, so I can go back to my life. It has been fun, though!
The simple explanation is that a Scottish MA is near enough the same as an English BA. It's an undergraduate degree. It's mostly thanks to tradition that it's stayed like that. So yeah, if she wants a postgraduate Masters, it'd be another year on top of the four.
Don't let that put her off though. My first choice was Edinburgh. I knew that meant an extra year, but it suited me. At Edinburgh, this allows for a much wider outside subject/elective system. I'd have liked that, I think.
Don't let that put her off though. My first choice was Edinburgh. I knew that meant an extra year, but it suited me. At Edinburgh, this allows for a much wider outside subject/elective system. I'd have liked that, I think.
The extra year for the Scottish MA is because a broader range of subjects is studied in the first two years. For example, other than my mum's joint honours in her masters, she studied medeival history, french, politics and greek civilisation. It also offers a lot of flexibility to change your degree (again in the case of my mum, she could have had French as part of her degree without taking any more classes).
It's a really nice system, so don't let it put you off. And hey, an extra year studying in Scotland is a good thing!
It's a really nice system, so don't let it put you off. And hey, an extra year studying in Scotland is a good thing!
Reply 3
dogtanian
The simple explanation is that a Scottish MA is near enough the same as an English BA. It's an undergraduate degree. It's mostly thanks to tradition that it's stayed like that. So yeah, if she wants a postgraduate Masters, it'd be another year on top of the four.
Don't let that put her off though. My first choice was Edinburgh. I knew that meant an extra year, but it suited me. At Edinburgh, this allows for a much wider outside subject/elective system. I'd have liked that, I think.
Don't let that put her off though. My first choice was Edinburgh. I knew that meant an extra year, but it suited me. At Edinburgh, this allows for a much wider outside subject/elective system. I'd have liked that, I think.
Are you at Edinburgh now? I hear they have a fabulous Psychology department. What about housing? She likes the uni flats close by but I hear throught a friend of whom has a niece there Pollock Pines are popular, but not sure.
No, I missed a grade and ended up at my insurance. Obviously I don't have real first hand experience, but I can still wholeheartedly recommend it!
I don't know much about Psychology, but at Edinburgh, it is actually in the same school (one administrative level above department) as the subject I study. It seemed a well run and friendly school. Edinburgh really is beautiful.
As for housing, I didn't get that far! I applied for University Flats, as that seemed perfect for me. Certainly a friend of mine who ended up in that accommodation had a good time there (bar her issues with a flatmate, but that can happen anywhere!). The other accomm. (read: Pollock) seemed overpriced to me, and I hate hate hate the idea of catered halls.
If I were your daughter and had the chance to study at Edinburgh, I'd grab it with both hands. I'm quite jealous.
(And as for accent worries, the Edinburgh accent is easily understood, it's just standard English with a Scottish lilt. And oh my, it's sexy. I asked people for directions when I knew where I was when I went there. :s)
I don't know much about Psychology, but at Edinburgh, it is actually in the same school (one administrative level above department) as the subject I study. It seemed a well run and friendly school. Edinburgh really is beautiful.
As for housing, I didn't get that far! I applied for University Flats, as that seemed perfect for me. Certainly a friend of mine who ended up in that accommodation had a good time there (bar her issues with a flatmate, but that can happen anywhere!). The other accomm. (read: Pollock) seemed overpriced to me, and I hate hate hate the idea of catered halls.
If I were your daughter and had the chance to study at Edinburgh, I'd grab it with both hands. I'm quite jealous.
(And as for accent worries, the Edinburgh accent is easily understood, it's just standard English with a Scottish lilt. And oh my, it's sexy. I asked people for directions when I knew where I was when I went there. :s)
The Edinburgh accent is lovely! And not difficult to understand. It's definitely not like Groundskeeper Willie off the Simpsons here 
. I take it from your location that you and your daughter are American? There are definitely a lot of American students at Edinburgh, so there will be people around who will understand!
A good friend of mine stayed in Pollock and loved it - en suite, double bed, lots of room. Though admittedly catered halls would put me off as well.
. I take it from your location that you and your daughter are American? There are definitely a lot of American students at Edinburgh, so there will be people around who will understand!A good friend of mine stayed in Pollock and loved it - en suite, double bed, lots of room. Though admittedly catered halls would put me off as well.
Reply 6
dogtanian
No, I missed a grade and ended up at my insurance. Obviously I don't have real first hand experience, but I can still wholeheartedly recommend it!
I don't know much about Psychology, but at Edinburgh, it is actually in the same school (one administrative level above department) as the subject I study. It seemed a well run and friendly school. Edinburgh really is beautiful.
As for housing, I didn't get that far! I applied for University Flats, as that seemed perfect for me. Certainly a friend of mine who ended up in that accommodation had a good time there (bar her issues with a flatmate, but that can happen anywhere!). The other accomm. (read: Pollock) seemed overpriced to me, and I hate hate hate the idea of catered halls.
If I were your daughter and had the chance to study at Edinburgh, I'd grab it with both hands. I'm quite jealous.
(And as for accent worries, the Edinburgh accent is easily understood, it's just standard English with a Scottish lilt. And oh my, it's sexy. I asked people for directions when I knew where I was when I went there. :s)
I don't know much about Psychology, but at Edinburgh, it is actually in the same school (one administrative level above department) as the subject I study. It seemed a well run and friendly school. Edinburgh really is beautiful.
As for housing, I didn't get that far! I applied for University Flats, as that seemed perfect for me. Certainly a friend of mine who ended up in that accommodation had a good time there (bar her issues with a flatmate, but that can happen anywhere!). The other accomm. (read: Pollock) seemed overpriced to me, and I hate hate hate the idea of catered halls.
If I were your daughter and had the chance to study at Edinburgh, I'd grab it with both hands. I'm quite jealous.
(And as for accent worries, the Edinburgh accent is easily understood, it's just standard English with a Scottish lilt. And oh my, it's sexy. I asked people for directions when I knew where I was when I went there. :s)
Hi, I just read under my thread a response from Prince Cats ? like number 140's under Uni Choices and he referenced a Guardian Article of the major crime issues in Edinburgh and Glasgow similar to NY in US. I replied and I am now thinking she needs to be at Exeter of which she loves or Leeds, otherwise she will go into clearing, one at a time for a choice. Check it out and let me know what you think as it sounds wild out there and unsafe at night for an 18 year old of which my daughter would be a major target as she is gorgeous.
Edinburgh and Glasgow are not unsafe. I'm an nineteen year old girl who lives in London, I've not encountered any trouble yet. Because I'm streetwise and alert. That's all you need. If Edinburgh were that unsafe, would I have been so eager to accept it as my conditional firm?
Seriously, crime is an issue wherever she goes. Exeter and Leeds will have city centre problems like everywhere.
If Exeter and Leeds are right for her as a person, then she should pick them. But if Edinburgh or Glasgow are right for her, she should go there, and not worry about crime levels. Crime in most places affects the working class estates in the suburbs, not the middle class university areas.
It's only natural for a mum to worry, but you need to realise that you are letting horror stories cloud your judgement. I would hate for your daughter to end up somewhere that isn't right for her because your worries about crime that doesn't even affect the average uni student were a tad over the top.
Seriously, crime is an issue wherever she goes. Exeter and Leeds will have city centre problems like everywhere.
If Exeter and Leeds are right for her as a person, then she should pick them. But if Edinburgh or Glasgow are right for her, she should go there, and not worry about crime levels. Crime in most places affects the working class estates in the suburbs, not the middle class university areas.
It's only natural for a mum to worry, but you need to realise that you are letting horror stories cloud your judgement. I would hate for your daughter to end up somewhere that isn't right for her because your worries about crime that doesn't even affect the average uni student were a tad over the top.
I'm an 18 year old living in Edinburgh during term time. I read a version of those reports in the paper I read and was really shocked about it. I've never seen or been involved in any trouble, nor do I know anyone who has. The area that was mentioned as the worst was the New Town, which I've been out in late at night with no problems at all. I've even been into a couple of the supposedly dodgy areas of the city at night and nothing has happened. I come from a little rural town, and feel just as safe in Edinburgh as I do at home.
To be honest, anyone who compares Edinburgh to New York in terms of crime needs their head examined!
I'll admit though that I don't feel wonderfully safe in Glasgow. I'm heading down there next Friday to see my boyfriend, and we're trying to make sure I won't be in the city after 7 o'clock.
To be honest, anyone who compares Edinburgh to New York in terms of crime needs their head examined!
I'll admit though that I don't feel wonderfully safe in Glasgow. I'm heading down there next Friday to see my boyfriend, and we're trying to make sure I won't be in the city after 7 o'clock.
Reply 10
Acaila
I'm an 18 year old living in Edinburgh during term time. I read a version of those reports in the paper I read and was really shocked about it. I've never seen or been involved in any trouble, nor do I know anyone who has. The area that was mentioned as the worst was the New Town, which I've been out in late at night with no problems at all. I've even been into a couple of the supposedly dodgy areas of the city at night and nothing has happened. I come from a little rural town, and feel just as safe in Edinburgh as I do at home.
To be honest, anyone who compares Edinburgh to New York in terms of crime needs their head examined!
I'll admit though that I don't feel wonderfully safe in Glasgow. I'm heading down there next Friday to see my boyfriend, and we're trying to make sure I won't be in the city after 7 o'clock.
To be honest, anyone who compares Edinburgh to New York in terms of crime needs their head examined!
I'll admit though that I don't feel wonderfully safe in Glasgow. I'm heading down there next Friday to see my boyfriend, and we're trying to make sure I won't be in the city after 7 o'clock.
So it sounds like you do not feel safe in Glasgow, so sad as my daughter is not going to be locked up like a caged bird at uni 24/7 and now I think she should change this insurance choice to Exeter or Leeds, any votes there? Even St. Andrews is looking better and better. Edinburgh is the firm choice and I am hearing mixed comments there, you are there and do you feel safe in the evening there as same age as Lisa? If she threw them all out and went for clearing, not sure if that strategy would result in another wonderful choice. Maybe we should just jump on a plane next week and get over there and head to Exeter and Leeds from London, onto Edinburgh and over to Glasgow and St. Andrews. Little time as we had planned a trip to France or Austria next month and all the students are not on campus so not a realistic view, although town would be available.
Reply 12
Edinburgh is sick.
Lisa's Mum
So it sounds like you do not feel safe in Glasgow, so sad as my daughter is not going to be locked up like a caged bird at uni 24/7 and now I think she should change this insurance choice to Exeter or Leeds, any votes there? Even St. Andrews is looking better and better. Edinburgh is the firm choice and I am hearing mixed comments there, you are there and do you feel safe in the evening there as same age as Lisa? If she threw them all out and went for clearing, not sure if that strategy would result in another wonderful choice. Maybe we should just jump on a plane next week and get over there and head to Exeter and Leeds from London, onto Edinburgh and over to Glasgow and St. Andrews. Little time as we had planned a trip to France or Austria next month and all the students are not on campus so not a realistic view, although town would be available.
Re Glasgow - my boyfriend is a 6'2'' guy, very athletic, etc. and he doesn't feel safe in Glasgow at night.
Edinburgh - I have never felt unsafe in. Obviously one has to be sensible and not go down dark alleyways on your own if there are swarthy smelly suspicious-looking blokes about! As someone above me mentioned gun crime is nowhere near the same in Britain, and I think it's even lower in Scotland than in England.
My uni (one of the other ones in Edinburgh) has security guards all over campus and CCTV and things and they throw out anyone they find after 9pm who can't produce keys for halls. So students are often extra-safe
Reply 14
Glasgow is shower...
You have to be streetwise to survive. 99.9% of students are not streetwise.
You have to be streetwise to survive. 99.9% of students are not streetwise.
Reply 16
LOL at "Glasgow being unsafe". Started going out in Glasgow when I was 16, I've yet to feel particularly "unsafe" at any time. Then again, I've lived near Glasgow my whole life, so that probably makes a difference. The reason a lot of young male students get themselves into trouble is that they're cheeky ****s, think they're something special, but in reality are all talk, and they try to act tough to random neds and are then surprised when they get a punch in the teeth for it 
.
Keep yourself to yourself, if some drunken ned tries to talk to you, have a banter then move on. Most of them are actually quite friendly, so long as you don't feel superior to them (and make it obvious).
There are rough areas in Glasgow like in any city, but the city centre is perfectly safe so long as you don't go LOOKING for trouble.
.Keep yourself to yourself, if some drunken ned tries to talk to you, have a banter then move on. Most of them are actually quite friendly, so long as you don't feel superior to them (and make it obvious).
There are rough areas in Glasgow like in any city, but the city centre is perfectly safe so long as you don't go LOOKING for trouble.
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