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what's the difference between a bachelor and a masters degree for...

an undergraduate?

this may be a stupid question but i thought a masters were better than a bachelor degree but is taking 3 years than 4 years better than taking just 4 years for a masters?

:confused:

Reply 1

tbm

13

A masters degree is normally something you do after obtaining an undergraduate degree (unless you have years of experience working in a specific area that is, sometimes that can be grounds for entry onto a masters course). Im not sure what you mean really, was that the answer you wanted?

Some employers prefer people to have masters degrees especially if you are going for a job with lots of competition, but it depends what sort of area you were thinking of working in.

Reply 2

Platinum Mech

12

PQ

In some subjects (mainly science and engineering) you can do a 4 year undergraduate masters degree. This is an alternative (sort of) to doing a starndard 3 yr bachelors degree and then a second 1 yr postgraduate masters degree.

In scotland things are different.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Master%27s_degree#United_Kingdom probably explains better than I can

I was just about to ask, isn't there such thing as a four-year undergraduate Master's degree? :confused:

Because I remember hearing about how Charles Kennedy studied for an MA at Glasgow University, and then thinking how strange it was that he must have only been there for about a year. :p:

Reply 3

Psyk

16

Yeah I'm on an MEng course. It's an undergraduate masters, basically meaning it's one more year of in-depth study on top of the normal 3 year BSc course (although for me the 3rd year is slightly different too).

Generally I don't think they are as highly regarded as a postgrad masters, but it is more highly regarded than a bachelors obviously.

Reply 4

Nikuhiru

Masters are more in-depth than the bachelors and it is preferred by employers. In the case of Engineering an MEng is the more preferred route in order to become a Chartered Engineer.

Reply 5

Astudentinneed

OP

2

Whats is the difference between a post-grad masters degree or a undergraduate masters degree.

same time, same content right?

Reply 6

ancientone

8

Certainly in England most undergraduates would study for a Bachelor's degree first, taking three years. If they want, and have a 'good honours' degree(1st or 2.1) then they may study for a Masters degree (MA/MSc etc). This then takes four years. There are some degrees that automatically lead to Masters degree, but these take a straight four years rather than three years plus one.

A Master's degree shows more in depth study, and usually more research. There are two types - taught and research. Taught degrees in my area usually lead to an MA, whilst a reasearch masters would lead to an M.Phil.

Reply 7

Anonystude

Or you can go to certain universities and get the MA for 'free', despite only doing a three year course. I'll get both an MA(Hons) and an MEng from my four year course... :wink:

Reply 8

Elles

17

Really? My MChem friends were under the impression that they aren't actually ever awarded a BA so aren't entitled to upgrade to the MA(Oxon) in addition.

Your article explains that - "Although honours are awarded for the examinations leading to the BA degree, as there is no examination for the MA degree, it is incorrect to use the abbreviation MA (Hons)." So if you do I'd just go for the MA (University).

Reply 9

Anonystude

I know that at the Fenland Poly we get both the BA(Hons) and the MEng. Didn't actually bother to check about the (Hons) status of the MA though -- either way I'll have more letters after my name than in it... :wink:

Reply 10

Psyk

16

Astudentinneed

Whats is the difference between a post-grad masters degree or a undergraduate masters degree.

same time, same content right?

Postgrad courses seem to be mostly more highly specialised or conversion courses. Whereas undergraduate ones are still more general just more in-depth content. I'm doing an MEng in straight computer science but I might go on and do a masters in games programming after I graduate.

Reply 11

OldMan

Elles

Really? My MChem friends were under the impression that they aren't actually ever awarded a BA so aren't entitled to upgrade to the MA(Oxon) in addition.

Your article explains that - "Although honours are awarded for the examinations leading to the BA degree, as there is no examination for the MA degree, it is incorrect to use the abbreviation MA (Hons)." So if you do I'd just go for the MA (University).

I believe you are right Elles. MChem etc are not entitled to become an MA, but after 21 terms (from matriculation) they become members of convocation and their degrees rank equally with MA in university precedence.

Reply 12

Perfection

8

Nobody has pointed out the big plus of doing an undergraduate masters degree, that is that you get state funding on the same level that you had for the previous 3 years. Whereas, for a postgrad masters, funding is fiercely competitive.

Reply 13

Crisdean

there for four Scottish universities that will award as their first degrees a masters: Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and St Andrew's. This is a hang on from the old Scottish university system (these universities were present before the union of Scotland and England); you can not get a BSc or BA from these universities, only a masters, but the level of study is still the same. Scotland still has a distinct and separate education system, but all first degrees from other Scottish universities will award the more common BA, BSc. So thought coming from these four universities you will come out with a "masters" it does not mean that you have studied to masters level as in doing a postgraduate degree.

(edited 8 years ago)

Reply 14

super_kawaii

20

Original post by Crisdean

there for four Scottish universities that will award as their first degrees a masters: Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and St Andrew's. This is a hang on from the old Scottish university system (these universities were present before the union of Scotland and England); you can not get a BSc or BA from these universities, only a masters, but the level of study is still the same. Scotland still has a distinct and separate education system, but all first degrees from other Scottish universities will award the more common BA, BSc. So thought coming from these four universities you will come out with a "masters" it does not mean that you have studied to masters level as in doing a postgraduate degree.