Scottish Uni's

Ok, I know that Scottish courses are generally 4 years but what does that entail, I read in one prospectus that after 4 years you receive a BSc but Edinburgh say you will be awarded an MA...Can someone clear this up for me,
Cheers.

Reply 1

Leekey

jumpunderaboat

I can only speak for Edinburgh but....if you do 4 year course (equivalent to a 3 year course at an English uni) you graduate with an MA, even though you have only been there for the batchelor degree course (I think you hve to pay a sall fee upon graduation though). This is because at Scottish uni's you (normally) study 3 courses in the first year and then specialise in the following 3 years and hence you have the chance to study you subject in greater depth. :smile:

Reply 2

LongGone

I was looking at Aberdeen a while back... you seemed to get an MA for an arts course and a BSc for a science course, even though they were both four years- but the entry requirements for the science courses were slightly lower.

Reply 3

Leekey

Frances

Yeah, I've got to work my ass off for 5 years if I want my MEng or MSc. :rolleyes:

Reply 4

Acaila

Some courses end up with MAs, some with BAs/Bscs.
My mum did a three year course and got an MA out of it at Glasgow :biggrin:

Reply 5

lou p lou

scottish unis don't tend to offer BAs, so everyone gets MAs.

lou xxx

Reply 6

Unregistered

I had an offer for European studies from Liverpool JM but I finally declined it and after talking with the admissions tutor of Aberdeen uni I have been offered a place to study Computing Science with French. :biggrin:

It's a 4 year BSc Hon degree.

Usually science degrees are 4 year BSc's honours degrees and arts degrees are 4 year MA's.

Reply 7

LongGone

Leekey

Yeah, I've got to work my ass off for 5 years if I want my MEng or MSc. :rolleyes:

Wow, that's kinda harsh. How come they only give out the masters for the arts course? Is it a historical thing or something?

Reply 8

Leekey

Frances

Wow, that's kinda harsh. How come they only give out the masters for the arts course? Is it a historical thing or something?

Yeah I think it probably goes way back to the days when there was no distinction betweem degrees. I don't mind too much though, it just means I get another year of living as a student (no bad thing)!!! :biggrin:

Reply 9

DenverDiva

The Scottish arts degree system gives an MA Honours degree after four years, the equivalent science degree is the BSc Honours. In some institutions /subjects, particularly where the students are likely to go into degree-related vocational training (e.g. accountancy) it's not uncommon to leave after three years with a MA/BSc without honours.

The Scottish MA, with or without honours, is not equivalent to a post-graduate "Masters" degree - students awarded the first level post-graduate degree get an MLitt or MSc (or appropriate variant).

The traditional four year undergraduate programme allows students to study other subjects in the first one or two years (depending on the institution) in addition to the subject(s) of the eventual degree. It's quite common for students to change their degree intention after the first year when they realise that Social Anthropology interests them far more than Modern French Literature.