Master's degree

A master's degree is an academic degree usually awarded for completion of a postgraduate or graduate course of one to three years in duration. In the United Kingdom it is sometimes awarded for an undergraduate course whose final year consists of higher-level courses and a major research project. In the recent standardized European system of higher education diplomas, it corresponds to a two-year graduate program to be entered after three years of undergraduate studies and in preparation for either high-qualification employment or for doctoral studies.

United Kingdom

Undergraduate Masters

(MSci, MChem, MComp, MEng, MMath, MPhys, etc.)

Related Topics:
MSci - MChem - MComp - MEng - MMath - MPhys

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In the UK, many universities now have a four year (five years in Scotland) undergraduate programmes in science courses, with a project in the final year. The awards for these are named after the subject, so a course in mathematics would earn a Master of Mathematics degree, (abbreviated to MMath), or have a general title such as MSci (Master in Science at most universities but Master of Natural Sciences at Cambridge).

Related Topics:
UK - Scotland - Undergraduate - Science - Mathematics - Master of Natural Sciences - Cambridge

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Although these degrees reflect a higher level of achievement than the traditional bachelor's degree, some are generally considered less prestigious than postgraduate master's degrees such as MSc and MA.

Related Topics:
Bachelor's degree - MSc

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Postgraduate Masters

Postgraduate masters in the United Kingdom can either be "taught" degrees, involving lectures, examination and a short dissertation, or "research" degrees (though the latter have largely been replaced by MPhil and MRes programmes, see below). Taught masters' programmes involve 1 or 2 years of full-time study. The programmes are often very intensive and demanding, and concentrate on one very specialised area of knowledge. Some universities also offer a Masters by Learning Contract scheme, where a candidate can specify his or her own learning objectives; these are submitted to supervising academics for approval, and are assessed by means of written reports, practical demonstrations and presentations.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Taught Postgraduate Masters

(MSc, MA, MLitt)

Related Topics:
MSc - MA - MLitt

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The most common types of postgraduate taught Masters degrees are the MA and MSc. However, some universities - particularly those in Scotland - award the MLitt (Master of Letters) to students in the Arts, Divinity and Social Sciences.

Related Topics:
MLitt - Arts - Divinity - Social Sciences - Cambridge

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Until recently, both the undergraduate and postgraduate master's degrees were awarded without grade or class (like the class of a bachelor's degree). Nowadays however, masters degrees are classified into the categories of Pass, Merit and Distinction – commonly 50+, 60+, and 70+ percent marks, respectively. (UK)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Research Postgraduate Masters

(MPhil and MRes)

Related Topics:
MPhil - MRes

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Master of Philosophy (MPhil) is a research degree awarded for the completion of a thesis. It is a shorter version of the Ph.D. and some universities routinely enter potential PhD students into the MPhil programme and allow them to upgrade to the full PhD programme a year or two into the course.

Related Topics:
MPhil - Ph.D.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Master of Research (MRes) degree is a more structured and organised version of the MPhil, usually designed to prepare a student for a career in research. For example, an MRes may combine individual research with periods of work placement in research establisments.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Like the PhD, the MPhil and MRes degrees are awarded without class or grade.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

MAs in Oxford, Cambridge and Dublin

The universities of Oxford, Cambridge and Dublin award master's degrees to BAs without further examination, when a certain number of years after matriculation (7 in the case of Oxford and Cambridge) have passed, and (in some but not all cases) upon payment of a nominal fee. It is commonplace for recipients of the degree to have graduated several years previously and to have had little official contact with the university or academic life since then. The only real significance of these degrees is that they historically conferred voting rights in University elections, and certain other privileges e.g. the right to dine at the holder's college's high table. They still do confer some restricted and rarely used voting rights. The MAs awarded by Oxford and Cambridge are colloquially known as the Oxbridge MA. The University of Cambridge also offers an MA to certain senior staff - both academic and non-academic - after three years' employment with the university.

Related Topics:
Oxford - Cambridge - Dublin - Matriculation

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Until the advent of the modern research university in the mid 19th century, several other British and American universities also gave such degrees "in course".

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Scottish MA

In Scotland the first Arts and Social Science degree awarded by many universities is the Master of Arts It should be noted the science and law faculties of Scottish universities award the BSc and LLB degrees respectively and the New Universities generally award the BA. The Scottish MA is roughly equivalent to a BA from a University elsewhere in the United Kingdom.

Related Topics:
Scotland - Master of Arts - BSc - LLB - New Universities

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~