Names of our degrees

An explanation of the differences in degree names between universities in Scotland and those elsewhere in the UK.

Like other Scottish universities, many of our undergraduate degrees are named 'masters'.

This is unlike elsewhere in the UK, where first degrees are generally 'bachelor' degrees.

Most arts, humanities and social science degrees at Edinburgh are awarded as MA (Hons). This is a conventional undergraduate degree, not equivalent to a postgraduate masters.

Arts degrees studied at Edinburgh College of Art are mostly BA (Hons). They are equivalent to Edinburgh undergraduate degrees named MA - the difference in name is historical.

In science and engineering subjects there is often the choice of a BSc or an integrated masters degree such as MPhys, MChem or MEng. These programmes entail a further year of in-depth study at masters level.

Undergraduate law degrees are awarded as Bachelor of Laws, or LLB (Hons).

The School of Divinity offers the Bachelor of Divinity, BD (Hons)/MDiv (Hons), in addition to MA (Hons) undergraduate degrees.

Our award titles

BA

Bachelor of Arts

BA (Hons)

Bachelor of Arts with Honours

BA (DIV)

Bachelor of Arts (Divinity)

BA (RS)

Bachelor of Arts (Religious Studies)

BD

Bachelor of Divinity

BD (Hons)

Bachelor of Divinity with Honours

BEd

Bachelor of Education

BEd (Hons)

Bachelor of Education with Honours

BEng

Bachelor of Engineering

BEng (Hons)

Bachelor of Engineering with Honours

BMus

Bachelor of Music

BMus (Hons)

Bachelor of Music with Honours

BN

Bachelor of Nursing

BN (Hons)

Bachelor of Nursing with Honours

BSc

Bachelor of Science

BSc (Hons)

Bachelor of Science with Honours

BVMS

Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery

LLB

Bachelor of Laws

LLB (Hons)

Bachelor of Laws with Honours

MA

Master of Arts

MA (Hons)

Master of Arts with Honours

MBChb

Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery/Chirurgery

MBiol

Master of Biology

MChem

Master of Chemistry

MChem (Hons)

Master of Chemistry with Honours

MChemPhys

Master of Chemical Physics

MChemPhys (Hons)

Master of Chemical Physics with Honours

MEarthSci

Master of Earth Science

MEarthSci (Hons)

Master of Earth Science with Honours

MEng

Master of Engineering

MEng (Hons)

Master of Engineering with Honours

MInf

Master of Informatics

MInf (Hons)

Master of Informatics with Honours

MMath

Master of Mathematics

MMath (Hons)

Master of Mathematics with Honours

MPhys

Master of Physics

MPhys (Hons)

Master of Physics with Honours

MSc

Master of Science

MSc (Hons)

Master of Science with Honours

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