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
- 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