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Master of Arts (Scotland)

 

 
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Master of Arts (Scotland)
 
 
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A Master of Arts in Scotland
Scotland

conventional_long_name = ScotlandAlba|common_name= Scotland|image_flag = Flag of Scotland.svg|flag_width = 130px...
 is an academic degree in humanities
Humanities

The humanities are academic disciplines which study the human condition, using methods that are primarily analytic, critical, or speculative, as distinguished from the mainly empirical approaches of the natural science and social sciences....
 and social sciences awarded by the ancient universities of Scotland
Ancient universities of Scotland

The ancient universities of Scotland are medieval universities and renaissance university which continue to exist until the present day. The majority of the ancient universities of the British Isles are located within Scotland, and have a number of distinctive features in common, being governed by a series of measures laid down in the Univers...
 – St Andrews University, the University of Glasgow
University of Glasgow

The University of Glasgow was founded in 1451, in Glasgow, Scotland, and, along with its contemporary institution, the University of St Andrews, it formed the Kingdom of Scotland's equivalent to Oxbridge....
, the University of Aberdeen
University of Aberdeen

The University of Aberdeen is an ancient university founded in 1495, in Old Aberdeen, Scotland. It is the fifth oldest university in what is now the United Kingdom, and in the wider English-speaking world....
 and Edinburgh University. Heriot-Watt University
Heriot-Watt University

Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland, is the eighth-oldest higher education institution in the United Kingdom , although it only received its university charter in 1966....
 also offers this degree, and the University of Dundee
University of Dundee

The University of Dundee is a university in the city and Royal burgh of Dundee, Scotland.Founded in 1881 and existing for most of its early existence as a Collegiate university of the University of St Andrews, the University of Dundee became an independent institution in 1967 whilst retaining much of its ancient universities of Scotland he...
 awards this degree as a result of its link with St Andrews. The degree course usually lasts four years, although it is possible to finish a course after three years and be awarded an "ordinary degree".

Subjects awarded
The MA applies only to fine art
Fine art

Fine art describes any art form developed primarily for aesthetics and/or concept rather than utility. This type of art is often expressed in the production of art objects using Visual arts and performing art forms, including painting, sculpture, dance, theatre, architecture, photography and printmaking....
, humanities
Humanities

The humanities are academic disciplines which study the human condition, using methods that are primarily analytic, critical, or speculative, as distinguished from the mainly empirical approaches of the natural science and social sciences....
, social sciences
Social sciences

The social sciences comprise academic disciplines concerned with the study of the social life of human groups and individuals including anthropology, communication studies, economics, human geography, history, political science, psychology and sociology....
 and theology
Theology

Theology is the study of the existence or attributes of a deity or gods, or more generally the study of religion or spirituality. It is sometimes contrasted with religious studies: theology is understood as the study of religion from an internal perspective , and religious studies as the study of religion from an external perspective....
 within these universities.






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A Master of Arts in Scotland
Scotland

conventional_long_name = ScotlandAlba|common_name= Scotland|image_flag = Flag of Scotland.svg|flag_width = 130px...
 is an academic degree in humanities
Humanities

The humanities are academic disciplines which study the human condition, using methods that are primarily analytic, critical, or speculative, as distinguished from the mainly empirical approaches of the natural science and social sciences....
 and social sciences awarded by the ancient universities of Scotland
Ancient universities of Scotland

The ancient universities of Scotland are medieval universities and renaissance university which continue to exist until the present day. The majority of the ancient universities of the British Isles are located within Scotland, and have a number of distinctive features in common, being governed by a series of measures laid down in the Univers...
 – St Andrews University, the University of Glasgow
University of Glasgow

The University of Glasgow was founded in 1451, in Glasgow, Scotland, and, along with its contemporary institution, the University of St Andrews, it formed the Kingdom of Scotland's equivalent to Oxbridge....
, the University of Aberdeen
University of Aberdeen

The University of Aberdeen is an ancient university founded in 1495, in Old Aberdeen, Scotland. It is the fifth oldest university in what is now the United Kingdom, and in the wider English-speaking world....
 and Edinburgh University. Heriot-Watt University
Heriot-Watt University

Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland, is the eighth-oldest higher education institution in the United Kingdom , although it only received its university charter in 1966....
 also offers this degree, and the University of Dundee
University of Dundee

The University of Dundee is a university in the city and Royal burgh of Dundee, Scotland.Founded in 1881 and existing for most of its early existence as a Collegiate university of the University of St Andrews, the University of Dundee became an independent institution in 1967 whilst retaining much of its ancient universities of Scotland he...
 awards this degree as a result of its link with St Andrews. The degree course usually lasts four years, although it is possible to finish a course after three years and be awarded an "ordinary degree".

Subjects awarded


The MA applies only to fine art
Fine art

Fine art describes any art form developed primarily for aesthetics and/or concept rather than utility. This type of art is often expressed in the production of art objects using Visual arts and performing art forms, including painting, sculpture, dance, theatre, architecture, photography and printmaking....
, humanities
Humanities

The humanities are academic disciplines which study the human condition, using methods that are primarily analytic, critical, or speculative, as distinguished from the mainly empirical approaches of the natural science and social sciences....
, social sciences
Social sciences

The social sciences comprise academic disciplines concerned with the study of the social life of human groups and individuals including anthropology, communication studies, economics, human geography, history, political science, psychology and sociology....
 and theology
Theology

Theology is the study of the existence or attributes of a deity or gods, or more generally the study of religion or spirituality. It is sometimes contrasted with religious studies: theology is understood as the study of religion from an internal perspective , and religious studies as the study of religion from an external perspective....
 within these universities. The Honours degree of Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science

A Bachelor of Science is an bachelor's degree academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years ....
 (BSc) is awarded for four years of study in the field of science and the honours Bachelor of Laws
Bachelor of Laws

The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree and which originated in England....
 (LLB) is the four year legal degree (again with an ordinary available after three years).

There are a few subjects which can award either an MA or BSc. For instance, students studying management at St Andrews University may be awarded either an MA or a BSc depending on whether they are a member of the faculty of arts or the faculty of sciences (respectively).

The Universities of Glasgow, Aberdeen and Edinburgh also offer the degree of Bachelor of Divinity
Bachelor of Divinity

In Western culture universities, a Bachelor of Divinity is usually an undergraduate academic degree awarded for a course taken in the study of divinity or related disciplines, such as theology or, rarely, religious studies....
 (BD) as a four-year course (Bachelor of Divinity
Bachelor of Divinity

In Western culture universities, a Bachelor of Divinity is usually an undergraduate academic degree awarded for a course taken in the study of divinity or related disciplines, such as theology or, rarely, religious studies....
 is offered at the University of St Andrews
University of St Andrews

The University of St Andrews is the List of oldest universities in continuous operation university in Scotland and third oldest in the English-speaking world, having been founded between 1410 and 1413....
, however is a postgraduate degree for a student who has already completed a Master of Arts
Master of Arts (Scotland)

A Master of Arts in Scotland is an academic degree in humanities and social sciences awarded by the ancient universities of Scotland ? St Andrews University, the University of Glasgow, the University of Aberdeen and Edinburgh University....
. The undergraduate degree in divinity/theology is designated Master of Theology
Master of Theology

A Master of Theology is an academic degree offered by many university divinity schools and seminaries worldwide....
 (MTheol)). Newer undergraduate degrees are either undergraduate Bachelors or undergraduate Masters in the advanced undergraduate degree scheme as above.

Status


Scottish/Oxbridge
Oxbridge

Oxbridge was originally a fictional composite of the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge in England, and the term is now used to refer to them collectively, often with implications of superior intellectual or social status, emphasising the apparent "difficulty" of gaining admission....
 M.A.s are seen by some as being within the cohort of advanced undergraduate degrees such as M.Math. or M.Sci., mostly as a combination of the title of "Master of Arts" (as opposed to the title of Bachelor) and also by virtue of being granted by a leading research university with a long history.

Honours


As opposed to the Oxbridge MA (which has no honours as there are no separate exams for the award of MA), the Scottish MA is awarded with the same system of honours as other British undergraduate degrees, for example "MA (Hons) Upper Second Class".