Master of Arts (Scotland)

Master Of Arts (Scotland)

The degree of Master of Arts in Scotland refers to an undergraduate academic degree in the arts, liberal arts, humanities or social sciences awarded by one of the ancient universities of Scotland – the University of St Andrews, the University of Glasgow, the University of Aberdeen, the University of Edinburgh and also by the University of Dundee (as a result of its history as a constituent college of the University of St Andrews). Heriot-Watt University also offers undergraduate MA programmes in certain subjects. Undergraduate MAs are also awarded, with several material differences, by the other ancient universities in the British Isles: Oxford, Cambridge and Dublin (see: Master of Arts (Oxbridge and Dublin)). The degree can either be completed as a Master of Arts with Honours in four years, or as a Master of Arts "ordinary" or "designated" degree (without honours) in three years. For the postgraduate degree referred to in other places as "Master of Arts", Scottish universities usually award the degree of Master of Letters (MLitt). At non-ancient universities in Scotland (e.g. University of Strathclyde, The Robert Gordon University, University of the Highlands and Islands, etc.), arts degrees are awarded as Bachelor of Arts (BA). These four-year honours degrees differ from the MA only in name.