Editing Academic degree (section)

==== United Kingdom ====

===== England, Wales and Northern Ireland =====
[[File:King's College London Medical School Graduates.png|thumb|upright=1.15|The newly conferred bachelor's degree holders after graduation at [[King's College London]], one of the founding colleges of the [[University of London]]]]

An academic degree is protected under UK law. All valid UK degrees are awarded by universities or other degree-awarding bodies whose powers to do so are recognised by the UK government; hence they are known as "recognised bodies".<ref>{{citation | author = ((Department of Business, Innovation and Skills)) | url =https://www.gov.uk/check-a-university-is-officially-recognised/recognised-bodies | title = UK government's list of recognised bodies | access-date=12 March 2014}}</ref>

The standard [[Undergraduate degree|first degree]] in England, Northern Ireland and Wales is the [[bachelor's degree]] conferred with honours. Usually this is a Bachelor of Arts (BA) or a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree. Other variants exist: for example, Bachelor of Education or [[Bachelor of Laws]]. It usually takes three years to read for a bachelor's degree.

The honours are usually categorised into four classes:
* First class honours (1st).
* Second class honours, divided into:
** Upper division or upper second (2:1).
** Lower division or lower second (2:2).
* Third class honours (3rd).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dayjob.com/degree-classification-708/|title=Degree classification, grade, honours, first class, second class, two two, university, jobs|date=15 November 2018}}</ref>

Candidates who have not achieved the standard for the award of honours may be admitted without honours to the "ordinary" bachelor's degree if they have met the required standard for this lesser qualification (also referred to as a "pass degree"). Standard levels for each of these classes are 70%+ for a first, 60–69% for a 2:1, 50–59% for a 2:2, 40–49% for a 3rd and 30%+ for a pass degree, although this can vary by institution (e.g. the [[Open University]]).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.document-centre.co.uk/blog/10072014151234-bachelor-degree-grades-explained/|title=Bachelor Degree Grades Explained {{!}} Blog|website=Document-centre.co.uk|access-date=13 January 2017}}</ref>

The [[foundation degree]]<ref>{{citation | url =http://www.qaa.ac.uk/Publications/InformationAndGuidance/Pages/Foundation-Degree-qualification-benchmark-May-2010.aspx | title =Foundation degree qualification benchmark | website =Qaa.ac.uk | access-date =12 March 2014 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20140312224644/http://www.qaa.ac.uk/Publications/InformationAndGuidance/Pages/Foundation-Degree-qualification-benchmark-May-2010.aspx | archive-date =12 March 2014 | url-status =dead }}</ref> is a qualification, lower than bachelor's level, awarded following a two-year programme of study that is usually vocational in nature. The foundation degree can be awarded by a university or college of higher education that has been granted foundation-degree-awarding powers by the UK government. This degree is comparable to an [[associate degree]] in the United States.

The universities of Oxford and Cambridge award honorary Master of Arts (MA) degrees to graduates of their bachelor's programmes, following a specified period of time. This is comparable to the practice of the ancient universities in Scotland awarding an MA for a first degree and arguably reflects the rigorous standards expected of their graduates.

[[Master's degrees]]<ref>{{citation | url=http://www.qaa.ac.uk/Publications/InformationAndGuidance/Pages/Masters-degree-characteristics.aspx | title=Master's degree characteristics | access-date=12 March 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140312224510/http://www.qaa.ac.uk/Publications/InformationAndGuidance/Pages/Masters-degree-characteristics.aspx | archive-date=12 March 2014 | url-status=dead }}</ref> such as Master of Arts or Master of Science are typically awarded to students who have undertaken at least a year of full-time [[Postgraduate education|postgraduate study]], which may require study and involve an element of research. Degrees such as Master of Philosophy (MPhil) or Master of Letters/Literature (MLitt) are likely to be awarded for postgraduate study involving original research. A student undertaking a master's would normally be expected to already hold a bachelor's degree in a relevant subject, hence the possibility of reaching the master's level in one year.

Some universities award a master's as a first degree following an integrated programme of study (an 'integrated master's degree'). These degrees are usually designated by the subject, such as [[Master of Engineering]] for engineering, [[Master of Physics]] for physics, [[Master of Mathematics]] for mathematics and so on; it usually takes four years to read for them. Graduation to these degrees is always with honours. Master of Engineering in particular has now become the standard first degree in engineering at the top UK universities, replacing the older Bachelor of Engineering.

Master's degrees are often graded as:
* Distinction
* Merit
* Pass

The Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree is highly valued by those seeking to advance in business as managers and decision makers.

Doctoral degrees or [[doctorate]]s,<ref>{{citation | last = Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education | url = http://www.qaa.ac.uk/Publications/InformationAndGuidance/Pages/Doctoral_characteristics.aspx | title = doctoral degree characteristics | website = Qaa.ac.uk | access-date = 12 March 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140312213520/http://www.qaa.ac.uk/Publications/InformationAndGuidance/Pages/Doctoral_characteristics.aspx | archive-date = 12 March 2014 | url-status = dead }}</ref> such as the Doctor of Philosophy degree (PhD or DPhil) or Doctor of Education (EdD or DEd), are awarded following a programme of original research that contributes new knowledge within the context of the student's discipline. Doctoral degrees usually take three years full-time. Therefore, in the UK it may only take seven years to progress from undergraduate to earning a doctorate – in some cases six, since having a master's is not always a precondition for embarking on a doctoral degree. This contrasts with nine years in the United States, reflecting differences in the educational systems.

Some doctorates, such as the Doctor of Clinical Psychology (DClinPsy) qualification, confirm competence to practice in particular professions. There are also higher doctorates – Doctor of Science (DSc) and Doctor of Letters/Literature (DLitt) — that are typically awarded to experienced academics who have demonstrated a high level of achievement in their academic career; for example, they may have published widely on their subject or become professors in their fields.

UK post-secondary qualifications are defined at different levels, with levels 1–3 denoting further education and levels 4–8 denoting higher education. Within this structure, a foundation degree is at level 5; a bachelor's degree at level 6; a master's degree at level 7; and a doctoral degree at level 8.<ref>{{citation | url =http://www.qaa.ac.uk/Publications/InformationAndGuidance/Pages/The-framework-for-higher-education-qualifications-in-England-Wales-and-Northern-Ireland.aspx | title =The framework for higher education qualifications in England, Wales and Northern Ireland (FHEQ) | website =Qaa.ac.uk | access-date =12 March 2014 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20140320051738/http://www.qaa.ac.uk/publications/informationandguidance/pages/the-framework-for-higher-education-qualifications-in-england-wales-and-northern-ireland.aspx | archive-date =20 March 2014 | url-status =dead }}</ref> Full information about the expectations for different types of UK degrees is published by the [[Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education]].<ref>{{citation| url =http://www.qaa.ac.uk/Publications/InformationAndGuidance/Pages/quality-code-A1.aspx| title =Quality Code, Chapter A1: The national level| website =Qaa.ac.uk| access-date =12 March 2014| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20140312224401/http://www.qaa.ac.uk/Publications/InformationAndGuidance/Pages/quality-code-A1.aspx| archive-date =12 March 2014| url-status =dead}}</ref>

See also [[graduate certificate]], [[graduate diploma]], [[postgraduate certificate]], [[postgraduate diploma]] and [[British degree abbreviations]].

===== Scotland =====
The standard [[Undergraduate degree|first degree]] for students studying arts or humanities in [[Scotland]] is either a [[Bachelor of Arts]] or a [[Master of Arts (Scotland)|Master of Arts]] (the latter traditionally awarded by the [[Ancient Universities of Scotland]] for a first degree in an arts/humanities subject). The standard undergraduate degree for natural and social science subjects is the [[Bachelor of Science]].<ref>{{citation | last = Scottish qualifications framework, forming part of the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework | url = http://www.qaa.ac.uk/Publications/InformationAndGuidance/Pages/FHEQ-Scotland.aspx | title = The framework for qualifications of higher education institutions in Scotland (FHQEIS) | website = Qaa.ac.uk | access-date = 12 March 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121118091832/http://www.qaa.ac.uk/Publications/InformationAndGuidance/Pages/FHEQ-Scotland.aspx | archive-date = 18 November 2012 | url-status = dead }}</ref>

Students can work towards a first degree at either ordinary or honours level. A general or ordinary degree (BA/MA or BSc) takes three years to complete; an honours degree (BA/MA Hons or BSc Hons) takes four years. The ordinary degree need not be in a specific subject, but can involve study across a range of subjects within (and sometimes beyond) the relevant faculty, in which case it may also be called a general degree. If a third year or junior honours subject is included, the ordinary degree in that named discipline is awarded. The honours degree involves two years of study at a sub-honours level in which a range of subjects within the relevant faculty are studied and then two years of study at honours level which is specialised in a single field (for example classics, history, chemistry, biology, etc.). Not all universities in Scotland adhere to this; in some, one studies in several subjects within a faculty for three years and can then specialise in two areas and attain a joint honours degree in fourth year.

This also reflects the broader scope of the final years of [[Education in Scotland|Scottish secondary education]], where traditionally five [[Higher (Scottish)|Highers]] are studied, compared to (typically) three English or Welsh [[Advanced Level (UK)|A-Levels]]. The Higher is a one-year qualification, as opposed to the two years of A-Levels, which accounts for Scottish honours degrees being a year longer than those in England. [[Advanced Higher (Scottish)|Advanced Highers]] add an optional final year of secondary education, bringing students up to the level of their A-Level counterparts – students with strong A-Levels or Advanced Highers may be offered entry directly into the second year at Scottish universities.

Honours for MA or bachelor's degrees are classified into three classes:
* First class honours
* Second class honours, divided into:
** Division one (2:1) [Upper Second Class Honours]
** Division two (2:2) [Lower Second Class Honours]
* Third class honours
Students who complete all the requirements for an honours degree, but who do not receive sufficient merit to be awarded third-class honours, may be awarded a ''Special Degree'' (ordinary degree – bachelor's level SCQF Level 9).

In most respects, the criteria for awarding qualifications at honours level and above are the same as in the rest of the UK (see above under England, Wales and Northern Ireland). Postgraduate qualifications are not designated Master of Arts, as in the rest of the UK, as this is an undergraduate degree. Postgraduate degrees in arts and humanities subjects are usually designated [[Master of Letters]] (M.Litt.) or, in natural and social sciences, [[Master of Science]] (M.Sc.). Non-doctoral postgraduate research degrees are usually designated [[Master of Philosophy]] (M.Phil.) or [[Master of Research]] (M.Res.). The postgraduate teaching qualification is the Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE).

Postgraduate qualifications are classified into four classes:
* Distinction
* Credit
* Merit
* Pass