Degree abbreviations are used as an alternative way to specify an academic degree instead of spelling out the title in full, such as in reference books such as Who's Who and on business cards. Many degrees have more than one abbreviation. In the UK it is normal not to punctuate abbreviations for degrees with full stops (e.g. "BSc" rather than "B.Sc."), although this is done at some universities.
Maps, Directions, and Place Reviews
Overview
The Frameworks for Higher Education Qualifications of UK Degree-Awarding Bodies lays down five levels of qualification with the title of degree: foundation (not in Scotland), ordinary and honours bachelor's (only separate levels in Scotland), master's and doctoral. These relate to specific outcome-based level descriptors and are tied to the Bologna Process.
Anomalies
For historical reasons some universities (the ancient universities of England and Scotland) do not fully adhere to the Framework (particularly with respect to the title of Master of Arts), and degrees in medicine, dentistry, and veterinary medicine are titled as bachelor's degrees despite being at master's level.
Undergraduate Master of Arts degrees
The usage in the ancient universities is not consistent with the Framework or the Bologna Process. The ancient universities of England (Oxford and Cambridge) grant an MA degree that is not a substantive qualification but reflects the ancient practice of these universities of promoting BAs to MAs (and thus full membership of the University) a few years after graduating (see Master of Arts (Oxbridge and Dublin)). The ancient universities of Scotland award an undergraduate MA (see Scottish MA) instead of a BA.
The MAs from Aberdeen, Heriot-Watt, Glasgow, Edinburgh and St Andrews are considered bachelor's level qualifications on the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications and first cycle qualifications under the Bologna Process, while the Oxbridge MAs are considered "not academic qualifications" (the actual qualification being the BA).
Master's level bachelors degrees
Conversely, some bachelor's degrees in the "higher faculties" at the older universities in the UK (e.g. those other than arts at Oxford and Cambridge) are postgraduate qualifications (e.g. the BCL and BMus at Oxford). Many have been changed to the corresponding master's degree (e.g. BSc is now MSc at Oxford), but only within the last generation. The BD remains a higher degree at some universities (e.g. Oxford, Cambridge, St Andrews and, until recently, Durham) but is an undergraduate degree at most (e.g. London, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Glasgow).
Bachelor's degrees in medicine, dentistry and veterinary science, while undergraduate degrees, are longer courses and are considered to be master's level qualifications in the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications and second cycle qualifications under the Bologna Process.
Bachelor/Master/Doctor of Philosophy
There is an international (but not universal) custom that certain degrees will be designated '.... of Philosophy'. Examples are the BPhil (Bachelor of Philosophy), MPhil (Master of Philosophy) and PhD or DPhil (Doctor of Philosophy). Most recipients of such degrees have not engaged in a specialised study of academic philosophy - the degree is available for almost the whole range of disciplines. The origins lie in the ancient practice of regarding all areas of study as elements of 'philosophy' with its Greek meaning, 'friend of wisdom'. Thus holders of an MPhil degree may have earned it in any academic discipline.
How To Abbreviate Masters Of Education Video
Foundation Level Qualifications
These qualifications sit at level 5 (foundation level) of the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications and are short cycle (within or linked to the first cycle) qualifications under the Bologna Process.
See also Foundation degree.
- FdA - Foundation of Arts
- FdEng - Foundation of Engineering
- FdSc - Foundation of Sciences
Bachelor's Level Qualifications
These qualifications sit at level 6 (bachelor's level) of the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications and are first cycle (end of cycle) qualifications under the Bologna Process.
Most British bachelor's degrees are honours degrees, sometimes indicated by putting "(Hons)" after the degree abbreviation. A student achieving a pass grade, below honours standard, may be awarded an "ordinary degree" or a "pass degree" and may not add "(Hons)".
As noted above, the MAs of the ancient universities of Scotland are also at this level and may also add '(Hons)'. Both these and bachelor's degrees with honours at Scottish universities are four-year courses at level 10 of the Framework for Qualifications of Higher Education Institutes in Scotland. Scottish bachelor's degrees without honours (including non-honours MAs from the ancient universities of Scotland) are three-year course with less specialisation (an Ordinary Degree or a General Degree) at level 9 of the Framework for Qualifications of Higher Education Institutes in Scotland.
Some of the following are postgraduate degrees in a few universities, but generally bachelors are undergraduate degrees.
- AgrB - Bachelor of Agriculture
- BA - Bachelor of Arts
- BA(Admin) - Bachelor of Arts in Administration
- BAcc - Bachelor of Accounting
- BACom - Bachelor of Arts in Commerce
- BAdmin - Bachelor of Administration
- BAE - Bachelor of Arts and Economics
- BAEcon - Bachelor of Arts in Economics
- BA(Ed) - Bachelor of Arts in Education
- BA(FS) - Bachelor of Arts in Financial Studies
- BAgr - Bachelor of Agriculture
- BAH - Bachelor of Animal Health
- BAI - Bachelor of Engineering (Arte Ingeniaria)
- BAI(Elect) - Bachelor of Electrical Engineering
- BAI(Mech) - Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering
- BALaw - Bachelor of Arts on Law
- BAO - Bachelor of Obstetrics (Arte Obstetricia)
- BAppSc - Bachelor of Applied Science
- BArch - Bachelor of Architecture
- BArchSc - Bachelor of Architectural Science
- BARelSt - Bachelor of Arts on Religious Studies
- BASc - Bachelor of Arts and Science
- BASoc - Bachelor of Arts in Sociology
- BASS - Bachelor of Arts in the Social Sciences
- BATheol - Bachelor of Arts on Theology
- BBA - Bachelor of Business Administration
- BBLS - Bachelor of Business and Legal Studies
- BBS - Bachelor of Business Studies
- BBus - Bachelor of Business
- BChem - Bachelor of Chemistry
- BCJ - Bachelor of Criminal Justice
- BCL - Bachelor of Civil Law
- BCLD(SocSc) - Bachelor of Community Learning and Development in Social Sciences
- BClinSci - Bachelor of Clinical Science
- BCom - Bachelor of Commerce
- BCombSt - Bachelor of Combined Studies
- BCommEdCommDev - Bachelor of Community Education and Community Development
- BComp - Bachelor of Computing
- BComSc - Bachelor of Commercial Science
- BCoun - Bachelor of Counseling
- BD - Bachelor of Divinity
- BDes - Bachelor of Design
- BE - Bachelor of Engineering
- BEcon - Bachelor of Economics
- BEcon&Fin - Bachelor of Economics and Finance
- BEconSci - Bachelor of Science in Economics
- BEd - Bachelor of Education
- BEng - Bachelor of Engineering
- BES - Bachelor of Engineering Studies
- BEng(Tech) - Bachelor of Engineering in Technology
- BFA - Bachelor of Fine Art
- BFin - Bachelor of Finance
- BFLS - Bachelor of Financial and Legal Studies
- BFST - Bachelor of Food Science and Technology
- BH - Bachelor of Humanities
- BHealthSc - Bachelor of Health Sciences
- BHSc - Bachelor of Health Science
- BHy - Bachelor of Hygiene
- Bachelor of International Business Administration
- BJur - Bachelor of Jurisprudence
- BL - Bachelor of Law
- BLE - Bachelor of Land Economy
- BLegSc - Bachelor of Legal Science
- BLib - Bachelor of Librarianship
- BLing - Bachelor of Linguistics
- BLitt - Bachelor of Letters or Bachelor of Literature
- BLittCelt - Bachelor of Celtic Letters
- BLS - Bachelor of Library Studies
- BMedSc - Bachelor of Medical Sciences or Bachelor of Biomedical science
- BMet - Bachelor of Metallurgy
- BMid - Bachelor of Midwifery
- BMin - Bachelor of Ministry
- BMS - Bachelor of Midwifery Studies
- BMSc - Bachelor of Medical Science
- BMSc - Bachelor of Biomedical science
- BMS - Bachelor of Management Studies
- BMus - Bachelor of Music
- BMusEd - Bachelor of Music Education
- BMusPerf - Bachelor of Music Performance
- BN - Bachelor of Nursing
- BNS - Bachelor of Nursing Studies
- BNurs - Bachelor of Nursing
- BOptom - Bachelor of Clinical Optometry
- BPA - Bachelor of Public Administration
- BPharm - Bachelor of Pharmacy
- BPhil - Bachelor of Philosophy
- BPhil(Ed) - Bachelor of Philosophy in Education
- BPhys - Bachelor of Physics
- BPhysio - Bachelor of Physiotherapy
- BPl - Bachelor of Planning
- BRadiog - Bachelor of Radiography
- BSc - Bachelor of Science
- BScAgr - Bachelor of Science in Agriculture
- BSc(Dairy) - Bachelor of Science in Dairying
- BSc(DomSc) - Bachelor of Science in Domestic Science
- BScEc - Bachelor of Economic and Social Studies
- BScEcon - Bachelor of Economic Science or Bachelor of Economic and Social Studies
- BSc(Econ) - Bachelor of Science in Economics
- BSc(Eng) - Bachelor of Science in Engineering
- BScFor - Bachelor of Science in Forestry
- BSc(HealthSc) - Bachelor of Science in Health Science
- BSc(Hort) - Bachelor of Science in Horticulture
- BSc(MCRM) - Bachelor of Science in Marine and Coastal Reserve Management
- BSc(Med) - Bachelor of Science in Medicine
- BSc(Mid) - Bachelor of SHRM-CP in Midwifery
- BSc(Min) - Bachelor of Science in Mining
- BScPH Bachelor of Science in Public Health
- BSc(Psych) - Bachelor of Science in Psychology
- BSc(Tech) - Bachelor of Science in Technology
- BSD - Bachelor of Science in Dentistry
- BSocSc - Bachelor of Social Sciences
- BSS - Bachelor of Social Studies
- BStSu - Bachelor of Deaf Studies
- BTchg- Bachelor of Teaching
- BTCP - Bachelor of Town and County Planning
- BTech - Bachelor of Technology (not to be confused with BTEC)
- BTechEd - Bachelor of Technological Education
- BTh - Bachelor of Theology
- BTheol - Bachelor of Theology
- BTS - Bachelor of Theatre Studies
- EdB - Bachelor of Education
- LittB - Bachelor of Literature or Bachelor of Letters
- LLB - Bachelor of Laws
- MA - Master of Arts (ancient Scottish universities)
- MusB - Bachelor of Music
- ScBTech - Bachelor of Science in Technology
- ThB - Bachelor of Theology
Master's Level Qualifications
These qualifications sit at level 7 (master's level) of the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications and are second cycle qualifications under the Bologna Process.
Undergraduate degrees
Undergraduate "Integrated master's" degrees are offered with honours, and so may add (hons) after the degree abbreviation. These are substantive master's degrees at the same level as postgraduate master's.
Primary qualifications in medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine are taken as undergraduate courses and denominated bachelor's degrees, but are normally offered without honours These are also qualifications at the same level as postgraduate master's degrees, but retain the name of bachelor's for historical reasons. The Bachelors of Medicine and Surgery are always taken together as the primary medical qualification in the UK, equivalent to the American MD.
Note that where there is a similarly titled postgraduate master's degree, the formulation " Master in ..." is used for the undergraduate degree and "Master of ..." for the postgraduate degree (e.g. MArt/MA, MSci/MSc). Where there is no equivalent postgraduate degree, either "in" or "of" is used.
- BDS - Bachelor of Dental Surgery
- BMBS - Bachelors of Medicine and Surgery
- BMBCh - Bachelors of Medicine and Surgery
- BVS - Bachelor of Veterinary Surgery
- BVetM - Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine
- BVetMed - Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine
- BVM&S - Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery
- BVMedSc or BVSc - Bachelor of Veterinary Medical Science
- BVSc - Bachelor of Veterinary Science
- MAcc - Master in Accountancy
- MAnth - Master in Anthropology
- MArt - Master in Arts
- MBBS - Bachelors of Medicine and Surgery
- MBChB - Bachelors of Medicine and Surgery
- MBiochem - Master of Biochemistry
- MBiol - Master of Biology
- MBiolSci - Master of Biochemistry
- MBus - Master in Business and Management
- MChem - Master of Chemistry
- MChemPhys - Master of Chemical Physics
- MChiro - Master of Chiropractic
- MComp - Master of Computer Science
- MDiv - Master of Divinity
- MDes - Master of Design
- MDrama - Master of Drama
- MEarthSci, MESci - Master of Earth Science
- MEcon - Master of Economics
- MEng - Master of Engineering
- MEnvSc - Master of Environmental Science
- MGeog - Master of Geography
- MGeol - Master of Geology
- MGeophys - Master of Geophysics
- MSci (MGeoSci) - Master in Geoscience
- MiF - Master in Finance
- MiM - Master in Management
- MInf - Master of Informatics
- MMark - Matter in Marketing
- MMath - Master of Mathematics
- MMathComp - Master of Computational Mathematics
- MMathCompSci - Master of Mathematics and Computer Science
- MMathPhil - Matter of Mathematics and Philosophy
- MMathPhys - Master of Mathematics and Physics, Master of Mathematical Physics
- MMathStat - Master of Mathematics and Statistics
- MMet - Master of Meteorology
- MMORSE - Master of Mathematics, Operational Research, Statistics and Economics
- MMS - Master of Management Studies [New Zealand, Australia and UK] Similar to an MBA
- MNatSc - Master of Natural Science
- MNursSc - Master of Nursing Science
- MOcean - Master of Oceanography
- MOptom - Master of Clinical Optometry
- MPharm - Master of Pharmacy
- MPhys - Master of Physics
- MPhysPhil - Master of Physics and Philosophy
- MPlan - Master of Planning
- MSci - Master in Science (Master of Natural Sciences at Cambridge)
- MStat - Master of Statistics
- MTheol - Master of Theology
- VetMB - Bachelor of Veterinary Medicineor BVSs
Postgraduate degrees
Postgraduate master's degrees may be either taught degrees or research degrees. Taught master's degrees may be awarded by an institution with taught degree awarding powers; master's degrees by research (e g MPhil, MRes), where over half of the student's effort is in original research, require research degree awarding powers. Postgraduate degrees are not normally honours degrees and thus do not add "(Hons)".
A few postgraduate degrees at Oxford are titled as bachelor's degrees. These are, nonetheless, master's level qualifications.
- BCL - Bachelor of Civil Law (Oxford)
- BPhil - Bachelor of Philosophy (Oxford)
- LLM - Master of Law
- MA - Master of Arts
- MArch - Master of Architecture
- MASt - Master of Advanced Study
- MBA - Master of Business Administration
- MBM - Master of Business and Management
- MBiolSc - Master of Biological Science
- MCD - Master of Civic Design
- MCh - Master of Surgery
- MCL - Master of Corporate Law
- MClinDent - Master of Clinical Dentistry
- MDes - Master of Design
- MEd - Master of Education
- MFA - Master of Fine Art
- MJur - Master of Jurisprudence (Law) (Magister Juris at Oxford)
- MLib - Master of Librarianship
- MLitt - Master of Letters
- MMus - Master of Music
- MOst - Master of Osteopathy
- MPA - Master of Public Administration
- MPH - Master of Public Health
- MPhil - Master of Philosophy (under the Framework, the MPhil is "normally reserved" for longer master's courses with a significant research element, or for PhD candidates who do not reach sufficient level for the award of a doctorate
- MPP - Matter of Public Policy
- MPS - Master of Professional Studies
- MProf - Matter of Professional Practice
- MProfSt - Master of Professional Studies
- MRes - Master of Research
- MSc - Master of Science
- MSocSc - Master of Social Science
- MSSc - Master of Social Science
- MSt - Master of Studies
- MSW -Master of Social Work
- MTL - Master of Teaching and Learning
- MTh - Master of Theology
- MTheol - Master of Theology
- MUniv - Master of the University (the MUniv is only ever an honorary degree)
- MusM - Master of Music
- LLM - Master of Laws
Doctoral degrees
UK Doctoral degrees are at level 8 of the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications and are third cycle qualifications under the Bologna Process. All doctoral degrees include "original research or other advanced scholarship" demonstrating "the creation and interpretation of new knowledge".
Due to the flexibility of Latin word order, there are two schools in the abbreviation of doctor's degrees. The two ancient universities of England split on this: at Cambridge, D follows the faculty (e.g. PhD, LittD.), while at Oxford the D precedes the faculty (e.g. DPhil, DLitt). Most universities in the UK followed Oxford for the higher doctorates but followed international precedent in using PhD for Doctor of Philosophy and professional doctorates.
The Framework for Higher Education Qualifications lays down the naming convention that Doctor of Philosophy is reserved for doctorates awarded on the basis of examination by thesis or publication, or by artefact, composition or performance accompanied by written academic commentary. Other doctorates (typically styled professional or specialist doctorates) that have substantial taught elements normally include the field in the name of the degree.
Higher doctorates are normally awarded as honorary degrees (honoris causa), but can also be awarded on the basis of a substantial body of published work. DUniv is only ever an honorary degree. Some degrees awarded as higher doctorates by one institution may be awarded as professional doctorates by another (e.g. EngD).
Professional doctorates
- DBA - Doctor of Business Administration
- DCounsPych - Doctor of Counselling Psychology
- DClinPsych - Doctor of Clinical Psychology
- DDS - Doctor of Dental Surgery
- DEd - Doctor of Education
- DEdChPsy - Doctor of Educational and Child Psychology
- DEng - Doctor of Engineering
- DForensPsy - Doctor of Forensic Psychology
- DHealthPsy - Doctor of Health Psychology
- DHSc - Doctor of Health Science
- DHy - Doctor of Hygiene
- DM - Doctor of Medicine (awarded by thesis at some universities; awarded as a higher doctorate at some universities)
- DMus - Doctor of Music (awarded as a higher doctorate at some universities)
- DMin - Doctor of Ministry
- DNursSc - Doctor of Nursing Science
- DProf - Doctor of Professional Studies
- DPT - Doctor of Practical Theology
- DThM - Doctor of Theology and Ministry
- EdChPsychD - Doctor of Educational and Child Psychology
- EdD - Doctor of Education
- EngD - Doctor of Engineering
- HScD - Doctor of Health Science
- JD - Juris Doctor
- MD - Doctor of Medicine (awarded by thesis at some universities; awarded as a higher doctorate at some universities)
- MusD - Doctor of Music (awarded as a higher doctorate at some universities)
- SocScD - Doctor of Social Science
- ThD - Doctor of Theology
Doctorates by Thesis or Composition
- PhD - Doctor of Philosophy
- DPhil - Doctor of Philosophy
- MD - Doctor of Medicine
- MD(Res) - Doctor of Medicine (Research)
Higher doctorates
- DD - Doctor of Divinity
- DCL - Doctor of Civil Law
- DLitt - Doctor of Letters
- DLit - Doctor of Literature
- DLit(Ed) - Sixto of Literature (Education)
- DM - Doctor of Medicine
- DMus - Doctor of Music
- DSc - Doctor of Science
- DSc(Econ) - Doctor of Science (Economics)
- DSc(Eng) - Doctor of Science (Engineering)
- DSc(Med) - Doctor of Science (Medicine)
- DTech - Doctor of Technology
- DUniv - Doctor of the University
- EngD - Doctor of Engineering
- LittD - Doctor of Letters
- LLD - Doctor of Laws
- ScD - Doctor of Science
Source of the article : Wikipedia
EmoticonEmoticon