This article concerns the Degrees of Oxford University. The system of academic degrees in the University of Oxford can be confusing to those not familiar with it. This is not merely because many degree titles date from the Middle Ages, but also because many changes have been haphazardly introduced in recent years. For example, the (mediaeval) BD, BM, BCL, etc. are postgraduate degrees, while the (modern) MPhys, MEng, etc. are undergraduate degrees. This article is about academic degrees. ... The University of Oxford, located in the city of Oxford, England, is the oldest university in the English-speaking world. ...

In postnominals Oxford University is normally abbreviated Oxon. which is short for (Academia) Oxoniensis, e.g. MA (Oxon.)

Undergraduate degrees

• Bachelor of Arts (BA)
• Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA)

The Bachelor's degree is awarded soon after the end of the degree course (three or four years after matriculation). Until recently, all undergraduates studied for the degree of Bachelor of Arts. The BFA was introduced in 1978. Holders of the degrees of BA and BFA both proceed in time to the degree of Master of Arts (MA). Note that even in science courses, such as the three-year Physics degree, students are awarded the BA. The degree of Bachelor of Science (BSc) has never been awarded as an undergraduate degree at Oxford, however it used to be awarded as a graduate qualification.

• Bachelor of Theology (BTh)
• Bachelor of Education (BEd)

The BTh is awarded primarily to students of the various Theological Colleges and Halls enjoying some sort of associate status with the University, such as Wycliffe Hall, St Stephen's House, Ripon College, Cuddesdon [1] and the former Westminster College, Oxford. Usually, these students are candidates for the ordained ministry of one of the mainstream Christian denominations, but may be drawn from any faith background or none at the discretion of the College or Hall. It should not be confused with the degree of bachelor of divinity (BD), which is a postgraduate degree.

The BEd was formerly awarded to students at Westminster College, Oxford, when that course was validated by the University.

A Bachelor of Arts (B.A. or A.B., from the Latin Artium Baccalaureus) is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for a course or program in the arts and/or sciences. ... The Bachelor of Fine Arts, usually abbreviated BFA, is the standard undergraduate degree for students seeking a professional education in the visual or performing arts. ... The matriculation ceremony at Oxford Matriculation refers to the formal process of entering a university, or of becoming eligible to enter by acquiring the required prior qualifications. ... 1978 (MCMLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (the link is to a full 1978 calendar). ... This page is a candidate for speedy deletion, because: it is patent nonsense. ... A Bachelor of Education (BEd) is an undergraduate academic degree which qualifies the graduate as a teacher in schools. ... Wycliffe Hall is a Church of England theological college, and one of the constituent institutions of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. ... St Stephen’s House, Oxford, is an Anglican theological college and a Hall of the University of Oxford. ... Westminster College, Oxford was founded in 1851 in Horseferry Road, London, and originally specialised in the training of teachers for Methodist schools. ... Westminster College, Oxford was founded in 1851 in Horseferry Road, London, and originally specialised in the training of teachers for Methodist schools. ...

Undergraduate masters degrees

In the 1990s the degrees of Master of Engineering, etc., were introduced to increase public recognition of the four-year undergraduate science programmes in those subjects: The 1990s decade refers to the years from 1990 to 1999, inclusive, the last decade of the 20th Century. ...

• Master of Engineering (MEng)
• Master of Physics (MPhys)
• Master of Chemistry (MChem)
• Master of Biochemistry (MBiochem)
• Master of Mathematics (MMath)
• Master of Earth Sciences (MEarthSc)

The holders of these degrees have to the academic dress and standing of BAs until the twenty-first term from matriculation, when they rank and dress as MAs. In Cambridge the same purpose has been accomplished more elegantly by granting science undergraduates the additional degree of Master of Natural Sciences (MSci) while continuing to award them the BA (and the subsequent MA). Note that biology undergraduates are still awarded the BA/MA, as are all other undergraduates, whether their degree courses last three years or four years.

... This article is being considered for deletion in accordance with Wikipedias deletion policy. ... A black hole concept drawing by NASA. Physics (from the Greek, φυσικός (physikos), natural, and φύσις (physis), nature) is the science of the natural world dealing with the fundamental constituents of the universe, the forces they exert on one another, and the results produced by these forces. ... Chemistry (derived from the Arabic word kimia, alchemy, where al is Arabic for the) is the science of matter that deals with the composition, structure, and properties of substances and with the transformations that they undergo. ... Biochemistry the chemistry of life, a bridge between biology and chemistry that studies how complex chemical reactions give rise to life. ... Mathematics is often defined as the study of topics such as quantity, structure, space, and change. ... A Master of Mathematics (or MMath) degree is a specific masters degree for courses in the the field of mathematics. ... Earth science (also known as geoscience or the geosciences), is an all-embracing term for the sciences related to the planet Earth. ... The University of Cambridge is the second-oldest university in the English-speaking world, with one of the most selective sets of entry requirements in the United Kingdom. ... Main articles: Life The most salient example of biological universality is that all living things share a common carbon-based biochemistry and in particular pass on their characteristics via genetic material, which is based on nucleic acids such as DNA and which uses a common genetic code with only minor...

The degree of Master of Arts

• Master of Arts (MA)

The degree of Master of Arts is awarded to BAs and BFAs 21 terms (7 years) after matriculation without further examination, upon the payment of a nominal fee. Recipients of undergraduate masters' degrees are not eligible to incept as MA, but are afforded the same privileges after the statutory 21 terms. (currently only 9 terms)

This system dates from the Middle Ages, when the study of the liberal arts took seven years. In between matriculation and the licence to teach which was awarded at the end of an undergraduate's studies (whereafter he incepted as a Master of Arts), he took an intermediate degree known as the baccalaureate, or degree of Bachelor of Arts. In the University of Paris the baccalaureate was granted soon after responsions (the examination for matriculation), whereas in Oxford and Cambridge the bachelor's degree was postponed to a much later stage, and gradually developed a greater significance. While the requirements for the bachelor's degree increased, those for the master's degree gradually diminished. An examination along modern lines was introduced for the MA degree in 1800, but this was abolished in 1807.

While the length of the undergraduate degree course has been shortened to three or four years, the University of Oxford still requires seven years to pass before the awarding of the MA. The universities of Cambridge and Dublin have similar systems. In the four ancient universities of Scotland, the BA has become obsolete, and the MA is awarded on completion of the four-year undergraduate degree course in the arts.

The shortening of the degree course reflects the fact that much of the teaching of the liberal arts was taken over by high schools, and undergraduates now enter university at a much older age. In France today students get their baccalaureate at the end of secondary school.

A masters degree is an academic degree usually awarded for completion of a postgraduate course of one or two years in duration. ... The Middle Ages formed the middle period in a traditional schematic division of European history into three ages: the classical civilization of Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and modern times, beginning with the Renaissance. ... In the history of education, the seven liberal arts comprise two groups of studies, the trivium and the quadrivium. ... The Sorbonne, Paris, in a 17th century engraving The historic University of Paris (French: Université de Paris) first appeared in the second half of the 12th century, but was in 1970 reorganized as 13 autonomous universities (University of Paris I–XIII). ... Responsions, was previously a name describing the first of the three examinations once required for an academic degree at the University of Oxford. ... The University of Cambridge is the second-oldest university in the English-speaking world, with one of the most selective sets of entry requirements in the United Kingdom. ... -1... 1807 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... The University of Cambridge is the second-oldest university in the English-speaking world, with one of the most selective sets of entry requirements in the United Kingdom. ... The College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin or more commonly Trinity College, Dublin (TCD) was founded in 1592 by Queen Elizabeth I, is the only constituent college of the University of Dublin, Irelands oldest university. ... The Ancient universities in Scotland comprise The University of St Andrews (founded 1413) The University of Glasgow (1451) The University of Aberdeen (1495) The University of Edinburgh (1583) The University of Dundee (founded 1967, with a history dating back to 1881) shares several organizational features with these four and a... A bachelors degree is usually an undergraduate academic degree awarded for a course that generally lasts three or four years. ...

Significance of the MA

Despite the fact that no greater academic achievement is involved, the MA remains the most important degree in Oxford. Traditionally the MA represented full membership of the University: until 2000, only MAs (as well as doctors of divinity, medicine and civil law) were members of Convocation, the main legislative assembly of the University, which today only elects the Chancellor and the professor of Poetry. Prior to then, members of the university who had not yet been made MA were known as "junior members" while those who were MAs were "senior members". This conveniently excluded most postgraduate students from the privileges the university and colleges accord to dons as well as their graduate alumni, such as the right to dine at High Table. This article is about the year 2000. ... A Convocation is a group of people formally assembled for a special purpose. ... A University Chancellor is the title frequently used — particularly in Europe — to indicate the head of a university. ... The term Don may refer to; Don, Donald Ducks nickname. ... An alumn (with a silent n), alum, alumnus, or alumna is a former student of a college, university, or school. ...

Members of the University who are MAs still outrank any person who does not have the degree of MA, other than doctors of divinity, medicine and civil law. Hence, a doctor of philosophy who is an MA outranks someone who is simply an MA, but the MA outranks a doctor of philosophy who is not an MA.

Whilst recently there has been increasing criticism of being awarded a Masters degree whilst not doing any additional academic work, supporters assert that the academic workload of a three-year Oxford undergraduate degree exceeds that of a four-year Masters course at many other British universities.

Postgraduate degrees

Bachelors' degrees

• Bachelor of Divinity (BD)
• Bachelor of Medicine & Bachelor of Surgery (BM BCh)
• Bachelor of Civil Law (BCL)
• Bachelor of Letters (BLitt) (no longer awarded)
• Bachelor of Science (BSc) (no longer awarded)
• Bachelor of Music (BMus)
• Bachelor of Philosophy (BPhil) (only now awarded in Philosophy)

In medieval times a student could not study some subjects until he had completed his study in the liberal arts. These were known as the higher faculties. The degrees in Science and Letters were added in the 19th century, and the degree in Philosophy was added in 1914 (although the DPhil is not considered a "higher doctorate"). The higher bachelors degree programme is generally a taught programme of one or two years for graduates. In Medicine and Surgery this corresponds to the clinical phase of training, after which they are commonly known as "Doctor". The BM and BMus are open only to Oxford graduates who have done well in the BA examinations in divinity and music respectively. The BPhil/MPhil is a research degree which is often a stepping stone to the DPhil.

Divinity has a number of related uses in the field of religious belief and study. ... A Bachelor of Divinity is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for a courses taken in the study of divinity or related disciplines, such as theology or, rarely, religious studies. ... See also Medical doctor (BE), Physician (AE), and Medical school. ... A typical modern surgery operation Surgery (from the Greek cheirourgia meaning hand work) is the medical specialty that treats diseases or injuries by operative manual and instrumental treatment. ... The Bachelor of Medicine, abbreviated BM, is an academic degree denoting the degree obtained after studying Medicine at University. ... English law is the law of England and Wales, rather than Scotland and Northern Ireland. ... Bachelor of Civil Law or B.C.L. is the name of the degree given in civil law jurisdictions to graduates of a faculty of law in a university. ... ... Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Science For the scientific journal named Science, see Science (journal). ... A Bachelor of Science (B.S., B.Sc. ... Music is an art, entertainment, or other human activity which involves organized and audible sound, though definitions vary. ... A Bachelor of Music degree is a bachelors degree awarded by a college, university, or conservatory upon the completion of a four-year program of studies in music. ... These five broad types of question are called analytical or logical, epistemological, ethical, metaphysical, and aesthetic respectively. ... Bachelor of Philosophy (B.Phil. ... Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1914 (MCMXIV) is a common year starting on Thursday. ...

Masters' degrees

• Master of Surgery (MCh)

The MCh is the higher degree in surgery, and is awarded on similar conditions to higher doctorates such as the DM, e.g. ten years must have passed since the lower degree in the faculty. In medieval times the distinction between a master and doctor was not significant, and both words signified the higher degree in a faculty. The title "master" is used instead of "doctor" as surgeons in England are traditionally known as "Mr" rather than "Dr".

• Master of Philosophy (MPhil)
• Master of Letters (MLitt)
• Master of Science (MSc) (awarded by examination or by research)

Due to pressure from employers and overseas applicants to conform with United States practice, which is also that of most other UK universities, the BLitt, BSc and BPhil (in degrees other than philosophy) were re-titled masters' degrees. However, the more prestigious BD, BCL, BM & BCh, BMus and philosophy BPhil degrees are well recognised and so have seen no need to change.

• Magister Juris (MJur)
• Master of Studies (MSt)
• Master of Theology (MTh)
• Master of Business Administration (MBA)
• Master of Education (MEd)

The MJur, MSt and MBA are awarded after taught courses, the MJur being the equivalent of the BCL for students from non-common-law backgrounds. The MTh is an applied theology course for those intending to enter holy orders. The degree of Master of Education was formerly awarded to students at Westminster College, when that course was validated by the University.

In the usage of the United Kingdom, New Zealand and some other countries, the Master of Philosphy is a research degree, requiring the completion of a thesis. ... A Master of Letters (M.Litt. ... A masters degree is an academic degree usually awarded for completion of a postgraduate course of one or two years in duration. ... A Masters degree which is typically earned after one has already completed a Master of Divinity or a Master of Theological Studies. ... Master of Business Administration (MBA) is a tertiary degree in business management. ... The Master of Education (M.Ed or M.A.E.) is a degree conferred by American institutions for educators moving on in their field. ... The Master of Education (M.Ed or M.A.E.) is a degree conferred by American institutions for educators moving on in their field. ... Westminster College, Oxford was founded in 1851 in Horseferry Road, London, and originally specialised in the training of teachers for Methodist schools. ...

Doctorates

• Doctor of Divinity (DD)
• Doctor of Civil Law (DCL)
• Doctor of Medicine (DM)
• Doctor of Letters (DLitt)
• Doctor of Science (DSc)
• Doctor of Music (DMus)

Bachelors in the higher faculties other than Medicine can proceed to a doctorate in the same faculty without further examination, on presentation of evidence of an important contribution to their subject, e.g. published work, research, etc. Doctorates in the higher faculties may also be awarded honoris causa, i.e. as honorary degrees. It is traditional for the Chancellor to be made a DCL by virtue of his office.

• Doctor of Philosophy (DPhil)

The DPhil is a research degree, modelled on the German and American PhD, which was introduced in 1914. Rather atypically, Oxford was the first university in the UK to accept this innovation.

• Doctor of Clinical Psychology (DClinPsychol)
• Doctor of Engineering (EngD)

The new degrees of DClinPsychol and EngD are professional degrees in the American model. The EngD is the only Oxford degree to use the Cambridge abbreviation format.

Doctor of Divinity (D.D., Divinitatis Doctor in Latin) is an academic degree. ... Some universities, such as the University of Oxford, award Doctor of Civil Law (DCL) degrees instead of Doctor of Laws (LL.D.) degrees. ... The Medicinæ Doctor or Doctor of Medicine (M.D. or D.M.) is a an degree held by medical doctors. ... A Doctor of Letters is a university academic degree. ... Sc. ... The Doctor of Music degree (D.Mus. ... Doctor of Philosophy, or Ph. ... 1914 (MCMXIV) is a common year starting on Thursday. ... Clinical psychology is the application of psychology within a clinical (health) setting. ... ...

Order of academic standing

Members of the University of Oxford are ranked in the following order according to their degree. The order is as follows:

• Doctor of Divinity
• Doctor of Civil Law
• Doctor of Medicine if also a Master of Arts
• Doctor of Letters if also a Master of Arts
• Doctor of Science if also a Master of Arts
• Doctor of Music if also a Master of Arts
• Doctor of Philosophy if also a Master of Arts
• Doctor of Clinical Psychology if also a Master of Arts
• Master of Surgery if also a Master of Arts
• Master of Science if also a Master of Arts
• Master of Letters if also a Master of Arts
• Master of Philosophy if also a Master of Arts
• Master of Studies if also a Master of Arts
• Master of Theology if also a Master of Arts
• Master of Education if also a Master of Arts
• Master of Business Administration if also a Master of Arts
• Master of Fine Art if also a Master of Arts
• Master of Arts, or Master of Biochemistry or Chemistry or Earth Sciences or Engineering or Mathematics or Physics with effect from the twenty-first term from matriculation
• Doctor of Medicine if not also a Master of Arts
• Doctor of Letters if not also a Master of Arts
• Doctor of Science if not also a Master of Arts
• Doctor of Music if not also a Master of Arts
• Doctor of Philosophy if not also a Master of Arts
• Doctor of Clinical Psychology if not also a Master of Arts
• Master of Surgery if not also a Master of Arts
• Master of Science if not also a Master of Arts
• Master of Letters if not also a Master of Arts
• Master of Philosophy if not also a Master of Arts
• Master of Studies if not also a Master of Arts
• Master of Theology if not also a Master of Arts
• Master of Education if not also a Master of Arts
• Master of Business Administration if not also a Master of Arts
• Master of Fine Art if not also a Master of Arts
• Bachelor of Divinity
• Bachelor of Civil Law
• Magister Juris
• Bachelor of Medicine
• Bachelor of Surgery
• Bachelor of Letters
• Bachelor of Science
• Bachelor of Music
• Bachelor of Philosophy
• Bachelor of Arts, or Master of Biochemistry or Chemistry or Earth Sciences or Engineering or Mathematics or Physics until the twenty-first term from matriculation
• Bachelor of Fine Art
• Bachelor of Theology
• Bachelor of Education

Within each degree the holders are ranked by the date on which they proceeded to their degree. In the case of people who graduated on the same day they are ranked by alphabetical order.

See also

• Academic degree
• Bachelor's degree
• Master's degree
• Doctorate
• University of Oxford
• Academic dress of Oxford University

This article is about academic degrees. ... A bachelors degree is usually an undergraduate academic degree awarded for a course or major that generally lasts for three or four years. ... A masters degree is an academic degree usually awarded for completion of a postgraduate or graduate course of one to three years in duration. ... The University of Oxford, located in the city of Oxford, England, is the oldest university in the English-speaking world. ... This page concerns the Academic dress of Oxford University. ...

External links

• University of Oxford