British degree abbreviations

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. It is common to put the name of the awarding institute in brackets after the degree abbreviation, e.g. BA (Lond). A list of standard abbreviations for British universities can be found at . Note that the lists below include historical degrees that may not currently be offered in British universities. 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. For students to obtain a master's degree consistent with the framework in these ancient English universities, they have created the MSt (Master of Studies) to address this anomaly and differentiate between the degrees, both master's. 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 bachelor's 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 (Bachelor of Divinity) 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. ==Foundation level qualifications==

Foundation degree qualifications are at level 5 of the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications. They are classified under the Bologna Process as short cycle (within or linked to the first cycle) qualifications. The prepositions in the qualifications' names as awarded vary between institutions and are sometimes omitted. • FdA, FDA, FDArts – Foundation Degree [in/of/of the] Arts • FdEd, FDEd – Foundation Degree [in/of] Education • FdEng – Foundation Degree [in/of] Engineering • FDS, FDSc – Foundation Degree [in/of] Science ==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. 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 • BCL – Bachelor of Civil Law • BMus – Bachelor of Music • BSc(Econ) – Bachelor of Science in Economics • BSc(Eng) – Bachelor of Science in Engineering • BTS – Bachelor of Theatre Studies • ScBTech – Bachelor of Science in Technology ==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. • MMBiol – Master of Marine Biology • MPharm – Master of Pharmacy) • MScOT or MScOccTher – Master of Science in Occupational Therapy • MSLT – Master of Speech and Language Therapy • MB, BChir – Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery Postgraduate degrees are not normally honours degrees and thus do not add "(Hons)". Some degrees may be offered as either integrated master's or postgraduate master's courses at different institutes, e.g. MEng and MArch. 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) • EMBS – European Master in Business Sciences • LLM – Master of Laws • MASt – Master of Advanced Study • MBA – Master of Business Administration • MCD – Master of Civic Design • MCh – Master of Surgery • MClinDent – Master of Clinical Dentistry • MEng – Master of Engineering • MLaw – Master in Law • MLib – Master of Librarianship • MPH – Master of Public Health or Master of Professional Practice • MTL – Master of Teaching and Learning • MusM – Master of Music ==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. • DClinSci – Doctor of Clinical Science • DDP – Doctor of Design Practice • DHealthPsy – Doctor of Health Psychology • DHC – Doctor of Health Care • DMus – Doctor of Music • DSocCare – Doctor of Social Care • DThM – Doctor of Theology and Ministry • EntD – Doctor of Enterprise • 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) • PsychD – Doctor of Psychology • MD(Res) – Doctor of Medicine (Research) • DD – Doctor of Divinity • DDSc – Doctor of Dental Science • DEd – Doctor of Education • DHL – Doctor of Humane Letters • DLitt – Doctor of Letters • DLit – Doctor of Literature • DLit(Ed) – Doctor of Literature (Education) • DM – Doctor of Medicine • DMus – Doctor of Music • Hon DMus – Honorary Doctor of Music • Dr.h.c. or Dr.(h.c.) – Doctor honoris causa • DSc – Doctor of Science • DSc(Econ) – Doctor of Science (Economics) • DSc(Eng) – Doctor of Science (Engineering) • DSc(Med) – Doctor of Science (Medicine) • DSc (Social Science) – Doctor of Science in Social Science • DScEcon – Doctor of Economic and Social Studies • DTech – Doctor of Technology • DUniv – Doctor of the University • DVM&S – Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery • EngD – Doctor of Engineering • LittD – Doctor of Letters • LLD – Doctor of Laws • ScD – Doctor of Science • MA(h.c.) – Honorary Master of Arts (Oxford, Dublin and Cambridge) == See also ==