Misconception About The Oxbridge Master of Arts Degree
By Keith Reilly, 14th Jul 2010 | Follow this author
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The controversial degree is not as academically worthless as many believe.
Misconception About The Oxbridge Master of Arts Degree
The Oxbridge universities (Oxford and Cambridge) in England award their Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) graduates a Master of Arts (M.A.) on the following criteria:
1. For Oxford, seven years must have passed since matriculation. For Cambridge, three years since the end of the first term must have passed.
2. The recipient must be in good standing.
3. The recipient must pay a fee.
The system is seen as unfair by graduates of other universities who cry foul at a master's degree being awarded in this way while other schools demand the completion of further coursework prior to being awarded a master's degree.
However, the thing to remember about the Oxbridge MA is that it is based on academic rank, not academic merit. Graduates who have applied the academic skills and knowledge they learned at university and are seen to represent the university in a good light are awarded this degree in replacement of (and not in addition to) their bachelor's degree. So, you cannot have Keith Reilly B.A., M.A. (Oxon.) but you can have Keith Reilly M.A. (Oxon.)
Comments
6th Nov 2010 (#)
This is great information. Thanks for sharing!
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28th Jan 2011 (#)
It should be remembered that the Oxbridge M.A. is also awarded to senior members of the University/College if they do not hold a first degree from Cambridge/Oxford after 5 years of being in post. It should further be remembered that the M.A. is not an academic qual. but simplgives voting rights and use of the library
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