The NZQA and Masters degrees from Oxford

Discussion in 'Off-Topic Discussions' started by George Brown, Sep 27, 2005.

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  1. George Brown

    George Brown Active Member

    Whilst doing a search for another thread, I stumbled across this site Ohh, a very unahppy chappie, and I do recall reading about this case some time back. Does anyone know if this is still the case?

    Cheers,

    George
     
  2. JamesK

    JamesK New Member

    Another question to be asking is whether it also applies to the undergraduate MA degrees awarded by the ancient universities of Scotland.
     
  3. marilynd

    marilynd New Member

    Looking at the this chap's certificate here, I was struck by the Oxford wording: "This is to certify that it appears by the Registrar of the Ancient House of Congregation . . . that . . ." [italics mine].

    It appears? Aren't they sure?

    Odd wording.

    On the other hand, I am always struck by UK degree credentials, which have the name and date typed it. Do UK schools make available a nice printed diploma suitable for framing? Could Mr. Powell, for instance, receive from Oxford a nice engrossed, typeset printed diploma for a suitable fee? Or is this it?

    BTW, I have seen photos of some Australian diplomas, engrossed and quite nicesly printed.

    Just curious.

    marilynd
     
  4. marilynd

    marilynd New Member

    Sorry for the badly proofreading. I just woke up.

    m
     
  5. agilham

    agilham New Member

    Nope.

    That's it.

    Cambridge's is even plainer and uglier.

    And nobody ever frames their degree and puts it on the wall over here. The certificates come out only when needed . . . which in the case of my undergraduate degree certificate has been on exactly three occasions in the past twenty years!

    Angela
     
  6. marilynd

    marilynd New Member

    And which explains, in part perhaps, why it is so easy to display that credential when seeking admission to other schools and to potential employers.

    In the US, diplomas are not usually asked for, largely because the transcript is considered THE academic credential here. But also, I suspect because you'd have to haul around the thing in its frame or rip it out of its frame and matboard every time you had to produce it as proof.

    Interesting.

    Regards,

    marilynd
     
  7. marilynd

    marilynd New Member

    To return to George's point, this sort of parochialism is more common than one would suppose.

    During my second stint in graduate school, I asked for advanced standing based on my previous master's degree. Both schools in question were "top four" Ivy. At first, the Dean's office turned down my request--which, BTW, was a normal request, nothing unusual--because they didn't believe that the master's degree from my previous school was equivalent to the master's degree offered by my current department. It took a significant amount of documenting and a full court press by the history department chair to get them to change their minds.

    We often live only in our own little worlds.

    marilynd
     
  8. agilham

    agilham New Member

    To be fair to NZQA, their first determination was correct. The MA is most emphatically not a postgraduate degree at Oxford.

    Transcripts are gradually coming into favour over here, but I've not had to use one . . . yet.

    Angela
     
  9. marilynd

    marilynd New Member

    Angela:

    Perhaps I misunderstand Oxford's degree structure.

    Are all Oxford MA degrees simply BA + time, so to speak, or are there also taught MAs at Oxford?

    Thanks,

    marilynd
     
  10. agilham

    agilham New Member

    Not difficult. After eight years as a member of staff at the bloody place I still can't keep them all straight.

    All MA degrees are now awarded 21 terms (seven years) after matriculation to all graduands, although I have a vague suspicion that if you did one of the four year undergraduate science courses like the MEarthSci you don't need to acquire MA status.

    Whilst there aren't any taught MAs, there are taught Master's degrees at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

    At the undergraduate level Biochem, Chem, Earth Sciences, Eng, Materials, Maths and Physics all offer 4 year undergrad degrees leading to a Master's degree. A few of those departments also offer the standard 3 year BA.

    At the postgraduate level, there are taught and research Masters in just about anything you care to mention leading to the degrees of:

    MSt (Master of Studies) - one year taught Masters, usually courses followed by a dissertation. The MSt is usually conferred in the arts and social sciences.

    BCL (Bachelor of Civil Law). No it really is a postgraduate qualification in law. Although if you're not from a common law background you can get the MJur instead.

    MPhil usually a two year taught masters (the MPhil in Byzantine studies would be my heart's desire . . . except for the minor technical fact of having to be back in Oxford, ack, ack, ack).

    MSc either a one year taught degree OR a research degree. Usually in the sciences, but please don't ask how you can get an MSc in English Local History as I don't have any painkillers to hand ;-)

    MBA

    MTh

    MLitt only by research. Requires a 50,000 word thesis.

    Who needs simple degree structures when you can spend 850 years evolving something like this ;-)

    Angela
     

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