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The degree of Master of Arts (MA) is awarded by the universities of Oxford , Cambridge and Dublin ( Trinity College ) without further examination to those entitled to the degree of Bachelor of Arts, solely on the basis of a number of terms' academic standing. This practice differs from that in most other universities worldwide, for whom the degree reflects further postgraduate study or achievement; thus these degrees are frequently referred to as the '''Oxbridge MA''' and '''Dublin MA''' or '''Trinity MA''' to differentiate them. In the Ancient Universities Of Scotland , the degree is awarded as a first degree to undergraduates (see '' Master Of Arts (Scotland) ''). Requirements No exams or lecture courses are taken; the degree is effectively an "upgrade" to a degree already held. Note, therefore, that the degree is designated MA and ''not'' MA (Hons), as no grade is awarded. In the past a nominal fee was payable, but this is no longer the case. At Cambridge, the MA may be conferred six years after the end of the first term in residence upon anyone holding a Cambridge Bachelor Of Arts (BA) degree . At Oxford, the MA may be conferred during or after the 21st term from matriculation (i.e. ordinarily 7 years after joining the University) upon anyone holding an Oxford BA or Bachelor Of Fine Arts (BFA) degree . An exception is that anyone who graduates with an Oxford DPhil while already holding an Oxford BA may immediately be conferred with the MA, before the requisite number of terms have passed. At Dublin, the MA may be conferred to a bearer of a Dublin BA of at least three years' standing. A fee is payable, but is waived in the case of graduates of more than fifty years' standing. In both of these cases the holder of the degree is then deemed to be of "MA status". Whether the Oxbridge or Trinity MA is an "undergraduate" degree is arguable - it is never referred to as such officially. As the holder must have previously graduated either with a BA, it follows that every recipient must be a graduate. However, since the MA can be awarded to ''every'' BA graduate from the universities, studying for the BA is equivalent to studying for the MA, and so it may be considered as an undergraduate degree to that extent. There are a number of other situations in which the MA may be conferred in this way at Oxford and Cambridge, but this is by far the most common; other instances may be found in the sections referenced. Purpose Technically, the function of the degree is to elevate a person in the ''Academic Order of Precedence'' - those holding MAs are naturally higher in the Order of Precedence than those holding BAs, and holding the MA reflects the relative seniority of those who have been a member of the University for longer. Note that in Oxford's case, the holder of an Oxford MA on its own is ranked ''above'' every doctoral degree holder not holding an Oxford MA, except holders of the DD and DCL degrees. Because of this, the Oxbridge MA is often conferred upon people taking up senior positions in the University (both academic and administrative), who would otherwise be ranked relatively low in the Order of Precedence. Some employers treat the Oxbridge MA as being of slightly higher value than a BA. This situation has been encouraged by the emergence of other Undergraduate Masters courses such as the MSci, MEng or MMath, which are superior to a Bachelor's Degree but lower in status than a Postgraduate Masters . Oxbridge MAs are seen by some as being within this cohort of advanced undergraduate degrees, mostly as a combination of the title of "Master of Arts" (as opposed to the title of Bachelor) and also by virtue of being granted by a leading research university with a long history. EXTERNAL LINKS
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